Although Intuit did a great job of giving QuickBooks’ home page a fresher, more “open” look in its 2013 versions, maybe some of your screens have become unnecessarily cluttered. Perhaps your QuickBooks company file needs some attention as well. By taking a few minutes to do some “spring cleaning” you’ll have a tidier workspace, and […]
Spring Cleaning: Streamlining QuickBooks 2013 Read More »
Question: How do I know if I have to file quarterly individual estimated tax payments? Answer: If you owed additional tax for the prior tax year, you may have to make estimated tax payments for the current tax year. If you are filing as a sole proprietor, partner, S corporation shareholder, and/or a self-employed individual, you generally
Estimated Tax Payments – Q&A Read More »
If you haven’t contributed funds to an Individual Retirement Arrangement for tax year 2012, or if you’ve put in less than the maximum allowed, you still have time to do so. You can contribute to either a traditional or Roth IRA until the April 15 due date for filing your tax return for 2012, not
It’s Not Too Late to Make a 2012 IRA Contribution Read More »
Confused about which credits and deductions you can claim on your 2012 tax return? You’re not alone. Even in an ordinary tax year, it’s hard to remember which tax breaks you can take, but the fiscal cliff fiasco this year made it even more difficult to keep everything straight. With that in mind here are
6 Overlooked Tax Breaks for Individuals Read More »
One of the biggest hurdles you’ll face in running your own business is staying on top of your numerous obligations to federal, state, and local tax agencies. Tax codes seem to be in a constant state of flux making the Internal Revenue Code barely understandable to most people. The old legal saying that “ignorance of
7 Common Small Business Tax Misperceptions Read More »
The end of the tax filing season is almost here. Even though your tax return is not due until April 15, you can make tax time easier on yourself by starting now. Here are 10 important tips to ensure a smooth process. 1. Gather your records. Round up any documents you will need when filing your
IRS Offers Top 10 Tax Time Tips Read More »
If you received income during 2012, you may need to file a tax return in 2013. The amount of your income, your filing status, your age and the type of income you received will determine whether you’re required to file. Even if you are not required to file a tax return, you may still want
Who Should File a 2012 Tax Return? Read More »
Consumers should protect themselves against online identity theft and other scams that increase during–and after–the filing season. Such scams may appropriate the name, logo, or other appurtenances of the IRS or U.S. Department of the Treasury to mislead taxpayers into believing the communication is legitimate. The Internal Revenue Service receives thousands of reports each year
How to Avoid Identity Theft During Tax Season Read More »
Thanks to the passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA), many tax provisions that expired in 2011 were retroactively extended (or made permanent) that are of benefit to taxpayers filing 2012 returns this year. Here are six of them: 1. Education-Related Tax Deductions ATRA extended, through 2017 and retroactive to 2012, two
6 Tax Changes That Benefit Taxpayers for 2012 Read More »
According to the IRS, under-reporting of income is the biggest contributing factor to the IRS tax gap–the amount owed by individuals and businesses versus the amount that was actually paid in taxes. In 2006, the most recent year for which data are available, under-reporting across taxpayer categories accounted for an estimated $376 billion of the
1099’s: 5 Key Reporting Changes for Businesses Read More »