Today, I received a news alert from the IRS. I thought I would share as it’s chalked full of useful information. Here are some tips from the IRS on tax recordkeeping. • You should keep copies of your filed tax returns as part of your tax records. They can help you prepare future tax returns. You’ll …
Although the 2012 tax season is officially over, tax scams unfortunately are not, which is why the IRS issues an annual “Dirty Dozen” list that includes common tax scams affecting taxpayers. Taxpayers should be aware of these tax scams so they can protect themselves against claims that sound too good to be true, and because …
Don’t Be Fooled: The Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2013 Read More »
If you have income that is not subject to withholding you may need to pay estimated taxes to the IRS during the year. Whether you need to pay estimated taxes is dependent upon your financial circumstances, what you do for a living (if you’re self-employed for example), and the types of income you receive. Here …
If you employ someone to work for you around your house, it is important to consider the tax implications of this arrangement. While many people disregard the need to pay taxes on household employees, they do so at the risk of paying stiff tax penalties down the road. As you will see, the rules for …
April 15 is the annual deadline for most people to file their federal income tax return and pay any taxes they owe. If, for whatever reason, you missed the deadline you may be assessed penalties for both failing to file a tax return and for failing to pay taxes they owe by the deadline. Here …
Eight Facts on Late Filing and Late Payment Penalties Read More »
What should you do if you already filed your federal tax return and then discover a mistake? First of all, don’t worry. In most cases all you have to do is file an amended tax return. But before you do that, here are 10 facts you should be aware of when filing an amended tax …
Tim, who owns his own business, decided he wanted to take a two-week trip around the US. So he did–and was able to legally deduct every dime that he spent on his “vacation”. Here’s how he did it. 1. Make all your business appointments before you leave for your trip. Most people believe that they …
Filing a past due return may not be as difficult as you think. Taxpayers should file all tax returns that are due, regardless of whether full payment can be made with the return. Depending on an individual’s circumstances, a taxpayer filing late may qualify for a payment plan. It is important, however, to know that …
What to Do If You Haven’t Filed an Income Tax Return Read More »
More than 52 percent of businesses today are home-based. Every day, people are striking out and achieving economic and creative independence by turning their skills into dollars. Garages, basements and attics are being transformed into the corporate headquarters of the newest entrepreneurs – home-based businesspeople. And, with technological advances in smartphones, tablets, and iPads as …
If you’re one of the more than 3.4 million taxpayers claimed deductions for business use of a home (commonly referred to as the home office deduction), you might be interested in the new simplified option available for taxpayers starting with the 2013 return most taxpayers file early in 2014. The new optional deduction, recently announced …
Simplified Option for Home Office Deduction in 2013 Read More »