Why should I keep records? Good records will help you monitor the progress of your business, prepare your financial statements, identify sources of income, keep track of deductible expenses, keep track of your basis in property, prepare your tax returns, and support items reported on your tax returns. What kinds of records should I…
Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses your stolen personal information, including your Social Security number, to file a tax return claiming a fraudulent refund. If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, continue to pay your taxes and file your tax return, even if you must file a paper return. Know the…
Taxpayers who use their home for business may be eligible to claim a home office deduction. It allows qualifying taxpayers to deduct certain home expenses on their tax return. This can reduce the amount of the taxpayer’s taxable income. Here are some things to help taxpayers understand the home office deduction and whether they can…
All taxpayers should use the new TAX WITHHOLDING ESTIMATOR to do a paycheck update. This tool helps people make sure their employers are taking out the right amount of tax from the employee’s paychecks. The money withheld from an employee’s paychecks throughout the year should cover the amount of tax they owe. Taxpayers who haven’t…
Although the April filing deadline has passed, scam artists remain hard at work, and the IRS today urged taxpayers to be on the lookout for a spring surge of evolving phishing emails and telephone scams. The IRS is seeing signs of two new variations of tax-related scams. One involves Social Security numbers related to tax…
The IRS has 9 tips for picking a tax preparer: 1. Check the preparers qualifications-our partners and managers are all experienced CPA’s with valid PTIN numbers from the IRS. 2. Check the preparers history-our CPA’s all hold valid and active licenses, 3. Ask about service fees-our fees are based on time to prepare the return.…
Started a new business this year or are you just not sure about your tax situation? Now is the time to review your finances with someone who has the training and knowledge, before the beginning of next year. After the beginning of next year, it may be to late to take the steps necessary to…
The TCJA repealed the deduction for business entertainment. This includes expenditures such as taking clients to sporting events and shows and paying for season tickets for various entertainment events. Since these items are no longer deductible, it is very important to have your company’s internal accounting set up appropriately. We can help you identify these…
You may have heard a lot of talk in the news about a new deduction for “pass-through” income, but it’s actually available for qualified business income from a sole proprietorship (including a farm), as well as from pass-through entities such as partnerships, LLCs, and S corporations. Under the TCJA, individuals may deduct up to 20%…
For 2018, joint filers can enjoy a standard deduction of $24,000 (versus $12,700 for 2017). The new standard deduction for heads of household is $18,000, and single taxpayers (including married taxpayers filing separately) can claim a standard deduction of $12,000. However, the TCJA suspends the deduction for personal exemptions. If you typically claim the standard…