Tag Archive for taxpayers

For Many Business Taxpayers, Time Is Running Out To Elect Out Of New 100-Percent Depreciation Deduction For 2017

IRS Time Is Running Out To Elect Out Of New 100 Depreciation Deduction

The Internal Revenue Service today reminds business taxpayers who placed qualifying property in service during 2017 but choose not to claim the new 100-percent depreciation deduction, that they have a limited time to file the required election with the IRS.

In general, individuals and calendar-year corporations must file the election with the IRS by Oct. 15, 2018. The new 100-percent deduction allows businesses to write off most depreciable business assets in the year they are placed in service. Read More

Written by | Posted in IRS

IRS Direct Deposit Leads To Faster Refunds

WASHINGTON — With the tax deadline just around the corner, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that making an electronic direct deposit of their refund into a bank or other account is the fastest way to get their money. A taxpayer can deposit their refund into one, two or even three accounts to help with retirement or savings.

Eight out of 10 taxpayers get their refunds by using direct deposit. It is simple, safe and secure. The IRS uses the same electronic transfer system to deposit tax refunds that is used by other federal agencies to deposit nearly 98 percent of all Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits into millions of accounts. Direct deposit also avoids the possibility that a refund check could be lost or stolen or returned to the IRS as undeliverable. Read More

Written by | Posted in TaxConnections

Last Minute Tax Tips Before Deadline

Procrastination of tax returns is not a unique phenomenon. In fact, a lot of tax payers file their tax returns in the last two weeks before the deadline. Filing tax returns earlier than the deadlines is better as you are not rushed and chances of making mistakes is also lower. However, if you are racing against the deadline clock for your returns, here are some tips to help you get through.

Organize Read More

Written by | Posted in Tax Deadline • Tax Mistakes • Tax Preparation • Tax Tips

A Digital “Mailbox Rule” Is Required As The IRS Steers Taxpayers Toward Self-Help Digital Tools

As the IRS steers taxpayers toward self-help digital tools, it is necessary to bring the “statutory mailbox rule” into the 21st century. Currently, the statutory mailbox rule in IRC § 7502 does not apply to the electronic transmission of many time-sensitive documents and payments to the IRS. The rule provides that if the requirements set forth in the statute are met, a document or payment is deemed to be filed or paid on the date of the postmark stamped on the envelope.

If the postmark date is on or before the last day of the period prescribed for filing the document or making the payment, the document or payment is considered timely filed or paid even if it is received after the due date. Further, IRC § 7502(c) provides that registered or certified mail, or methods deemed substantially equivalent by the Secretary of Treasury, is prima facie evidence of delivery. Read More

Written by | Posted in IRS • TaxConnections

IRS Encourages ‘Paycheck Checkup’ For Taxpayers To Check Their Withholding; Special Week Focuses On Changes

WASHINGTON – Launching a special week of activities, the Internal Revenue Service today continued its effort to encourage taxpayers to do a “paycheck checkup” to make sure they have the right amount of tax taken out of their paychecks for their personal situation.

To help taxpayers understand the implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the IRS unveiled several new features to help people navigate the issues affecting withholding in their paychecks. The effort includes a new series of plain language Tax Tips, a YouTube video series and other special efforts to help people understand the importance of checking their withholding as soon as possible. Read More

Written by | Posted in Form W-4 • IRS • Withholding Calculator

Tax Time Guide: Contribute To An Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA) By April 17, Claim It For 2017

WASHINGTON —The Internal Revenue Service reminded taxpayers today that it’s not too late to contribute to an Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA) and still claim it on a 2017 tax return. Anyone with an IRA may be eligible for a tax credit or deduction on their 2017 tax return if they make contributions by April 17, 2018.

This is the sixth in a series of nine IRS news releases called the Tax Time Guide, designed to help taxpayers navigate common tax issues. This year’s tax-filing deadline is April 17. Read More

Written by | Posted in IRA • IRS • Tax Return

IRS Alerts Taxpayers About Refund Scam

The IRS warns taxpayers of a new twist on an old scam. Criminals are depositing fraudulent tax refunds into individuals’ actual bank accounts, then attempting to reclaim the refund from the taxpayers.
Here are the basic steps criminals follow to carry out this scam. The thief:

• Hacks tax preparers’ computers to steal taxpayer data.

• Uses the stolen information to file tax returns as the taxpayers.

• Has refunds deposited into taxpayers’ bank accounts. Read More

Written by | Posted in Fraud • IRS • IRS Scam • Tax Reform • TaxConnections

NASCAR Holdings V. Testa: A Yellow Flag For Tax Practitioners And Taxpayers

In NASCAR Holdings, Inc. v. Testa, decided December 21, 2017, the Ohio Supreme Court held that the filing of a notice of appeal with the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals (“BTA”) by an attorney not licensed in Ohio did not deprive the BTA of jurisdiction over the appeal.  The Court followed the plurality opinion in Jemo Assoc., Inc. v. Lindley, 64 Ohio St.2d 365 (1980), which reversed the BTA’s dismissal of the appeal because it was filed by a corporate accountant.  Jemo stated that the proper inquiry in determining whether the notice of appeal invoked the BTA’s jurisdiction is whether the person who filed the notice of appeal was authorized by the taxpayer to file the appeal. Read More

Written by | Posted in Ohio Tax

IRS Alerts Taxpayers About Refund Scam

The IRS warns taxpayers of a new twist on an old scam. Criminals are depositing fraudulent tax refunds into individuals’ actual bank accounts, then attempting to reclaim the refund from the taxpayers.

Here are the basic steps criminals follow to carry out this scam. The thief:

  • Hacks tax preparers’ computers to steal taxpayer data.
  • Uses the stolen information to file tax returns as the taxpayers.
  • Has refunds deposited into taxpayers’ bank accounts.
  • Contacts their victims, telling them the money was mistakenly deposited into their accounts and asking them to return it.

Read More

Written by | Posted in IRS • IRS Scam • Tax Refund

Calculator Helps Taxpayers Review Withholding For New Tax Law

WASHINGTON –The Internal Revenue Service today released an updated Withholding Calculator on IRS.gov and a new version of Form W-4 to help taxpayers check their 2018 tax withholding following passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December.

The IRS urges taxpayers to use these tools to make sure they have the right amount of tax taken out of their paychecks.

“Following the major changes in the tax law, the IRS encourages employees to check their paychecks to help ensure they’re having the right amount of tax withheld for their personal situation,” said Acting IRS Commissioner David Kautter. Read More

Written by | Posted in Tax Cuts Jobs Act • Withholding Calculator

Am I At Risk For Being Audited?

Even though some IRS audits are chosen at random, there are a few factors that could put Texas taxpayers at an increased risk.

Taxpayers in Texas may understandably have a fear of being audited. After all, an Internal Revenue Service audit may be incredibly time-consuming and end in the consumer having to pay money to the government. However, that is not always the case. Read More

Written by | Posted in Audit • IRS

New Tax Law Cracks Down On Home Mortgage Interest

For years, taxpayers have been able to deduct home mortgage interest on their primary and second homes as an itemized deduction, subject to certain limitations. The interest deduction was limited to the interest on up to $1 million of acquisition debt and $100,000 of equity debt.

Acquisition debt is debt incurred to purchase, construct or substantially improve a taxpayer’s principal or second home. So when you purchased your home, that original loan was acquisition debt, and if you later borrowed additional money that you used to add a room, pool, etc., that loan was also acquisition debt. However, if the total of all of your acquisition loans exceeded the $1 million limit, then the interest on the excess debt over $1 million was not deductible as acquisition debt interest.  Read More

Written by | Posted in Mortgages
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