Tag Archive for Tax Blog

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

Tax Cuts Jobs Act (TCJA) – Changes To Deductions For Meals, Entertainment, And Expenditures

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act[1] (“TCJA”) made various changes to the deductibility of certain entertainment, amusement, recreation, meals, and fringe benefit expenditures[2]. The central theme of the items below was to close the gap where items were previously deductible by an employer and not includible in the income of the employee (i.e., permanent differences with the Treasury losing on both ends). Rather than attempt to tax the recipient, Treasury appears to have generally chosen to deny deductibility to the employer (while retaining non-inclusion by the recipient).

Below is a summary of the relevant provisions impacted by TCJA: Read More

Written by | Posted in Tax Cuts Jobs Act

Washington Sales And Use Tax Exemptions For Medical Products Purchased By Hospitals

Washington sales and use tax law considers hospitals and health care facilities to be the consumers of the medical supplies and equipment used in providing medical services to patients. The Washington sales and use tax exemptions that apply to certain purchases do so based upon the use of the item in question.

Prescription drugs for human consumption are exempt from Washington sales and use tax.  There is a three-pronged definition a substance must meet in order to be defined as a “drug” under Washington sales and use tax law.

First, it must be a substance that is listed in the official United States pharmacopoeia.  Second, it must be intended for use during the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease.  Third, the substance must affect the structure or function of the body.  Read More

Written by | Posted in Sales And Use Tax Manufacturing Exemption • Washington Tax

Tax Advisor’s – Please Help Answer Tax Question Of The Week!

Tax Advisor’s – Your Thoughts On This Question Of The Week?

A 62 year old exempt Catholic Priest has paid 44 quarters of social security and medicare payments with the past eleven years of income tax returns. He qualifies for medicare at age 65, reduced social security at age 62 and full social security at age 66.

Can the Catholic Priest stop paying social security and medicare payments on future earnings?

Read More

Written by | Posted in Tax Questions • TaxConnections

Tax Advisor’s – You Are Invited To Join TaxConnections

Tax Advisors, You Are Invited To Join Us At TaxConnections in order to increase your visibility to our worldwide audience.

Watch TaxConnections Newest Video- TaxConnections Membership.

 

Written by | Posted in Tax Video

IRS Notice States Taxpayers Will Not Be Able To Circumvent Three-Year Rule Using S Corporations

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that S corporations are subject to the extended three year holding period for applicable partnership interests and that regulations will be issued soon.

Carried interests are ownership interests in a partnership that share in the partnership’s net profits.  Carried interests often are issued to investment managers in connection with the investment manager’s services.  These interests often result in the holder receiving capital gains which are taxed at a lower rate, rather than ordinary income. Read More

Written by | Posted in IRS • S-Corp

Taxpayers – 7 Reasons Why You Should File Your Tax Return Early

Filing your taxes long before the April 15 deadline might not be your top priority, but there are many benefits to completing your return early. By filing early:

  • You avoid the last-minute stress,
  • Have time to plan for paying taxes you may owe,
  • You can get your refund faster and
  • Avoid fraud by filling out your tax forms sooner rather than later.

1. The Earlier You File, The Earlier You Get Your Refund

  •  A good reason to file your taxes early you’ll get your money sooner.
  • According to the IRS, the average refund was more than $2,800 for 2016 and 2017 Tax Filers…so why miss on that earlier claim and why give you an interest free loan to IRS?

Read More

Written by | Posted in Tax Filing • Tax Return

Some Taxpayers Eligible For A Refund And Do Not Even Know It

Taxpayers who are not required to file a tax return may want to do so. They might be eligible for a tax refund and don’t even know it. Some taxpayers might qualify for a tax credit that can result in money in their pocket. Taxpayers need to file a 2017 tax return to claim these credits.

Here is information about four tax credits that can mean a refund for eligible taxpayers:

  • Earned Income Tax Credit. A taxpayer who worked and earned less than $53,930 last year could receive the EITC as a tax refund. They must qualify for the credit, and may do so with or without a qualifying child. They may be eligible for up to $6,318. Taxpayers can use the 2017 EITC Assistant tool to find out if they qualify.

Read More

Written by | Posted in Individual Tax • Tax Credit • Tax Cuts Jobs Act • Tax Return

FBAR Must Be Filed Electronically Through FinCEN’s BSA E-Filing System, Not With The Federal Tax Return

FBAR must be filed electronically through FinCEN’s BSA E-Filing System. The FBAR is not filed with a federal tax return.

Public Law 114-41 mandates a maximum six-month extension of the filing deadline. To implement the statute with minimal burden to the public and FinCEN, FinCEN will grant filers failing to meet the FBAR annual due date of April 15 an automatic extension to October 15 each year. Accordingly, specific requests for this extension are not required.

Thus, before the FBAR extended due date of October 15, file streamlined FBARs for each of the most recent 6 years for which the FBAR due date has passed (i.e., is delinquent, and of course timely file the current year FBAR too). Read More

Written by | Posted in Canada • FBAR • Federal • Tax Return

How To Turn IRS Notices Into A Marketing Opportunity

Well, last week Nina Olson, who’s the National Taxpayer Advocate at IRS, came out and stated that the real audit rate in the United States is 6.2%, not 7/10 of 1%. Just to put that in perspective, 7/10 of 1% equates to just over a million audits, and 6.2% equates to nearly 7 million audits. So who’s right? Who’s wrong?

How do you turn that into a marketing opportunity? Here is what the IRS is doing. Their headcount has been decimated over the last 3 or 4 years. It’s down by 23%. So more and more, the IRS is relying on technology, and their computers are generating automatic notices. 70% of the time they’re incorrect. Read More

Written by | Posted in IRS • Tax Marketing • TaxConnections

Millennials Are More Likely To Fall For An IRS Scam

(Bloomberg) “You must pay your taxes immediately, or else,” an ominous voice on the other line says before demanding a credit-card number. Most Americans roll their eyes and hang up on these scam calls, but thousands have fallen victim, and millennials are more susceptible than older generations, a new study finds.

Millennials are less likely than Gen Xers or Baby Boomers to receive tax scam phone calls, according to a recent survey, but they were six times more likely than older generations to give the scammer their credit-card numbers, and twice as likely to give their Social Security numbers. Read More

Written by | Posted in IRS • IRS Scam

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
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