Preparing for a Successful Retirement As you approach retirement, it’s vital that you pay attention to several important financial matters to ensure a smooth transition. Here are five of them: 1. Health Insurance Are you among the lucky few who will continue to be covered after retirement? If not, then you’ll need to replace your…
The Home Office Deduction With more people working from home than ever before, taxpayers may be wondering if they can claim a home office deduction when they file their 2020 tax return next year. The short answer is that self-employed taxpayers who use their home for business may be able to deduct expenses for the…
Tax Considerations When Hiring Household Help If you employ someone to work for you around your house, it is important to consider the tax implications of this type of 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…
It’s Never Too Early to Check Tax Withholding While it probably seem like tax season just ended, it is never too early to do a “Paycheck Checkup” to make sure the right amount of tax is withheld from earnings – and avoid a tax surprise next year when filing your 2020 tax return. As a…
Employee Payroll Tax Deferral Guidance On August 8, 2020, President Trump signed an executive order allowing employers to defer the withholding and payment of the employee share of Social Security taxes from September 1 through December 31, 2020. As the executive order left many unanswered questions, the IRS later released a notice on August 28, 2020 to…
Natural disasters such as hurricanes are more common in summer, but tornadoes, floods, and fires can strike at any time. As such, it’s always a good idea to plan for what to do in case of a disaster. Here are some simple steps you can take right now to prepare: 1. Backup Records Electronically. Many people…
While many schools are switching to hybrid or remote learning models, teachers and other educators should remember that they can still deduct certain unreimbursed expenses such as classroom supplies, training, and travel. Deducting these expenses helps reduce the amount of tax owed when filing a tax return. To qualify for the deduction, the taxpayer must…
If you discover a mistake on your tax return after you’ve already filed, don’t panic. In most cases, all you have to do is file an amended tax return. Here’s what you need to know: Taxpayers should use Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, to file an amended (corrected) tax return. An amended tax…
Compiled and issued annually every year by the IRS, this year it includes many aggressive and evolving schemes related to coronavirus tax relief, including Economic Impact Payments. The criminals behind these bogus schemes view everyone as potentially easy prey and everyone should be on guard, especially vulnerable populations such as the elderly. While tax-related scams…
Here’s How to Pay If You Owe Money to the IRS The federal tax deadline is quickly approaching. If you owe money to the IRS – including estimated and other business taxes – here are six options for quick and easy electronic payments: Taxpayers who owe a 2019 income tax liability, as well as estimated…