Category Archives: General Filing
Not every taxpayer is required to file a return. Depending on your income level, you may be entitled to claim more in deductions and credits than you’ve earned for the year. In these situations, you aren’t required to file a tax return since you have no taxable income to report to the IRS. Let’s say […]
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If you are an employee of a business, the employer is responsible for deducting federal and state taxes from your salary. However, independent contractors and self-employed individuals have to take care of this financial obligation on their own. Generally, these individuals will make estimated quarterly tax payments, and skipping them can lead to penalties and […]
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Targeting high-income taxpayers, the alternative minimum tax was enacted to combat only 155 households who were getting away with not paying any tax at all through credits, deductions, and exemptions. By today’s numbers, the AMT covers millions of families and grows each year. In 2008, the AMT grew to 3.9 million (up from 605,000 in […]
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Have you worked at a private startup for over a year, and held employee incentive stock options? If so you likely received a Form 3921 from your employer. Now that it’s tax season, here’s what you need to do. This form documents to the IRS that you have exercised stock options from your employer, and […]
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An innocent spouse seeks to be relieved from the liability of their spouse’s tax issues. Relief from Joint and Several Liability is Section 6015 of the Internal Revenue Code. Married taxpayers who file a joint return are liable for taxes, interests, and penalties according to the return, as well as any other taxes the IRS […]
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Taxpayers who file a joint return with their spouse and have part (or all) of their share of overpayment applied to a spouse’s past tax debts may be entitled to claim a refund as an injured spouse. A spouse’s past debts can include: Tax liability Child/spousal support Federal non-tax debt State income tax Situational Example: […]
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It’s tax time again. Be sure you’re prepared to file by gathering all the forms and documents you’ll need. Here are the most common things taxpayers use to complete their taxes, starting with the most basic: Last year’s tax return – federal and state. Not a requirement but used to compare what you filed last […]
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If you think you’ve been a victim of a tax identity theft, you should call the IRS immediately. The IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit can be reached at 1-800-908-4490. The more paperwork you have to prove you are whom you claim to be, dating as far back as possible, will help your claim. You’ll also […]
— Read moreWhen planning for the next tax year, taxpayers should keep accurate records and receipts of any expenses they plan to deduct. However, if no records exist, the Cohan Rule may benefit the taxpayer in such that it states expenses may be reasonably and credibly estimated. The taxpayer in the next situation benefited from the Cohan […]
— Read moreIf your spouse and children are U.S. citizens, it is easy to claim them on your tax returns. You just provide their name and Social Security numbers. It can be a bit more difficult to claim a non-U.S. citizen spouse or children on your return. But, you’re still able to claim them and take advantage […]
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