The IRS recommends that taxpayers use the Withholding Calculator on IRS.gov to do a “paycheck checkup” to check that their employers withhold the correct amount of income tax from their paychecks. The Withholding Calculator can help prevent employees from having too little or too much withheld from their paycheck. Having too little tax withheld can […]
Category: Tax Planning
Tax Preparedness Series: Tax Records – What to Keep
As tax filing season approaches, the Internal Revenue Service has information for taxpayers who wonder how long to keep tax returns and other documents. Generally, the IRS recommends keeping copies of tax returns and supporting documents at least three years. Some documents should be kept up to seven years in case a taxpayer needs to […]
Interest Rates for the Second Quarter of 2016
The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates have increased for the calendar quarter beginning April 1, 2016. The rates will be: four (4) percent for overpayments [three (3) percent in the case of a corporation]; one and one-half (1.5) percent for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000; four (4) percent for […]
IRS Offers New Cash Payment Option
The Internal Revenue Service announced today a new payment option for individual taxpayers who need to pay their taxes with cash. In partnership with ACI Worldwide’s OfficialPayments.com and the PayNearMe Company, individuals can now make a payment without the need of a bank account or credit card at over 7,000 7-Eleven stores nationwide. “We continue […]
Can’t Pay Taxes On Time? Here Are Five Tips
The IRS urges you to file on time even if you can’t pay what you owe. This saves you from potentially paying a penalty for a late filed return. Here is what to do if you can’t pay all your taxes by the due date. 1. File on time and pay as much as you can. […]
Six Facts You Should Know Before Deducting a Charitable Donation
If you gave money or goods to a charity in 2015, you may be able to claim a deduction on your federal tax return. Here are six important facts you should know about charitable donations. 1. Qualified Charities. You must donate to a qualified charity. Gifts to individuals, political organizations or candidates are not deductible. An […]
IRS WARNS OF NEW PHONE SCAM
The Internal Revenue Service is sounding the warning about a new tactic from phone scammers pretending to work for the IRS. The IRS said Monday it is receiving new reports of scammers calling under the guise of verifying tax return information over the phone. The latest variation has been seen in the last few weeks […]
Time Running Out to Claim $950 Million in Refunds for 2012 Tax Returns
If you did not file a tax return for 2012, you may be one of nearly one million taxpayers who may be due a refund from that year. If you are, you must claim your share of almost $950 million by April 18. To claim your refund, you must file a 2012 federal income tax […]
Early Retirement Distributions and Your Taxes
Many people find it necessary to take out money early from their IRA or retirement plan. Doing so, however, can trigger an additional tax on top of the income tax you may have to pay. Here are a few key points to know about taking an early distribution: 1. Early Withdrawals. An early withdrawal normally means […]
Dirty Dozen Tax Scams
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service warned taxpayers to avoid the temptation of falsely inflating deductions or expenses on their returns to under pay what they owe and possibly receive larger refunds. The vast majority of taxpayers file honest and accurate tax returns on time every year. However, each year some taxpayers fail to resist […]