This tax season, some taxpayers will be shocked to learn that they owe money to the IRS, perhaps because their employer didn’t withhold enough from their wages. This can also happen when an employee has more than one job or income that fluctuates throughout the year. But it’s your responsibility to ensure withholding is adequate. … Read More
If charitable giving is important to you, consider a donor-advised fund (DAF). A DAF — typically sponsored and managed by a community foundation or commercial investment company — offers many of the benefits of a private foundation at a fraction of the cost. Upsides of a DAF A DAF allows you to make tax-deductible contributions … Read More
If you’ve earned income from the gig economy, the IRS is reminding you that those wages are taxable and must be reported. The gig economy is when people earn income providing on-demand work, services or goods. Often, the gig is acquired through a digital platform, such as a smart phone app. Taxpayers must report income … Read More
Under just about any circumstances, the word “leakage” has negative connotations. And so it follows that this indeed holds true for retirement planning as well. In this context, leakage refers to early, pre-retirement withdrawals from an account. Now, as a business owner who sponsors a qualified retirement plan, you might say, “Well, that’s my participants’ … Read More
With tax season well underway, the IRS warns taxpayers to remain on guard when it comes to security. Be especially mindful, says the IRS, of scams involving unemployment benefits. Many states have reported a surge in fraudulent unemployment claims filed using stolen identities. Unemployment benefits are taxable income and are reported to recipients on Form … Read More
In late January, a survey entitled “Audit Committee Practices Report: Common Threads Across Audit Committees” was published by Deloitte and the Center for Audit Quality, an affiliate of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The survey analyzed 246 responses, including 86% of respondents who served on audit committees of public companies. Here are some … Read More
If you’re in business for yourself as a sole proprietor, or you’re planning to start a business, you need to know about the tax aspects of your venture. Here are eight important issues to consider: 1. You report income and expenses on Schedule C of Form 1040. The net income is taxable to you regardless … Read More
Are you wondering how long you’ll have to wait for a federal tax return? Assuming you e-filed, your tax situation is relatively uncomplicated and your return’s accurate, the IRS reports that your refund will likely arrive in less than 21 calendar days. As of Feb. 18, the IRS had issued more than 22 million refunds … Read More
If you operate a business, or you’re starting a new one, you know you need to keep records of your income and expenses. Specifically, you should carefully record your expenses in order to claim all of the tax deductions to which you’re entitled. And you want to make sure you can defend the amounts reported … Read More
If you’re a “box checker” and have already checked off “filing my taxes” from your to-do list, congratulations. Now you may be wondering, “where’s my refund?” To find out, pull out your smart phone and download the IRS’s mobile app, IRS2GO. The IRS says your refund status should be available within 24 hours after it … Read More