Categories for Tax News

Jul
11
2019

Divorce or separation may have an effect on taxes | Internal Revenue Service http://bit.ly/2l4H9In 

Jul
10
2019

If your kids are off to day camp, you may be eligible for a tax break

Now that most schools are out for the summer, you might be sending your children to day camp. The good news: You might be eligible for a tax break for the cost. Day camp is a qualified expense under the child and dependent care credit, which is worth 20% to 35% of qualifying expenses, up to a maximum of $3,000 for one qualifying child and $6,000 for two or more. Note: Sleep-away camp doesn’t qualify.

Jun
27
2019

Is an HSA right for you?





A Health Savings Account (HSA) offers tax-advantaged funding of health care costs. If you have a qualified high-deductible health plan, you can contribute to an HSA sponsored by your employer or set up by you. You own the account, which can bear interest or be invested. It can grow tax-deferred, similar to an IRA. Withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free, and you can carry over a balance from year to year.

Jun
18
2019

Employers: Be aware (or beware) of a harsh payroll tax penalty





If payroll taxes withheld from employees’ paychecks aren’t remitted to the IRS, a severe tax penalty can be personally imposed on “responsible” individuals. The IRS can assess a penalty of 100% of the unpaid tax amount on shareholders, owners, directors, officers, employees and others. The Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (or “100% Penalty”) is assessed when there’s a willful failure to collect and pay over to the IRS taxes that are withheld from employees.

Jun
11
2019

Paycheck Checkup

IRS continues campaign to encourage taxpayers to do a Paycheck Checkup; use Withholding Calculator to help get right amount for 2019 | Internal Revenue Service http://bit.ly/2X91o90

Jun
10
2019

The chances of IRS audit are down but you should still be prepared

The IRS just released its audit statistics for the 2018 fiscal year, and fewer taxpayers had their returns examined compared with prior years. Overall, just 0.59% of individual tax returns were audited (down from 0.62% in 2017). This was the smallest number of audits conducted since 2002. However, even though a small percentage of returns are being chosen for audit these days, that will be little consolation if yours is one of them. The easiest way to survive an IRS audit is to prepare.