Watch Out For IRS Tax Scams

There have been reported incidents of swindlers using an IRS pitch as a IRS Tax scam. One such incident happened to Brett. He panicked after hearing a phone message that the IRS was about to investigate him. Brett is a 43 year old contractor from the County of Morrow. He wondered whether he had missed anything in regards to his Free Turbo Tax application. So he decided to make a call back and then his worry turned to anger. There are lots of scammers out there especially as the Tax period gets near. More about IRS Tax Scams:

IRS Tax Scams

At this time of the year, thieves and con artists fine tune their tricks and up their game in order to swindle individuals, often threatening them with jail terms and deportation. The IRS has now issued an alert to the public, warning of the phone scam and other scams people are likely to be exposed to at this time of making their tax returns. Turbo Tax should help people allay their fears in regards to their 2016 taxes.

IRS Tax Scams
Photo by Judith E. Bell 

The Ohio State Attorney General has been fielding questions and complaints from local residents, especially those from the counties of Morrow, Fairfield and Franklin. It is expected that con artists will pull scams pretending to be from the government as this helps their scams seem more legitimate.

TurboTax ItsDeductible Is Going Mobile

On December 3, 2013, Intuit Inc announced that its’ new TurboTax ItsDeductible app for iPhone had become available. This app is aimed at helping the estimated seventy-five percent of US citizens who donate to charity, convert their goodwill into sizable tax deductions. This app is free of charge and offered on the iPhone with iOS7 app store.

The Turbo Tax online program itself is very popular. When combined with the portability and convenience of a mobile device, the TurboTax ItsDeductible app allows people to easily monitor their charitable donations. This app features valuations for over ten thousand commonly donated items, like toys, clothing, sporting goods, games, appliances, household products and more.

Although most taxpayers are aware that non cash donations might be tax deductible, they do not always value the goods they donate to charity correctly. Usually, this is because they have just guessed the value randomly. For example, sometimes, bags of clothes are donated with $50.00 valuations, when the real value is over $300.00.

Prior to leaving a donation facility, people can easily and quickly input their donated goods into TurboTax ItsDeductible. Then, the app will automatically make a fair market valuation, based on guidelines by the Internal Revenue Service. This ensures that users receive the full deductions they are entitled to on their tax returns. The app uses location sensitive technology to quickly capture the address of the charity, for tax record keeping. All philanthropists should monitor their donations with this app, to be properly rewarded for their generosity.

4 Scenarios Where You May Want Assistance with Your Taxes

Let’s face it: taxation laws can be complicated. The average person has limited knowledge of things like mergers & acquisition, San Diego tax laws, management consulting, San Diego business formations and much, much more. Even if you have filed your own taxes before and have never sought assistance, there are some scenarios in life where you may want to find a consultant to help you transition and prepare your taxes accurately.

1) You’ve started your own business.

If you have recently started your own business, congratulations! This is a huge accomplishment that can reap big rewards. However, there are a lot of ins and outs to owning your own company, especially in terms of finances and taxation. In regards to advisory management, San Diego financial and legal firms are ready to assist you in creating a workable business budget, managing your financial assets and finding write-offs for expenditures that you are making for the company. America’s tax codes were originally written in support of small businesses, so a skilled tax and accounting specialist can help you learn how to use laws to your advantage as a new business owner.

2) You’re pressed for time.

Maybe you work for someone else, and your taxes aren’t very complicated. However, you simply don’t have the time to file your own forms and figure everything out. With the go, go, go rush of Southern California and/or the business world, accountants can come in handy. Find a certified accountant with a track record of success (check on the Better Business Bureau website) and a tax preparer identification number to get you started. With your W-2s, records of expenditures and any receipts you may be able to write off, an experienced professional can take much of the tax-filing burden off your back.

3) Frankly, you’re bad at math.

If formulas and equations get your head in a spin, there’s no shame in hiring an accountant. When it comes to the IRS and taxes, it’s better to be safe than sorry—hire someone who can help you understand your return or who can just do it accurately for you the first time.

4) Your finances have significantly changed in the past year.

If you own a company that bought out another in a merger/acquisition, this can change your tax responsibility. Or, if you have purchased new real estate or sold previously owned property, your tax codes may be different than last year. Even in the case of a new addition to the family, or the death of a loved one, you may be surprised to see that your tax liability could have changed significantly from the previous year. If you suspect that a major life change will affect your finances, call a taxation/finance specialist.

Jessica writes about a wide variety of topics.  She especially enjoys writing about taxes. You can learn more about mergers & acquisition san diego at http://www.allenbarron.com/

 

5 Tax Write-offs for Freelancers

2010 is officially over, and you know what that means–it’s almost time to prepare your taxes (cue groaning.) Tax preparation can be a daunting task, especially if you plan to do it yourself.  And for freelancers or self-employed individuals, there may be even more confusion.  Luckily, there is a lot of information available online today to help us all through the process.  Terms likes 1099s, Schedule SE, Schedule C, Schedule C-EZ, will be words you soon become familiar with, if you aren’t already.

Below are 5 great tax write-off opportunities for freelancers and the self-employed.  It’s important to be aware … Read more at 2009 Taxes

2010 is officially over, and you know what that means–it’s almost time to prepare your taxes (cue groaning.) Tax preparation can be a daunting task, especially if you plan to do it yourself.  And for freelancers or self-employed individuals, there may be even more confusion.  Luckily, there is a lot of information available online today to help us all through the process.  Terms likes 1099s, Schedule SE, Schedule C, Schedule C-EZ, will be words you soon become familiar with, if you aren’t already.

Below are 5 great tax write-off opportunities for freelancers and the self-employed.  It’s important to be aware of what tax write-off options are available because, as freelancers and self-employed individuals, you’re paying much more taxes than someone employed by an employer.  Freelancers and the self-employed pay not only the employee share of Social Security and Medicare taxes, but also the employer’s share.

1.    Job Hunting Expenses and PayPal Fees: Freelancers with long-term projects are fortunate in not having to continuously search for new gigs, however, for most freelancers, we’re always on the hunt for more projects to keep the pay-flow going.  This may mean signing up with job boards where there may be a fee to join or a fee to bid on projects.  These are expenses that may be written off.  PayPal fees for accepting payment from clients for work completed may also be written off.  Just make sure you keep receipts and print off all online documentation pertaining to the expenses and fees.

2.   Health Insurance Expenses: If you are buying your own health insurance (meaning you are not part of a health plan offered by your employer or your spouse’s employer), then this is an area that is deductible. Health insurance premiums are costly so this is an area where you can see the biggest deductible from your freelance work income.

3.    Home Expenses: This particularly applies to individuals who work directly out of their home.  A portion of your utilities, cellphone (if used for business), insurance, and mortgage interest may be deducted.  The amount deductible is based on a percentage calculated from how large your office space is within your home.  You’ll need IRS Form 8829.

4.    Research and Technology Expenses: If you are working in a particular industry and have expenses related to research for that industry, such as attendance cost for a conference, a book purchase, a magazine subscription, or something else related, gather your receipts as these items that qualify for tax write-off. Technology equipment, such as the cost of a computer, a printer, and other equipment you use for work also qualify.  And don’t forget about Web site hosting fee and design and maintenance fees, these are also expenses you may write off.

5.    Travel and Transportation Expenses: Travel associated with doing business may be written-off.  Whether the expense is for airfare, hotel, car service, gas, tolls, mass transit, or car payment and insurance cost, these are all expenses you should have a tally of to determine the amount that can be written off.  Business-related travel includes any transportation required to attend a business meeting, to purchase office supplies, to attend an event, and other related-business purposes.  Business travel does not include going to and from work.

Want to know more?  Check out these 50 blogs about taxes!

Wendy Lau is a New York City-based guest blogger for Pounding the Pavement and a writer on the subject of becoming a nail technician for the Guide to Career Education.

Find most updated turbo tax coupons and save money on 2010 tax preparation.

The Process of Minimizing Tax Returns

The Process of Minimizing Tax Returns

Claiming an interest payment deduction would help you decrease your taxes. Those who are shouldering the burden of student loans would hardly want to add to the worries by requiring paying interest on the repayable amount to the government. Fortunately, it is possible in several cases to deduct the interest applicable on student loans. This is not a very difficult process provided that you fulfill the prerequisites for claiming the aforementioned deduction on your taxes.

The first step towards this would be to have the correct filing status, which, in this particular … Read more at 2009 Taxes

The Process of Minimizing Tax Returns

Claiming an interest payment deduction would help you decrease your taxes. Those who are shouldering the burden of student loans would hardly want to add to the worries by requiring paying interest on the repayable amount to the government. Fortunately, it is possible in several cases to deduct the interest applicable on student loans. This is not a very difficult process provided that you fulfill the prerequisites for claiming the aforementioned deduction on your taxes.

The first step towards this would be to have the correct filing status, which, in this particular case, implies that every kind of filing is applicable other than being married and filing taxes separately. The reason for exemption of this status is not very clear; however, to avoid wasting time filling out a deduction which you are not eligible to claim, you should take note of this rule.

You should also remember that you are not eligible to claim a deduction in case you claim to be another individual’s dependent or associated with tax exemption on their tax forms. This should be easy for those who have graduated from college and in the process of repaying their education loans. Even then, it is wise to make absolutely certain that no second person claims you as tax deduction in their own forms.

Moreover, you are eligible to claim deduction of taxes only after you have paid the applicable interest on your education loan. This is applicable only in cases where you are the sole individual to have any obligation to repay the loan. This means that in case you are liable to pay interest on a loan amount that both you and your parents are obliged to repay, or a parent PLUS loan, you are not eligible to claim this particular deduction.

In case you are paying interest on an education loan made in the name of a dependent of yours, you are eligible to claim the interest as a deduction. However, it should be remembered that this claim for deduction holds ground only if you are the person responsible for repaying the loan. In this case, you would also be required to claim an exemption based on your tax return.

Help Me In My Tax Preparation

Help Me In My Tax Preparation

Nothing can make you grind your teeth more than the thought of tax preparations. Fortunately, there are some people making a living out of this.

If thinking about preparing your taxes raises your anxiety level, then stop, you don’t have to worry. This tax preparation job can be easily outsourced to other people. These people are known as tax preparers who prepare and file tax returns throughout the year. It will be of help to know the different types of tax preparers available in the market.

The basic tax preparers work at … Read more at 2009 Taxes

Help Me In My Tax Preparation

Nothing can make you grind your teeth more than the thought of tax preparations. Fortunately, there are some people making a living out of this.

If thinking about preparing your taxes raises your anxiety level, then stop, you don’t have to worry. This tax preparation job can be easily outsourced to other people. These people are known as tax preparers who prepare and file tax returns throughout the year. It will be of help to know the different types of tax preparers available in the market.

The basic tax preparers work at a low fee and have the least expertise. Most of these professionals are part-timers. For a simple tax condition such as basic W2 salaries without any home ownership, it is the best choice.

A more advanced form of tax preparers are the enrolled agents. IRS provides licenses to these people and they need to keep up their educational standards to protect their licenses. But they don’t have any formal education in tax or finance. Compared to basic preparers, the enrolled agents are more competent, but much less compared to a CPA. For a tax situation that requires basic 1040 filing along with some schedules, an enrolled agent would be a good choice. But if you need more sophisticated actions such as reducing your tax payments, then you would be better off approaching a CPA.

A certified public accountant or CPA is licensed as well as highly trained. It’s really a difficult task to pass the boards in order to become a CPA. After becoming a CPA, he or she is needs to pursue approximately another 40 hours of education. But the bottom line of using a CPA is that with higher competencies, the cost of service also rises proportionately. Most CPAs are worth the money you spend on them as they can guide you well with all your overall tax planning.

Then there are tax attorneys. They can provide you with more sophisticated tax plans to save huge money. The tax attorneys also can look after situations when you get pulled for an audit by the IRS. CPAs are good enough to handle any tax issue raised by IRS, but they hardly have any clue regarding evidentiary laws. For any kind of legal issues raised by the IRS, you will need a tax attorney to fight for it.

So, who would be the right person for your tax preparations? The answer to this question rests on the type of financial condition you are in and your objective. Normally the equation is simple: more complexities need more competencies. If you can afford it, go for a CPA. If the CPA is good enough, your savings will be far more compared to the fee are paying.