Category: News.
Beware Employee Retention Credit Scams

If you own a business, you may have been approached by mail, email, or telephone by marketers who claim that they can get you a tidy chunk of government money by preparing your application for the Employee Tax Credit (ERC). While the credit is real, aggressive promoters are wildly misrepresenting and exaggerating who can qualify […]

Expanded Home Energy Tax Credits

There are a lot of reasons why you might make improvements that improve the energy efficiency of your home. They are good for the environment, they can make your home more comfortable, and new equipment can be less prone to breaking down. To this list, you can also add tax credits that can make these […]

How to Track Your Tax Refund

If you have filed your federal tax return and are due a refund, you’re probably pretty eager to get your hands on the money you are owed. If you’re wondering when your refund will arrive, the IRS has an online tool called “Where’s My Refund?” that you can access on their website at https://www.irs.gov/refunds. The […]

Filing a Final Tax Return for a Deceased Person

A death is oftentimes a time of sadness. But that sadness can be compounded with confusion for surviving family members who are responsible for taking care of final arrangments. One of these arrangements that many are unfamiliar with is filing a final federal tax return for a deceased person. If you are responsible for the […]

Changes to Required Minimum Distributions

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are minimum amounts you must withdraw from your IRA or retirement plan account when you reach age 72. Beginning in 2023, the SECURE 2.0 Act changes the age RMDs must begin to age 73 for taxpayers that reach age 72 after December 31, 2022. Roth IRAs are not subject to RMDs […]

Have a Tax Bill You Can’t Pay?

If you can’t pay your tax bill by the April 18, 2023 deadline, don’t panic. The IRS offers several options to help you pay on a schedule you can afford. First of all, if you find yourself with a tax bill you can’t afford, it’s important that you don’t ignore the problem. You still need […]

Guidance Issued on Taxing of State Payments

Many states made special tax refunds or payments related to the pandemic and its associated consequences in 2022. A variety of state programs distributed these payments in 2022 and the rules surrounding their tax treatment are complex. One question was whether income related to these payments was taxable at a federal level. Recently, the IRS […]

Making Sense of Business Travel Deductions

If you travel for business, you probably know that you can deduct some of the expenses related to that travel from your income taxes. But knowing which expenses are deductible, and under what circumstances might make your head spin. In this article we want make sense of business travel deductions so that you know what […]

Taxes and the Gig Economy

The nature of work has changed over the last several years. In this time it has become more common for workers to work part-time and on-demand. Uber drivers, Doordash, grocery delivery, it seems like every week you hear about another company built on the so-called “gig economy.” But the income earned from these types of […]

Standard Mileage Rates Updated for 2023

If you itemize your deductions on your tax return, you may be interested to know that the IRS has updated the standard mileage rates for the use of a car. For 2023, the rates will be: 65.5 cents per mile driven for business use, up 3 cents from the increase that occurred midyear in 2022. […]

2023 Bookkeeping Promo

We have a special promotion for new bookkeeping client in 2023. The price is only $350 per month, and it includes all my normal fees for: Payroll processing * First Year Business Tax return LLC formation processing for one company * 6 mo sales tax processing fees (or three quarters) Waive the set up fee […]

New 1099-K Requirements Delayed

The IRS has announced a delay in reporting thresholds for third-party settlement organizations that was scheduled to take effect for the upcoming tax filing season. As a result of this delay, third-party settlement organizations will not be required to report tax year 2022 transactions on a Form 1099-K to the IRS or to the payee […]

What’s New in 2023

As I’m sure you know, Congress seems to make changes to tax laws just about every year. This year was no exception, so here are a few things related to taxes that you should be aware of as we head into 2023. Some tax credits return to 2019 levels Some tax credits that were adjusted […]

Reducing Taxes with Qualified Charitable Distributions

In most cases, distributions from a traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) are taxable in the year you receive them, but there are some exceptions. A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is one of these exceptions, and this opens up the possibility of using a QCD to reduce your taxes. A QCD is a nontaxable distribution made […]

Employers: Beware ERC Scams

If you are an employer, be careful about third parties that may advise you to claim the employee retention credit (ERC) when you don’t qualify. Some third parties are taking positions related to taxpayer eligibility for and computation of the credit that can’t be supported. This could spell trouble for employers that use these third […]

401(k) and IRA Limits Increase in 2023

The IRS has announced that the amount individuals can contribute to their 401(k) plans in 2023 has increased to $22,500, up from $20,500 for 2022. They have also announced increased contribution limits for Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs). Highlights of changes for 2023 The contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, […]

IRS Announces Tax Inflation Adjustments for 2023

The Internal Revenue Service has announced the tax year 2023 annual inflation adjustments for manyu tax provisions, including the tax rate schedules and other tax changes. Below are some of the highlights of these changes. Highlights The tax year 2023 adjustments described below generally apply to tax returns filed in 2024. The tax items for […]

The Child Tax Credit is for More Than Just Parents

Even people who are familiar with the Child Tax Credit (CTC), might not realize that you don’t necessarily have to be the parent of a child in order to qualify. If you are a grandparent, foster parent, sibling, or someone else who cares for a child, you might qualify, depending on your circumstances. What is […]

Overview of the Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) signed by President Biden in August 2022 includes a variety of tax provisions that will impact U.S. businesses and individuals. While some of the changes have received a great deal of media attention, others may come as a surprise to those who have not been following the legislative process closely. […]

Know What’s Deductible After Buying a Home

Buying a home a is a big step for many people, but lots of times it comes with a big learning curve. If you’re a homeowner, you should familiarize yourself with the deductions, housing allowances, and other programs that that are available to people who own their own home. When it comes to home ownership, […]

Tax Deductions for Educators

School is back in session in most areas, and students and teachers are again returning to the classroom. It’s unfortunate, but many teachers find themselves having to pay for necessary classroom supplies our of their own pocket. The educator expense deduction allows these eligible teachers and administrators to deduct part of the cost of technology, […]

Is Your Worker a Contractor or an Employee?

As a business owner, you might pay an independent contractor and an employee for similar – or even the same – work, but there are key legal differences between the two. If you hire workers, it’s critical that you correctly determine whether these workers are employees or independent contractors. Here’s some information to help you […]

A Primer on Business Related Travel Deductions

Business travel can be costly. Hotel bills, airfare or train tickets, cab fare, public transportation – it can all add up fast. The good news is that if you travel for business, you may be able off-set some of those costs by claiming business travel deductions when you file your taxes. Here’s what you need […]

Increased Mileage Rate for Remainder of 2022

The Internal Revenue Service announced an increase in the optional standard mileage rate for the final 6 months of 2022. Taxpayers may use the optional standard mileage rates to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business and certain other purposes. For the final 6 months of 2022, the standard mileage rate for […]

Kids, Summer Jobs, and Taxes

A lot of young people find themselves going into business each summer. Jobs like babysitting, lawn mowing, and dog walking teach responsibility and the value of hard work. But they also might come with an unexpected tax bill, because – whether they realize it or not – many of these young entrepreneurs are self-employed, and […]

It’s Time to Review Your Federal Withholding

It’s that time of year again. Summertime! The time of year when we all enjoy warm weather, vacation, and reviewing our federal tax witholding. Well, maybe we don’t all enjoy reviewing our federal tax witholding, but it’s definitely something that we all should do each year. And summertime is a good time to do it. […]