When tax season approaches, it’s always a good idea for parents and guardians to familiarize themselves with the current rules for claiming dependents. Doing so can lead to valuable tax benefits but also comes with highly specific eligibility criteria and guidelines. Delve into the intricacies of claiming dependents on your income taxes and empower yourself with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions, maximize tax savings, and ensure full compliance with tax regulations. Here’s what you need to know about the tax rules for claiming dependents.
It's no secret that it can be frustrating to navigate the complexities of US tax codes and regulations. Of course, the last thing anyone wants is to find themselves facing tax penalties. While every situation is unique, there are some common pitfalls that can trigger penalties, so empowering yourself with a bit of information can help you stay compliant. Here’s a brief guide on how to avoid the costly consequences of tax penalties.
Tax credits are powerful tools that directly reduce your tax liability, dollar for dollar. Unlike deductions designed to reduce your taxable income, tax credits directly reduce the amount of tax you owe. Tax credits are a great way to save money on your taxes because they can help to reduce your overall tax burden or even entitle you to a tax refund. Read on to learn more about the tax credits you don’t want to miss - and how to determine your eligibility.
June isn't just a time for soaking up the early summer sun; it's the most popular month for couples to get married. About 10.8% of engaged couples will set a date sometime in June, which edges out August for the most wedding-saturated month of the year. Whether you’re having a small or large ceremony, a reception for 20 or 200, you have likely been making plans for months or even years. In the midst of all the excitement, you probably won’t be thinking about your tax filing status. When tax time rolls around next year, here’s the information you’ll need regarding how tax filing status changes for married couples.
In the past few years, self-employment, or working as a freelancer, has become a popular means to earn a living while pursuing creative ideas or working on passion projects. However, along with the many benefits of being your own boss, such as scheduling and completing work at your convenience, there are tax repercussions of which you need to be aware. For self-employment tax reporting, there’s some specific information and documentation you must have on hand when tax time rolls around. If you’re self-employed, here’s what to expect when you file your taxes.
The April tax deadline is looming. If you haven’t filed your taxes yet, you may be debating whether to hire a CPA or do them yourself. If you do decide to engage a professional, must they be a CPA? Knowing when the time is right to bring in a CPA can help you run your business more successfully. So… when do you need to hire a CPA for tax preparation?
Love it or hate it, tax time is looming large. (Not that we think many of you love it, unless of course you’re receiving a tidy sum in a refund). All through the winter, and into spring, you try to stop thinking about it (or you've completely forgotten), but the deadline is drawing very near. You are supposed to get your taxes filed before the 18th of April, and there's no time left to tip-toe around the topic. With just days to go, tax time is truly upon us! Do you need an extension?
When you see the phrase "identity theft," it’s likely that the first thing you think of is compromised credit and debit cards or a hacked bank account. Often, the identity theft we hear about involves the electronic movement of money, so we have learned to be more careful, protecting how we share information and making sure our personal details are encrypted and secured. However, one crime not often considered is another popular type of identity theft involving your tax returns, though it’s more common than you might think. Let’s look at what is involved and some of the best ways to protect yourself against tax identity theft.
When you open your mailbox and find a simple white envelope with the return address containing the words “Internal Revenue Service” or “State Tax Commission”, you might feel your heart skip a beat as anxiety sets in. It could be a simple notice informing you of your Identity Protection PIN, or a request for more information, or possibly a notification of something more serious, such as potential tax identity theft or an impending audit. Once you steel yourself to open the envelope, it’s likely that your initial thoughts will be along the lines of “How do I handle this?” and “Who can help me?” This is the reason that we at Myrick CPA are introducing the Client Care Services Plan - for your peace of mind.
Three kinds of taxpayers are doing their taxes incorrectly: those who are waiting for a refund, those who are dreading doing their taxes, afraid of owing as much as they did in the prior year, and those who have actually haven't got a clue as to what their taxes will look like once the dust settles. What they all have in common is insufficient planning, and each of them should take time to sit down with a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and start planning for next year - because good tax planning never leaves money on the table.