Avoiding an IRS Audit

Although just 0.15 percent of taxpayers were audited in 2019, the fear of being audited is never far from many taxpayer’s minds, and with the taxes becoming more complicated every year, there’s an even greater possibility of confusion turning into a tax mistake… and an IRS audit. Avoiding “red flags” like the ones listed below, however, could help you avoid one.

Six Tips for Starting Your Own Business

Starting your own business can be an exciting prospect, but there is more to it than simply writing a business plan. Also, if you expect to have employees, there are a variety of federal and state forms and applications that will need to be completed to get your business up and running. That’s where a tax professional can help. With this in mind, let’s take a look at what you need to know before you start a new business.

How the Sharing Economy Affects Your Taxes

If you’ve ever used, or provided services for, Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, Etsy, Rover, or TaskRabbit, then you’re a member of the sharing economy and it could affect your taxes. The good news is that if you’ve only used these services (and not provided them), then there’s no need to worry about the tax implications.

Are Social Security Benefits Taxable?

Social Security benefits include monthly retirement, survivor, and disability benefits; they do not include Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, which are not taxable.

Tax Filing Season Begins

January 28, 2019, marked the start of this year’s tax filing season, and it’s the first time taxpayers will be filing under the new tax reform laws, most of which became effective in 2018. Complicating matters is a newly revised Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, as well as the partial shutdown of the federal government. With more than 150 million individual tax returns expected to be filed for the 2018 tax year, here’s what individual taxpayers can expect:

IRS Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2017

Compiled annually by the IRS, the “Dirty Dozen” is a list of common scams taxpayers may encounter in the coming months. While many of these scams peak during the tax filing season, they may be encountered at any time during the year. Here is this year’s list:

Tax Tips for Members of the Military

Special tax benefits apply to members of the U. S. Armed Forces. For example, some types of pay are not taxable, and special rules may apply to some tax deductions, credits, and deadlines. Here are ten of those benefits:

Tax Tips for Divorced or Separated Individuals

Income tax may be the last thing on your mind after a divorce or separation, but these events can have an impact on your taxes. Alimony and a name change are just two of the items you may need to consider. Here are some key tax tips to keep in mind if you get divorced or separated.

Is Canceled Debt Taxable?

Generally, debt that is forgiven or canceled by a lender is considered taxable income by the IRS and must be included as income on your tax return. Examples include a debt for which you are personally liable such as mortgage debt, credit card debt, and in some instances, student loan debt.

Filing an Amended Tax Return

What should you do if you already filed your federal tax return and then discover a mistake? First of all, don’t worry. In most cases, all you have to do is file an amended tax return. But before you do that, here is what you should be aware of when filing an amended tax return.