WEATHER ALERT
Why Shohei Ohtaniās heavily-deferred contract could be model pro athletes ask for going forward
Read full article: Why Shohei Ohtaniās heavily-deferred contract could be model pro athletes ask for going forwardOhtani has decided to defer $680 million of the contract until after his playing days are over, meaning heāll take in roughly $2 million of salary each year for the duration of the contract that will run through 2033.
IRS aims to go paperless by 2025 as part of its campaign to conquer mountains of paperwork
Read full article: IRS aims to go paperless by 2025 as part of its campaign to conquer mountains of paperworkMost taxpayers will be able to digitally submit a slew of tax documents and other communications to the IRS next filing season and the agency plans to go completely paperless in 2025.
5 situations in which pets can be used for tax breaks
Read full article: 5 situations in which pets can be used for tax breaksFor those animal lovers who spend so much money on their pets and hope to recoup some of that cash spent when tax season arrives, this is the cold, hard reality: For the most part, you canāt.
Quiz: How much do you know about income tax?
Read full article: Quiz: How much do you know about income tax?You likely know what āincomeā means, and of course youāre aware of federal and state taxes, and the fact that we have to do them (or have them prepared for us, in some cases), every year. But how much do you know about income tax overall?
9+ deductions you should be making if you are self-employed
Read full article: 9+ deductions you should be making if you are self-employedWhether youāre new to owning your own business or a seasoned vet, taxes can be so stressful. Itās easy to overlook things or simply forget an item here and there.
5 invaluable pieces of advice when it comes to tax-efficient gifting
Read full article: 5 invaluable pieces of advice when it comes to tax-efficient giftingIf youāre looking for ways to gift some money, to ultimately lower the value of your estate or tax liability for the year, youāve come to the right place.
Giving Tuesday: How these 4 tax break changes for 2021 can enhance contributions
Read full article: Giving Tuesday: How these 4 tax break changes for 2021 can enhance contributionsFor those who plan on donating to a charitable organization for Giving Tuesday, there could be some opportunities to receive money back when filing taxes next year.
Floridaās back-to-school sales tax holiday expands to 10 days
Read full article: Floridaās back-to-school sales tax holiday expands to 10 daysThis yearās annual back-to-school sales tax holiday has been expanded to 10 days, giving busy parents more time to prepare for their children heading back to school.
5 things you should know if youāre filing taxes for the first time
Read full article: 5 things you should know if youāre filing taxes for the first timeIf you grew up watching your parents get stressed around tax season, then you're probably not looking forward to filing yourself for the first time.
Taxes: Answers to top FAQs about Social Security income
Read full article: Taxes: Answers to top FAQs about Social Security incomeEven for those of us who think we have some knowledge about anything tax related, it can be a stressful time. And it's certainly not a time when you want to play a guessing game.
How do I file taxes if Iām working remotely in another state thatās not my residence?
Read full article: How do I file taxes if Iām working remotely in another state thatās not my residence?A common aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two or so years has been more employees working remotely, but that doesnāt necessarily mean all those people were working from their homes.
Youāve filed your taxes -- now, what should you do with those documents?
Read full article: Youāve filed your taxes -- now, what should you do with those documents?If youāve finally gotten your taxes filed, youāre probably ready to put it all away and move on. Have you considered which documents you should keep? And for how long?
Is it time to switch to paying quarterly taxes? Hereās when to decide, and how to get it done
Read full article: Is it time to switch to paying quarterly taxes? Hereās when to decide, and how to get it doneThereās one day each year that sticks out to American taxpayers everywhere, and this year is April 18: Tax Day. But to another group of people -- the ones who make quarterly payments -- there are three other times a year to pay up.
3 ways to handle unemployment benefits when it comes to income taxes
Read full article: 3 ways to handle unemployment benefits when it comes to income taxesFor those who turned to unemployment benefits last year, with tax season upon us, you might be wondering how itās all going to shake out when it comes to filing your income taxes. But hereās the thing: You still have to pay federal taxes on said unemployment benefits. It ensures you wonāt have that burden later, giving you a head start when tax season approaches. Pay quarterlyIf you didnāt have your taxes withheld, another option is to send quarterly estimated taxes on that money to the IRS. When quarterly taxes are due:When you get paid Tax due date Jan. 1āMarch 31 April 15 April 1āMay 31 June 15 June 1āAug.
This checklist will help ensure you have everything prepared for filing this tax season
Read full article: This checklist will help ensure you have everything prepared for filing this tax seasonRegardless of whether youāve paid someone for help or tried to do it on your own, even just gathering all the data you need for filing your federal income taxes can seem daunting.
The IRS has made changes to the tax bracket -- hereās what it will mean for you
Read full article: The IRS has made changes to the tax bracket -- hereās what it will mean for youEarlier this week, the IRS announced the 2021 tax year annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax previsions. Those include tax rate schedules and other tax changes. The following are the 2021 tax rates, which will be used when filing taxes in 2022 for the previous year of income. Taxpayers with lower incomes with have lower federal tax rates. Click or tap here to learn about more changes that have come with tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2021.
Hereās how the top tax preparation softwares stack up against each other
Read full article: Hereās how the top tax preparation softwares stack up against each otherThe clockās winding down on the extended tax season, and for those who might have procrastinated, weāre here to fill you in on your options, so you can decide for yourself which tax preparation service is best for you. With the help of Consumers Advocate, weāve provided a comprehensive list for you. Click on the following company names to learn more about how the services they provide stack up: Jackson Hewitt | TaxPoint | Taxbrain | OnePriceTaxes.
Havent done your taxes? Here are links to free tools to meet July 15 deadline
Read full article: Havent done your taxes? Here are links to free tools to meet July 15 deadlineMIAMI The July 15 deadline to file and pay taxes or to request an Oct. 15 extension or a payment plan is in a week and two days. EARNING $69,000 OR LESSFor those whose 2019 adjusted gross income was $36,000 or less, the IRS is providing the Free File program by TurboTax, or the Free Tax USA tool. For those whose income was $69,000 to $14,000, the IRS provides the free OLT service. For those whose income was $69,000 to $9,000 and they are 65 years old or younger, there is this free tool. EARNING $69,000 OR MOREThe IRS recommends the use of commercial software or accounting businesses that qualify as e-File providers.
Income tax filing deadline moved to July 15: What does it all mean?
Read full article: Income tax filing deadline moved to July 15: What does it all mean?WASHINGTON ā The income tax filing date has been pushed back from April 15, to July 15, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said late last week. Mnuchin announced the decision in a tweet Friday, saying that at President Donald Trumpās direction, āWe are moving Tax Day from April 15 to July 15. The delay is available to people who owe $1 million or less and corporations that owe $10 million or less. It is expected that many states will follow the lead of the federal government and delay their tax filing deadlines as well but that will be a state by state decision. The administration is working with Congress to develop a $1 trillion support package and Mnuchin has said the IRS payment delay will add $300 billion to that effort.
For some, credit cards are a major part of tax season, survey finds
Read full article: For some, credit cards are a major part of tax season, survey findsTax season and credit cards seem to go hand-in-hand like peanut butter and jelly, at least if you believe the findings of a recent study conducted by Credit Card Insider. Using SurveyMonkey to conduct an online survey of 3,114 adults from Feb. 3-5, Credit Card Insider found out the following information when it comes to how important credit cards are for people during tax season. 14% of respondents who expected to owe this year planned on using a credit card to pay their taxes. Of those expecting a tax refund, 40% had credit card debt. 75% of those with debt plan to use their tax refund toward paying it off.
Goodwill Industries offers free tax preparation
Read full article: Goodwill Industries offers free tax preparationMIAMI ā The 17th largest employer in South Florida is providing qualifying individuals with free tax preparation. The last day to take advantage of this free service is Saturday, March 28. Senior student volunteers from the University of Miami, who have been trained and certified by the IRS, are carrying out this service made possible through the IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. It is offered on a first-come-first-serve basis at the Goodwill South Florida headquarters, located at 2121 NW 21st St. in Miami. Goodwill South Florida expects to help an estimated 150 families this tax season.
Waiting for a tax refund? Hereās when you can expect to get it
Read full article: Waiting for a tax refund? Hereās when you can expect to get itBut listen, if youāre thinking you might be getting a refund, thatās pretty good incentive to get it taken care of. If IRS accepts return by: Direct deposit sent (or paper check mailed one week later): Feb. 3 Feb. 14 (Feb 21) Feb. 10 Feb. 21 (Feb 28) Feb. 18 Feb. 28 (Mar. 6) Feb. 24 Mar. 10) March 29 Apr. Are you currently waiting on a refund?
Social Security & Tax Breaks
Read full article: Social Security & Tax BreaksFiguring out what you owe can be complicated, here is some information to understand what is taxable under Social Security. Social Security is taxable at three different levels, based upon how much other income you have and your income tax filing status. This is 50% of your household Social Security benefits plus all of your other taxable income, plus any tax-free income. These breakpoints are the same if your filing status is Married Filing Separately and the couple does not live together during the tax year. If your Provisional Income (defined above) is less than the first breakpoint based on your filing status, then none of your Social Security is taxable.
How to prepare for next year's taxes now
Read full article: How to prepare for next year's taxes nowTo avoid the chaos that can come with filing taxes, use these tips to start preparing for next year's return. Start filing: Dedicate a box to all of your documents that you will need to file next year's taxes. When it's time to do your taxes all of your materials will already be gathered. Find a tax specialist: If you are in the need of a tax specialist for next year, now is the time to look. Keep a list of questions: If you have questions throughout the year about your taxes, keep a running list so you can ask your tax professional when it is time to file.
3 Money-Saving Tax Tips for Homeowners
Read full article: 3 Money-Saving Tax Tips for HomeownersIf you have not yet filed your taxes - here are three tips for homeowners that will save money, headaches, and more! This is the mortgage interest statement that will get you tax breaks due to mortgage interest and property taxes. If you make under $64,000/year, you likely qualify for free tax prep software from the IRS. Even if you are making over this, a good accountant can save you money by spotting deductions you might not know to look for. Be sure to keep your eye out for other tax breaks as you do maintenance, upgrades, or renovations on your home throughout the year, too!
Million-dollar ideas that paid off
Read full article: Million-dollar ideas that paid offMany Americans are fascinated with the concept of the "million-dollar idea." Many of the big million-dollar (or billion-dollar) ideas of this generation are related to technology, from Apple and Microsoft to Google, from MySpace and YouTube to Facebook. Here's a small sampling of million-dollar ideas, past and present. Great Depression Basic: Spic and Span The problem with economic hard times is that even if an inventor comes up with a million-dollar idea, who's going to buy it? Ron Popeil wasn't a man with just one million-dollar idea.
Can't pay your taxes? There are options
Read full article: Can't pay your taxes? There are optionsBy Kevin Hagen, Contributing writerIf you can't pay your taxes, you should file your return anyway to avoid a late filing penalty. If after preparing your tax return you find that you owe taxes and don't have the money to pay, you have some options. File Your Return When you can't pay your taxes, you should file your return anyway. If you don't, you will be charged a late filing penalty in addition to late payment penalties and interest. There is a fee for requesting an installment agreement, and late payment penalties and interest accrue on the balance.
Avoid tax preparer fraud by picking a qualified preparer
Read full article: Avoid tax preparer fraud by picking a qualified preparerIf your preparer commits fraud, the tax payer is responsible. Follow these tips from the IRS to select a qualified preparer:- Avoid preparers who claim they can get you a larger refund than someone else. - Choose a professional who signs your tax return and gives you a copy for your records. - Choose a preparer or a firm who will be around potentially years down the road to answer questions about your tax return ā especially if you get audited. - Check the preparerās credentials.