Source: Forbes Magazine Teaching kids about money is not easy. No five-year-old wants to sit in front of the computer learning how to do online banking or watching their parents write a check. Especially in these Covid times, kids would probably rather be playing outside or doing a TikTok dance. Who can blame them? But…
Read More...New Changes to 2020 Tax Laws
There are many changes to the 2020 tax laws. A few of them include: 1) If you did not receive your Economic Impact Payment (stimulus money) there is a place on the tax return to recover that amount of money for which you qualify. Any child born in 2020 is eligible for the credit, as…
Read More...Newly Married Couples
Name and address changes – Name. When a name changes through marriage, it is important to report that change to the Social Security Administration. The name on a person’s tax return must match what is on file at the SSA. If it doesn’t, it could delay any tax refund. To update information, taxpayers should file…
Read More...Millions of taxpayers receive a tax refund interest payment
In mid-August interest payments were sent to nearly 14 million individual taxpayers. People who got these payments filed their 2019 federal income tax returns by the July 15 deadline and were owed refunds. These interest payments averaged about $18. The IRS issued most of the payments separately from tax refunds. Most taxpayers who received their…
Read More...IRS: Unemployment compensation is taxable; Have tax withheld now and avoid a tax-time surprise
WASHINGTON – With millions of Americans now receiving taxable unemployment compensation, many of them for the first time, the Internal Revenue Service today reminded people receiving unemployment compensation that they can have tax withheld from their benefits now to help avoid owing taxes on this income when they file their federal income tax return next…
Read More...Your anxieties make you an easy target. So do your beliefs that crises offer easy ways to make a quick profit.
Afraid of the risk of the stock market but unhappy with the near-zero rates offered by your bank? Well, I have good news for you: I can get you 7.5 percent returns guaranteed with no stock market risk, no commissions and no surrender fees. The minimum investment is $100,000 and this is limited availability –…
Read More...Tax credits can help offset the cost of higher education
Internal Revenue Service Tip 2020-103 Whether it’s online, in-person, part-time or full-time, higher education can be expensive. The good news is there are tax credits that can help offset these costs. These credits reduce the amount of tax someone owes. If the credit reduces tax to less than zero, the taxpayer could even receive a…
Read More...Good recordkeeping is an essential element of tax planning
Now is a good time for people to begin thinking about next year’s tax return. While it may seem early to be preparing for 2021, reviewing your recordkeeping now will pay off when it comes time to file again. Here are some suggestions to help taxpayers keep good records. Taxpayers should develop a system that…
Read More...Financial safety is an important part of disaster preparedness
Before a natural disaster strikes, taxpayers are encouraged to prepare, if possible. This includes developing evacuation plans, putting together kits of essential supplies and putting financial safety measures in place. To help protect their financial safety in a disaster situation, taxpayers should: Update emergency plans. A disaster can strike at any time. Personal and business situations…
Read More...What taxpayers should do if they get a letter or notice from the IRS
Every year the IRS mails letters or notices to taxpayers for many different reasons. Here are some do’s and don’ts for taxpayers who receive one: Don’t ignore it. Most IRS letters and notices are about federal tax returns or tax accounts. Each notice deals with a specific issue and includes specific instructions on what to…
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