Some people approach buying a car almost the way they approach marriage, “until death do us part.” Others prefer to keep their options open, trading in every few years for the latest body style, the hottest technology, or the highest horsepower. Whichever describes you best, we all face a similar decision when it comes to […]

When a couple ties the knot or gets divorced, taxes are probably not the first thing on their minds. But many decisions that couples make do affect their tax returns — and the amount they ultimately owe the federal government. Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions about marital status and taxes. Q. […]

Little Bits of Income Still Count It’s easy to overlook smaller amounts of income when it’s time to prepare your tax return. Taxpayers must generally include all income, not just the amount they find on an employer-generated W-2 form. For example, did you make goods and sell them on an online marketplace or at a […]

Do you work from home all or part of the time? If you’re self-employed and meet certain requirements, you can write off a portion of your home office expenses, even if you perform work at other locations. The deduction may be based on the actual expenses you’re able to substantiate — or it may be […]

Internal fraud is difficult to detect, which is understandable given the wide variety of techniques that range from stealing cash and supplies, to falsifying expense reports and benefit claims, embezzling funds, and accepting kickbacks from vendors, contractors, and suppliers. But catching dishonest employees isn’t impossible if you focus on the task, take a strong stand […]

Employees, self-employed individuals and employers all pay the Social Security tax, and the bite the Social Security tax takes gets bigger every year. Here’s what you should know — and why you should be concerned. Social Security Tax on Employee Wages As an employee, your wages are hit with the 12.4% Social Security tax up […]

Many business owners fail to follow the strict tax rules for substantiating vehicle expenses. But if your business is audited, the IRS will most likely ask for mileage logs if you deducted vehicle expenses — and it tends to be especially critical of the amount deducted if you’re self-employed or you employ relatives. While the […]

Did you buy an electric vehicle (EV) in 2023? Under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed late in 2022, you may be eligible for a new-and-improved tax credit, beginning on your 2023 federal income tax return. But the new law also bars certain high-income taxpayers from claiming the credit. What’s more, if you’re looking to […]

Starting for tax year 2023, if you have 10 or more information returns, they must be filed electronically.  This also includes Forms W-2, e-filed with the Social Security Administration. Final e-file regulation details are linked here: https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-information-returns

Once the 2023 tax year is over and the numbers are generally set in stone, you can itemize deductions on your federal income tax return if your total allowable itemized write-offs for the year exceeds your standard deduction allowance for the year. Otherwise, for 2023, you will claim the standard deduction, which is relatively high […]