For those who love learning: here's a tax fact from Tax Strategies Group.
The federal credit for the purchase and installation costs of a residential solar-power system is fading away and will no longer be available after 2021; plus, the credit itself is being reduced.
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Solar Tax Credit is Sunsetting Soon
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The decision concerning whom you designate as the beneficiary of your traditional IRA is critically important and affects the minimum amounts you must withdraw from the IRA when you reach age 72, who will get what remains in the account after your death, and how that IRA balance can be paid out to beneficiaries.
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Keeping Your Designated IRA Beneficiary Current is Important
The tax filing extension deadline, October 15th, is just around the corner. Here is a quick reminder of what you need to know.
Tax Strategies Group has the motivation you need to get going this Monday.
If you are receiving temporary home mortgage relief under the CARES Act or in danger of having your home repossessed, know that any debt relief can have an impact on your taxes. Watch this video to find out more.
A frequent question is whether inherited assets are taxable. Generally, they are not until they are sold, and then only to the extent that the sales price exceeds the fair market value of the asset at the time of the decedent's death. There are exceptions to this rule, such as traditional IRAs and other deferred untaxed income of the decedent.
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Is That Inheritance Taxable?
Midweek Wednesday Wisdom from Tax Strategies Group
An individual must have compensation in order to contribute to an IRA, unless the individual is a non-working or low-earning spouse who is allowed to contribute to his or her own IRA based upon the compensation of the working spouse.
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Don't Miss the Opportunity for a Spousal IRA
Tax Strategies Group - Some Monday Motivation for our friends and colleagues.
Now is your time to rise up and stand up for what’s important to you in our National and Local elections
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Plan To Vote In the 2020 General Election
Wednesday Wisdom and Tax Strategies Group = Success
To cope with inflation, the tax code requires the IRS to adjust the tax rates, standard deductions, and a variety of other tax related numbers each year, which they recently released for 2021.
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IRS Releases Inflation Adjustments for 2021
Start your week on the right foot with Monday Motivation from Tax Strategies Group
Tax Strategies Group - Some Friday tax knowledge for our friends and colleagues.
Tax Strategies Group - Some Friday tax knowledge for our friends and colleagues.
The SBA U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has initiated a compliance program to evaluate the good-faith certification that borrowers made on their PPP Borrower Applications related to need for the loans due to economic uncertainty as a result of COVID-19. This program will apply to borrowers whose loans are $2 million or more.
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SBA Questioning PPP Borrowers with Loans Over $2 Million
Wednesday Wisdom and Tax Strategies Group = Success
The IRS has warned taxpayers of a clever scheme by internet scammers to dupe taxpayers into revealing their bank account information under the guise of receiving the $1,200 Economic Impact Payment.
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Beware of New Text Scam Related to Stimulus Payments
It's go time! Bronx based Tax Strategies Group has some motivation for you today.
Learn about taxes from your friends at Bronx based Tax Strategies Group.
Did you receive an IRS CP2000 notice (also known as an underreporter inquiry) in the mail? First step: Contact our office. Second step: Don't panic. We'll help you through the whole process.
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What Happens if I Receive an IRS CP2000 Notice?
Here is a fun fact for your Friday from Tax Strategies Group.
It is a common practice this time of year for employers to give their employees gifts. Where a gift is infrequently offered and has a low fair market value, it would be treated as a de minimis fringe benefit. As such, it would be tax-free to the employee, and its cost is tax deductible by the employer.
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Employee Holiday Gifts May Be Taxable
Transform your life. Wednesday Wisdom from Tax Strategies Group
If you plan to start a new business, there are a number of decisions and possible elections you can make that will influence what form of business you select and how you decide to deduct costs. These choices can affect the tax outcome of your business for years to come.
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New Business? Tax Issues to Consider
An individual must have compensation in order to contribute to an IRA. However, a non-working or low-earning spouse is allowed to contribute to his or her own IRA based upon the compensation of the working spouse. Watch this video to learn more.
It matters how you get there. Wednesday Wisdom from Tax Strategies Group
Some folks have been tapping or suspending their retirement savings to make ends meet during this COVID-19 pandemic, and although understandable, it is important to resume savings as quickly as financially possible. Still others have simply been ignoring the need to save for their retirement, which can have an unpleasant result when it comes time to retire. Many tax-benefitting retirement options are available.
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Don't Fall Behind in Saving for Retirement
Small business owners: as we inch closer to the end of the year, it's a great time to be thinking about tax planning strategies for your business. Here are some ideas that can be beneficial at any time of year.
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Preparing for 2021: Tax Planning Strategies for Small Business Owners
Get ready for the week: Tax Strategies Group has motivation for your Monday.
We all have our favorite game shows such as Wheel of Fortune, The Price is Right, and Let's Make A Deal, and we love to have the contestants win big. Unfortunately, those winnings are taxable on the contestant's state and federal tax returns. See what can happen by watching this video.
Here is some midweek Wednesday Wisdom inspiration from your friends at Tax Strategies Group
The holiday season is customarily a time to give gifts, whether to your favorite charity, family members or others. Some gifts even provide a variety of tax benefits but be on the lookout for holiday gift-giving scammers.
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Year-End Gift Giving with Tax Benefits
Looking for a sign? Here's your Monday Motivation from Bronx based Tax Strategies Group
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has initiated a compliance program to evaluate PPP borrowers whose loans are $2 million or more. Watch this video for more info on how your business can be better prepared.
Some insider tax knowledge from Tax Strategies Group.
Tap into your full potential. Wednesday Wisdom from Tax Strategies Group
It seems hard to believe, but the holiday season is almost upon us, and that means that the tax preparation season for 2020 returns will soon follow. With the end of the tax year just weeks away, it may be appropriate (especially this year, in light of the financial havoc created by COVID-19) to review some year-end tax issues that might reduce your tax bite for 2020 or provide long-term tax benefits.
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Tax Issues to Be Aware of as Year-end Approaches
Many people are neglecting their retirement savings or simply planning for their Social Security income to take care of their needs. To encourage better preparation for retirement, tax laws offer a variety of tax incentives for retirement savings plans. Watch this video for an overview of the options.
Looking for a sign? Here's your Monday Motivation from Bronx based Tax Strategies Group
If you use workers other than employees to perform services for your business and pay them $600 or more for the year, you are required to issue each of them a Form 1099-NEC after the end of the year to avoid facing the loss of the deduction for their labor and expenses.
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Your Annual Reminder to File Worker 1099s
The economic impact payments are a credit on your 2020 tax return. However, Congress mandated that the payments be made in advance, based on the prior year's tax return information, to provide financial assistance to individuals and families struggling during the initial outbreak of COVID-19. Needless to say, this created confusion as to who qualified for the payments, leading to errors and omissions.
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Didn't Get Your Economic Impact Payment? You Can Claim It on Your 2020 Return.
Start your week on the right foot with Monday Motivation from Tax Strategies Group
If you sold your home this year or might do so in the near future, you should be aware of the many tax-related issues that could apply to that sale so that you will be prepared at tax time and not have to deal with unpleasant surprises.
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Sold or Thinking of Selling Your Home?
Gambling is a recreational activity enjoyed by individuals. Nevertheless, there are far more tax issues related to gambling than you might expect. Watch this video for a quick overview.
This is our annual reminder for you to file worker 1099s if you use workers other than employees to perform services for your business. Furthermore, there are some significant changes that you should know about this year.
Employee or independent contractor? This distinction decides whether your business issues a W-2 or 1099-NEC form to a specific wage earner. Here's everything you need to know about these forms and your annual wage reports.
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W-2 or 1099-NEC: Which Form Should Your SMB Use for Which Workers?
Let's get the weekend started. Friday from Tax Strategies Group
Unless a taxpayer qualifies for an exception, distributions from a traditional IRA are both taxable and subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty. After reaching age 72, a taxpayer must begin taking minimum required distributions or they are subject to a 50% under-distribution penalty.
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IRA Withdrawal Planning Can Save on Taxes
Midweek Wednesday Wisdom from Tax Strategies Group
Wednesday Wisdom and Tax Strategies Group = Success
After months of political bickering, Congress is finally passing a new COVID relief bill. Watch this video for a summary of what you can expect from this relief package.
For low- and moderate-income workers, the saver's credit can be used to offset part of the first $2,000 workers can voluntarily contribute to an IRA or their employer's qualified retirement plan. It helps individuals who don't normally have the resources to set money aside for retirement and is available in addition to the other tax benefits associated with retirement plan contributions.
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Saver's Credit Can Help You Save for Retirement
This is our annual reminder for you to file worker 1099s if you use workers other than employees to perform services for your business.
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Video: Annual Reminder to File Your Worker 1099s
Congress has reached an agreement on an emergency coronavirus relief bill which provides additional stimulus payments, extends unemployment benefits and provides another round of forgivable PPP Loans for small businesses.
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Help Is on the Way - Emergency Coronavirus Relief Agreement Reached
Start your week on the right foot with Monday Motivation from Tax Strategies Group
Wednesday Wisdom and Tax Strategies Group = Success
Many individuals are taking advantage of the historically low home-loan interest rates to buy their first home, sell their existing home to move up to a more expensive one, or refinance their existing mortgage. Some who currently own their homes free and clear are even taking out loans to lock in the low interest rates.
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What Are the Tax Advantages of Home Ownership?
After several months of the Republicans and Democrats bickering, they have finally passed COVID-related tax relief and the President has signed the bill.
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Finally, The COVID Relief Package Is Law
Tax Strategies Group - Some Monday Motivation for our friends and colleagues.
Wednesday Wisdom and Tax Strategies Group = Success
After months of political bickering, Congress is finally passing a new COVID relief bill. Watch this video for a summary of what you can expect from this relief package.
Great news for 2021 and 2022 only. The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 allows businesses to deduct 100%, instead of just 50%, of business meal expenses meeting certain requirements.
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Increased Business Meal Deductions for 2021 and 2022
Are you planning to buy your first home, upgrade from your existing one, or refinance your mortgage? Let's take a look at some tax advantages and drawbacks of homeownership.
Get inspired. Some Wednesday Wisdom from Bronx based Tax Strategies Group
The Internal Revenue Service recently issued the 2021 optional standard cents-per-mile rates for business, medical and moving purposes. However, you may find it in your best interest to keep track of actual expenses for 2021.
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2021 Standard Mileage Rates Announced
Set yourself up for success with Monday Motivation from Tax Strategies Group
Wednesday Wisdom and Tax Strategies Group = Success
It matters how you get there. Wednesday Wisdom from Tax Strategies Group
The recent COVID-related tax relief legislation, passed late in December, extends and enhances deductions for cash charitable contributions.
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Charitable Contributions Deduction Liberalized for 2021
Tax Strategies Group - Some Monday Motivation for our friends and colleagues.
COVID-19 has touched nearly every aspect of the lives of every American, including our financial health. There will be some tax implications that many people have not considered. Watch the following video for some possible tax consequences so you can be prepared when tax time comes.
Tax Strategies Group - Some Friday tax knowledge for our friends and colleagues.
Great news for 2021 and 2022 only. The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 allows businesses to deduct 100%, instead of just 50%, of business meal expenses meeting certain requirements.
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Increased Business Meal Deductions for 2021 and 2022
President-Elect Biden released his "American Rescue Plan" on January 14. It is a wish list of proposals he wants Congress to enact to address the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic crisis.
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How Biden's Rescue Plan Might Impact Your Taxes
Make your Monday great with this motivation from Tax Strategies Group
Congress has authorized a second draw for PPP loans. Watch this video for a short overview of what you can expect.
Breaking: The IRS is delaying the beginning of the 2020 tax season to February 12, 2021
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IRS delays start of tax filing season to Feb. 12
Here's your tax fact of the week from your friends at Tax Strategies Group.
Congress has authorized a second PPP loan draw but has generally limited the applicability to small businesses with 300 employees or fewer that suffered a 25% or more reduction in gross revenue during any quarter in 2020.
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Congress Has Authorized a Second Round of PPP Loans
December's COVID Tax Relief Act provided more than extended unemployment relief and stimulus payments. See a summary of the benefits and if any of them applies to you.
Some insider tax knowledge from Tax Strategies Group.
IRS opens up the use of ID verification tax filing numbers to taxpayers nationwide as a means of protection against filing fraud. These numbers must be applied for and identities verified before issuance.
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IRS Offers New Identity Protection for Taxpayers
Wednesday Wisdom from your friends at Tax Strategies Group
President-Elect Biden released his "American Rescue Plan" on January 14. It is a wish list of proposals he wants Congress to enact to address the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic crisis.
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How Biden's Rescue Plan Might Impact Your Taxes
Make your Monday great with this motivation from Tax Strategies Group
Here are the business tax due dates for February 2021.
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February 2021 Business Due Dates
Here are the February 2021 individual tax due dates:
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February 2021 Individual Due Dates
For those who love learning: here's a tax fact from Tax Strategies Group.
Between 2010 and 2018, about 0.6% of individual tax returns resulted in an audit (that's about 250,000 taxpayers). Here are some of the red flags that could cause the IRS to audit your tax return.
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Beware: These Tax Return Red Flags Could Catch the Eye of the IRS
As tax time approaches, here are some tax issues that taxpayers frequently overlook, ranging from obscure deductions to overlooked tax credits and benefits. These items can save you a significant amount of taxes.
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Obscure and Overlooked Tax Deductions, Credits, and Benefits
Tap into your full potential. Wednesday Wisdom from Tax Strategies Group
For those who love learning: here's a tax fact from Tax Strategies Group.
Although day trading is neither illegal nor unethical, it can be highly risky. Most individual investors do not have the wealth, time, or temperament to make money or sustain the losses that day trading can bring. Satisfying the rules that permit special tax treatment for day traders is difficult.
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Day Trader Rules and Tax Treatment
Midweek Wednesday Wisdom from Tax Strategies Group
If you were a victim of a major natural disaster, the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 has special rules about retirement plan and IRA distributions, retirement plan loans, how to compute disaster losses, and relief for non-itemizers. Employers may qualify for a new employee-retention credit.
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Tax Relief for Victims of 2020 Natural Disasters
Set yourself up for success with Monday Motivation from Tax Strategies Group
Here are the business tax due dates for February 2021.
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February 2021 Business Due Dates
The Employee Retention Credit has been extended through June 30, 2021, and significantly liberalized.
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Employee Retention Credit Extended
Wednesday Wisdom from your friends at Tax Strategies Group
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which was passed late last December, included a very tax-beneficial provision that liberalized the interaction between PPP loans and the Employee Retention Credit.
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Interaction between PPP Loans and the Employee Retention Credit
Set yourself up for success with Monday Motivation from Tax Strategies Group
The Internal Revenue Service recently issued the 2021 optional standard cents-per-mile rates for business, medical and moving purposes. Watch this short video to see if the new rates will affect your business.
For those who love learning: here's a tax fact from Tax Strategies Group.
Here are the March 2021 individual tax due dates:
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March 2021 Individual Due Dates
The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to batter the economy, and one indicator of the struggle is the potential mortgage crisis: About 5 million Americans were unable to make their rent or mortgage payments in December 2020. Here's the latest info.
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The Number of Americans Who Didn't Pay Their Mortgage Hit 5% in December 2020
Some Wednesday Wisdom from your friends at Bronx based Tax Strategies Group
The federal credit for the purchase and installation costs of a residential solar-power system has been extended for two years through 2023.
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Solar Tax Credit Extended for Two Years
Make your Monday great with this motivation from Tax Strategies Group
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 liberalized the interaction between PPP loans and the Employee Retention Credit. Watch this video to learn more.
Money raised from online crowdfunding sites for purposes other than business is generally treated as a nontaxable gift if the contribution is made with detached generosity, but this can raise some unexpected gift tax issues. Raising money for business endeavors is generally governed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Rules, and the tax issues depend on what the contributor receives in return.
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Tax Consequences of Crowdfunding
Set yourself up for success with Monday Motivation from Tax Strategies Group
Congress put a halt on the RMD for the traditional IRA in 2020 in response to the Pandemic. However, the RMD will be resumed in 2021 and subsequent years.
Before deciding to get involved in a joint venture, business owners need to carefully assess how they plan to proceed. Here's a breakdown of what a joint venture really is.
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What Is a Joint Venture?
According to the Department of Labor, $36-$63 billion in improper unemployment payments have been made during the pandemic. If you receive a 1099-G for benefits you didn't receive, you may be a victim of fraud. Here's what to do.
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Unemployment Fraudsters May Create a Tax Nightmare for Unsuspecting Taxpayers
Here's your tax fact of the week from your friends at Tax Strategies Group.
Looking for a sign? Here's your Monday Motivation from Bronx based Tax Strategies Group
Congress came up with a special way to calculate the EITC and the child tax credit for 2020 that may be very beneficial for taxpayers whose income from working declined in 2020.
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Special Rules Apply to 2020 EITC and Child Credit
End of week tax fact from Tax Strategies Group
Where is your tax home? A recent case heard by the Tax Court called into question how to qualify one's tax home. "The calculation that will count the most will not be based on where you pay rent or a mortgage, but instead how much time you spend in each location and how much income you generate while you're there."
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Tax Court Decision Holds Potential Impact for Travel Deductions
Filing status is determined on the last day of the year and most often is based on marital status. Single and Married Filing Jointly are the most common, but there are others.
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Understanding Tax-Filing Status
Get inspired. Some Wednesday Wisdom from Bronx based Tax Strategies Group
Required minimum distributions (RMDs) were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, barring any future extension of the suspension, RMDs will resume in 2021.
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Because of the pandemic, the people who normally rely on the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) to make ends meet are adversely affected. To assist them, Congress came up with a special way to calculate the two credits for 2020.
Here is a fun fact for your Friday from Tax Strategies Group.
With the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act, Congress has substantially increased the child tax credit for 2021 and directed the IRS to establish an advance payment program for the last 6 months of the year.
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Big Increase in Child Tax Credit For 2021
In many cases, workers are receiving unemployment benefits for the first time, and they may not be aware of how those benefits are taxed for federal purposes, as well as by most states.
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Are Your Unemployment Benefits Taxable?
The American Rescue Plan Act has passed and includes a third much-anticipated economic impact payment. This is one of several government measures intended to help financially stressed citizens.
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It's Official! Another Round of Stimulus Payments Approved by Congress
Transform your life. Wednesday Wisdom from Tax Strategies Group
Tax reform brought good news and bad news regarding the home-office deduction. The good news is that it is still allowed for self-employed taxpayers, but the bad news is that it is currently not available for employees even when they are required to work from home during the COVID pandemic.
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Working from Home? Is there a Tax Deduction?
The IRS has announced they are extending the filing due date for 2020 individual tax returns from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021, but with some limitations.
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IRS Extends Individual Return Filing Date
Great news if you are paying childcare expenses that enable you to work. As part of President Biden's American Rescue Plan Act, the child and dependent care tax credit has been substantially increased for 2021.
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Great News, Child Care Tax Credit Expanded for 2021
Some Wednesday Wisdom from your friends at Bronx based Tax Strategies Group
Tax season is here. What if you end up owing tax to the IRS and can't pay them immediately? This video will discuss a few options to consider when you don't have the funds to pay all of your tax liability.
The recently passed American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) includes a provision for the federal government to pick up the cost of COBRA health coverage for employees' involuntary termination of their employment or reduction of hours subject to certain qualifications.
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Uncle Sam May Pick Up the Cost of Your COBRA Medical Coverage
With the recently passed American Rescue Plan, the child tax credit has been expanded for one year, 2021. The plan also provides a new twist: an advanced payment option for this year only. Watch this video for details.
Once you've made the decision to create an employee stock option plan, there's a lot of important work to be done before giving an agreement to each employee. Here's a full breakdown.
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Tips for Creating an Employee Stock Option Plan
Here are the April 2021 individual tax due dates:
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April 2021 Individual Due Dates
Thieves use taxpayers' natural fear of the IRS and other government entities to ply their scams, including e-mail and phone scams, to steal your money. They also use phishing schemes to trick you into divulging your SSN, date of birth, account numbers, passwords and other personal data. They are clever and are always coming up with new and unique schemes to trick you.
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Don't Be A Victim to IRS-Impersonating Scammers
Professional video gamers can operate extremely lucrative businesses, making money from esports tournaments, endorsement deals, ad revenue, and much more. But they also need to think about what gaming means for their taxes, budgeting, and financial planning. Here's a rundown of all the important considerations.
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5 Tips for Operating a Successful Gaming Business
Get ready for the week: Tax Strategies Group has motivation for your Monday.
Here's your tax fact of the week from your friends at Tax Strategies Group.
