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Robert L Summers Insurance Agency
500 Victory Road
Marina Bay
North Quincy, MA 02171
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Phone: (617) 542-8432
Fax: (617) 542-5307

IRS Audit Defense

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One of the most unique products offered by the Summers Insurance Agency is IRS Audit Defense. IRS Audit Defense is one of those insurance products that you think you can do without, but when you get one of those large envelopes with the return address of the Internal Revenue Service you wish a thousand wishes that you had Tax Audit Defense.

There are very few pieces of mail that you receive that makes your stomach flutter than getting anything from the IRS let alone an audit notice. If you have Tax Audit Defense Insurance and you get an audit notice, just fax or mail the notice to the insurer and they take care of the rest. You will not have to even correspond with the IRS. They do it all, including working to minimize the adjustments and negotiating with the IRS, after all the insurer is staffed with all former IRS agents and they know how it works. Hiring a Tax attorney to do all of this work would cost thousands.

There are other advantages to having IRS Audit Defense than just having protection in the event of an audit. First of all there is a tax hotline, where a number of tax professionals are standing by Monday through Friday every week of the year to answer any tax question that you have. You can ask as many questions as you like and call as many times as you like. The second major service of IRS Audit Defense is they will review your tax return for accuracy to make sure you are taking advantage of all the deductions available to you. They will also review your tax return to identify any audit triggers. They will not only review your most recent return, but they will review any return that you prepared in the last 3 years. Another advantage of Audit Insurance is a Quarterly Tax Bulletin. This quarterly publication provides you with current information on any IRS legislation that could impact your tax status. It helps you learn more about how to minimize your tax liability while enhancing your financial well being. It also offers helpful tips on avoiding tax audit pitfalls and lets you know what is happening within the IRS on an ongoing basis.

IRS Audit Defense Insurance is definitely a pay me now or pay me later proposition. Since it involves one of those things that make your stomach flutter and prevents you from sleeping nights, I think it is better to pay now. Believe me you will be glad you did. For more information on this unique product either fill out the form above or give us a call at 617-542-8432 and we look forward to protecting you

Roni Deutch: The Tax Lady Blog

Roni Deutch: The Tax Lady Blog


04/20/2011 03:40 PM
Fraudulent Tax Returns Surge 181%

According to reports, the number of taxpayers attempting to claim inflated refunds was on the rise. When the economy falters people start looking for more cash. And that means more people are willing to “push it” on their taxes. Good luck, when the audits start rolling in.

From Yahoo Finance:

    The IRS identified 335,341 tax returns claiming $1.9 billion in fraudulent refunds as of March 4, 2011, according to the findings of an audit conducted by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. That's a whopping 181% increase from the same period last year.

    While the IRS has become more effective in its screening process, a weak economy has also driven more people to cut corners, said Tim Gagnon, assistant academic specialist of Accounting at Northeastern University.

    "When the economy gets really bad, people get more touchy about how much they're paying in taxes and look at where they think they can push the envelope a little more," said Gagnon. "100 extra dollars really makes a difference to people now."

    Many taxpayers tried to boost their refunds or reduce their tax liability by claiming deductions and credits they didn't qualify for, TIGTA found.

    For example, the Earned Income Tax Credit, aimed at helping lower-income taxpayers, has been a large source of fraud, with people falsely lowering their income to qualify or claiming children they don't have. The IRS estimates that 23% to 28% of EITC credits are wrongfully paid to Americans every year, totaling $11 to $13 billion.

More here


04/20/2011 03:39 PM
Mortgage Denied: Sometimes, for No Good Reason

Due to tighter standards from Frannie Mae and Freddie Mac, getting approved for a mortgage is getting more and more difficult for average Americans. People are getting denied left and right, sometimes for things beyond their control.

CNN reports:

Banks are reluctant to make loans without the Fannie and Freddie guarantee, and loans backed by them account for just about every mortgage written these days.

In 2009, the agencies lifted the minimum credit score that borrowers must have from 580 to 620. That's probably for the best.

But they've pushed through a host of other requirements as well, and that means real estate deals don't get done, even for some relatively low-risk borrowers.

"You can have one Fannie/Freddie guideline you violate and that gets you rejected," said Alan Rosenbaum of GuardHill Financial.

A quarter of all mortgage loan applicants get denied for loans, according to the Federal Reserve. Many other potential homebuyers never even try to get loans, said Jerry Howard, president of the National Association of Home Builders.

More here

04/20/2011 03:39 PM
Start at the IRS to Find a Missing Child

I've posted stories before about attempts to get the IRS to provide information about child abductors, but did you know there are parental abductors some who blatantly claim their kidnapped children on their federal returns? The hubris here is astonishing.

Washington Examiner reports:

    Hardly a week passes without hearing something about missing children in this country. Some are believed stolen for sexual purposes, some are found murdered, and thousands of other children are kidnapped by one of their own parents.

    Today, let's focus on parental abductors.

    For the parent left behind after a former spouse has kidnapped their child, there is the agony of not knowing when -- or if -- they will ever see their baby again. Even the tiniest clue as to their son's or daughter's whereabouts is vitally important if there is ever to be a reunion.

    To those heartsick parents, I say: The IRS may very well know where your missing child is, but the agency won't tell you.

    Believe it or not, there are some parental abductors who file tax returns and blatantly claim their kidnapped child as a dependent!

    Some of them apparently need the refund money, while others don't want to attract attention for failure to pay. When they file their return, they list their employer and their home address, along with the child's name and Social Security number.

    All are major pieces of information the abandoned parent would love to know. But the IRS cloaks itself in Watergate-era privacy laws, shrugs its bureaucratic shoulders and says it just can't help the grieving parent locate the missing child.

Continued here...

Tax Audit Defense

Tax Audit Defense

Information on the Value of Audit Insurance


02/08/2009 04:10 AM
Tax Audit Defense

Tax Audit Defense is one of those insurance products that you think you can do without, but when you get one of those large envelopes with the return address of the Internal Revenue Service you wish a thousand wishes that you had Tax Audit Defense. There are very few pieces of mail that you receive that makes your stomach flutter than getting anything from the IRS let alone an audit notice. If you have Tax Audit Defense Insurance and you get an audit notice, just fax or mail it to your insurer and they take care of the rest. You will not have to even correspond with the IRS. They do it all.

There are other advantages to having Tax Audit Defense insurance than just having protection in the event of an audit. First of all there is a tax hotline, where a number of tax professionals are standing by Monday through Friday every week of the year to answer any tax question that you have. You can ask as many questions as you like and call as many times as you like. The second major service of Tax Audit Defense is they will review your tax return for accuracy to make sure you are taking advantage of all the deductions available to you. They will also review your tax return to identify any audit triggers. They will not only review your most recent return, but they will review any return that you prepared in the last 3 years. Another advantage of Audit Insurance is a Quarterly Tax Bulletin. This quarterly publication provides you with current information on any IRS legislation that could impact your tax status. It helps you learn more about how to minimize your tax liability while enhancing your financial well being. It also offers helpful tips on avoiding tax audit pitfalls and lets you know what is happening within the IRS on an ongoing basis.

Tax Audit Defense Insurance is definitely a pay me now or pay me later proposition. Since it involves one of those things that make your stomach flutter and prevents you from sleeping nights, I think it is better to pay now. Believe me you will be glad you did.

Tax Audit Defense

Tax Audit Defense

Personal Membership

Business Membership


Finance:Taxes Articles from EzineArticles.com

Finance:Taxes Articles from EzineArticles.com

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02/07/2012 12:47 PM
A Guide To Reading The Text Of Tax Rules
Don't expect to be able to breeze through a tax document. Like any legal writing, it's designed to hold a lot of information in every sentence. Focus on unpacking individual words, discerning their meaning, and then putting them back into their place. If you're reading at home, have an internet browser open so that you can easily search for words that you don't understand. There are many glossaries that can help you with the various phrases that might be confusing.
02/07/2012 12:42 PM
A Simple Guide To Tax Filing
Tax season can be confusing, frustrating, and daunting for new taxpayers and old hands alike. The tax code is one of the most frequently changing and complex portions of our law system, and trying to comprehend it can be difficult indeed. Following these simple steps will help you overcome the confusion and find an easy path to paying what you owe or receiving a refund.
02/07/2012 11:38 AM
Exemptions, Dependents, And More: Tax Information For Families
When something big happens in your life, it's likely that it will create a change in your return. The two events that are most commonly involved here are marriage and birth. Most families are aware that when you claim a dependent on your return you increase the amount of your refund. There is a credit for children because the government recognizes that they can be a drain on resources.
02/06/2012 03:10 PM
Tax Preparer Ethics Questions Affect HOH Filing Status
An important tenet of the tax preparation business is expecting anything. Taxpayers will for example insist on a tax position that appears logical but is probably not legal. Caution is always advisable whenever a taxpayer conveys unusual circumstances that create a lower tax liability. The purpose of tax preparer ethics is accurately representing clients. Your obligation isn't so much helping the IRS collect taxes; you also want taxpayers to avoid IRS trouble as a consequence of your efforts.
02/06/2012 03:07 PM
Valuable Asset To Small Business Owner Is Adviser From An Enrolled Agent List
The economy of recent years has caused many people to involuntarily become entrepreneurs. They pursue the world of small business from different directions. Some work as consultants in their areas of professional experience; others buy or start businesses that follow interests outside their former cubicle world.
02/06/2012 03:07 PM
Addressing Difficult Tax Preparation Questions About A Deceased Child
An unrestrained ability to politely ask many nosey tax preparation questions is a characteristic for conducting tax preparer duties. Individuals must openly reveal details about their living arrangements during the tax year. This information impacts determinations for dependent exemption claims, qualifying children for tax credits, and even filing status.
02/06/2012 11:33 AM
Understanding the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA)
What is IFTA? Do I have to have it? How do you calculate and pay IFTA? We answer these questions and more.
02/06/2012 11:17 AM
Back Taxes Filing Can Still Be Done Late
Today's hectic lifestyle can often lead to forgetting or making mistakes that result in back taxes filing. Surprisingly, a lot of people file taxes late, forget about taxes or just do not want to pay their taxes. If a person makes enough income based on gross annual earnings and IRS rules, than they have to file tax returns. Take time now to understand how to file late returns, considerations for the late filer and where to file.
02/06/2012 11:10 AM
Eco-Friendly Taxes: IRS Efile
In the past, the thousands of pages printed each year during the busy season became so overwhelming that the IRS wasn't sure how to store it all. Every return had to be printed, and each one required multiple pages of paper in order to be printed completely. Even with recycling, the impact of all of that on the environment was substantial.
02/06/2012 11:01 AM
Uniform and Beneficial Advice on Tax
This particular article gives us an idea and importance of expert advice on tax and the benefits offered by uniform tax credits. The reader will get a detailed knowledge on the importance and necessity of tax payments. Proper payment of tax is also required for the welfare and progress of a state.
02/06/2012 10:57 AM
5 Smart Ways To Use Your Tax Refund
Paying off debts isn't exciting, but it's a really solid way to use your funds. Debt just continues to build on itself, and carrying it has a negative impact on your overall credit score. A particularly hefty check from the government can have a big impact, even if you have substantial debt.
02/03/2012 04:19 PM
Finding Tax Courses In Your Neighborhood
There are three basic types of tax courses that will be offered in any particular area. The first is very local, run by an individual who may do nothing but classes. These can vary dramatically in quality because there is limited oversight and no guarantee that the instructor knows anything about the codes and regulations. However, if you find someone particularly knowledgeable, this kind of seminar can be incredibly beneficial and among the best options.
02/03/2012 04:14 PM
Benefits Of Efile Taxes
When you submit electronically, your return arrives at the IRS almost instantly. This means that it can be processed a lot faster. One advantage of submitting your taxes this way is that you will receive a notice of acceptance or rejection within 48 hours. If your filing is rejected, the IRS will notify you and let you know why it was rejected and what needs to be fixed. If you don't use the internet, you won't receive this notice. Online, you can correct the error quickly and avoid potential penalties for being late or filing incorrectly.
02/03/2012 03:16 PM
The Tax Implications of Employees Working Abroad
If your employees are working, or going to be working, abroad, you need to consider carefully their potential liability to both income tax, and national insurance. Be careful though, as there are different rules for each.
02/03/2012 02:35 PM
PAYE - What Is PAYE (Pay As You Earn)?
HMRC needs a way of accurately recording, and receiving the amount of income tax and national insurance everyone pays. The way that HMRC does this is through a system called PAYE (Pay As You Earn). Your employer calculates, and then makes, the necessary deductions from your pay, and then pays these deductions to HMRC. The responsibility of making the correct deductions lies solely with the employer, and this includes all employees. NOTE: If your company is a limited company, then any directors qualify as an employee.
02/03/2012 02:20 PM
A Guide To Online Tax Courses
Since being opened to the public, the web has become an incredible resource for information. However, not all of this information is accurate. Anyone can say anything online, and without anything to back it up, it could be completely worthless. It's up to the individual reader to discern whether it's correct or not, which often means performing additional research simply to confirm the first statement.
02/03/2012 02:01 PM
Tax Preparer Continuing Education Needed to Address Special Rules For Agricultural Income
When completing tax returns for individuals with agricultural activities, various income sources are reported. In addition to sales of crops or animals raised, farm operations occasionally collect proceeds from crop insurance. The general rules that apply to crop insurance are important subjects for tax preparer continuing education of professionals working with farmers.
02/03/2012 02:00 PM
Stories of Tax Avoidance Schemes Add to Enrolled Agent Education
Enrolled agents gather more than just tax facts from their ongoing education. They collect stories from colleagues that serve important purposes in enrolled agent careers. In addition to the learning experience, tales of failed tax avoidance scams provide conversation pieces for EA marketing endeavors.
02/03/2012 09:52 AM
Many Questions Arise When Tax Preparer Duties Entail EITC Claims
Many tax preparers are questioning the wisdom of involvement in returns with the Earned Income Tax Credit. But they should not fear EITC claims as long as they follow the IRS procedure for thoroughly questioning taxpayers. An initial step is explaining to tax clients the requirement for obtaining certain facts. This demonstrates that following tax preparer duties related to the EITC is superior to ignoring a valid claim for the credit.
02/02/2012 01:43 PM
Tax Saving Plans - A Must for Everyone
Tax saving is a necessary part of your savings foray and one has to comply with different tax laws to save tax with investment in various instruments. For tax saving one of the best instruments that is quite popular among the mass is the tax saving insurance policies. Without doubt it has become one of the best products.
02/02/2012 10:57 AM
Reporting Violations of Tax Return Preparer Ethics? There's a Form For That
Implementation of the registered tax return preparer program by the IRS is in full swing for the current tax season. Circular 230 rules now apply to everyone who prepares substantial parts of a tax return. The IRS has even implemented a way for the public to report people who violate the IRS standards of professional conduct.
02/02/2012 10:54 AM
Plenty of Upcoming Tax Preparer Work Anticipated for Casualty Loss Claims
The current season of tax preparer work on 2011 tax returns is certain to require dealing with the consequences of damages from natural disasters. Several people in the United States were victims of a tornado, earthquake, hurricane, or forest fire.
02/02/2012 10:16 AM
Texas Comptroller Raises Stakes in Texas State Tax Compliance
The Texas Comptroller is now using the threat of a Federal felony conviction as tool to collect taxes. This is a serious threat that all Texas taxpayers should be aware of and change their tax compliance accordingly.
01/31/2012 09:08 PM
Choosing an Accountant for All Your Tax Needs - What You Need To Know
Taxes are complicated there is no question about that. Understanding the complexity of the tax laws are often more than one can handle.
01/31/2012 06:59 PM
Tax Preparation Requires Cooperation Between CPA And Client
It's extremely important to have great communication between a CPA and his or her clients. This helps to ensure that both parties are happy and satisfied, and that the tax preparation is done correctly.
01/31/2012 04:24 PM
What Happens After You File Taxes Online
When you submit your forms over the internet, you're submitting the exact same document that you would have mailed in 10 years ago. All of the same information is required. None of the contents change at all. What is different, however, is the format. Instead of mailing it in, you're sending it via the net. There are several advantages to this.
01/31/2012 01:53 PM
Is It Safe To Efile Taxes?
Whenever you communicate via the web, your information is being sent outside your computer. Everything you say could in theory be overheard. And sometimes it is: that's how hacking, information theft, and other chronic internet problems arise. However, there are a lot of ways to keep yourself safe from this kind of intrusion. You are probably already using most of them without even knowing it.
01/31/2012 12:46 PM
The History Of E File
Since the beginning of taxation, filing had been a complex and error-prone process because there was no good, guaranteed way to check human error. Forms could be lost, unintentionally filled out incorrectly, or have incorrect totals, all because of an accident.
01/31/2012 10:17 AM
Tax Preparer Vs Preparation Office: Which Is Right For You?
There are a number of criteria that an individual must meet in order to maintain a business helping people file returns. Most commonly, people involved in this kind of business will either be lawyers, Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), or Enrolled Agents with the IRS. Lawyers who specialize in tax issues will sometimes agree to prepare returns, but they generally will avoid it in favor of helping people whose returns have been audited or fined by the IRS. They are qualified to represent individuals in disputes against the IRS.
01/31/2012 10:04 AM
How To Reach Tax Office Locations Without A Car
There are more tools than ever before to help plan and plot routes by foot. Google Maps has an option for walking now, which provides detailed directions and generally accurate time estimates. While it can't account for variables such as weather, it can give you an idea of whether or not the walk might be feasible.
01/30/2012 04:58 PM
Should You File Taxes Online?
The majority of people who resist using the internet for returns are concerned about a perceived lack of security. While there is certainly some risk, there is always risk involved whenever personal information is shared - even when it is only meant to be shared with the IRS. Yet when you send something via mail, you're taking on a risk as well.
01/30/2012 04:54 PM
Audits And Filing Tax Online: What You Need To Know
An audit is the IRS's way of determining whether a return or initial filing was incorrect. An audit simply means that the IRS is taking a closer look; it is not inherently an accusation of wrongdoing. However, if it were to find evidence of fraud, then it could easily become a criminal investigation. The purpose of the audit is simply to determine whether the information reported on an IRS document matches the records found for a business.
01/30/2012 04:48 PM
Exploring Online Tax Preparation Program
Never trust any free software unless you obtain it directly from the IRS website. Remember that the data you submit during online tax preparation is inherently very sensitive. Trusting any company to handle that information without knowing that they are responsible and honest is a major mistake. Especially during the busiest season for filing returns, a number of scams will pop up designed to trick you into giving away personal information.
01/30/2012 04:02 PM
Tax Preparation Services May Now Become Necessary
Everyone is required to file a tax return. Either as an individual or as a business. Tax preparation is the process of preparing income tax returns. It is often done by someone other than the taxpayer, and it can generally be for compensation. Tax preparation services can assist in preparation of taxes, sometimes with the help of appropriate tax preparation software.
01/30/2012 11:11 AM
Gifts From the Boss Can Create Surprise at Tax Preparation Time
Some paid tax preparers are faced each year with delivering surprising revelations to clients who received gifts at work. Taxpayers usually expect that gifts do not have an income tax impact. However, receiving anything of value from the boss can increase taxable income. When this happens, a person will owe extra tax or have a reduced refund.
01/30/2012 10:37 AM
Helping Individuals With Record Keeping Is an Essential Step In Tax Return Preparation
One of the key steps in tax return preparation is organizing records. Tax professionals must devote a little time to helping people understand this process. Return preparers only need some essential details. Extra information complicates the process. Tax practitioners are not required to conduct an audit verification of client information. Instead, tax return preparers aim to possess sufficient knowledge of facts surrounding claims for deductions and credits.
01/30/2012 10:36 AM
First Step For Paid Tax Preparers Is Explaining That Every Return Is Different
Selecting someone for a tax preparer job is a very personal choice for an individual. The confidential nature of tax information causes people to exercise caution when choosing a trusted tax professional.
01/27/2012 07:42 PM
Important Element in Tax Agent Jobs Is Telling Clients What To Pay IRS
Everyone in the tax preparation business is aware that only taxpayers are responsible for their tax assessments plus any penalty and interest for late payment. Taxpayer signatures on tax returns constitute approval that information on the forms and schedules is correct as well as complete. The only tax preparer requirements regarding reported details on a tax return involve taking reasonable steps to ascertain the facts and circumstances.
01/27/2012 07:42 PM
Relief Available For Americans in Canada With IRS Tax Preparation Efforts
The long battle waged by the IRS against US citizens residing and working in Canada has reached a truce. Penalties for failing to file a US tax return are waived for most of these US citizens. They can obtain assistance from someone with tax preparer training to file past due returns with the IRS. In so doing, they avoid late payment penalties if they don't owe any US income tax.
01/27/2012 07:39 PM
Basic Guide To Making A Wise Selection From A Tax Return Preparer List
The IRS has publicized its guidelines to making a choice from a tax return preparer list. Prudent tax practitioners will remember and repeat these recommended procedures. This helps promote selection of the right tax professional for every individual case.
01/27/2012 01:32 PM
3 Tax Scenarios Worth Considering
There's an old joke that asks, "What's the difference between death and taxes." The answer: "Death doesn't get worse whenever Congress meets." In reality, taxes aren't exactly a joking matter. Especially when considering the effect that taxes are likely to have on our retirement savings.
01/26/2012 03:13 PM
Drowning In Tax Debt?
Owing the IRS money is serious business and can be very stressful for the taxpayer. Most people do not set out to owe the IRS money, but end up with unpaid taxes due to financial hardships and unexpected tax liabilities.
01/26/2012 12:15 PM
Tax Preparer Job Separating Business Equipment Sales From Self-Employment Income
Many taxpayers assume that selling business equipment has the same income tax consequences as ordinary activities of an entrepreneur's company. However, an important aspect of any tax preparer job involving business equipment sales is identifying details about a sale.
01/26/2012 12:09 PM
IRS Tax Preparer Requirements to Assure Accurate Returns
Even before passing the registered tax return preparer exam anyone preparing tax forms must comply with IRS Circular 230 provisions. This publication contains several standards of practice for tax professionals. Critical parts of Circular 230 for tax preparer study are the guidelines for due diligence with taxpayer information.
01/26/2012 12:09 PM
IRS Issues Reminder About New Tax Preparer Requirements for EITC
The IRS has implemented new federal income tax preparation requirements for claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit. To claim the EITC on 2011 tax returns, Form 8867 is submitted to the IRS. This form is the checklist that paid tax preparers previously retained in their records but did not send with a tax return.
01/26/2012 09:59 AM
Singapore Personal Income Tax Rates for 2012
Singapore enjoys one of the world's lowest personal income tax rates. From the Year of Assessment (YA) 2012, marginal personal income tax rates for income levels below S$120,000 have been cut, while income tax rates for income levels above S$120,000 have been increased marginally.
01/25/2012 01:50 PM
Quiet Title: The Downside to Tax Deed Investment
In order to move forward with a tax deed investment, you will need to go through a quiet title action, which can become lengthy and expensive. Worry not, however, as there are alternative options to a court action.
01/24/2012 01:50 PM
Truths and Myths About Reputable Tax Return Preparers
After you become a tax preparer, the best way to attract clients is giving them instructions about how to find superior tax services. The next step is then to simply position yourself as ideally meeting the selection guidelines.
01/23/2012 05:19 PM
Registered Tax Return Preparer Work Presents Delicate Conflict
Taxpayers may obtain representation before the IRS by a registered tax return preparer concerning returns the RTRP prepared. The Declaration of Taxpayer Rights states that individuals have this right for a professional to represent them in IRS matters. Unfortunately, IRS authority also governs every RTRP practice.
01/23/2012 05:19 PM
Apply Rules in Tax Preparer Study Guide When Reducing Taxes With Charitable Deductions
People who give to charities usually enjoy a reduced income tax liability. The tax preparer work in these situations entails assurance that necessary conditions are met.
01/23/2012 04:55 PM
Another Type of Audit Is Coming for Certain Businesses
Several years ago, Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, referred to as HIPAA for short. This purpose of this law is in part the protection of health care information for individuals. This is a privacy issue and a data security issue. Many of the readers of this article may have had to sign an additional form to allow their family member to have access to any medical information about themselves. This is part of what that law required.
01/23/2012 08:41 AM
They Should Be Heroes
There is a group of Americans who ought to be heralded as heroes. Instead, they are fairly vilified and treated mostly with suspicion by US taxing authorities. They are the American citizens who live and work overseas.
01/20/2012 05:36 PM
Tax Locations: Income Tax When You Work In Multiple States
Tax locations are simple, in theory: if you performed some form of work there at any point over the last year and were paid for it, then you're liable to be taxed on the income you received there. Ideally the best way to determine your liability within each state is to keep an exact record of what you received and where you received it. If you're working for a typical company as a salaried employee in both states, then you shouldn't have to do much extra record keeping.
01/20/2012 05:24 PM
How To Choose A Tax Service
The first step is to decide what you actually need. The first division is between businesses and individuals. If you are a business, especially if you have employees, you'll need a very different setup from what an individual requires. You need something that will provide withholding from every paycheck, and keep track of how much has been withheld every week.
01/20/2012 05:12 PM
5 Questions To Ask Your Tax Return Service
Most offices can prepare your tax return and file it electronically through the IRS eFile, mail it in for you, or have you mail it yourself. All of these will ultimately lead to the same result of successful filing, but most of them won't accomplish it as quickly as eFile.
01/20/2012 04:20 PM
Home Income Tax Preparation How-To
Don't try to do your own return unless you've attended a class that specifically covers your situation. If you go into it blind, you're risking a lot. The code that dictates government withholding is filled with complexities and intricacies that are often difficult for even a trained legal professional to understand.
01/20/2012 04:18 PM
Income Tax Preparation: What Do You Really Need?
If you are making money and nothing is regularly being deducted, chances are that you need to be responsible for making those deductions on your own. Virtually all form of financial gain in the US is subject to some form of government taxation, and failure to adhere to these tax codes can be a criminal act. If you're ever in doubt, check with a tax consultant.
01/20/2012 04:08 PM
The Qualified Tax Preparer: What You Should Look For
The basic requirement to successfully submit returns is simple: the person needs to know what they're doing within the relevant portion of the tax code. Theoretically, anyone could have this knowledge. Especially for simple areas of code like the most basic income withholding and returns, it's not all that difficult to learn. However, people who have learned only the basics should not be handing anything complex.
01/20/2012 04:01 PM
Understanding Tax Filing: eFile, Mail, And More
Although an old way of doing it, mailing is still an option. You can simply fill out the necessary paperwork and mail it off to the appropriate address. In most cases, mailing it to the appropriate address means mailing several forms to different places, as state and federal taxes are usually collected separately. This can be complicated and may result in errors if you are not careful.
01/20/2012 01:01 PM
What Kind Of Tax Service Is Right For You?
If your primary source of income is a small business, you're probably best off seeking out a qualified professional or tax service. The reason is simple: especially if the business assets are not specifically separated from your own, the tax details can be quite difficult to figure out. Someone who knows the rules inside and out will be able to guide you through your own personal return details, but they should also be able to handle a lot of the specifics for your business, etc at the same time.
01/20/2012 12:39 PM
UK Swiss Tax Treaty
The UK and Swiss governments have now signed the long awaited UK-Swiss Confederation Taxation Cooperation Agreement. The new treaty still has to be ratified before coming into effect, but is expected to be fully effective from 1 January 2013. The treaty will generally apply to UK taxpayers who held a Swiss account as of 31 December 2010 and where the account remains open as of 31 May 2013.
01/20/2012 12:15 PM
Gifts That Attract the IRS' Attention
There are a number of estates facing all manners of problems with the IRS as a result of giving out "gifts" without filing them with the revenue service. Due to this, the estates...
01/20/2012 10:18 AM
What Is A Tax Return?
Throughout the year, a typical employer withholds a certain amount from the typical employee's paycheck. This amount is sent to the government to cover a variety of things, including social security and payroll taxes. The idea behind this is simple: the government receives a steady stream of income, rather than receiving everything at one time in April.
01/20/2012 10:04 AM
Do You Need Tax Preparation Services?
The tax code is possibly the most complex area of all US law. Understanding it thoroughly takes training and a lot of experience. Making things even more complicated, it's in a state of flux. Especially at the local level, requirements can change every year, and keeping up with all the new restrictions and additions is very nearly a full time job itself. Unless you are an expert, you're likely to miss important deductions. Even worse, you could potentially file the incorrect forms, which can be considered fraud and may incur a serious punishment.
01/19/2012 10:01 PM
Tax Preparer Work Demands Considerations With State Returns
Although the focus of tax preparer education is the myriad of IRS rules for federal returns, some knowledge of state tax returns is important. Preparation of state income tax returns is a routine service for most tax practitioners. When people earn income in multiple states during the tax year, a tax preparation business will encounter even more circumstances for helping with accurate filing.
01/19/2012 09:09 PM
Best ISA Rates Can Make A Difference
Taxes are almost everywhere. Wherever you are, the things you buy, use, or spend for come with what we call taxes. These taxes may have their own purposes that are geared toward helping the country be a better place for everyone but one thing is certain: it is not helping use save much. That is why getting the best ISA rates is crucial in people's savings potential.
01/19/2012 02:09 PM
Some Work-From-Home Deductions You Might Have Missed
These are some of the best deductions to claim on your 2011 tax return if you work from home. Some may surprise you!
01/19/2012 01:59 PM
Marketing By a Tax Preparation Business Should Stress Honesty
Most tax practitioners are careful to obtain accurate amounts from clients that correctly identify income and deductible expenses. When the figures on a tax return are inaccurate, the taxpayer is penalized. Tax professionals only face repercussions for intentional misrepresentation of facts. They should emphasize to their clients that violators of tax preparer ethics cause the taxpayers to owe any IRS assessment. Tax preparers face a different consequence if their acts were fraudulently dishonest.
01/19/2012 12:55 PM
IRS Statistics Show the Alternative Minimum Tax Decreasing - What Gives?
Periodically the IRS publishes what it calls its Statistics of Income Bulletin. This document reports data that has been compiled from all of the tax returns filed for the previous year, including data on the Alternative Minimum Tax. This year's report shows that, for the first time after six straight years of the AMT increasing, the amount of AMT paid and the number of taxpayers paying it decreased from the previous year. Are we finally seeing some needed relief from this burden? Hardly; rather it is just another result of the terrible economy we find ourselves in.
01/19/2012 10:24 AM
Tax Settlement Methods
There are many methods of tax settlement with the IRS. They have created tax settlement possibilities for every type of financial situation. There are thousands of people that cannot pay their back taxes. The worst thing you can possibly do is ignore the problem.
01/19/2012 10:21 AM
Economic Growth and Back Taxes
The past few years have proven difficult for many Americans, and the economy as a whole. When people suffer their government suffers as well. A healthy government, one low on debt with plenty of cash has the ability to use government stimulus to encourage economic growth, but how can a government remain healthy when their taxpayers are out of jobs, and those who do owe back taxes cannot afford to pay the taxes that they owe?
01/19/2012 09:32 AM
Tax Preparer Course Covers Reporting of Unexpected Income
Before quickly filing a tax return, every taxpayer should exercise caution to assure that all income information is gathered. Nonrecurring unusual income can arise in some years that is easily overlooked in the haste to file for a refund. Because the process of tax preparer work entails collecting facts about clients, the resulting inquiries should reveal potential income sources.
01/18/2012 09:06 AM
Gather Your Accounting Papers For Taxes
When it's time to file taxes, it's crucial to gather up your accounting papers. Here are some tips for getting ready.
01/17/2012 03:55 PM
Five Reasons To Wait Until The Last Minute To File Your Taxes
Why do your taxes within a reasonable time frame like a responsible adult when you can wait until the last minute and file them frantically? How else will you maintain that looming fear of an audit. This article offers five compelling reasons why you should wait until the last minute to file your taxes.
01/17/2012 03:11 PM
Significant Facts From Paid Tax Preparer Study Apply to Taxpayers With Foreclosures
As home foreclosures remain a major problem, a tax preparer job continues to entail addressing an affected individual's consequences with the IRS. Many taxpayers fail to understand the impact of forgiven mortgage debt and capital gain reporting for a foreclosure.
01/17/2012 01:39 PM
Paid Tax Preparers Best Choice For People With Delinquent Tax Returns
As the IRS expands its search for delinquent tax filers, the guilty parties should not delay filing returns for missed years. Financial troubles for some individuals in recent years caused them to skip submitting tax returns until they recovered from hard times. The elapsed time now creates complications for gathering accurate income figures as well as the correct tax forms.
01/17/2012 01:38 PM
Plenty of Rules For Divorced Taxpayers Covered in IRS Tax Preparer Study
For a divorced individual - particularly a divorced parent - advice from a paid tax preparer about some special tax rules is critical. Divorcing couples reach agreements about debt allocation, alimony, and child custody. But the IRS is not bound by any of the terms of a divorce settlement.
01/17/2012 12:57 PM
No Attorney Needed For Tax Court, But Enrolled Agent Lookup Advisable
Seeking a remedy from the Tax Court for settlement with the IRS does not require an attorney. But having an adviser with tax expertise from enrolled agent training is certainly a sound consideration for taxpayers who choose to represent themselves in court.
01/17/2012 10:31 AM
Worker Classification Is Rising Area of Enrolled Agent Work
Finding enrolled agent job opportunities requires looking no further than the matters of greatest concern to the IRS. Lately, the IRS has rattled its sabers at businesses that treat workers as self-employed.
01/16/2012 02:56 PM
1099S: How to Avoid an Audit
General Rule: If you pay someone more than $600 in a calendar year for services, not material/product, then you are required to provide a 1099 showing the amount you paid. One tip is to collect a W-9 at the time of payment so you know if the business is a sole proprietorship, LLC or Corporation. If it is a corporation, then no 1099 is required. The 1099 is due January 31st and the required 1096 is due February 28th.
01/13/2012 03:29 PM
Correct Tax Preparer Work on Capital Gains Averts Adverse IRS Determination
Sometimes tax return preparers have to hear a long story before getting the facts straight for accurate calculations. IRS agents conduct the same efforts. Therefore, correctly gathering tax details prevents future IRS trouble for taxpayers.
01/13/2012 12:30 PM
Considerations In Tax Preparation Services to Dentists
Dental practices are ideal candidates for paid tax preparers to offer their expertise. Several tax rules are beneficial to dentists, particularly those who establish new businesses. They might not know about special matters affecting their tax returns. Fortunately, a tax preparer training course provides all the information needed.
01/13/2012 12:30 PM
Tax Preparer 2012 Work Will Include Details of Tax and Penalty for Roth IRA Conversions
When conducting tax preparer 2012 work, many individuals must report income on 2011 tax returns that they didn't actually receive. People who converted traditional retirement accounts to Roth IRAs in 2010 did not incur an immediate tax impact if they elected to defer paying the associated income tax. They are required to report half the taxable income for 2011 and the other half on a tax return for 2012.
01/12/2012 04:36 PM
Tax Benefits Associated With Housing Loans
There are numerous tax benefits associated with taking a housing loan. But harnessing them is not all that easy.
01/12/2012 04:12 PM
Keep the Receipt or Lose the Deduction
Time after time, there are rulings from the IRS stating someone lost their deduction due to bad record keeping. So how do we make sure we keep all of our deductions?
01/12/2012 03:02 PM
Top 5 Tax Planning Tips for Individuals
Most parts of your salary are fully taxable, but certain parts are exempt to the extent they are used. For example, conveyance allowance of Rs. 800 is exempt for every month. You can also claim Children Education Allowance or Children Hostel Allowance.
01/12/2012 01:45 PM
Last Minute S Corporation Tax Tips
Need help knocking down the tax liabilities related to an S corporation? One small business CPA and tax professor offers up some great, truly last minute tips. Don't wait, though... Time really is running out.
01/12/2012 08:43 AM
Choosing the Right Entity
If you are looking to start your own business, there are many things to consider. One of the most important things is what kind of business entity you should be. The four most common are: Sole Proprietor, Limited Liability Company, S-Corporation, and C-Corporation. Which business type you choose depends on what kind of business your company will be doing, how you want to be taxed, and what kind of liability protection you want. To help you decide what might be best for you, here is a brief explanation of each type of entity.
01/12/2012 08:43 AM
7 Employee Business Expenses You Are Probably Missing
A commonly missed deduction is the unreimbursed employee business expense. Anything that is required by your job that you have to pay for and don't get reimbursed for is tax deductible. There are more things in this category than you might think that could be deductible. The most common are transportation, travel, and meals and entertainment. But there are many more. Here is a list of 7 employee business expenses you are probably missing on your taxes.
01/11/2012 08:39 PM
What Is an IRS Tax Settlement and How Can It Help You Resolve Financial Strain?
If you owe back taxes or have unfiled tax returns from previous years, the penalties applied by federal authorities can quickly mount to an unmanageable level. A tax settlement is an agreement between you and the IRS regarding how you are going to settle your debt and can help alleviate financial difficulty for you and your family.
01/11/2012 05:18 PM
Avoiding "Hobby-Loss" or "Not-For-Profit" Classification
Self-employed taxpayers often need to prove whether deductions listed on their Schedule C tax returns are from business expenses rather than personal expenses. On many occasions taxpayers will write off personal endeavors on their Schedule C forms to reduce their taxes overall, this can cause trouble. Laws have been created to prevent a taxpayer from taking deductions on their Schedule C and other forms for activities they engage in that are not associated with a profit.
01/10/2012 12:44 PM
Online Business Owners Prepare for Form 1099-K
A few years ago the Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008 was passed as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. While the main purpose of this bill was to provide much needed housing reform, there were other purposes included in the bill, such as the need to improve voluntary tax compliance by business taxpayers, more specifically, online business taxpayers. The IRS realizes that there are millions of dollars in tax revenues that are lost due to unreported transactions (known as the Tax Gap). The majority of these unreported transactions are believed to be online transactions.
01/10/2012 09:47 AM
Tax Preparation Outsourcing Helps Meet Deadlines
Tax preparation is the details that are provided by a person or a business to an administration body stating all responsibilities for taxation. Everybody wishes to have their taxes paid in due course and become liberated of the tax responsibility as quickly as it can be done. Accounting agencies as well as CPAs are able to embark on tax preparation outsourcing for meeting the intense hurry from clients throughout the tax paying period.
01/09/2012 08:06 PM
The Dilemma of Offshore Accounts
The United States government is cracking down on illegal foreign accounts, which is quite ironic considering that some new laws and proposals may entice the wealthy folk to move more money to foreign accounts. The IRS, through new legislations that took effect in 2011, requires taxpayers with offshore assets to make extensive disclosures of those assets or risk severe penalties. The aim of the legislation is to unearth secret accounts used to skirt United States taxes.
01/09/2012 04:45 PM
Tax Breaks for Your Long Term Care Insurance
Can a tax break help you afford long-term care insurance like car purchases? The answer is, yes; it may be possible if you buy as an individual and extremely possible if you are buying as an ad hoc through the business. This is one fact that most accountants don't disclose to taxpayers as they usually point out why they need to contribute to a 401(k) retirement plan or buy a SUV to evade the IRS.
01/09/2012 04:44 PM
What You Need to Know About the Fair Tax Act: The Good and the Bad
There is no doubt that the American tax system is complicated and not easy to understand. Many Americans feel that wealthy individuals and some exceptional groups take advantage of some tools at their disposals to evade taxes. As a result, there is a proposal to introduce the Fair Tax Plan.
01/09/2012 04:43 PM
Tips on Using Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA)
Some people are prone to certain illnesses. They just can't seem to get their immune system around certain diseases. For some select few, these sicknesses come around at designated times; to a few others, when they do some certain activities.
01/09/2012 02:13 PM
IRS Makes Inflation Adjustments to Tax Planning Course Calculations
The tax code empowers the IRS to make automatic inflation adjustments to various tax preparation figures. When the purchasing power of the dollar changes enough, fixed amounts for certain tax rules are altered. The amounts that affect 2011 tax returns are already set. So tax return preparer review courses now can describe the dollar quantities effective for the upcoming tax season.
01/09/2012 01:42 PM
Tax Reprieve to Dual Citizenship Holders
Those who have been suffering sleepless nights over the crackdown by the IRS on worldwide reporting and FBARs (Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts) can now sleep better, as the IRS has released a "fact sheet" that contains favorable guidelines on how to file U.S. tax returns, and FBARs for offshore accounts for those U.S. citizens living abroad who failed to file their returns.
01/09/2012 12:42 PM
1040EZ - Learn How to File Free
Tax season is such a crucial span of time, and if you let it go simply wasted doing nothing, then it can cost you much more. You may complete your taxes right in time if you intend to avoid getting penalties. However, there are options which you are left with when it comes to preparing and filing your federal tax return.
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02/07/2012 12:21 AM
Did You Bet on Super Bowl XLVI?
Even this Eagles girl had to admit that Super Bowl XLVI lived up to its hype… No wonder a record 166.7 million U.S. viewers tuned in to watch Eli Manning and his Giants stun defeat and his New England Patriots – and at halftime, they watched strut awkwardly around a self-indulgent stage with a Neil [...]
02/06/2012 11:03 PM
Tax Trivia Giveaway #7: Bank Secrecy Act
Our next tax trivia question is: Congress passed the Bank Secrecy Act (sometimes referred to as BSA or the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act), which included cash reporting requirements and FBAR (Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts) rules, in 1970 as the first laws to fight which crime in the US? For more about [...]
02/06/2012 09:51 AM
Don’t Be Fooled by Intuit Tax ID Scam
With tax season ramping up, tax scams are on the rise. Scams aren’t limited to in person scams; online scammers are in on the action, too. The latest tax-related scams to make the rounds might have landed in your inbox as early as last month but they’re still going strong; I received three just this [...]
02/05/2012 10:15 PM
Tax Trivia Giveaway #6: Presidential Election Fund
  Our next tax trivia question is: Taxpayers may indicate on their tax returns that money be given to the Presidential Election Campaign Fun. About how much money was given to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund from 2010 tax returns? For more about the giveaway, including rules and prizes, check out this post. – Want [...]
02/05/2012 11:11 AM
Lil Kim Has Big Tax Troubles
  I don’t make a habit of posting about celebrity tax woes. Quite frankly, I don’t get why most taxpayers care if an occasional pop star or movie mogul owes a few thousand dollars to the IRS (other than a little schadenfreude) since most of the time, I tend to believe that it’s the result [...]
02/03/2012 08:38 AM
Free Tax Help is Available
  You can probably guess that I tend to recommend finding a competent, reliable tax professional to help you out come tax time. I’m not too proud to say that I don’t do my own taxes anymore, not because I enjoy paying someone else to do them but because I want to stay married. Let’s [...]
02/02/2012 10:55 PM
Tax Trivia Giveaway #5: Drafting the Tax Code
Our next tax trivia question is: The man who is largely responsible for writing the modern day Tax Code, Ward M. Hussey, also drafted language for other major legislation including which large-scale program meant to help rebuild European economies after the end of World War II and stop the spread of Soviet communism? For more [...]
02/01/2012 11:50 PM
The Credit We Love to Hate: The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
  If you follow the blog regularly, you’ll know that I’m not a fan of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). So maybe it wasn’t so much of a surprise to anyone that I managed to miss Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day at IRS. Yes, there is one. And yes, it was last week [...]
02/01/2012 06:27 PM
Tax Trivia Giveaway #4: Social Security Numbers
  Our next tax trivia question is: The original purpose of the Social Security number, which was introduced in 1935, was to to track individuals’ accounts within the Social Security program. In 1938, as part of a promotion to sell wallets primarily through Woolworth’s, wallet manufacturer E. H. Ferree Company used a sample Social Security [...]
01/31/2012 10:58 PM
Ask the taxgirl: Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth
Taxpayer asks: Dear TaxGirl, Recently I received a request from a company to fill out a W-9 form.  I am not, nor have I ever been, an employee of this company.  However, I did receive money from them.  I’ll explain quickly… My mother worked as a 1099 employee for a manufacturing company.  She sold millions [...]