It’s the start of a new year, which means that tax season is right around the corner. A few things have changed in the last couple of years, so it’s important to make sure you’re up to date on current tax news before you file. Read More
CEO David King highlights the difficulties of dealing with IRS Enforcement; otherwise known as Collections. Optima’s Lead Tax Attorney, Philip Hwang, shares his insight and offers “Tax Pro Tips” ranging from IRS authority, to what you can expect when you’re subjected to IRS collection actions. Watch Video Click here for more from The Tax Show for People Who Owe.
Retirement accounts can help reduce your taxable income and possibly increase your tax refund. Some accounts may have a year-end deadline for your contribution and required distributions, while others allow additional time. Read More
Dependents are usually children or relatives in your household that require your care. These characteristics allow you to be eligible for some tax deductions and credits. Knowing when to claim a dependent and how will be vital to preparing your tax return this season. Read More
Child tax credit has been a reliable source of additional income for families struggling through the pandemic. While there were plans to continue the monthly checks for at least another five years, it seems the program will be coming to an end in about one year.
Many small business owners are at risk of being assigned a Revenue Officer (RO). If a small business withholds taxes from their employees but fails to hand it over to the IRS, the IRS can assign an RO, garnish bank accounts and wages, seize property and real estate, and even show up at your place of business. Here are some helpful tips for small business owners if they are assigned an RO.
Optima Tax Relief is proud to announce that we have earned our second BBB Torch Award! This award puts the spotlight on businesses with exceptional dedication to integrity and ethical business practices. The Torch Award is just the latest in the series of awards Optima has earned this year, including the Orange County Civic 50, Top Workplaces USA, and several Stevie Awards for best-in-class Consumer Service.
It’s important to choose how you want your earnings to be taxed because the IRS will automatically treat your business as a partnership. This designation doesn’t fit if you’re a sole proprietor or prefer to file as a corporation. Once you choose your tax rules, you cannot change the designation again for five years, which is why you must choose wisely.
The IRS recently signed contracts with three private-sector collection agencies, taking effect Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. Taxpayers that are behind on payments toward their debts may be contacted by one of the new agencies. Here’s what you need to know: Read More
Revenue Officers deal with the most advanced tax collection cases that the IRS has on file. If you owe a large sum of money to the IRS, you could potentially have a Revenue Officer assigned to you. Optima CEO David King and in-house Revenue Officer expert and Enrolled Agent, Rosie Steele, provide helpful tips on what individuals can do if they have been assigned a Revenue Officer. Watch Video
Since 2009, apps such as Venmo have been evolving into common payment methods for businesses and individuals. Now, peer-to-peer payment apps are gaining the government’s attention regarding unreported income. To remain compliant with the IRS, there are some things to consider if you utilize these apps for business. Read More
The Senate recently passed President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill, which includes a pilot program for vehicle mileage tax. This tax would charge drivers based on how many miles they drive in a year. The vehicle mileage fee will likely bring in revenue for transportation and future infrastructure projects. Read More
The recently passed $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan allows qualifying taxpayers who received unemployment during the 2020 tax year to have the first $10,200 of those benefits exempt from their federal income taxes.
The IRS has Resumed its U.S. Passport Revocation Program
The IRS recently announced that they are resuming their Passport Revocation Program. Optima CEO David King and Lead Tax Attorney Philip Hwang discuss how this program can cause delinquent taxpayers to lose their passport until they become compliant with the IRS.
Unemployment Fraud could affect Individuals this Tax Season
Due to the ongoing pandemic, millions of Americans lost their jobs, many of whom received unemployment benefits from their state agency. As taxpayers start to file their taxes, they need to be aware of scammers looking to file fraudulent unemployment benefits and steal their personal information.
The IRS granted taxpayers additional time to file their federal tax returns due to COVID-19 and new stimulus provisions that made the current tax filing season much more complex compared to prior years. With so many new tax law changes, taxpayers should be more cautious when filing their taxes.
The newly passed $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill includes $1,400 stimulus checks that will be sent out to qualifying Americans who have been financially struggling due to the ongoing pandemic. However, individuals who have unpaid debts may be at risk of having their stimulus checks garnished.
What is IRS Notice 1444 and will you need it for Filing your 20221 Taxes?
Several stimulus checks were issued out to qualifying taxpayers who needed financial assistance during the pandemic. If you were issued out a payment, you can expect to also receive Notice 1444 from the IRS. It is recommended taxpayers utilize the notice when filing their taxes to notify the IRS that they received an economic impact payment.
One thing that will change for recently married couples is the way they file their taxes. Couples will need to decide whether they will file jointly or separately based on their current circumstances. Here are a few tax-filing tips couples should consider when filing their taxes.
Individuals who are changing jobs should look into rolling over their 401(K) to an IRA. It is recommended that taxpayers do their research on where they should rollover their retirement account in order to avoid making a costly mistake that may cause them to owe when filing their taxes.
Taxpayers can expect to receive a third stimulus check in addition to aid for individuals who are unemployed and facing eviction from their homes. The new Economic Rescue Package would also provide assistance to small businesses, states and local governments and will increase funding for vaccinations and testing.
Individuals may be able to receive up to $15,000 when buying their first property thanks to President Biden’s proposal. Although the details of the credit are still being worked out, if passed, taxpayers can expect to receive up to $15,000 in advance when purchasing their first home.
Taxpayers should start collecting all their important tax documents ahead of tax season in order to get the most out of their tax return and to ensure that avoidable errors are not made that could potentially delay their refund. Here are some tax filing tips taxpayers need to review before filing their taxes.
Working from Home? Here’s what You need to know about the Home Office Deduction.
A large number of Americans have made the transition from working in the office to working at home. With so many people starting to file their tax return, they may have questions about if they qualify for any working from home tax breaks. Here’s everything you need to know about claiming a home office tax deduction.
