Tag: Internal Revenue Service (page 2 of 2)

Tax Season is Almost Here!

The IRS will start accepting personal income tax returns on Monday, January 27th.

The deadline to file your 2019 tax return and pay any tax owed is Wednesday, April 15th.

The IRS continues to encourage taxpayers to file their returns electronically and choose direct deposit for faster receipt of refunds.

New W4 Form for 2020

The beginning of a new year is a great time for employees to review their withholding and determine if any adjustments are necessary.

The IRS has released the 2020 Form W4 which has been redesigned to reduce complexity and increase the accurateness of the withholding system.

The 2020 W4 form should be used by new hires and any employees making withholding changes in 2020.

Click here to view the 2020 Form W4

Click here for more information regarding the 2020 Form W4

How Much Can You Save for Retirement in 2020?

The IRS has announced the contribution limit for employees who participate in a 401K, 403B and most 457 plans will increase to $19,500 for the tax year 2020 (up from $19,000 in 2019).

The catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and over who participate in these plans will increase to $6,500 (up from $6,000 in 2019).

Where’s My Refund?!

This online tool by the IRS allows taxpayers to check the status of their refund anytime.

Taxpayers can start checking on the status of their return within 24 hours after the IRS received their e-filed return, or four weeks after they mail a paper return.

IRS’ Where’s My Refund

The IRS Releases the 2019 Standard Mileage Rates

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2019, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

  • 58 cents per mile driven for business use, up 3.5 cents from the rate for 2018,
  • 20 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, up 2 cents from the rate for 2018, and
  • 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations.

It is important to note that under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, taxpayers cannot claim a miscellaneous itemized deduction for unreimbursed employee travel expenses. Taxpayers also cannot claim a deduction for moving expenses, except members of the Armed Forces on active duty moving under orders to a permanent change of station.

For more details see Notice-2019-02.

Social Security Tax Increase for 2019

As of January 1, 2019, the maximum wage base that is subject to the Social Security payroll tax will increase from $128,400 to $132,900.

There is no limit on earnings subjected to the Medicare payroll tax.

New Tax Reform, Tax Cuts & Jobs Act

President Trump recently signed the tax reform bill into law which resulted into major changes to the code for both individuals and corporations. Here is a brief summary of the changes that will affect most of you.

  •  Tax Brackets – Same number of brackets, different tax rates and different ranges. If your taxable income is the same in 2018 as was 2017, you will pay less federal taxes. A lot of the difference are in the changes leading to “taxable income”.

 

  •  The marriage penalty is almost gone. – Under the old law the combined income for a married couple was taxed at a higher rate than the same total income for 2 individuals. For example: a single person with taxable income of $90K would be in the 25% bracket. A couple with $180k in taxable income is in the 28% bracket. Under the new law, both cases are in the 25% bracket.

 

  • New Standard Deductions

 

Filing Status Old Law New Law
Single $6,500 12,000
MFJ 13,000 24,000
MFS 6,500 12,000
HOH 9,350 18,000

 

  • Capital Gains (stock sales and sales of other appreciated assets)
    • Short term gains are taxed as ordinary income (no difference)
    • Long term rates are as follows:
Single MFJ HOH MFS
0% up to: $38,600 $77,200 $51,700 $38,600
15% up to: 425,000 479,000 452,400 239,500
20% over 425,000 479,000 452,400 239,500

 

  • Tax Breaks for Parents. The child tax credit is increased from $1,000 per child to $2,000 per child. Of that amount $1,400 is refundable. In addition, the phase out for eligibility is expanded.
Tax Status Old Law New Law
MFJ $110,000 $400,000
Individuals $75,000 $200,000
    • If children are 17 years and older or you care for elderly relatives, you can claim a nonrefundable credit of $500 each.

 

  • Home mortgage interest can only be taken for mortgage balances up to $750,000. This was previously $1 million. This applies to loans taken after Dec. 15, 2017. Interest on home equity debt can no longer be deducted.

 

  •  State and Local Tax Deduction (SALT) is now limited to $10,000.

 

  •  Deductions that are disappearing:
    •  Casualty and theft losses
    • Unreimbursed employee expenses
    • Moving expenses

 

  • Pass-through income from sole proprietorship, LLCs, partnerships, and S corporations will be able to deduct 20% of the profit. There are phaseout income limits that apply to “professional services” business owners. They are $157,500 and $315,000 for individuals and married couples respectively.

 

  • Corporate tax rates have been reduced for most corporations, but not for all. A corporation with profit below $50,000 will pay more in taxes. The new rate is 21% for all profits. The old rates were:
From To Rate
$0 $50,000 15%
50,000 75,000 25%
75,000 100,000 34%
100,000 335,000 39%

 

  •  Interesting: If in 2017 your corporate profit was $50,000; your federal tax was $7,500 (50K * 15%). That tax increases under the new law to $10,500 (50K * 21%).  Let’s hope this is corrected soon.

Moving Expenses can be Deductible

If you are moving due to Job relocation, you can deduct moving expenses.

In order to deduct moving expenses, your move must meet three requirements:

  • The move must closely relate to the start of work
  • Your move must meet the distance test
  • You must meet the time test

After meeting these requirements, the #IRS has plenty of tips to show you what expenses are deductible.

For more information click here. Be sure to update your address with the IRS and Post Office.

Avoid a Tax Audit!

Several different things can alert the IRS to issue an audit. Keeping your books and records in order can help to avoid a stressful situation. Making large charitable contributions and failing to report all of your income can trigger an audit.

If you have multiple sources of income it can become hard to keep track of all the income year earned, and the more likely you are to leave out a payment. To avoid missing a 1099 keep track of all work you complete and the agreed payment. Not getting a form is not an excuse for not reporting the income.

Read more by clicking link below:

Things That Could Trigger an IRS Audit

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