Of all the intricacies of tax preparation, few aspects are as beneficial as electronic filing or e-filing. Not only is this advantageous to the Internal Revenue Service, as it reduces paperwork, it is also a benefit to individuals filing their tax returns. Here are just a few of the ways you can enjoy all electronic…
Every year, the National Taxpayer Advocate’s Annual Report to Congress identifies at least 20 of the nation’s most serious tax problems. These issues can affect taxpayers’ basic rights and the ways they pay taxes or receive refunds, even if they’re not involved in a dispute with the IRS. As your voice at the IRS, the…
Tax credits and tax deductions are two different types of tax breaks. Both can lower your tax bill, but they work in different ways. What is a tax deduction? A tax deduction is an expense that you can subtract from your yearly income. Deductions are taken before you calculate how much of your income is taxable. That means you should subtract any tax…
The percentage of tax returns being audited each year has steadily declined, due in part to dwindling government resources. Still, if you’ve been notified of a pending audit, those percentages don’t mean much. The only thing that matters is the situation that you’re now in. There are two kinds of audits; in person and by…
The Internal Revenue Service launched the new Tax Withholding Estimator, an expanded, mobile-friendly online tool designed to make it easier for everyone to have the right amount of tax withheld during the year. The Tax Withholding Estimator replaces the Withholding Calculator, which offered workers a convenient online method for checking their withholding. The new Tax Withholding…
The Internal Revenue Service and its Security Summit partners today warned taxpayers and tax professionals about a new IRS impersonation scam campaign spreading nationally on email. Remember: the IRS does not send unsolicited emails and never emails taxpayers about the status of refunds. The IRS this week detected this new scam as taxpayers began notifying phishing@irs.gov about…
How quickly will I get my refund? The IRS issue most refunds in less than 21 calendar days. I’m counting on my refund for something important. Can I expect to receive it in 21 days? Many different factors can affect the timing of your refund after the IRS receives your return. Even though they issue…
Taxpayers know that there are tax deductions out there to be utilized to reduce the taxes paid on your income. Most are aware of the common deductions, but there are many deductions that simply get overlooked by most taxpayers. Gifts to charity are a good place to start. Most taxpayers know that when you give…
The Hope credit (renamed the American Opportunity credit) and the Lifetime Learning credit are tax credits for taxpayers who pay certain higher education costs. These credits depend on the amount of qualified tuition and related expenses you paid in a given year, as well as the level of your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). The…
The Taxpayer Roadmap – An Illustration of the Modern United States Tax System The map below illustrates, at a very high level, the stages of a taxpayer’s journey, from getting answers to tax law questions, all the way through audits, appeals, collection, and litigation. It shows the complexity of tax administration, with its connections and…
