Starting in 2017, tax refunds that include an Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) will be held until February 15. WHY IS THE DELAY HAPPENING? On December 18, 2015, Congress passed the PATH (Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes) Act which made over 20 tax provisions permanent, including tax credit expansions…
The Internal Revenue Service and its in-house watchdog the National Taxpayer Advocate’s office are debating the future of the agency and how that will affect us and our filings in the coming years. The IRS is working on what it calls its Future State plan, an outline of agency activities in five years and beyond.…
The first Friday the 13th of 2017 is lucky for some taxpayers. That’s the day that Free File once again opens, allowing eligible folks to electronically prepare and file their 2016 tax returns. The Internal Revenue Service hasn’t yet issued an official announcement about Free File 2017, but if you pursue the IRS website (c’mon,…
One of the big sticks that the Internal Revenue Service wields is penalties for our mistakes or willful disregard of tax laws. Some of the penalties were increased in 2016 thanks to law changes. Others are hiked each year if inflation so warrants. Here’s a roundup of some major tax penalties changes ahead in 2017.…
Did you know about 27 percent of Earned Income Tax Credit returns are paid in error? According to the IRS, the five most common errors account for more than 60 percent of erroneous claims. Remember, EITC preparers have due diligence requirements or questions you must ask your client, to determine eligibility for the credit. Errors…
How will the new safeguards affect me? The goal at the IRS is to verify your identity and the validity of your return before the return is accepted for processing. We’ve been working with state tax agencies and the tax industry to strengthen safeguards that protect you from identity theft. The 2017 safeguards are aimed…
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) removed obstacles that prevented some people from buying health insurance but not everyone has signed up, and not everyone who did sign up kept their coverage. Because of that, millions will owe the individual shared responsibility payment, better known as the Obamacare penalty or ACA penalty when they file taxes. Who pays the…
Direct deposit sounds like a no-brainer when it comes to getting a tax refund. Who would want to waste time and keep running to the mailbox to keep an eye out for a fat tax refund check? But it’s not foolproof. Ever think about what happens if you enter the wrong account number? Or if somehow that refund is deposited into…
All sorts of factors can contribute to delaying when you receive your income tax refund. The official word from the Internal Revenue Service is that it takes up to 21 days after the IRS accepts your e-filed tax return to get your refund. If you mailed your tax return, the refund process for those paper returns can…
Now that tax season is here, consumers are looking for a reliable, easy way to file their taxes. Why not use an online tax service? These services allow you to easily and safely file your taxes online from the convenience of your own home. And the best part is they can cost much less than…
