To prepare for a business audit, an IRS examiner generally researches the specific industry and issues on the taxpayer’s return. Examiners may use IRS Audit Techniques Guides (ATGs). A little-known secret is that these guides are available to the public on the IRS website. In other words, your business can use the same guides to gain insight into what the IRS is looking for in terms of compliance with tax laws and regulations.
Archived Posts: IRS
Tax Tips for April 2024
Click on the links below to jump to each section in this article: Payable-on-Death Accounts: Beneficial Tools if Used Correctly Avoid Misinformation About Tax-Favored Health Accounts 2024 Depreciation Limits for Business Vehicles Payable-on-Death Accounts: Beneficial Tools if Used Correctly Payable-on-death (POD) accounts can be a quick, simple and inexpensive way to transfer assets outside of probate. They can be used for bank or credit union accounts, certificates of deposit and even...
Tax Tips for March 2024
Click on the links below to jump to each section in this article: A Strategy to Raise Your Medical Expense Deduction Handling Large Cash Transactions Erroneous Refund A Strategy to Raise Your Medical Expense Deduction With a little planning, you may be able to boost your itemized medical expense deduction when you file your 2024 tax return next year. Only eligible expenses exceeding 7.5% of your adjusted gross income are deductible. It’s not an easy hurdle to clear, short of a major...
Tracking Down Donation Substantiation
If you’re like many Americans, your mailbox may have been filling up in recent weeks with letters from your favorite charities acknowledging your 2023 donations. But what happens if you haven’t received such a letter for a contribution? Can you still claim a deduction on your 2023 income tax return for the gift? It depends.
Appraisals Aren’t Just for Businesses
Whether you’re in the process of making a retirement or estate plan or you intend to donate property to charity, you’ll need to know the value of your assets. For many hard-to-value items, such as closely held business interests, real estate, art and collectibles, an appraisal may be necessary.
Verifying Your Identity When Calling the IRS
Sometimes, taxpayers must call the IRS about a tax matter. As part of the IRS’s ongoing efforts to keep taxpayer data secure from identity thieves, IRS phone assistors take great care to discuss personal information with the taxpayer or someone the taxpayer has authorized to speak on their behalf. Therefore, the IRS will ask taxpayers and their representatives to verify their identity when they call.
Getting Ready for the 2023 Tax Filing Season
Filing your 2022 tax return promises to be just as complicated as always; however, there are steps that taxpayers can take right now to ensure their tax filing experience goes smoothly. Let’s look at what’s new for 2022 and some key items taxpayers should consider before filing.
Deducting Casualty Losses on a Tax Return
Every year, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters affect US citizens. The bad news is that recovery efforts after natural disasters can be costly. For instance, when hurricanes strike, they not only cause wind damage but can cause widespread flooding.
Settling Tax Debt With an IRS Offer in Compromise
An offer in compromise (OIC) is an agreement between a taxpayer and the Internal Revenue Service that settles a taxpayer's tax liabilities for less than the full amount owed. That's the good news. The bad news is that not everyone can use this option to settle tax debt; the IRS rejected nearly 60 percent of taxpayer-requested offers in compromise. If you owe money to the IRS and wonder if an IRS offer in compromise is the answer, here's what you need to know. Who is Eligible? If you can't pay...
Tax Tips for March 2022
Click on the links below to jump to each section in this article: There's Still Time To Make an IRA Contribution for 2021 What Is the Credit for Other Dependents? Business Meals Fully Deductible in 2021 and 2022 Employee Business Expense Deductions: Who Qualifies? The Facts: Taxable vs. Nontaxable Income There's Still Time To Make an IRA Contribution for 2021 If you haven't contributed funds to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) for tax year 2021, or if you've put in less than the maximum...