Marginal vs. Effective Tax Rates Understanding marginal and effective tax rates are important for tax planning purposes; however, many taxpayers don’t fully understand the differences. Let’s take a closer look: Marginal Tax Rate The United States has a progressive tax system. The more money you earn, the higher your tax rate is and the more…
E-Signatures Extended for Many Tax Forms To help reduce the burden to taxpayers brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, the use of electronic or digital signatures on certain paper forms they normally cannot file electronically has been extended through December 31, 2021. Let’s take a look at what this means for taxpayers: Types of acceptable…
If You Receive an IRS Letter or Notice The IRS sends millions of letters and notices to taxpayers for a variety of reasons. Many of these letters and notices can be dealt with without calling or visiting an IRS office. Here’s what you need to know about IRS notices and letters: Reasons You Might Receive…
Use These Strategies To Pass on Wealth to Heirs Individuals with significant assets should take advantage of proven tax strategies such as gifting and direct payments to educational institutions to transfer wealth to heirs tax-free, as well as minimize estate taxes. Additional opportunities are available as well, thanks to low-interest rates and a volatile stock…
An important part of tax planning is keeping good records. Having an organized recordkeeping system makes it easier to file a tax return or understand a letter from the IRS. Here are some tips: Good Recordkeeping Helps Taxpayers: Identify sources of income. Taxpayers may receive money or property from a variety of sources. The records can…
Common Errors to Avoid When Filing a Tax Return While not all mistakes on tax returns cause delays in refunds, some do. 1. Not using electronic filing. While this isn’t necessarily a mistake per se, filing electronically is the best way to cut the chances for many tax return mistakes while maximizing deductions to reduce the…
Q & A: The $10,200 Unemployment Tax Break Generally, unemployment compensation received under the unemployment compensation laws of the United States or a state is considered taxable income and must be reported on your federal tax return. However, a new tax break – in effect only for the 2020 tax year – lets you exclude…
Who Qualifies for the Earned Income Credit The earned income tax credit can give qualifying workers with low-to-moderate income a substantial financial boost. The credit not only reduces the amount of tax someone owes but may give them a refund even if they don’t owe any taxes or aren’t required to file a return. If…
Relief for Taxpayers Struggling With Tax Debts While there have always been payment options available from the IRS to help taxpayers struggling to pay tax debts, the new IRS Taxpayer Relief Initiative was put into place to expand these options and offer relief during the pandemic. These revised COVID-related collection procedures will help taxpayers, especially…