The 2020 tax season has officially begun. As we do each year, we take time to recognize different scams that victimize taxpayers. One that the IRS recently highlighted is about the so-called “ghost preparer.” These are unscrupulous tax preparers who will...
Tax Liens And Audits
Choosing the right tax preparer
The IRS issued a list of 12 common tax scams in 2019. Now, as we enter the second tax season under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the scams and gambits will change some, but tax preparer fraud will likely remain on the list in 2020. As is the case whenever working with...
Filing taxes early has many benefits
The end of the year is here, which means it is time for most Americans to begin preparing to file their 2019 income taxes. Of course, we have until midnight on April 15 to get it done without penalties, but waiting until the last minute adds expense and can lead to...
6 easy year-end tax tips
It is five weeks before taxpayers close the books on 2019. There is, of course, plenty of time to procrastinate before the April 15, 2020 filing deadline, but there are still steps to take in 2019 that can help lower the tax obligations or increase that return....
IRS warns of a new scam
The Internal Revenue Service recently issued a new warning to tax professionals and taxpayers. In a new twist on an old trick, the fraudster threatens to cancel or suspend the victim's Social Security Number (SSN) if they do not pay their overdue tax bill. Initial...
Cryptocurrency users still taxed
Many embraced cryptocurrency because it had the potential to be a very lucrative investment. It also left few traces of financial activity. The Internal Revenue Service likes seeing records and accountability, so it is no surprise that it stepped in to levy taxes on...
Not filing taxes is a mistake
There may be a variety of reasons why people do not file taxes. It can be a matter where the Internal Revenue Service owes them a refund and they chose not to file, at least before the April 15 deadline. There are, however, common reasons given each year by those not...
Foreign investments often fall under FATCA
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) became law in 2010. It signaled a significant shift in tax obligation for foreign companies and workers doing business in the United States. In essence, it required businesses, financial institutions, banks, and certain...
IRS waives penalties for 400,000 filers
The IRS has seemingly bent over backward this year in light of the significant overhaul to the tax code that applied for the first time. Now it announced that it is automatically waiving the estimated tax penalty to 400,000 eligible taxpayers who filed in 2019 (for...
Summer-themed tax tips
The Texas heat can be unbearable, but people of all ages look forward to the summer months. There are many fun things to do for families with young folks not in school, the cost of which can often qualify for tax credits or deductions. Parents of older kids also need...