Insights: Tax Services
Hiring your minor children this summer? Reap tax and nontax benefits
If you’re a business owner and you hire your children this summer, you can obtain tax breaks and other nontax benefits. The kids can gain on-the-job experience, spend time with you, save for college and learn how to manage money. And you may be able to: Shift your high-taxed income into tax-free or low-taxed income,…
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Who qualifies for “head of household” tax filing status?
When you file your tax return, you must check one of the following filing statuses: Single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household or qualifying widow(er). Who qualifies to file a return as a head of household, which is more favorable than single? To qualify, you must maintain a household, which for more…
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The 2020 tax filing deadline is coming up: Do you need an extension?
“Tax day” is just around the corner. This year, the deadline for filing 2020 individual tax returns is Monday, May 17, 2021. The IRS postponed the usual April 15 due date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you still aren’t ready to file your return, you should request a 2020 tax filing extension. Anyone can…
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Help ensure the IRS doesn’t reclassify independent contractors as employees
Many businesses use independent contractors to help keep their costs down. If you’re among them, make sure that these workers are properly classified for federal tax purposes. If the IRS reclassifies them as employees, it can be a costly error. It can be complex to determine whether a worker is an independent contractor or an…
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Did you make donations in 2020? There’s still time to get a deduction
If you’re like many Americans, letters from your favorite charities may be appearing in your mailbox acknowledging your 2020 donations. But what happens if you haven’t received such a letter — can you still claim a deduction for the gift on your 2020 income tax return? It depends. What is required To support a charitable…
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Educators can now deduct out-of-pocket expenses for COVID-19 protective items
On February 4, 2021, the IRS announced (Rev. Proc. 2021-15 PDF) that eligible educators can deduct unreimbursed expenses for COVID-19 protective items to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the classroom. Eligible COVID-19 protective items include, but are not limited to: face masks disinfectant for use against COVID-19 hand soap hand sanitizer disposable gloves tape, paint…
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Small Businesses: Cash in on depreciation tax savers
As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good time to think about whether your business needs to buy business equipment and other depreciable property. If so, you may benefit from the Section 179 depreciation tax deduction for business property. The election provides a tax windfall to businesses, enabling them to claim immediate…
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Business website costs: How to handle them for tax purposes
The business use of websites is widespread. But surprisingly, the IRS hasn’t yet issued formal guidance on when Internet website costs can be deducted. Fortunately, established rules that generally apply to the deductibility of business costs, and IRS guidance that applies to software costs, provide business taxpayers launching a website with some guidance as to…
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COVID-19 Tax Implications: Working from Home and Collecting Unemployment
COVID-19 has changed our lives in many ways, and some of the changes have tax implications. Here is basic information about two common situations. Working from Home. Many employees have been told not to come into their workplaces due to the pandemic. If you’re an employee who “telecommutes” — that is, you work at home,…
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What qualifies as “coronavirus-related distributions” from a retirement plan?
As you may have heard, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act allows “qualified” people to take certain “coronavirus-related distributions” from their retirement plans without paying tax. So how do you qualify? In other words, what are coronavirus-related distributions? Early distribution basics In general, if you withdraw money from an IRA or eligible…
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