IRS Announces Common Tax Scams
The IRS recently announced its 2020 edition of its annual Dirty Dozen list of tax scams with a special emphasis on aggressive and evolving schemes related to COVID-19 tax relief, including Economic Impact Payments. Here are six of the more common scams. Phishing. Phishing refers to potential fake emails or websites looking to steal your personal information. Remember…
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NEW Tax Rules for 2020!
Here are several new tax laws passed this year to consider as you start planning your 2020 tax obligation. Make up to $300 of charitable contributions. For the 2020 tax year only, an above-the-line deduction of $300 is available to all Americans who want to make a charitable contribution. You can donate to more than…
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You NEED These Documents to File Your Taxes!
It’s easy to get inundated with documents during tax season. You can receive documents from many different organizations, including employers, financial institutions and others. Many documents are now also being sent via e-mail, which increases the likelihood it could get lost in your inbox. As tax season is quickly approaching, here are some of the…
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Oregon Corporate Activity Tax
Oregon has established a new Corporate Activity Tax for all business entity types that conduct business in Oregon. Businesses with Oregon commercial activity in excess of $750,000 are required to register for the Corporate Activity Tax. A return is required to be filed when the Oregon commercial activity exceeds $1 million in gross receipts. Businesses…
Read MoreAnother Year, Another New 1040
In 2018, the government attempted to “simplify” the tax-filing process by drastically shortening Form 1040. The result was six new schedules that created a lot of confusion. Now the IRS is attempting to ease some of that pain by revising the form and removing some schedules. Will it help? At ITS, we are keeping our…
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I Owe Tax on That? Five Surprising Taxable Items
Wages and self-employment earnings are taxable, but what about the random cash or financial benefits you receive through other means? If something of value changes hands, you can bet the IRS considers a way to tax it. Here are five taxable items that might surprise you: Scholarships and financial aid. Applying for scholarships and financial…
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Effective Tax Planning Starts Now!
With summertime activities in full swing, tax planning is probably not on the top of your to-do list. But putting it off creates a problem at the end of the year when there’s little time for changes to take effect. If you take the time to plan now, you’ll have six months for your actions…
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Oh No! Your Tax Refund is Now a Bill
If you are anticipating a nice refund this year, it may be a good idea to prepare yourself for a possible letdown. Many taxpayers will receive a smaller-than-expected refund and might even owe taxes to be paid by April 15. If this happens to you, here are some of the likely reasons: Higher take-home pay. Look…
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Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) Tax Law
A significant new tax deduction went in to effect January 1, 2018 under the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) tax law. The changes are extensive and should provide a substantial tax benefit to individuals with “qualified business income” from a sole proprietorship, farm, rental, partnership, or S corporation. The new deduction is called…
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Is a Tax Surprise Waiting for You?
Often lost in the excitement of large-scale tax change is how they can negatively impact some individual situations. Check out the questions below to see if you might be in for a tax surprise this year. Will you pay more than $10,000 in state and local taxes? Previously, you could take a full deduction for…
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