Category Archives: Commons

Commons

Tax Time Tips from the IRS

Tax Time! IRS has issued a Tax Tip (Issue Number: Tax Tip 2018-56), here it is…

The tax filing deadline is Tuesday, April 17 this year. This is because April 15 falls on a weekend and the following Monday is a holiday in the District of Columbia. Even with an extra two days, the IRS urges taxpayers to avoid waiting until the last minute to file their taxes.

For those who have yet to file, the IRS has five quick ideas to help:

1. Gather Records. Good recordkeeping is important. It helps to ensure that nothing gets overlooked. Records such as receipts and cancelled checks also provide expense documentation.

2. Use IRS Online Tools. The IRS has many useful online tools, including the Interactive Tax Assistant, which provides answers to many tax questions. It gives the same answers that an IRS representative would give over the phone. Continue reading →

IRS direct deposit leads to faster refunds

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IRS Issue Number: IR-2018-90 – Inside This Issue

IRS refers direct deposit as an option for tax payment and this also leads to faster refunds when you owe back… here is more information from the IRS issue.

WASHINGTON — With the tax deadline just around the corner, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that making an electronic direct deposit of their refund into a bank or other account is the fastest way to get their money. A taxpayer can deposit their refund into one, two or even three accounts to help with retirement or savings.

Eight out of 10 taxpayers get their refunds by using direct deposit. It is simple, safe and secure. The IRS uses the same electronic transfer system to deposit tax refunds that is used by other federal agencies to deposit nearly 98 percent of all Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits into millions of accounts. Direct deposit also avoids the possibility that a refund check could be lost or stolen or returned to the IRS as undeliverable.

Direct deposit is easy to use. A taxpayer simply selects it as the refund method when using tax software or working with a tax preparer, and then types in their account and routing number. It’s important to double check entries to avoid errors. Continue reading →

Common Errors to Avoid when Filing a Tax Return

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IRS in the recent Tax Tip issue (Issue Number: Tax Tip Number 2018-55) covered the common errors to avoid when filing a tax return. Electronic filing can very well eliminate the common errors and will collect all required data to be filled in a tax return. However here is the tax tip from IRS….

To ensure they meet their tax obligations, taxpayers should file accurate tax returns. If a taxpayer makes an error on their tax return, it will likely take longer to process and could delay a refund. Taxpayers can avoid many common errors by filing electronically, the most accurate way to file a tax return. All taxpayers can use IRS Free File.

Here are common errors to avoid when preparing a tax return: Continue reading →

Tips for Getting Unclaimed 2014 Tax Refunds

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IRS in its recent issue (Issue Number: IR-2018-83) has highlighted that refunds worth $1 billion is still unclaimed for tax year 2014… here is the complete message from them. Read it here

Further to that IRS has also highlighted in its Tax Tips (Issue Number: IRS Tax Tip 2018-53) for Getting Unclaimed 2014 Tax Refunds.

The IRS reminds taxpayers they may have money waiting for them. About 1 million taxpayers who did not file a 2014 federal income tax return have unclaimed tax refunds totaling about $1.1 billion. Here are some things taxpayers should know about these unclaimed refunds: Continue reading →

Members of the Military and their Families Can Get Free Tax Assistance 2018

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IRS in its recent tax tip issue (Issue Number: IRS Tax Tip 2018-51) highlighted how the Members of the Military and their Families can get free tax assistance. Here we go…

The IRS offers free tax help to members of the military and their families through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. A VITA site is easy to find on or off base — even overseas.

The Armed Forces Tax Council directs the military tax programs worldwide. Military VITA-certified employees receive training on military tax issues, including tax benefits for service in a combat zone. They can help with special extensionsof time to file tax returns and pay taxes, or with special rules that apply to the Earned Income Tax Credit. Continue reading →

Time is running out to file 2014 tax returns worth $1 billion in refunds

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IRS in its recent issue (Issue Number: IR-2018-83) has highlighted that refunds worth $1 billion is still unclaimed for tax year 2014… here is the complete message from them.

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is reminding an estimated 1 million taxpayers that time is running out to file a 2014 tax return and claim refunds totaling more than $1 billion. To claim any refund due, taxpayers must file their 2014 federal tax return by April 17, 2018.

There is no penalty for filing a late return for those receiving refunds. The law provides most taxpayers with a limited window of opportunity for claiming a tax refund. If they do not file a tax return within three years to claim a refund, the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.

The IRS estimates the median potential refund for 2014 is $847. By failing to file a tax return, people stand to lose more than just their refund. Many low- and moderate-income workers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). For 2014, the credit was worth as much as $6,143. Continue reading →

More Time to File your Personal Tax Return by Filing Extension Tax Form 4868 & 7004

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Tax time and every one of us are getting our paper works ready, you know that April 17 is the last day to report it with the IRS. If you’re not ready don’t get panic you can claim additional time to file your tax returns by reporting Extension Tax Form 4868 for personal returns and Form 7004 for business returns.

Tax-filing extensions are available to taxpayers who need more time to finish their returns. Remember, this is an extension of time to file, not an extension of time to pay. However, taxpayers who are having trouble paying what they owe may qualify for payment plans and other relief. Either way, taxpayers will avoid stiff penalties if they file either a regular income tax return or a request for a tax-filing extension by this year’s April 17 deadline. Taxpayers should file, even if they can’t pay the full amount due. Here are further details on the options available. Continue reading →

Security Summit urges tax pros to protect their identification numbers: EFINs, PTINs and CAF numbers

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IRS has urged every tax pros to protect their identity numbers through the latest issue, Issue Number: IR-2018-61. Here is the complete coverage of the issue for you to read.

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies and the tax industry today urged tax practitioners to maintain and monitor their Electronic Filing Identification Numbers (EFINs) and Centralized Authorization File (CAF) numbers to help safeguard taxpayer data.

Cybercriminals sometimes post stolen EFINs, PTINs and CAF numbers on the Dark Web as a crime kit for identity thieves who can then file fraudulent tax returns. EFINs are necessary for tax professionals or their firms to file client returns electronically. Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTINs) are issued to those who, for a fee, prepare tax returns or claims for refund. CAF numbers are issued when tax practitioners or their firms file a request for third-party access to client files.

To assist tax professionals, the IRS created a new video and web page – How to Maintain, Monitor and Protect Your EFIN. These offer tips to practitioners.

Continue reading →

Being the Change of Women Empowerment in Trucking!

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Women trying to enter the trucking industry have long faced cultural and physical barriers. Presently, there are an estimated 200,000 women behind the wheel of big rigs across the U.S, which seems like a lot; however represents less than mere 5 percent of the nearly 4 million-member truck-driver work force. Had Ellen Voie never cared about the women looking to enter the male-dominated trucking industry, the world would still have been waiting for someone like her to change the scenario for the better. But she was not ready to wait for someone else; she took the charge in her own hands and founded Women In Trucking in 2007. Today, a decade later, the firm is globally recognized and applauded for promoting careers in trucking for women and demolishing barriers that have kept women from joining the driver ranks for so long. Continue reading →

On Aug 21, Total Solar Eclipse crossing from Oregon to South Carolina

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On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature’s most awe inspiring sights – a total solar eclipse. This hasn’t happened in 38 years! The last time an eclipse path crossed the continental United States was in 1979.

An eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon move into alignment with each other. One of the bodies blocks the view of another and creates a shadow. There are 2 different types of eclipses: solar and lunar. A lunar eclipse happens at nighttime and occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon creating a shadow on the Moon. These types of eclipses occur roughly 2 to 4 times per year. A lunar eclipse will generally last for a few hours Continue reading →