Here are seven reasons for not being late filing your income tax returns. Late filing can result in substantial and continuing penalties. This is in addition to any interest that is due. The earlier you get your paperwork to your accountant, the sooner he can start preparing your tax returns. More importantly, there will be more opportunities to explore and implement tax saving strategies. On the other hand, if you file late, you tie your accountant’s hands. For example, he may hesitate to retain profit in your corporation if such profit will be subject to substantial penalties. Of course, if […]

Buying a hybrid car gives the phrase “go green” a whole new meaning. Not only is it good for the environment, it’s also good for your pocket book. Check out the tax benefits of hybrid vehicles for yourself. The government has decided that encouraging drivers to do their part to protect the environment could be better enhanced by offering tax incentives. So 2006 sees a variety of incentives from tax credits to tax deductions. But before you get too excited, be sure you understand all the regulations. It is a bit complex and not all vehicles that call themselves hybrids […]

Just the thought of taxes can scare people out of their minds. You have to keep all your records and documents in order to be able to file easier at the end of the year. Home business owners have their own set of allowable deductions that differ from other businesses. You have a chance to save a lot of money by knowing how to take advantage of you home business situation. Know what your deductions are. There are several deductibles that the home-based business owner is entitled to. There are auto/vehicle deductions that can help with mileage, gas, insurance, and/or […]

The “Estate Tax” is the tax that the government puts on the assets that are transferred to your beneficiaries when you die. Taxable assets can include real estate, stocks, money in a bank account, and other valuable belongings. It does not look like the estate tax will permanently go away. However, with careful planning, you can reduce taxes substantially. Americans have been planning their estates in accordance with the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Act since 2001. This Act is important because it changed 441 tax laws and was the biggest estate tax reduction in 20 years. Here is an […]

A child custody agreement can have serious implications on your tax filing and your taxes overall. This issue should be addressed with your attorney or with your accountant while you are going through the process of negotiating or litigating child custody or a divorce agreement. Waiting until after you have finalized a child custody agreement to investigate the tax impact is not adviseable. State law on child custody does not dictate who gets the tax deductions. If your child custody agreement is entirely silent on this issue, the parent with primary residential or sole custody will have all of the […]

There are many websites on the Internet today that gives much needed income tax help for those who have no idea of what’s going on during tax time. Income tax is a tax paid on income, unfortunately no matter how little it is. It’s paid by employees and people who are self-employed and may also be payable if you are not working but you have an income, such as a retirement pension or an occupational pension. Not all types of income are taxable and it will seldom be the case that all of your income is taxed. There is no […]

You’ve seen the advertisements and news articles. IRA funds can be used to make real estate investments. But before you jump on this bandwagon, make sure you understand some of the tax planning angles related to this opportunity. Passive Loss Deductions Almost always, an important component of your real estate profits comes from the tax savings associated with depreciation. These paper losses, referred to as passive losses by the Internal Revenue Code, can save both small and professional real estate investors thousands of dollars a year in income taxes. Unfortunately, passive losses from depreciation and related, similar tax deductions won’t […]

In some instances, it is possible for individuals to deduct the interest of such home equity loans on their state and federal taxes, which are, or at least should be, filed annually the Internal Revenue Service. Despite the fact that the money can be used for reasons other than to buy, build or improve an individual’s place of residency or home, the debt for which the home equity loan is used may still allow the loan’s interest to qualify as home equity debt. No matter how the individual uses the money that they received as a home equity loan, the […]

It is unfortunate but true, that many people do not even consider consulting a tax attorney until they open their mailboxes one day and there is that dreaded letter from the IRS. A tax attorney is a lawyer that specializes in all areas of taxes. The tax attorney is required to attend law school for one to three more years, after regular law school, to receive their Masters in taxation. The IRS has its own group of experienced tax attorneys, so if there is ever a time when you need to face the IRS for any reason, it is imperative […]

As tax season draws irresistibly closer, the scam artists are polishing their latest techniques. This article should help you keep an eye out for these nasty individuals. Tax Season – Time for Scams In a particularly cheeky move, scam artists have started posing in on form or another as the IRS in an effort to get you to turn over social security numbers and such. Logically, this actually makes sense. Everyone is terrified by the IRS and dread be contacted by the Agency. Most of us would do anything to resolve any issue raised by an IRS Agent including sending […]