Monthly Archives: April 2019

Thanking people for doing their job.

This week I traveled to Australia to speak at a conference. On my flight from Sydney to Perth, I was pulled aside for additional screening for explosives. The agent passed a wand over my luggage, my shoes and my hands. He then put the wand into a reader before he let me go. I thanked him for doing his job and went on my way.

On my return flight, I was again “selected” for additional screening and went through the process again. I made a point to thank the agent for doing his job.

Many people would feel inconvenienced for being pulled aside for additional screening. However, these people are only doing their job. They are asked to pick travelers at random and check them for explosives. Did I enjoy the process? No . Did I appreciate the delay? No . However, I did appreciate the fact that these people were helping to keep us all safe by looking for potential explosive material. Continue reading →

Don’t fall for myth-leading information about tax refunds

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Now that the April tax-filing deadline has come and gone, many taxpayers are eager to get details about their tax refunds. When it comes to refunds, there are several common myths going around social media.

Here are five of these common myths:

Myth 1: Getting a refund this year means there’s no need to adjust withholding for 2019
To help avoid an unexpected tax outcome next year, taxpayers should make changes now to prepare for next year. One way for a taxpayer to do this is to adjust their tax withholding with their employer. The IRS encourages people to do a Paycheck Checkup using the IRS Withholding Calculator to determine whether their employer is withholding the right amount. This is especially important for anyone who got an unexpected result from filing their tax return this year. This could have happened because the taxpayer’s employer withheld too much or too little tax from the employee’s paycheck in 2018. Continue reading →

Many tax-exempt organizations must file information returns by May 15

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Form 990-series returns are due on the 15th day of the fifth month after an organization’s tax year ends. In 2019, May 15 is the deadline to file for organizations using a calendar year tax year. If you need an extension of time to file, use Form 8868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File an Exempt Organization Return.

IRS is sending back incomplete and incorrect returns

The IRS sends back Form 990 series returns filed on paper – and rejects electronically filed returns – when they are incomplete or the wrong return. What happens if my Form 990 is missing information or a schedule, or is the wrong return? Continue reading →

Taxpayers who can’t pay their taxes should still file on time

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With the April tax filing due date just a few days away, taxpayers should remember to both file and pay any taxes they owe by the deadline. Taxpayers who do not file and pay timely will see their tax debt grow. In fact, penalties and interest can cause a taxpayer’s debt to grow by more than thirty percent in just a few months.

Here are some tips for taxpayers who owe tax, but who can’t immediately pay their tax bill. Taxpayers should:

File their tax return or request an extension of time to file by the April deadline.
Taxpayers who owe tax and do not file their return on time or request an extension may face a failure-to-file penalty for not filing on time.
Pay as much as possible by the April due date.
Whether they are filing a return or requesting an extension, taxpayers must pay their bill in full by the April filing deadline. Taxpayers who do not pay their taxes on time will face a failure-to-pay penalty. Taxpayers should remember that an extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay.
Set up a payment plan as soon as possible.
Taxpayers who owe, but cannot pay in full by the deadline don’t have to wait for a tax bill to request a payment plan. Taxpayers can apply for a payment plan on IRS.gov. Taxpayers can also submit a payment plan request in writing using Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request.

e-File Business and Individual Extension Tax Forms online

Form 7004 and Form 4868 are due this April 15th, File a Tax Extension and Push you Deadline to October 15th

Rushing to file taxes can result in errors, use e-file, file extension if needed

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IRS in its latest issue (Issue Number: IR-2019-65) alerts users about the deadline approaching to file 2018 tax returns. Your in between something and need additional time to complete your tax returns then file for an Extension, push you deadline beyond April 15th. IRS Form 4868 can help you to push your deadline from April 15th to October 15th.

WASHINGTON — As the April tax-filing deadline nears, many taxpayers may rush to finish their tax returns or find they need extra time to get them done.

The IRS recommends that taxpayers file for an extension if they need one. Filing an extension will help taxpayers avoid paying penalties for filing a late return. Tax Extensions provide more time to file, but not more time to pay any tax owed.

The deadline to file 2018 individual tax returns and pay taxes owed is Monday, April 15, 2019, for most taxpayers. Because of the Patriots’ Day holidays on April 15 in Maine and Massachusetts and the Emancipation Day holiday on April 16 in the District of Columbia, taxpayers who live in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 17, 2019, to file their tax returns.

Continue reading →

With the filing deadline close, here’s why taxpayers should e-File

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IRS in its recent issue (Issue Number: Tax Tip 2019-34), highlighted the importance of electronic filing and how this efile could be a saver with the deadline fast approaching, here it is.

A few taxpayers still use the old-school method of filing their tax returns: on paper. For these people, now is the time to consider filing electronically. With the April tax deadline right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to use IRS e-File.

Here are the top six reasons why taxpayers should file electronically in 2019:

It’s accurate and easy. E-File helps taxpayers avoid mistakes, such as a transposed Social Security number. Taxpayers who e-File receive an acknowledgement from the IRS within minutes, telling them their return has been accepted. If a return is rejected, the acknowledgement will detail why the IRS rejected the tax return. Continue reading →