Forgot an Estimated Tax Payment? Here’s How to Get Back on Track
Published on March 10, 2025
Failing to make an estimated tax payment can lead to penalties and added stress. If you’ve missed a payment, don’t panic—there are ways to address it and minimize the consequences. Here’s what you need to know. Estimated Tax Payment Basics Most taxpayers operate on a calendar year, meaning estimated tax payments are due on the […]
Injured Spouse Relief
Published on March 03, 2025
Injured Spouse Relief is a provision that helps taxpayers who have their federal tax refund garnished to pay a debt owed solely by their spouse. This debt can include federal agency debts, past-due child support, state income tax debt, and state unemployment compensation debt. When a married couple files jointly, and one spouse is responsible […]
E-Commerce Creates Confusing Sales Tax Obligations
Published on February 24, 2025
E-commerce businesses rely heavily on remote sales to reach customers but must navigate complex state and local tax obligations. Following the 2018 Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, all states with a statewide sales tax require remote sellers to collect and remit sales tax once they surpass a certain economic nexus threshold. Failure […]
How to Deal with Huge Tax Debt
Published on January 27, 2025
Owing taxes to the IRS can be overwhelming, but there are options to reduce or manage your debt. Understanding the collection process and knowing what steps to take can help prevent financial distress. Below is a summary of the available options to deal with tax debt. Collection Process When taxes aren’t paid by the filing […]
Got IRS Penalties? Know the Rules, Pay Nothing
Published on January 20, 2025
If you’ve received an IRS penalty notice, you may not need to pay it immediately. The IRS imposes various penalties for late tax returns, unpaid taxes, and failure to deposit employment taxes, but there are options to have these penalties reduced or removed entirely. Here’s how you can handle it. Common IRS Penalties The IRS […]
Charitable Contributions From Your IRA: Tips and Traps
Published on January 13, 2025
When you turn 70½, you gain the opportunity to use your IRA for charitable contributions in a tax-efficient manner. This strategy allows you to make charitable donations directly from your IRA, known as Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), which can potentially offer significant tax advantages compared to withdrawing funds from your IRA and donating them personally. […]
QBI Deduction: Maximize It Before It’s Gone
Published on December 30, 2024
The Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction, introduced by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), offers a valuable opportunity for business owners to reduce their tax liability by up to 20% of eligible business income. This deduction applies to income from sole proprietorships, partnerships, S corporations, and other pass-through entities, as well as some dividends […]
2024 Year-End Tax Strategies for Your Stock Portfolio
Published on December 23, 2024
As 2024 comes to a close, it’s crucial to review your stock portfolio to implement strategies that minimize taxes. By making some strategic moves, you can avoid paying high taxes on short-term capital gains and lower the tax rate on your gains, potentially reducing it to 23.8% or even 0%. Here are seven strategies to […]
Primer: When Cancellation of Debt (COD) Income Can Be Tax-Free
Published on December 09, 2024
When a borrower’s debt is canceled, it generally results in a Cancellation of Debt (COD) income, which is taxable under federal law. However, several essential exceptions allow this income to be excluded from taxes, depending on the circumstances. Here’s an overview of when and how COD income can be tax-free: General Rule: COD Income Is […]
Do You Owe Self-Employment Tax on Airbnb Rental Income?
Published on December 02, 2024
A key question for many Airbnb hosts and vacation property owners is whether they owe self-employment tax on the income they earn from renting out their properties. The IRS addressed this issue in **Chief Counsel Advice (CCA) 202151005**, which provides insights into the treatment of rental income for self-employment tax purposes. However, it’s important to […]