Tag Archives: Fraud

2014 Tax Return

Optimize Savings On Your Tax Return

It’s always difficult to be caught up in a mad rush at the end of the tax season to get your federal taxes filed on-time. Filing at the last minute is bound to be particularly stressful this year due to the scaled back phone support from the IRS and the additional requirements set by the Affordable Care Act. Here are some tax changes to take note of now so you are not surprised down the stretch with your 2014 Tax Return.

Tax Breaks

Sales tax can be deducted once again thanks to the last minute efforts in Congress. The primary beneficiaries of this measure are resident of states that have no income tax, as well as those living in states will considerably low income taxes. There is an IRS Sales Tax Deduction Calculator online to help assess the amount covered.

2014 Tax Return

Mortgage insurance premiums may also be deducted in some cases. Only people with a 2014 gross income that is less than $109,000 and who took out the loan after 2006 are eligible for the tax break. Programs like TurboTax Online will make the calculation for you automatically when you enter your income and your mortgage insurance paid.

Seniors are also going to get a couple additional breaks this year thanks to Congress. Those who are 70 and a half years of age may transfer as much as $100,000 from their individual retirement account (IRA) to a qualified charity. This will not be included in the gross income but instead count as the required minimum distribution. This may reduce taxes on Social Security benefits and avoid the Medicare high income surcharge.

Note that these tax breaks are only for the 2014 tax return. Congress has not made them permanent and the changing political landscape is likely to affect their renewal for the following year. Make sure to check several online tax resources next tax season to make sure they were renewed again.

Investment Income Tax

Single taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes in excess of $200,000 and married taxpayers with $250,000 or more may have to pay 3.8% surtax on their investments. Tax-exempt interest is not covered by the surtax.

Fraud With Taxes

Criminals Benefit Via Fraud With Taxes

As with any online program, Turbo Tax 2013 has had its share of people trying to fraud the users by stealing sensitive login information. The reason that this happens is because people are not careful when they log into the system, or they do not ensure that their connection is safe. Here’s many ways to avoid Fraud With Taxes:

Get Your Maximum Tax Refund

Criminals have systematically started to target Turbo Tax simply because it is a site where many people are now going to do their taxes without the help of an expensive tax refund business.

The Internal Revenue Service has reported major losses in its income since this type of fraud has been going on, but they are not the only ones. The customer is the one who also suffers when they are not receiving their full tax income. Sophisticated programs being used by criminals on the Internet are to blame for this, but also the method of encryption used on the site.

Fraud With Taxes
Photo by HM Revenue & Customs Fraud With Taxes

Keeping your password safe can help you to be sure that you will not have to worry about hacking in that regard, as is any type of malware protection on your computer. Intuit does offer some state-of-the-art protection for this, but it is also your duty to ensure that fraudulence does not happen on your part. This is all about the safety of you and your tax refund, after all. Always keep your Turbotax login tax return 2014 information safe.

TurboTax Deluxe

TurboTax Deluxe Buyers To Get Free Premier Upgrades

TurboTax, a popular tax filing software recently announced that it will offer users free upgrade to the premier version of the software on 7 February, 2015. The catch: only TurboTax Deluxe users will be able to avail it.

TaxAct

A spokeswoman for the company told the press that starting the coming Saturday, users will be able to click on a link in their TurboTax software to upgrade to the home or business version of the Premier version of TurboTax. The announcement has outraged devoted users of the desktop version of the TurboTax Deluxe because, for this season, the Premier version will effectively replace the older tax preparation software after the free upgrade.

TurboTax Deluxe
Photo by State Farm

Users who bought TurboTax Deluxe software this year were angered by the company’s decision to remove capital gain reporting capabilities from the new edition. Self-employed taxpayers, to whom this feature was indispensable, found themselves forced to spend 50% more than the TurboTax on buying the Premier version. TurboTax is an operation of Inuit, a company that specializes in making financial software solutions.

The Deluxe version’s hitherto loyal following protested on Amazon and tax software forums. Meanwhile, TurboTax’s H&R department tried to placate angered users with free updates for their copies of the software.

Inuit’s CEO, Brad Smith has apologized to buyers for not explicitly alerting them of the change beforehand.

The company began damage control by offering $25 refunds to all TurboTax Deluxe customers whose process of filing their 2014 Taxes was hampered by the changes in the Deluxe version of the software.
Next, the company offered free upgrades to the Premier version and has promised to restore the deducted capabilities to TurboTax Deluxe next year.

Buyers of TurboTax Deluxe receive their upgrades starting Saturday.

H and R Block Surveys Eliminating Tax Fraud Options

Americans might be willing to wait longer for their tax refunds (60% responded) and would like to see stronger requirements for tax preparers to help reduce tax fraud. H&R Block ran a survey of tax payers this year related to tax fraud and ways to reduce it. 70% of those responding to the survey wouldn’t mind answering additional questions on their returns if it would help out. Here’s what they found about Eliminating Tax Fraud.

H&R Block

Eliminating Tax Fraud - H&R Block Business Center
H&R Block Business Center (Photo credit: EVRT Studio)

An H&R Block executive explained that tax preparers do not have any requirements or licensing in 48 or the 50 states. He made comparisons to hair barbers who need to be licensed everywhere. But he doesn’t stand with the courts which decided against making tax professionals get training and pass tests before they could work in the field.

Those against preparer requirements of testing and training think the certification should be optional so that it benefits young tax preparers without placing a new burden on seasoned professionals that are already trusted in the community. The lawyers fighting the IRS in court also argued that certification would benefit the big players in the field that could absorb the costs while putting smaller operators out of business. Return to our site for additional information on Eliminating Tax Fraud.

Taxbrain- Estimate Tax Refund Easily

Taxbrain- Estimate Tax Refund Easily

The Taxbrain is one of the online preparation software programs that help you prepare your income tax return for a very modest fee. It usually starts at a cost of $14.95 and reach maximum of $69.95. If you want to file a state income tax return, usually the fee is around $29.95, regardless of the state.

Brains Not Taxes

Brains Not Taxes (Photo credit: charlesfettinger)

The Taxbrain is different than many other popular software programs in a way that they collect the data. There are data screens to be filled out. Due to this, it is taken as one of the fastest and easiest tax filing which does not involve many deductions. The only complaint from previous users about this style is that every page that opens up in this form should be completed before any corrections are made on any earlier filled out page.

The programmer’s approach was to make filling up the forms easier. This was achieved, but then checks are not as systematic as various other tax software programs, and also there isn’t any kind tax assistance provided with this package. For computer users who do not wish to download the software to their system, this one is for you. This one is completely a web based process. You are simply required to register to set up your account.

For an additional fee of $19.95, Taxbrain sends you a hard copy of the tax return. The company also keeps the return on file electronically for about 5 years, for additional fee of $9.95. You can have audit assistance as well for $34.95. The Taxbrain software service can help you finish your return and send it across in minimum of 15 minutes, while the average time is of 40 minutes.

Before finalizing or making any legal or tax related decisions, it is important that you consult tax accountant or a professional lawyer.

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