Tag Archives: Tax Return

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.

Taxes Become More of A Networking Opportunity For Small Business

Every year millions of people scramble to do their taxes, and companies have been noticing a swell of people that want to go online to get things done. That’s where companies like Turbotax Online, and others have come together to connect those millions of people that have been using their line of products, with others that are like minded. From gathering in a connection setting like “QuickBooks Connect”, to other meet ups and information that is getting people together, the notion of taxes has never been more social than ever. This is a huge Networking Opportunity For Small Business.

Decades of Connecting Small Business With Tax Help

QuickBooks - Networking Opportunity For Small Business

QuickBooks (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

No matter what the size of your company is, taxes are a big matter. This becomes obvious when you’re pushing forward as an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs, small businesses, and accountants are not alone, and that’s why more social, networking events are being held. These vents, attract a great deal of people from all sorts of industries, and the main goal is to connect everyone into a far easier tax filing ideology. It’s at these types of events, that all walks of life, backgrounds, industries, and more find news on the latest software releases, and so much more.

The Move To Online

Looking at how taxes have changed in the past 20 years, you will find that there are a variety of different changes that have come through for the better. If you haven’t used Turbotax Online just yet, you will definitely be connecting in the near future. From developers to entrepreneurs, more and more people are using online solutions and learning about the latest tax incentives, laws and more through online means and social events like “QuickBooks Connect”, and it’s going to be a mainstay year to year.

Whether you have been doing things the old way, or you have adopted a new path towards doing your taxes, there’s nothing quite like knowing that technology is right there to help you get the most out of filing quarterly, and even annual returns. As more people get together to discuss changes, and build a broader network of clients, colleagues, and more, you’ll find that greatness abounds.

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Top Tax Scams To Avoid With Turbo Tax

Top Tax Scams To Avoid With Turbo Tax 2013

Using Turbo Tax 2013 is a good way to avoid tax scams in the first place, seeing as how you can e-file your paperwork with confidence that it will go directly to the IRS. However, there are people who will try to catch you in a scam this year, so you need to know what to watch out for. You should use www.TurboTax.com to gather information about filing your taxes correctly, in a safe manner, so these scams do not affect you.

Paying taxes is required for both citizens and...

Paying taxes is required for both citizens and non-citizens. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

  1. Email Scams
    Even if you have already used Turbo Tax 2013 and www.TurboTax.com to file your taxes, you could get an email saying that you are going to be given a second tax return. The email will look official, even down to the IRS logo, and it will state that you just need to resubmit your information to get the extra money. Do not respond to this email, because the information will really be used for identify theft.
  2. Tax Preparers
    If you decide not to use Turbo Tax 2013 and www.TurboTax.com, you might have to hire a tax preparer to file your taxes for you. Be very careful about what papers you sign. Some preparers will have you sign over your entire return so that they get to keep it instead of you, and, since you signed the documents, this is totally legal.
  3. Fake Charities
    You can claim all of the money that you give to charity as a tax write-off when you file with Turbo Tax 2013. However, make sure that you are not donating to a fake charity, which will simply steal your money as you attempt to save on your taxes.
  4. Grant Scams
    After you file with Turbo Tax 2013, you might get a call from a fake IRS agent, telling you that you need to provide you bank account into to get a grant. This is a scam to steal money directly from the bank.

Protect yourself this year. Learn all that you can about scams, and then use www.TurboTax.com to avoid them. With a little research, you can protect your identity and your money.

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How Your Kids Can Boost Your IRS Refund

Law School

Law School (Photo credit: Tulane Public Relations)

IRS Refund

A considerable amount of tax can greatly help with your tax return upon declaring your legal dependent. Not only will it boost your own exemption but it can also make you eligible for other tax benefits. You can certainly avail of the child tax credit once you have claimed a legal dependent. Keep in mind that the IRS has restrictions or standard qualifications as to whom you can claim as a legal dependent. Never presume that any person or anybody living in your house directly qualifies as a legal dependent.

What is a Legal Dependent?

In general, a dependent is a person who relies on you for more than 50% of his or her finances. He may have an income from a source or totally depending from the help you are giving. But for the IRS, a legal dependent can be your child or anybody that you are providing aid financially.

A child or your spouse living in your home is the most common type of dependents that mostly everyone claims. Your elderly parents and if you have a child in college, they can still be considered as dependent. To claim a brother, sister, stepsister or any of your family relative as a dependent, he or she should only produce an income less than the standard personal exemption rate for that particular year. The IRS has provided 5 attributes to identify legal exemption of a claimed dependent. These are the following: support, citizenship, relationship, gross income and joint return. With regards to citizenship criteria, it requires that a dependent is a U.S. citizen, a legally adopted foreign child currently residing in the U.S., a local of the U.S. or resident of Mexico or Canada within the year.

Are YOU a Dependent?

Before you can claim a dependent, be sure that you are not claimed as a dependent by another person. Each qualified dependent can only be claimed by one taxpayer in that same year. To ensure that only one person has filed the person a dependent, no other relative should claim the child as a dependent. To fully qualify the kid, he should also be residing with the claimant for more than 6 months of the same year. Make sure that you support your claim with documents and keep those important files for future use.

After you have identified that the person is your qualified dependent, you should, at this time, be keeping significant receipts. It would be in your best interest to take note of any medical, daycare or even itemized expenses that was used or occurred for your dependent. It may seem complicated but the rules determined by the IRS are just very easy to follow.

Sean Harris is a tax blogger from Miami Florida. You can check out his blog irs-easy.com for more extensive information on doing your taxs yourself .

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Canadian Income Tax Filing Made Easy

Canadian Income Tax Filing Made Easy

In recent years, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has been expanding the methods available for you to file your income taxes. As the digital revolution continues, the agency has focused much of its energy on developing online filing methods. However, traditional means are still available to facilitate your Canada income tax filing.

Online

Accountants' Office

Accountants’ Office (Photo credit: RobW_)

The CRA has established NETFILE as an online option for filing your Canadian tax return. The CRA has certified the commercial software and the Web application of the program. Also, there exists a number of free software applications for use with NETFILE.

Digital Service Provider

You may employ a service provider to submit your taxes online with the EFILE program to prepare you return. After completing your return, take your forms to a digital service provider to file online for free. This digital platform traditionally results in your return being processed quickly.

Mail

Regardless of the nature of your return, every tax filer in Canada has the option of submitting his or her return by post. Simply complete the required forms, and place them in the mail for the cost of a stamp.

Professional Accountant

If your taxes are complex, if you own a business, or you just don’t feel confident about completing your income tax returns on your own, you may hire an accountant to prepare your taxes.

Whether you are a small business owner who doesn’t have the time to complete your returns or you like the convenience of the Internet, there is an option for you to successfully file your Canadian tax return.

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Gear Up To File Your Canadian Income Tax

Gear Up To File Your Canadian Income Tax

There are several fundamental principles that need to be considered while filing for Canada’s income tax. Does your Canadian income tax package contains complete information and all the relevant documents that are required to file for income taxes in Canada? Significantly, the tax payee must keep in mind the deadlines for filing a Canadian tax return. In case, if you are obliged to pay taxes on your income and you file a Canadian tax return after the deadline then you will be penalized as per the Canada Revenue Agency rules.

English: Northwest corner of the Connaught Bui...

English: Northwest corner of the Connaught Building located at 525 MacKenzie Avenue in Ottawa, Canada. The building is now the headquarters of the Canada Revenue Agency. Français : L’angle nord-ouest du Connaught Building, situé au 525 MacKenzie Avenue à Ottawa, Canada. Le bâtiment est le siège de la Canada Revenue Agency. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Points to be considered while filing your Canadian tax return

• You must provide your Social Insurance Number when you file  your Canadian tax.
• You must provide your tax information slips to give the information to the Canada Revenue Agency about your earnings and the amount of deducted tax.
• Also you must have tax deduction receipts to provide relevant information about the tax deducted from your income.

These are the key points that will help you to file a Canadian tax return with no shortcomings.

Moreover you can file your Canada income tax online. Though the Canadian income tax filing procedure via phone has been ceased, you can still file your taxes via mail or by employing someone. Besides, if you file online then you have the option to make alterations too. If you owe your taxes to the CRA then it is advisable as well as crucial to arrive at a tax services office as soon as possible for better assistance.

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