My colleague, Brad Paladini, has granted me permission to post this article that was originally posted on his blog: Last year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audited just over one million returns. That’s a lot less than the 1.74 million returns they audited in 2010, but it’s still no fun for the millions of taxpayers that had […]
IRS Resolution
Be Careful When Making Online Payments to the IRS
We usually recommend that taxpayers make their tax payments online to the IRS and states. Here are the benefits, but a few caveats to watch out for: Benefits: When making payments online, your payments are generally credited on the day that you make the payment. Additionally, you can clearly apply your payments to a prior […]
5 Financial Truths
There is a lot of information out there about finances, and it’s hard to figure out what is exactly true or not true. Always seek the truth, especially from someone that is not trying to sell you something. Here are some examples: College: We are led to believe that all of our children must go […]
A Few Tax Scams to Be Aware Of
The IRS posts a list of tax scams each year that you should be aware of: Phishing: This is when fake emails are sent claiming to be from the IRS, however, the IRS never initiates contact with taxpayers via email about a bill or tax refund. You’ll see more of these during tax season. Phone […]
IRS and NJ Taxation Highlights
Yesterday I attended a continuing professional education seminar with speakers from both the IRS and the State of New Jersey. Here are some highlights after all of the recent Federal changes and also many New Jersey changes that most people are not aware of: Your paycheck may be under withheld: After the new Federal […]
How to Resolve Conflicts with Less Stress
Conflicts are inevitable and happen in all aspects of your life, including disputes with your customers, disputes as a customer, with family, neighbors, and in any situation. However, there are ways of minimizing conflicts and to also resolve them fairly and quickly. Here’s how: Resolve at the lowest level: A perfect example is when a […]
Don’t Be Embarrassed if You Have Financial or Tax Problems
There is a stigma attached to having financial and tax problems, but it doesn’t have to be that way or it may make the problems worse. Sometimes these problems develop as you become more successful, which easily happens with both celebrities and business owners. Other times they develop due to a quick downturn in business, […]
Do You Have Too Many Financial Accounts?
How many financial accounts should you have both personally and for your business? These days it is so easy to open up accounts, but if there is no strategy for having a lot of accounts, then it can create unnecessary chaos and even increase your accounting and tax preparation costs. Let’s look at the pros […]
Did Your Tax Balance Catch You by Surprise?
What should you do if you file your tax return and then realize that you now have a large liability that can’t pay? First, don’t panic as there are several options for you: Installment Agreement: An installment agreement can be a good option for you, which can sometimes be requested when you file your tax […]
Is it Better if I File Separately from My Spouse and Other Common Tax Questions Answered
We receive a lot of questions pertaining to tax and financial matters. Here is a sample of commonly asked questions: Q: Is it better if I file separately from my spouse? A: Usually the answer is no, and the only way to know for certain is to perform an analysis when preparing the tax return […]