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 […]
IRS
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
The LLC Trap
Operating a business as a limited liability company, or “LLC” is very popular among small business owners. LLC’s have been around for several decades and can be formed in every state. There can be several benefits, but several major drawbacks. The Benefits of an LLC: Less Administrative Burden: If you operate as a single-member LLC, […]
The IRS Called Me Yesterday
That’s not strange because as a CPA I speak to the IRS quite often. However, they called my cell phone and left a prerecorded message about tax fraud. It was a scam of course, and I am posting this to warn you that the IRS does not call taxpayers initially without sending a notice, nor […]
Frivolous Tax Arguments
I don’t know anyone who likes to pay taxes. But, you won’t win with these arguments: Filing tax returns are voluntary: Filing tax returns are not voluntary. The IRS uses the word voluntary to mean that you determine your own initial tax liability by filing your own tax returns, and not have the government determine […]
I Received a Notice from the IRS – Now What?!
If you receive a letter in the mail from the IRS, the first thing you should do is open it! It might not be as bad as you think. The most common notice I see is that a client forgot to include interest, dividends, or wages from a W-2 on their income tax return and […]
An Overview of IRS Audits
There are different types of IRS audits. The first and least complex is the correspondence audit, next is the office audit, and lastly and most complex, the field examination. I highly recommend to anyone who receives a letter from the IRS, or even the State of NJ, to contact their tax advisor as soon as […]
Ignore Your Mail at Your Own Risk!
Between email, mail, faxes, and social media, we are bombarded by incoming messages. It is easy to ignore all of this, or perhaps limit the time spent, but you should not ignore your snail mail. Here are a few things to be aware of regarding mail to make sure that you do not create a financial mess. […]