Checking the Status of Your Federal Tax Refund is Easy
If your 2016 federal return has already been filed and you are due a refund, you can check the status of your refund online.
“Where’s My Refund?” is an interactive tool on the IRS web site at IRS.gov. Whether you have split your refund among several accounts, opted for direct deposit into one account, or asked the IRS to mail you a check, “Where’s My Refund?” will give you online access to your refund information nearly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you haven’t filed your 2016 tax return, April 18, 2017 is the due date to either file your return and pay any taxes owed, or file for the automatic six-month extension and pay the tax you estimate to be due. The due date is normally April 15, but the 15th falls on a weekend and the next business day, April 17, is Emancipation Day, a legal holiday in Washington D.C., so the due date in 2017 is April 18.
Common Reasons Small Businesses Fail
Many people dream of starting a small business. This is a dream that can become a reality, or, as happens to about 33% of prospective business owners, according to the Small Business Administration – it can result in dismal failure within two years. There’s no magic-bullet solution to ensure a successful business, but if you don’t want to be in that 33%, you should be aware of the common reasons that small businesses fail.
IRA Contribution Due Date & Rules
If you wish to make an IRA contribution for 2016, you still have time. Contributions can be made up to the un-extended due date of your tax return, which for 2016 is April 18, 2017.
Internal Revenue Service Announced 2017 Mileage Rates
As it does every year, the Internal Revenue Service recently announced the inflation- adjusted 2017 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.
An Overview of Trump’s Tax Policies
Numerous blog entries have been posted on the issue of what the future holds for individual taxation under President Trump. Many believe that the wealthy will be the beneficiaries of Trump’s tax policies, and some declare that lower-income taxpayers will see tax increases.
Common Tax Penalties
Even though most people don’t intentionally incur tax penalties, however, many are penalized because they are not aware of the penalties or the impact they can have on their wallet. Before tax season approaches, here are some of the more commonly encountered penalties and how they may be avoided. Keep in mind that there are more severe penalties not mentioned here that apply to fraudulent actions or claims.
Two New Fraud-Prevention Measures from the IRS
The first will purposely delay until February 15 the issuance of refunds for tax returns where there is an earned income tax credit (EITC) and/or a refundable child tax credit (CTC), giving the IRS more time to match the income reported on these returns to the income reported by employers. These two tax credits have been the favorite target of scammers who have been filing fraudulent returns with stolen IDs and fabricated income before the IRS is able to verify the income and withholding claimed on the returns.
Habits That Threaten Your Identity and Pocketbook
We all do things without thinking due to old habits – however, these habits might be creating vulnerable hacks, ID theft, scams and Internet phishing schemes to separate us from our hard-earned money. Take a look at the following:
With 2017 less than a month away, it’s time to focus on getting everything organized in QuickBooks.
Hopefully, you’ve been creating new records, entering transactions, paying employees and submitting payroll taxes, recording payments in addition to running the necessary reports.