Parents – especially new ones – are always looking for new ways to improve the lives of their children. Surprisingly, one of the most effective opportunities that people also often overlook has to do with starting a savings account for that child as early as they’re capable of doing so.
Unpleasant Surprises May Await You at Tax Time
Taxpayers are frequently blindsided when their filing status changes because of a life event such as marriage, divorce, separation or the death of a spouse. These occasions can be stressful or ecstatic times, and the last thing most people will be thinking about are the tax ramifications. But the ramifications are real and need to be considered to avoid unpleasant surprises. The following are some of the major tax complications for each situation.
On July 14, 2023, the IRS issued Notice 2023-54 announcing that traditional IRA owners who will attain age 72 in 2023 (that is, individuals born in 1951) will have to take their first required minimum distribution (RMD) by April 1, 2025, rather than April 1, 2024.
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone out there willing to argue against the idea that taxes are complicated. There’s a reason why most people dread it on some level every time April rolls around. Making mistakes is commonplace, yes – but it’s also critical to understand that not all issues are created equally.
In fact, some common tax mistakes are more than just a “small problem.” They could actually land you in trouble with the IRS if you’re not careful, which is why they should be avoided at all costs.
The U.S. Tax Code is used for more than just collecting taxes. It is used by the Government as a means of providing lower-income individuals with social benefits such as the earned income tax credit, child tax credit and health care subsidies. It also is used to promote government-sponsored programs such as combatting climate change through tax credits for electric vehicles, home solar installations, and home energy-saving improvements. As a result, the tax code has become quite complex and changes frequently. That is why getting tax advice from friends and relatives or off the internet can be risky and lead to misinformation and trouble with the IRS, or missing out on tax benefits. Here are examples of bad tax advice.
Tax law includes several tax- and financially favored benefits that employers can offer or provide to their employees. This article is intended to make you aware of these perks, with the caveat that all employers, especially small businesses, may not provide all, or perhaps any, of these covered perks. But whichever of these benefits your employer offers, you should seriously consider taking advantage of them, if you haven’t already.
When it comes to income taxes, two things tend to be true every year. The first is that April will always roll around yet again, whether you like it or not – which means that it’s in your best interest to make sure your tax filing needs are accounted for. The second is that with this period of the year always comes scammers and other people with malicious intentions who want to do you harm.
On the one hand, it’s almost a prerequisite for entrepreneurs of all types to have that “can-do spirit.” That sense that nobody else sees things quite like they do so, whatever it is they want to accomplish, it becomes something they know they’ll have to do themselves. In a lot of ways, this is an asset as it’s a big part of what has contributed to your success thus far.
It is not uncommon to discover that an item of income was overlooked, a deduction was not claimed, or that an amended tax document was received after the tax return was already filed. Regardless of whether the oversight will result in more tax due or a refund, it should not be dismissed.
Taxpayers often question how long records must be kept and the amount of time IRS has to audit a return after it is filed. It all depends on the circumstances!
In many cases, the federal statute of limitations can be used to help you determine how long to keep records. With certain exceptions, the statute for assessing additional tax is 3 years from the return due date or the date the return was filed, whichever is later. However, the statute of limitations for many states is one year longer than the federal limitation. The reason for this is that the IRS provides state taxing authorities with federal audit results. The extra time on the state statute gives states adequate time to assess tax based on any federal tax adjustments that also apply to the state return.
