Category: Tax Brackets

Late for a Very Important Date

11/1/2019

What happens if you are unable to pay your taxes on time? Are there other options for you? Don't panic, that is what we will be discussing!

Tax Day will be here on Wednesday, April 15, 2020, if we are ready or not. You can file your taxes as soon as you get all of your W2s, 1099s, and other tax forms from your employers. One of the perks of filing early is getting that prized tax return early. You should receive it within three weeks of filing. If you file your taxes sooner than most, you won't be fighting against the crush of everyone else who waited until the last moment to get everything filed. But what happens if you've filled out all your tax paperwork and you can't pay what you owe the IRS? What happens if you don't fill out your paperwork and file on time? Take a breath and let's review some options out there for you.

The Bottom Line

First of all, there are options for you so don't panic. If you are unable to pay on time, immediately file for an extension. Once you do this, you have to pay attention and stay on top of your extension just like you would any of your bills. Please know that there are penalties if you don't pay on time and a separate penalty for not filing on time. Not being able to file on time is a much larger penalty than not being able to pay on time. Failure to file is 5% of the money due per month and can go up to 25%. Failure to pay is .5% of the money due up to a max of 25%. If you can't pay right away, at the very least fill out and file your taxes. This way you are aware of how much is due and can hopefully avoid some of these penalties. But interest does add up until your tax bill is paid in full.

Possible Options

Try and find some options to help you pay on time. See if you can borrow money from family to help pay, get an advance on your next paycheck, or sell items you no longer need or use anymore. You can dip into your savings if you need or even tap into your 401(K). These aren't ideal options, but they will help you in the long run. You can pay your taxes with a credit card, but to do this you have to contact a special service provided through the IRS. You will be charged a continuance fee to do so and that adds up to be about 2.5% of what you're already paying. You will also incur interest charges if you can't pay off the credit card payment quickly.

Not Quite Enough

If you can't come up with the money and you don't have a credit card to use, you can work out an installment plan with the IRS. You will need to fill out form 9465, the Installment Agreement Request, and attach it to the front of your income tax return. You might even be able to request a payment plan online. This doesn't mean you can avoid paying interest on what you still owe. This interest will still accrue until everything is paid off. But in this situation, the IRS can reduce any failure to pay penalties.

Not Even Close

If the amount you owe is so large and there is no way possible that you will be able to pay, there is a program called Offer In Compromise, where the IRS may take less than the full amount that you owe. To do this you need to complete form 4334 and 656, along with a collection information statement. You will also need to provide a total financial statement. This includes a list of everything you own, all of your debts, your income, and the amount you can pay right away to make a compromise with the IRS. The IRS will then review this information to see if they will accept the compromise. You are required to pay all tax liabilities on time for the next five years for this compromise. If this requirement is not met, the whole original amount of your taxes will be your responsibility again, more penalties will be added on, and the IRS can get money from you in many other ways that could hurt and damage your credit score, like filing a lien on your property.

Options

The IRS website tells taxpayers not to panic if you can't pay on time, and lays out the general options for you. The big thing they stress is to file on time and then contact them right away to talk about your money situation. Don't hide from them. They will find you one way or the other, you won't fall through the cracks. The IRS can temporarily delay collection by reporting your account as currently not collectible until you can pay, in some circumstances. But they will be more willing to work with someone who is upfront and comes to them rather than those who hide or lie to them. What can help in the long run is making sure the right amount is being taken out of your paychecks, so the amount owed at the end of the year isn't as painful. If you operate as an independent contractor, save a percentage of every paycheck to make up for the fact that no one is taking anything out for you.

Not being able to pay your taxes can cause huge amounts of stress and panic, but try and not let it. Just make sure you are using the options and resources available to you. You will make it through this tax season, and many more to come! For more information and help from the IRS follow the link below!

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-if-i-cant-pay-my-taxes

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Hidden Financial Changes

8/2/2019

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Our most recent blog was dedicated to all the known and unknown items you can look forward to writing off your personal taxes this year. But with new tax cuts and the Job Act of 2017 are you aware of everything you can no longer write off on your personal taxes this year?

It was a delight to share in our last blog all of the wonderful known, and possibly unknown items, that you can write off of your personal taxes come April 15th. These write-offs can be such a relief to any family and a surprise to your bank account when Uncle Sam comes knocking. But it's just as important to know what you cannot write off your family's taxes, so there are no unpleasant surprises. This year could be one of the most difficult years of write-offs thanks to Tax Cuts and the Job Act of 2017. Tax code has changed dramatically, and once you have filed your 1040 (your personal federal income return) this tax season - these write-offs will no longer be available to you.

Understandably, you may not know about these new laws. Tax law for your personal taxes are hard to keep up with or hard to follow - the documents are all available for research, but they can be difficult volumes to understand and interpenetrate. But these new changes are credited to be the largest tax overhaul in over 30 years. A lot of people won't even know about these changes until they go to file. Beat this statistic and read up now - this way you can prepare your finances to pay for items this tax season that you've never had to pay for before.

Personal Exemptions. You can no longer claim a deduction for yourself, your spouse, or for any of your dependents. Thankfully the tax credit for children under 17 has been raised to $1000 and is much easier to access. There is also a new credit for all other dependents (although not of spouses or the taxpayer) for $500.
Alimony. As of December 31, 2018 alimony is no longer a deductible and is no longer included in taxable income. But if you were divorced before this date you can continue to deduct and report alimony payments.
Home Equity Loan Interest. Home equity interest money, which is interest on mortgage debt to pay for anything, used outside of helping to buy, build, or improve your home is no longer deductible. Existing home equity debt is no longer grandfathered in either.
Personal theft losses can no longer be deducted.
Casualty losses that are not declared a disaster by the President are no longer deductible.
Investment expenses are no longer deductible.
Tax preparation fees are no longer deductible.
Legal fees paid on an award, judgment, or a settlement are no longer deductible.
Nonmilitary job-related moving expenses. These expenses are will now be included in taxable wages, tips, ad compensations reported on a W2.

Were you aware of all of these changes? How much are they going to affect you and your family this coming tax season? These are the general changes - but there are more fine print restrictions that live in much grayer areas that have changed as well and are no longer offered.

Unlimited state and local tax deductions.
A $1 million mortgage interest deduction.
Deductions for unreimbursed employee expenses.
Miscellaneous itemized deductions.
Deductions for certain school donations.
Deductions from tax extenders.

For many families, this might be one of the most difficult tax seasons they experience. But knowing ahead of time may help ease the shock. Be prepared and if you can, save as much as you can to begin paying for these new tax items or for what you will no longer be able to write off. Hoods is here to help you prepare for it all, and here to answer any questions you might have!

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Tax Brackets

11/15/2018

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As we begin preparations for tax season coming in April of 2019, we thought we would cover some basics for those who may be new to the world of taxes. Tax Brackets are an important factor when it comes to taxes, and can also be daunting for those who are new to paying taxes.

The Federal Tax Brackets
It all depends on your taxable income, but you will fall into one of seven brackets. These brackets are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. Each bracket will determine the amount of taxes you will have to pay in correlation with your income of that year.

How will you file?
Depending on the way by which you file your taxes can also change the amount you pay within those tax brackets. The options to file are single, head of household, Married filing jointly (or qualifying widow), and Married filing separately.

Difference of Cost
Below is a chart of the brackets and their correlating amounts for this tax season,

For those of you who need assistance with their taxes, Hoods Tax & Accounting will happily help and assist you in filing your taxes! Come meet with us today and get a head start on the upcoming tax season!

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Late for a Very Important Date

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