Mornings, for many of us in 2020, look much different than many of us expected them to. We still have to be productive, so here are a few ways to stay energized and focused no matter what! 

Hello friends! We are finally emerging from the other side of the 2019 tax season, and we are seeing a positive light at the end of the tunnel. A lot of what has kept us energized is the hopeful promise that our clients who did file on and around July 15th will be looking at a tax return very shortly. Something that, due to the next unknown aid situation coming from the government, will be a very welcomed financial relief. We know that by this point in the year, the late summer heat and constantly hearing about the pandemic for the last five months has us all bogged down. So, we wanted to change gears with this blog and focus on another aspect of working from home. 

Many of us are still working from home either by choosing to, having to, or the fact that we already did. Finding a groove in working from home can be a daunting task. You have to shift your home around, make some necessary but inconvenient purchases, struggle with separating your space from your workspace, and possibly dealing with our children going back to school online again. On top of all of this, and being more tired than normal, we still need to stay productive, get our work done, and meet our deadlines. The best way to get ahead is to start with a jump start to your morning. So, we wanted to change up our blog content and give you some simple tips and inspiration to get a jumpstart in your day to keep you energized. Let's be honest, we could all use a little inspiration and jump-start to our days right now! 

• Tip #1 Routine 

This tip might sound strange when our normal routine that so many of us worked hard to establish has been turned upsidown. If you can create a routine that works for you and keeps you focused, positive, and on the ball then that is a fantastic way to jumpstart your day. Remember, this will be different for everyone, and will reflect what you and your family need. If you are a morning person, continue to get up early. If not, let yourself take a little longer in the morning. Be forgiving, and give yourself room to discover what works for you. 

• Tip # 2: Set Goals & Make A List

If you have a lot going on in your personal and professional life with no one to keep you on track, there can be a lot floating around in your mind. This gives you plenty of room to forget a thing or two. To save your sanity and to make sure you get everything completed, start by making a to-do list, and write it all down. So much responsibility has been placed upon us while we're working from home. The daily emails, calls, texts, and Zoom meetings still don't help the fact that we are now in charge of constantly keeping ourselves accountable. Start your day by making a list of everything you need to do in every aspect of your life, and continue into the workday. Next, make a set of goals for yourself for the day. Make sure that they're attainable, can be accomplished, and need to be done that day. When making a set of goals for yourself start with a small amount, between 3 and 5. This will allow you to feel productive when you finish them and allows for extra time if anything else comes up in your workday.

• Tip #3: Eat Well & Work Out

You might have noticed that this new way of life has us sitting around way more than usual. Who knew that extra bit of running around at work, running errands, and chasing kids to their after school activities could burn so many extra calories? You don't have to jump into getting yourself into the best shape ever right now unless you what to! But what is important is keeping your boding moving to help it feel better, work out the frustrations of the day before, and get you focused on the day to come. Pro tip? Get the whole family involved in the workout. You also still need delicious and nutritious food to help keep you feeling good and keep your mind focused on the job at hand. There is a time and a place to eat takeout and splurge on your favorite store-bought goodies but, give your gut and brain the food they need to keep you running. Of course, don't forget to drink plenty of water! Coffee can be a very important commodity for many of us in the morning, but it's the H20 that will keep you going all day. 
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• Tip #4 The Night Before

This blog might be focused on jumpstarting your morning, but a lot of what can influence your morning happens the night before. Since we've been home and away from so much of our normal activities, friends, and family, we've been glued to our phones. Try and set a time when the phones are put away for the night, and its time to focus on family or time to go to bed. Those late-night scrolls don't do any good when you're trying to be productive the next day. Start to unwind from your phone and other electronics an hour or so before bed, so you can get a good night's sleep. A really good night's sleep and a true deep rest can restore you and prepare you for the morning ahead. 

We know this is a strange time. Please know that you're not alone in feeling this way. Also, please know we are here to support you and our amazing community of Goose Creek! If you are looking for the best accounting services in Goose Creek, the best tax preparation in Goose Creek, business consulting in Goose Creek, bookkeeping in Goose Creek, or payroll services in Goose Creek, we are here for you! Our phone lines and inboxes are waiting for you. Don't hesitate! Please stay safe, everyone. We will see you soon!

The face of tax day has been changed by the state of the world. But what does this all mean for us as individuals? How is this going to affect how each of us is expected to pay our taxes?  

Tax day truly means something very different than it has in all of its history now than ever before. This year, as of recent legislation, tax day has been moved from April 15th to July 15th due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even in very normal situations, this is a very stressful time for everyone. During this unknown and uncharted time, it has become very stressful at a whole new level for businesses, closed businesses, employees who have been temporarily laid off, and for everyone not knowing what to do next. The government and the IRS hoped that this 90-day extension would ease the stress of not having funds on hand to pay for your taxes by their original due date, due to the loss of your job or paycheck, all in hopes that by July 15th everything will have returned to normal. It's is a very optimistic hope and wish that it is, and all of us are hoping that by July all of this will have blow over, but who knows what could happen.

If you have already filed your taxes, we hope that your tax return is safely in your hands and has helped you through this difficult time. If you're planning to file and pay your taxes before the new July 15th deadline, the IRS is still processing paperwork and is ready to get your tax return back to you. But, if you still need more time, then you're in luck. Unlike a traditional extension, this is allowing filing and payment to be both sent in by July 15th. But, the IRS understands that you might be needing your return more than ever this year. This new deferment is just giving you a chance to take more time to file if you need it. All of us here at Hoods are ready to support our Goose Creek family through these new changes and to help guild, instruct and file for you. But, with all of the changes, do you know what this deferment means and who it applies to? Is this going to help you individually or not?

As of March 20th, the IRS made the official statement that federal income tax filing was moved to its new date of July 15th. Taxpayers are also able to defer federal income tax payments without any penalties and interest, no matter how much is owed. Thankfully this new deferment applies to all taxpayers. This means individuals, those who pay self-employment taxes, corporations, businesses, and trusts and estates. Everyone can benefit from these changes without any penalty. There is also limited paperwork that comes with this change. Unlike a traditional deferment, you do not need to let the IRS know that you're filing later. If you haven't filed by April 15th, the assumption will be made that you are going to be using the new due date as your official tax day. If you do decide to follow the new deferment, and July 15th is still not enough time, you can still ask for an additional extension. This is where the new paperwork comes in. If you need more time as an individual, you will need to file Form 4868, and businesses will need to file Form 7004. Outside of that, no new paperwork is needed!

Even with this extra relief, the IRS still recommends that you file as soon as possible, as the future is still very unknown. To help your financial situation and to get your return back to you as quickly as possible, they are taking no longer than 21 days to get your paperwork filed and refund to you. As we mentioned in past blogs, filing closer to the due date can cause your return to take up to 30 days if not longer to get back to you. This is no longer the case. The IRS is working harder and faster to help out where ever they can.

With the daily changes happening in our country, and the IRS being a vital key to keeping our government afloat in the days ahead, there could be a few bumps along the way with your taxes. Please be patient with them. We also recommend filing online if you were planning to do otherwise. All IRS workers have moved to remote work, and will no longer be accepting appointments in person. Hoods is still here to help you, but we suggest for all business to be done over the phone, through email, and other digital forms of communication for safety sake.

Tax time has never been more unique or shrouded with so many unknowns. During this time, if you have any questions or concerns, we continue to be your tax specialist in Goose Creek. We will get through this together, successfully get your taxes filed, and happily get your tax return back to you and your family. Continue to stay safe and stay at home!