IRS audits can be scary. But if you don't know how the agency conducts them, it's hard to know if they're legitimate. As the IRS issued its "Dirty Dozen" tax scams of 2020, it's in your best interest to make sure you're not falling victim to criminal acts.The IRS has...
Audits
Preparing for an IRS audit
You had expected to hear from the IRS. The notice came in the mail yesterday. You and your business will undergo a painstaking tax audit. With the confirmation, there is some relief, but more worries, deadlines and conversations await you.A sensitive IRS audit with a...
Millennials and taxes: Avoid these three big mistakes
Taxes are complex. There is rarely a simple answer to a tax matter. However, one question often does have a simple answer: do I need to file taxes? Millennials are often struggle with this question. The wrong answer to this, and two other common errors, can cause...
Will the new tax law lead to more tax scams?
Tax filers beware: scammers are working hard this tax season. Their attempts generally increase this time of year, as tax payers are putting together their filings. However, it is likely that fraudsters will find even more success this year as confusion over the new...
Taxpayers beware: IRS and settled credit card debt
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rarely makes life easy. This is particularly true for those who are able to negotiate with a credit card company about an outstanding debt. In some cases, a successful negotiation can result in a dismissal of the debt. Although the...
Tis the season for charitable donations…and tax breaks?
Ringing bells and shiny red buckets are just one of the many opportunities that may result in an increase in charitable donations over the holidays. Monetary contributions to charities can lead to more than just a warm heart, if done wisely they can also lead to a tax...
I got a letter from the IRS. What now?
There are pieces of mail that bring joy and others that bring a bit of fear. Likely one of the most common examples of a letter that would result in concern to the recipient is a letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).Why would the IRS send a letter? There are...
Three things that could trigger an IRS audit
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cannot closely review every tax filing. As a result, there are a number of ways the agency determines which filings will warrant a closer review. To help filter out allegedly questionable returns, the agency often uses Compliance...
Mistakes that could lead to an audit
Despite what may be believed in some circles, there is nothing inherently sinister about tax compliance audits. Indeed, being audited can be compared to a root canal or a colonoscopy, but it is supposed to be the federal government's way of ensuring that everyone is...
The basics of accelerated accounting methods
Depreciation is one of the most common methods used by businesses to reduce their taxable income. However many do not understand the concept of accelerated depreciation. Additionally, they do not know how much money could be saved by using this method.This post will...