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IRS Sex workers taxes

Tax credits and deductions for individuals

Tax credits and deductions change the amount of a person’s tax bill or refund. People should understand which credits and deductions they can claim and the records they need to show their eligibility.
Tax credits
A tax credit reduces the income tax bill dollar-for-dollar that a taxpayer owes based on their tax return.
Some tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, are refundable. If a person’s tax bill is less than the amount of a refundable credit, they can get the difference back in their refund.
To claim a tax credit, people should:
• Keep records to show their eligibility for the tax credits they claim.
• Check now to see if they qualify to claim any credits next year on their tax return.
Deductions
Deductions can reduce the amount of a taxpayer’s income before they calculate the tax they owe.
Most people take the standard deduction. The standard deduction changes each year for inflation. The amount of the standard deduction depends on a taxpayer’s filing status, age and whether they’re blind and whether the taxpayer is claimed as a dependent by someone else.
Some people must itemize their deductions, and some people may choose to do so because it reduces their taxable income more than the standard deduction. Generally, if a taxpayer’s itemized deductions are larger than their standard deduction, it makes sense for them to itemize.
Interactive Tax Assistant
Find help with tax questions based on specific circumstances with the Interactive Tax Assistant. It can help a person decide if they’re eligible for many popular tax credits and deductions.
More information:
• Tax credits for individuals: What they mean and how they can help refunds
• Deductions for individuals: What they mean and the difference between standard and itemized deductions

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IRS Sex workers taxes

Beware of ‘ghost’ preparers who don’t sign tax returns

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers to avoid “ghost” tax return preparers whose refusal to sign returns can cause a frightening array of problems. It is important to file a valid, accurate tax return because the taxpayer is ultimately responsible for it.
Ghost preparers get their scary name because they don’t sign tax returns they prepare. Like a ghost, they try to be invisible to the fact they’ve prepared the return and will print the return and get the taxpayer to sign and mail it. For e-filed returns, the ghost preparer will prepare but refuse to digitally sign it as the paid preparer.
By law, anyone who is paid to prepare or assists in preparing federal tax returns must have a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number, or PTIN. Paid preparers must sign and include their PTIN on the return. Not signing a return is a red flag that the paid preparer may be looking to make a fast buck by promising a big refund or charging fees based on the size of the refund.
Unscrupulous tax return preparers may also:
• Require payment in cash only and not provide a receipt.
• Invent income to qualify their clients for tax credits.
• Claim fake deductions to boost the size of the refund.
• Direct refunds into their bank account, not the taxpayer’s account.
The IRS urges taxpayers to choose a tax return preparer wisely. The Choosing a Tax Professional page on IRS.gov has information about tax preparer credentials and qualifications. The IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications can help identify many preparers by type of credential or qualification.
No matter who prepares the return, the IRS urges taxpayers to review it carefully and ask questions about anything not clear before signing. Taxpayers should verify both their routing and bank account number on the completed tax return for any direct deposit refund. And taxpayers should watch out for preparers putting their bank account information onto the returns.