Whether someone is entering the workforce for the first time or changing jobs, filling out new hire paperwork can feel overwhelming. One of the forms employees must complete is a W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate. This form tells employers how much money to withhold from the employee’s pay for federal income tax.
It’s important for employees to know the correct amount of tax to withhold so they don’t owe too much money when filing their tax return or have too much money withheld from their paychecks.
Get tax withholding right.
Federal income tax is a pay-as-you-go tax. Taxpayers pay the tax through their employers as they earn or receive income during the year. Employers take out – or withhold – income tax from employee paychecks and pay it to the IRS in the taxpayer’s name.
If an employee doesn’t have enough tax withheld, they may face an unexpected tax bill and a possible penalty when they file a tax return next year. If they overpay or have too much tax withheld during the year, the employee will likely get a tax refund when they file their tax return. Adjusting the tax withheld up front may mean a bigger paycheck throughout the year.
Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate
New employees must complete Form W-4 so that their employer can withhold the correct amount of federal income tax from their pay. Employees should read the instructions carefully. The employer will base the amount of withholding on the information the employee provides on their W-4 and how much the employee earns.
People can also submit a new W-4 when their personal or financial situation changes and they want to update their withholding.
Taxpayers can use the Tax Withholding Estimator
If a taxpayer isn’t sure how much tax they should have withheld, they can use the Tax Withholding Estimator tool on IRS.gov to:
• Estimate their federal income tax withholding.
• See how their refund, take-home pay or tax due is affected by their withholding amount.
Not all workers are employees
Workers are classified as either contractors or employees according to certain rules. Workers who are independent contractors need to pay their taxes directly to the IRS. Depending on how much they earn, they may need to pay estimated tax on a quarterly basis.
Keep tax forms in a safe place.
Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, is a taxpayer’s record of the income they received throughout the year and the amount of money withheld for federal, state, local and other taxes. Employers typically send these out in late January each year. Taxpayers should keep all the tax documents they receive and store them in a safe place so they are available for filing an accurate tax return.
Tag: IRS
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers who owe unpaid taxes and missed the April 18 tax deadline to file their 2022 federal income tax return and pay any tax due by Wednesday, June 14, to avoid a larger late-filing penalty.
Penalties and interest can grow quickly. The IRS reminded taxpayers about important payment programs that can help as well as the availability of special first-time penalty abatement relief for those who qualify.
Normally the late-filing penalty for each month — or part of a month that a return is late — is 5% of the unpaid tax, up to a maximum of 25 percent. The late-filing penalty will stop accruing once the taxpayer files.
But, by law, if a return is more than 60 days late, the minimum late-filing penalty, also known as a Failure to File penalty, is either $435 or 100% of the unpaid tax, whichever is less. This means the penalty will equal the tax due if the taxpayer owes $435 or less. If they owe more than $435, the minimum penalty will be $435.
The IRS must receive the return by June 14; returns mailed on that date normally won’t avoid the larger penalty. For that reason, the IRS recommends taxpayers file electronically by June 14.
In addition, taxpayers can limit late-payment penalties and interest charges by paying their tax electronically. The fastest and easiest way to do that is with IRS Direct Pay, a free service available only on IRS.gov. Several other electronic payment options are also available. Visit IRS.gov/payments for details.
Late-payment penalties and interest will stop accruing as soon as the tax is paid. The taxpayer need not figure any of these charges. Instead, the IRS will bill them for any amount due.
Taxpayers can review information on the Failure to File and the Failure to Pay penalties by visiting IRS.gov/penalties.
There are many important provisions that can help taxpayers in these situations.
Penalty relief for some
Taxpayers who have filed and paid on time and have not been assessed any penalties for the past three years often qualify to have the penalty abated. See the First-Time Penalty Abatement page on IRS.gov. A taxpayer who does not qualify for this relief may still qualify for penalty relief if their failure to file or pay on time was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect.
Anyone who receives a penalty notice from the IRS should read it carefully and follow its instructions for requesting relief. See Penalty Relief on IRS.gov for the types of penalty relief and how to make the request.
In addition to penalties, interest will be charged on any tax not paid by the April 18 due date and any subsequent penalties. Interest stops accruing as soon as the balance due is paid in full. By law, interest abatement is not an option for reasonable cause or as first-time relief.
Options if unable to pay what’s owed
Many taxpayers mistakenly delay filing because they are unable to pay what they owe. Often, these taxpayers qualify for one of the payment options available from the IRS.
Individual taxpayer’s online payment plan options include:
• Short-term payment plans – for taxpayers who have a total balance less than $100,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest. This plan gives them an extra 180 days to pay the balance in full.
• Long-term payment plan (also called an installment agreement) – for taxpayers who have a total balance less than $50,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest. They can make monthly payments for up to 72 months. Taxpayers are encouraged to set up plan payments using direct debit (automatic bank withdraw), which eliminates the need to send a payment each month, saving postage costs, and reducing the chance of default. The IRS requires direct debit for balances between $25,000 and $50,000.
• Offer in Compromise — Some struggling taxpayers may qualify to settle their tax bill for less than the amount they owe by submitting an offer in compromise. To help determine eligibility, use the Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier tool.
Some automatically get more time to file
Some taxpayers get more time to file, even if they didn’t request an extension. These special deadlines affect penalty and interest calculations for those who qualify, such as members of the military serving in combat zones, taxpayers living outside the U.S. and those living in declared disaster areas.
Disaster areas
The IRS automatically provides filing and penalty relief to any taxpayer with an IRS address of record located in a federally declared disaster area when at least one area qualifies for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual Assistance program. Ordinarily, this means that taxpayers need not contact the IRS to get disaster tax relief. For details on all available relief, visit the Around the Nation page on IRS.gov.
Those serving in combat zones
Military service members and eligible support personnel serving in a combat zone have at least 180 days after they leave the combat zone to file their tax returns and pay any tax due. A complete list of designated combat zone localities is in Publication 3, Armed Forces’ Tax Guide, available on IRS.gov.
Combat zone extensions also give affected taxpayers more time for a variety of other tax-related actions. Various circumstances affect the exact length of the extension available to taxpayers. Details, including examples illustrating how these extensions are calculated, are in the Extensions of Deadlines section in Publication 3.
Taxpayers, military on duty living outside the United States
U.S. citizens and resident aliens who live and work outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico are granted an automatic two-month extension, until June 15, 2023, to file their 2022 tax returns and pay any tax due.
The special June 15 deadline also applies to members of the military on duty outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico who do not qualify for the longer combat zone extension. Affected taxpayers should attach a statement to their return explaining which of these situations apply. For more information about the special tax rules for U.S. taxpayers abroad, see Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad, on IRS.gov.
When to check withholding
To protect against having too little tax withheld and facing an unexpected tax bill or penalty at tax time next year, taxpayers should check their withholding every year. For help determining the right amount to withhold, use the Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov.
WASHINGTON ― With the tax deadline approaching, the IRS reminded taxpayers they can avoid late filing and interest penalties by submitting their tax return and any payments due by April 18. For struggling taxpayers who can’t pay by the deadline, the IRS offers several different options to help.
The IRS also provides multiple ways for people to file for an extension, get information to help file their tax return and learn about payment options if they have trouble paying by the April 18 deadline.
An extension will help to avoid penalties and interest for failing to file on time, and gives taxpayers until Oct. 16, 2023, to file. However, they still must pay what they owe by the April 18 deadline.
Except for eligible victims of recent natural disasters who have until Oct. 16 to make various tax payments, taxpayers who can’t pay the full amount of taxes they owe by April 18 should file and pay what they can to reduce total penalties and interest.
There are several ways to make electronic payments, and there are options for a payment plan or agreement.
IRS Online Account
An IRS Online Account provides access to important information when preparing to file a tax return, pay a balance or follow up on notices. Taxpayers can view their:
• Adjusted Gross Income.
• Payment history and any scheduled or pending payments.
• Payment plan details.
• Digital copies of select notices from the IRS.
Taxpayers can also use their Online Account to securely make a same-day payment for an outstanding 2022 tax balance, pay quarterly estimated taxes for the 2023 tax season or request an extension to file a 2022 return.
Interest and a late payment penalty will apply to any payments made after April 18. Making a payment, even a partial payment, will help limit penalty and interest charges.
Other options to pay electronically
Direct Pay, available only on IRS.gov, is the fastest and easiest way to make a one-time payment without signing into an IRS Online Account.
• Direct Pay: Direct Pay is free and allows taxpayers to securely pay their federal taxes directly from their checking or savings account without any fees or preregistration. Taxpayers can schedule payments up to 365 days in advance. After submitting a payment through Direct Pay, taxpayers will receive immediate confirmation.
• Electronic Funds Withdrawal (EFW): This option allows taxpayers to file and pay electronically from their bank account when using tax preparation software or a tax professional. This option is free and only available when electronically filing a tax return.
• Electronic Federal Tax Payment System: This free service gives taxpayers a safe and convenient way to pay individual and business taxes by phone or online. To enroll and for more information, taxpayers can call 800-555-4477 or visit eftps.gov.
• Debit or credit card or digital wallet: Individuals can pay online, by phone or with a mobile device through any of the authorized payment processors. The processor charges a fee. The IRS doesn’t receive any fees for these payments. Authorized card processors and phone numbers are available at IRS.gov/payments.
Other payment options:
• Cash: For taxpayers who prefer to pay in cash, the IRS offers a way to pay taxes at one of its Cash Processing Company services. The IRS urges taxpayers choosing this option to start early because it involves a four-step process. Details, including answers to frequently asked questions, are at IRS.gov/paywithcash.
• Check or money order: Payments made by check or money order should be made payable to the “United States Treasury.” To help ensure that the payment gets credited promptly, taxpayers should also enclose a 2022 Form 1040-V payment voucher and print the following on the front of the check or money order:
o “2022 Form 1040”
o Name
o Address
o Daytime phone number
o Social Security number
For taxpayers who cannot pay in full
The IRS encourages taxpayers who cannot pay in full to pay what they can and consider a variety of payment options available for the remaining balance including getting a loan to pay the amount due. In many cases, loan costs may be lower than the combination of interest and penalties the IRS must charge under federal law. Taxpayers should act as quickly as possible: Tax bills accumulate more interest and fees the longer they remain unpaid. For all payment options, visit IRS.gov/payments.
Online self-service payment plans
Most individual taxpayers qualify for a payment plan and can use Online Payment Agreement to set up a payment plan (including an installment agreement) to pay off an outstanding balance over time.
Once the online application is completed, the taxpayer receives immediate notification of whether their payment plan has been approved. Taxpayers can setup a plan using the Online Payment Agreement in a matter of minutes. There’s no paperwork and no need to call, write or visit the IRS. Setup fees may apply for some types of plans.
Online payment plan options for individual taxpayers include:
• Short-term payment plan – The total balance owed is less than $100,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest. Additional time of up to 180 days to pay the balance in full.
• Long-term payment plan (installment agreement) – The total balance owed is less than $50,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest. Pay in monthly payments for up to 72 months. Payments may be set up using direct debit (automatic bank withdraw) which eliminates the need to send in a payment each month, saving postage costs, and reducing the chance of default. For balances between $25,000 and $50,000, direct debit is required.
Qualified taxpayers with existing payment plans may be able to use the Online Payment Agreement to make changes including revising payment dates, payment amounts or bank information for payments made by direct debit. Go to Online Payment Agreement for more information.
Though interest and late-payment penalties continue to accrue on any unpaid taxes after April 18, the failure to pay the tax penalty rate is cut in half while an installment agreement is in effect. Find more information about the costs of payment plans on the IRS’ Additional Information on Payment Plans webpage.
Other payment options
Taxpayers struggling to meet their tax obligation may also consider these additional payment options:
• Offer in Compromise – Certain taxpayers qualify to settle their tax liabilities for less than the total amount they owe by submitting an Offer in Compromise. To help determine their eligibility, they can use the Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier tool. To help taxpayers prepare their own valid Offers in Compromise, the IRS created an Offer in Compromise video playlist – also available in Spanish and Simplified Chinese – that walks them through the necessary paperwork.
• Temporary delay of collection – Taxpayers can contact the IRS to request a temporary delay of the collection process. If the IRS determines a taxpayer is unable to pay, it may delay collection until the taxpayer’s financial condition improves. Penalties and interest continue to accrue until the full amount is paid.
• Other payment plan options – Taxpayers who do not qualify for online self-service should contact the IRS using the phone number or address on their most recent notice for other payment plan options. For individuals and out-of-business sole proprietors who are already working with IRS Campus Collection and who owe $250,000 or less, one available option is to propose a monthly payment that will pay the balance over the length of the Collection Statute (usually 10 years). These payment plans don’t require a financial statement, but they do require a determination for the filing of a Notice of Federal Tax Lien still applies.
For more information about payments, see Topic No. 202, Tax Payment Options, on IRS.gov.
Receiving a tax refund is happy news to any taxpayer; getting it quickly is even better. Direct deposit is the safest and most convenient way to receive a tax refund. The IRS encourages taxpayers to file when they are ready and choose direct deposit to receive any refund they may be owed.
Benefits of choosing IRS direct deposit:
- It’s fast. The fastest way for taxpayers to get their refund is to file electronically and choose direct deposit. Visit IRS.gov for details about IRS Free File, Free File Fillable Forms, free tax return preparation and more. Taxpayers who file a paper return can also choose direct deposit, but it will take longer to process the return and get a refund.
- It’s secure. Since refunds are electronically deposited, there’s no risk of having a paper check stolen or lost in the mail.
- It’s easy. Taxpayers can simply follow the instructions when selecting direct deposit as a refund method and enter their account information as directed. They must enter the correct account and routing numbers when they file.
- It provides options. Taxpayers can split a refund into several financial accounts. These include checking, savings, health, education and certain retirement accounts. They should use IRS Form 8888, Allocation of Refund, Including Savings Bond Purchases to deposit a refund in up to three accounts. This form cannot be used to designate part of a refund to pay tax preparers.
Taxpayers should deposit refunds into U.S. bank accounts in their own name, their spouse’s name or both. They should avoid making a deposit into accounts owned by others. Some banks require both spouses’ names on the account to deposit a tax refund from a joint return. Taxpayers should check with their bank for direct deposit rules.
Get a bank account
Taxpayers who don’t have a bank account can visit the FDIC website for information on banks that let them open an account online and how to choose the right account. Veterans can use the Veterans Benefits Banking Program for access to financial services at participating banks.
Mobile apps may be an option
Some mobile apps and prepaid debit cards allow for direct deposit of tax refunds. They must have routing and account numbers associated with them that can be entered on a tax return. Taxpayers should check with the mobile app provider or financial institution to confirm which numbers to use.
Taxpayers must have their routing and account numbers for direct deposit available when they are ready to file. The IRS can’t accept this information after a return is filed.
There is a limit of three direct deposit refunds made into a single financial account or prepaid debit card.
More information:
In recent years, the gig economy has changed how people do business and provide services. Taxpayers must report their gig economy earnings on a tax return – whether they earned that money through a part-time, temporary or side gig. The IRS’ Gig Economy Tax Center provides information and resources to help this group of entrepreneurs and workers understand and meet their federal tax obligations.
Here are key things for individuals involved in the gig economy to remember as they get ready to file in 2023.
Gig economy income is taxable
• Taxpayers must report all income on their tax return unless excluded by law, whether they receive an information return such as a 1099 or not.
• Individuals involved in the gig economy may also be required to make quarterly estimated tax payments to pay income tax and self-employment tax, which includes Social Security and Medicare taxes. The last estimated tax payment for 2022 is due Jan. 17, 2023.
Workers report income according to their worker classification
Gig economy workers who perform services, such as driving a car for booked rides, running errands and other on demand work, must be correctly classified. Classification helps the taxpayer determine how to properly report their income.
• If they are employees, they report their wages from the Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement.
• If they are an independent contractor, they report their income on a Schedule C, Form 1040, Profit or Loss from Business – Sole Proprietorship.
The business or the platform determines whether the individual providing the services is an employee or independent contractor. The business owners can use the worker classification page on IRS.gov for guidance on properly classifying employees and independent contractors.
Expenses related to gig economy income may be deductible
Individuals involved in the gig economy may be able to deduct expenses related to their gig income, depending on tax limits and rules.
• Taxpayers may be able to lower the amount of tax they owe by deducting certain expenses.
• It is important for taxpayers to keep records of their business expenses.
Pay the right amount of taxes throughout the year
An employer typically withholds income taxes from their employees’ pay to help cover taxes their employees owe.
Individuals involved in the gig economy have two ways to cover their taxes due:
• If they have another job where they are considered an employee, they can submit a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate to their employer to have more taxes withheld from their paycheck to cover the tax owed from their gig economy activity.
• They can make quarterly estimated tax payments throughout the year.
More information:
Publication 525 Taxable and Nontaxable Income
Publication 1779, Independent Contractor or Employee
This is good for touring SW’s. email or txt us if you have questions on claiming mileage over actual expenses. You can only choose one method for the life of the vehicle.
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2023 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2023, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:
• 65.5 cents per mile driven for business use, up 3 cents from the midyear increase setting the rate for the second half of 2022.
• 22 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes for qualified active-duty members of the Armed Forces, consistent with the increased midyear rate set for the second half of 2022.
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations; the rate is set by statute and remains unchanged from 2022.
These rates apply to electric and hybrid-electric automobiles, as well as gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles.
The standard mileage rate for business use is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs.
It is important to note that under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, taxpayers cannot claim a miscellaneous itemized deduction for unreimbursed employee travel expenses. Taxpayers also cannot claim a deduction for moving expenses, unless they are members of the Armed Forces on active duty moving under orders to a permanent change of station. For more details see Moving Expenses for Members of the Armed Forces.
Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates.
Taxpayers can use the standard mileage rate but generally must opt to use it in the first year the car is available for business use. Then, in later years, they can choose either the standard mileage rate or actual expenses. Leased vehicles must use the standard mileage rate method for the entire lease period (including renewals) if the standard mileage rate is chosen.
Notice 2023-03 contains the optional 2023 standard mileage rates, as well as the maximum automobile cost used to calculate the allowance under a fixed and variable rate (FAVR) plan. In addition, the notice provides the maximum fair market value of employer-provided automobiles first made available to employees for personal use in calendar year 2023 for which employers may use the fleet-average valuation rule in or the vehicle cents-per-mile valuation rule.
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced a delay in reporting thresholds for third-party settlement organizations set to take effect for the upcoming tax filing season.
As a result of this delay, third-party settlement organizations will not be required to report tax year 2022 transactions on a Form 1099-K to the IRS or the payee for the lower, $600 threshold amount enacted as part of the American Rescue Plan of 2021.
As part of this, the IRS released guidance today outlining that calendar year 2022 will be a transition period for implementation of the lowered threshold reporting for third-party settlement organizations (TPSOs) including Venmo, PayPal and CashApp that would have generated Form 1099-Ks for taxpayers.
“The IRS and Treasury heard a number of concerns regarding the timeline of implementation of these changes under the American Rescue Plan,” said Acting IRS Commissioner Doug O’Donnell. “To help smooth the transition and ensure clarity for taxpayers, tax professionals and industry, the IRS will delay implementation of the 1099-K changes. The additional time will help reduce confusion during the upcoming 2023 tax filing season and provide more time for taxpayers to prepare and understand the new reporting requirements.”
The American Rescue Plan of 2021 changed the reporting threshold for TPSOs. The new threshold for business transactions is $600 per year; changed from the previous threshold of more than 200 transactions per year, exceeding an aggregate amount of $20,000. The law is not intended to track personal transactions such as sharing the cost of a car ride or meal, birthday or holiday gifts, or paying a family member or another for a household bill.
Under the law, beginning Jan. 1, 2023, a TPSO is required to report third-party network transactions paid in 2022 with any participating payee that exceed a minimum threshold of $600 in aggregate payments, regardless of the number of transactions. TPSOs report these transactions by providing individual payee’s an IRS Form 1099K, Payment Card and Third-Party Network Transactions.
The transition period described in Notice 2022-10, delays the reporting of transactions in excess of $600 to transactions that occur after calendar year 2022. The transition period is intended to facilitate an orderly transition for TPSO tax compliance, as well as individual payee compliance with income tax reporting. A participating payee, in the case of a third-party network transaction, is any person who accepts payment from a third-party settlement organization for a business transaction.
The change under the law is hugely important because tax compliance is higher when amounts are subject to information reporting, like the Form 1099-K. However, the IRS noted it must be managed carefully to help ensure that 1099-Ks are only issued to taxpayers who should receive them. In addition, it’s important that taxpayers understand what to do as a result of this reporting, and tax preparers and software providers have the information they need to assist taxpayers.
Additional details on the delay will be available in the near future along with additional information to help taxpayers and the industry. For taxpayers who may have already received a 1099-K as a result of the statutory changes, the IRS is working rapidly to provide instructions and clarity so that taxpayers understand what to do.
The IRS also noted that the existing 1099-K reporting threshold of $20,000 in payments from over 200 transactions will remain in effect.
Do you client have a “side hustle” going on in addition to their full-time job? If you qualify, you may deduct certain expenses incurred by the self-employed business, including costs attributable to your vehicle.
The recent Tax Court case Gonzalez, TC Summary Opinion 2022-13, 7/18/22 found that it is indeed OK to deduct vehicle expenses related to a side-gig, as long as the filer follows strict rules.
Generally, expenses relating to use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck used for business are deductible. For example, if they drive their own passenger car to visit clients or customers, they may write off the portion of their vehicle’s costs that is attributable to business use, subject to some special limits. If they use their car 80 percent for business, they can deduct 80 percent of the costs.
The vehicle expenses are deductible under one of two methods:
1. Standard mileage rate: This is a flat rate adjusted by the IRS at least annually. For 2022, the deduction is 58.5 cents per business mile for the first half of the year and 62.5 cents for the second half. Also, they can add in business-related parking fees and tolls.
2. Actual expenses: Alternatively, they can deduct actual expenses based on the percentage of business use. This includes gas, oil, insurance, repairs, licenses, tires, etc., plus a generous depreciation allowance.
The actual expense method often provides a bigger deduction than the standard mileage rate. However, they must keep receipts, invoices and other documentation to show costs and establish the identity of the vehicle for which the expenses were incurred. For depreciation purposes, they must show the original cost of the vehicle and any improvements, as well as the date it was placed in service.
The IRS has issued detailed regulations covering the substantiation of vehicle expenses under the actual expense method. The best way to secure a deduction is to keep a contemporaneous log or comparable record of expenses and business use.
Facts of the new case: The taxpayer, a resident of California, had a full-time job at Stanford University. After moving to Palo Alto, she started a small clothing design business in Los Angeles.
During the year at issue, the taxpayer traveled to a patternmaker workshop in Los Angeles and Inglewood in southern California approximately every other weekend. She made the 800-mile round-trip by car. Although the taxpayer stayed with family and friends in the area during these trips, the primary purpose of the travel was business-related.
At trial, the taxpayer submitted a mileage log detailing the dates traveled, distances traveled and the purpose of each trip. She also submitted vehicle service receipts corroborating the miles driven. The taxpayer testified credibly as to the business nature of her trips.
End of the road: The Tax Court determined that the taxpayer has satisfied her burden of proof for substantiating vehicle expenses. Accordingly, it approved a deduction of more than $12,000 for vehicle expenses for the year at issue.
WASHINGTON — With millions of people still waiting to file their tax returns, the IRS reminds them to file as soon as possible and take advantage of special tools available on IRS.gov that can help them file.
Summer may be a busy time for many, but it’s a great time to start tax planning – whether you still need to file a 2021 tax return or start planning for next year’s tax season. IRS.gov is the fastest and most convenient way to get tax-related information and help. The online tools are available any time, so taxpayers can use them at their convenience.
Here are some important reasons for taxpayers to visit IRS.gov this summer.
Get tax information 24/7
Taxpayers can use IRS.gov to:
• View the filing page to get information on most federal income tax topics.
• Access the Interactive Tax Assistant tool for answers to many tax law questions.
• Sign into their individual IRS online account to view their balance an tax records, manage communication preferences, make payments and more.
• Find the most up-to-date information about their tax refunds using the Where’s My Refund? tool. Taxpayers can check the status of their refund 24 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of an e-filed return.
Taxpayers can also download the official IRS mobile app, IRS2Go, to check their refund status, make payments, find free tax preparation assistance, sign up for helpful tax tips and more.
Adjust withholding now to avoid tax surprises next year
Summer is a great time for taxpayers to check their withholding to avoid a tax surprise next filing season. Life events like marriage, divorce, having a child or a change in income can affect taxes.
The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov helps employees assess their income tax, credits, adjustments and deductions, and determine whether they need to change their withholding. If a change is recommended, the estimator will provide instructions to update their withholding with their employer either online or by submitting a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate.
File electronically
Taxpayers who requested an extension to Oct. 17 or missed the April 18 deadline can still prepare and e-file returns. The IRS accepts electronically filed returns 24/7. There’s no reason to wait until Oct. 17 if filers have all the information and documentation they need to file an accurate return today. They can get their refund faster by choosing direct deposit. Contact us today to file your return.
Taxpayers who have not yet filed their 2021 tax return may file electronically when they are ready rather than wait until the October 17, 2022, extension deadline. If they are considering hiring a tax preparer, it’s important to choose wisely. Taxpayers are responsible for all the information on their tax return, no matter who prepares it for them or when it’s filed.
There are different kinds of tax return preparers, and a taxpayer’s needs will determine which kind of preparer is best for them.
Here are some things taxpayers should do when choosing a tax return preparer
• Check the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers. This searchable and sortable public directory helps taxpayers find a tax return preparer with specific qualifications.
• Check the preparer’s history with the Better Business Bureau. Taxpayers should check for any disciplinary actions for credentialed tax return preparers. For CPAs, check with the State Board of Accountancy. For attorneys, check with the State Bar Association. For enrolled agents, verify the agent’s status on IRS.gov.
• Ask about fees. Taxpayers should avoid tax return preparers who base their fees on a percentage of the refund or who offer to deposit all or part of the refund into their own financial accounts. They should be wary of tax return preparers who claim they can get larger refunds than their competitors.
• Ask if the preparer plans to use IRS e-file. Taxpayers should make sure their preparer offers IRS e-file. The IRS issues most refunds in fewer than 21 days for taxpayers who file electronically and choose direct deposit.
• Make sure the preparer is available. Taxpayers should consider whether the tax return preparer will be around after the filing deadline has passed. Taxpayers should do this because they might need the preparer to answer questions about the preparation of the tax return. Avoid fly-by-night preparers.
• Ensure the preparer signs and includes their preparer tax identification number. All aid tax return preparers must have a PTIN to prepare tax returns. Preparers must sign returns and include their PTIN.
• Understand the preparer’s credentials. Enrolled agents, CPAs, and attorneys have unlimited practice rights and can represent taxpayers on any tax matter before the IRS. Tax return preparers who participate in the IRS Annual Filing Season Program have limited practice rights and may only represent taxpayers whose returns they prepared and signed, and only for exams and for customer service and Taxpayer Advocate Service inquiries.