Funny-sounding names for serious estate planning tools

Providing a company car? Here’s how taxes are handled

The use of a company vehicle is a valuable fringe benefit for owners and employees of small businesses. This perk results in tax deductions for the employer as well as tax breaks for the owners and employees using the cars. (And of course, they get the nontax benefit of getting a company car.) Plus, current […]

IRS Challenges

Challenges faced by the IRS last year continue, said the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Recently, a GAO Director, Jessica Lucas-Judy, listed some of the issues in a testimony before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. Issues include soaring telephone demand, rising correspondence inventory, limited online information, and a decline in in-person services. “The outcome,” said Lucas-Judy, […]

TAP seeking new members

Here’s your chance to tell the IRS what you really think. The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) is seeking new members now through April 8. Members serve a three-year term and represent all 50 states, as well as Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. They provide an ordinary taxpayer perspective to the IRS and recommend ways to […]

Make the most of the Employee Retention Credit

The Employee Retention Credit (ERC), which was created to encourage employers to keep their workforces intact during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been with us for a year. But questions about it remain for many employers. With the new American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) extending the credit and expanding eligibility — and the credit worth as […]

Where’s my refund

If you’re a “box checker” and have already checked off “filing my taxes” from your to-do list, congratulations. Now you may be wondering, “where’s my refund?” To find out, pull out your smart phone and download the IRS’s mobile app, IRS2GO. The IRS says your refund status should be available within 24 hours after it […]

Premium Tax Credits

The IRS has posted a fact sheet to its website containing new and updated FAQs on the Premium tax credit (PTC). A PTC is available to certain low and moderate income individuals enrolling in a qualified health plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Taxpayers enrolling in Marketplace insurance may choose to have an estimated credit […]

Missouri’s Tax Competitiveness

Another article from our friends at the Tax Foundation.Missouri’s Tax Competitiveness https://bit.ly/3pzHVLS

Tax News on the OIC

Taxpayers who owe more taxes than they can pay may seek an Offer in Compromise (OIC) with the IRS to settle the debt for less than the amount owed. In one case, the IRS rejected a taxpayer’s request for an OIC and proceeded to collect his outstanding liabilities. After performing a financial analysis, the IRS […]

Tax News on tips

Like most income, tips in the service industry are taxable. It doesn’t matter if tips are paid directly in cash or added to payments by credit, debit or gift cards, or shared with coworkers. Noncash tips, such as tickets or passes are also taxable. To correctly report tip income, the IRS advises taxpayers to keep […]