Yes, you can receive your refund in US Savings Bonds

If you’re owed a tax refund this year, you might want to consider receiving it in U.S. Series I savings bonds. Under an IRS program, you’re allowed to use any amount of your refund divisible by $50, up to $5,000 per year to buy the bonds. These low-risk investments can accrue interest for up to […]

A job loss is bad but the tax implications could make it worse

Unemployment has been holding steady recently at 3.7%. But there are still some people losing their jobs — particularly in certain industries including technology and media. If you’re laid off or terminated from employment, taxes are likely the last thing on your mind. However, there are tax implications due to your altered employment circumstances. Depending […]

ERC Voluntary Disclosure Progam closing

The IRS is reminding certain businesses that a March 22, 2024, deadline is looming. The businesses must review guidelines for the Employer Retention Credit (ERC) and, if they’ve claimed it improperly, remedy their errors. The IRS has offered two fixes: 1) the Voluntary Disclosure Program (https://bit.ly/49g2Pnr), in which businesses can repay any incorrect ERC amount, […]

Budget deficit continues to grow

The federal budget deficit is slowly creeping toward $1 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). In its February Monthly Budget Review, the CBO reports that for the first five months of fiscal year 2024, the federal budget deficit hit $830 billion. That amount is $108 billion more than the deficit recorded during the […]

Better tax break when applying the research credit against payroll taxes

The credit for increasing research activities, often referred to as the research and development (R&D) credit, is a valuable tax break available to certain eligible small businesses. Claiming the credit involves complex calculations, which we’ll take care of for you. But in addition to the credit itself, be aware that there are two additional features […]

IRS publications available in many languages

As the tax season rolls on, the IRS is reminding taxpayers that it continues to increase the amount of tax information available in multiple languages. Indeed, the IRS’s work in the multilingual area continues to expand. On the tax agency’s website, for example, much of the information has now been translated into seven languages other […]

Foreign Account reporting due soon

Do your assets include foreign bank and financial accounts? You may need to file an annual Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) by April 15, depending on the details. Those who must file are taxpayers that have foreign financial accounts where the aggregate value of all such accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time […]

US Tax Court rules against taxpayer

To limit tax trouble, follow the rules. One taxpayer was the sole shareholder of a limited liability company (LLC) when the IRS assessed a harsh penalty for the LLC’s unpaid tax. She sought a refund, claiming that the penalty was assessed outside the statute of limitations. The IRS noted that the statute of limitations hadn’t […]

climate disclosure rules for public companies finalized

The SEC has voted 3 to 2 to finalize its climate disclosure rules for public companies. When the SEC released proposed rules two years ago, legal challenges followed and went as far as the U.S. Supreme Court, which ultimately questioned the agency’s authority. So the SEC has dropped the Scope 3 greenhouse gas emission disclosure […]

Hearing leads to comments to extend tax provisions

In a hearing on manufacturing and tax law, U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) urged his colleagues in the Senate to pass the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. The bill includes enhancements to the Child Tax Credit (CTC), which would be retroactive to 2023. It also contains provisions to restore […]