IRS tax offset program

Taxpayers with outstanding federal tax debt may be subject to the IRS tax offset program. It allows the IRS to use federal refunds to cover unpaid taxes and other debt, such as child support. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) recently reported on the program. From tax years 2020–2022, nearly $40.1 billion was […]

Proposals on private placement life insurance uncertain

Private placement life insurance arrangements may enable wealthy taxpayers to borrow against policies at favorable rates and pass on wealth to their heirs tax-free. In late Dec. 2024, outgoing Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) proposed legislation that would end such preferential tax treatment. According to Wyden, private placement policies are nothing more than […]

Your guide to Medicare premiums and taxes

Medicare health insurance premiums can add up to big bucks — especially if you’re upper-income, married, and you and your spouse both pay premiums. Read on to understand how taxes fit in. Premiums for Part B coverage Medicare Part B coverage is commonly called Medicare medical insurance. Part B mainly covers doctors’ visits and outpatient […]

What is the Social Security Fairness Act?

On Jan. 5, President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law. It repeals two long-standing provisions that reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for certain retirees who receive public pensions but also worked in private sector jobs during their careers. Affected individuals include some former firefighters, police officers, teachers, postal workers and government […]

Do you own digital assets?

Do you possess digital assets, such as convertible virtual currencies and cryptocurrencies, stablecoins or non-fungible tokens (NFTs)? If so, you must report any digital asset-related income on your 2024 federal income tax return. According to the IRS, a digital asset is one that can be stored electronically and can be bought, sold, owned, transferred or […]

Drive down your business taxes with local transportation cost deductions

Understanding how to deduct transportation costs could significantly reduce the tax burden on your small business. You and your employees likely incur various local transportation expenses each year, and they have tax implications. Let’s start by defining “local transportation.” It refers to travel when you aren’t away from your tax home long enough to require […]

CBO reports budget deficit

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported an estimated federal budget deficit of $622 billion in the first two months of fiscal year 2025. That amount is $242 billion more than the deficit recorded during the same period last fiscal year. Revenue receipts were $50 billion, down 7% compared to last fiscal year, and outlays were […]

Estimated tax payment due

If you make estimated tax payments and it looks like you’ve underpaid your 2024 tax, be sure to send your final 2024 payment by Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. Include all taxable income in your calculations, including income from independent consulting work, year-end bonuses, commissions, rental payments, stock dividends and digital asset sales. Paying by Jan. […]

Balancing the books: Regular bank reconciliations are essential for a successful business

How often do you reconcile your company’s internal financial records against your bank statements? Bank reconciliations are an essential internal control procedure that busy owners and managers sometimes overlook or neglect. Here’s why it pays to perform them regularly. Operational benefits Weekly or monthly bank reconciliations can improve the accuracy of your company’s financial records. […]

Social Media posts used as evidence in Tax Court

Can posts on social media be evidence in a tax dispute? In one case, the U.S. Tax Court said yes. The court allowed the IRS to present a woman’s blog posts as evidence. The taxpayer and her husband allegedly underpaid tax for multiple years. After the husband died, the wife sought “innocent spouse” relief, which […]