Eight Last Minute Tax Tips from Accounting Today

Our friends at Accounting Today offers up some great tax tips you may find to be of value. If you have any questions, contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith at 502-896-2999.

1. Fear Not the Extension
"Everyone is afraid of an extension," says Kyle Brownlee, CEO of Enid, Okla.-based Wymer Brownlee, part of the HD Vest network of tax-focused planning firms. "Everyone is just afraid of the IRS. They think: I am sending in my return late."

But an extension doesn't raise a red flag with the IRS, nor does it really mean clients are "late," he says -- although estimated taxes are still due April 15, even if the full return is not.

"I would much, much rather file an extension and get my ducks in a row and file later," he says, adding that an extension can be for a month or up to six months. "An extension is just no big deal and nothing to be afraid of."

2. Let Entrepreneurs Wait on Funding SEP Plans
Small business owners and sole proprietors can wait until Oct. 15 to fully fund their simplified employee pension (or SEP) retirement plans -- which allow them to contribute up to 25% of the income on which they pay Social Security tax.

Many people pay their taxes on April 15 and fail to fund their SEP retirement plans because they don't have the money to pay taxes and fund their plan all at the same time, says Heather Locus, with Balasa Dinverno Foltz in Itasca, Ill.

For that very reason, the IRS allows clients to wait until Oct. 15 to fund their SEP plans if they file for an extension. "That is something people don't necessarily realize that one can actually do," Locus says.

3. Accelerate Deductions for 2014
Many deductions may expire in the 2015 tax year, including deductions for manufacturing and other business equipment -- a category that includes vehicles of 6,000 pounds in weight, allowing many Land Rovers, GMC Yukons and Toyota Highlanders, Brownlee says.

These deductions, from Section 179 in the Tax Code, remain in place for the 2014 tax year -- but no one knows if they will be extended or significantly reduced for 2015, Brownlee says. He recommends that high-net-worth business owners in particular accelerate all the deductions they can under this code for the 2014 tax year, rather than take them in increments of one-fifth per year over the next five years and risk the expiration, he says.

"You can elect up to $500,000 to expense on that equipment in 2014," he says.

The deduction pertains specifically to portable equipment; in addition to jumbo SUVs, the category includes tractors, heavy vehicles, computers, servers, desks and office equipment. Even heavy manufacturing equipment that may be bolted down, but can be shifted elsewhere in an assembly or manufacturing plan reorganization would qualify, he says.

"Think about it like this," Brownlee says. "It's for any type of non-permanent equipment. If I can pick it up and move it or if I can drive it or ride it or if it's not fixed."

4. Put Alimony in an IRA
Alimony is considered "earned income" -- which is taxable compensation and, as a result, qualifies for saving in an IRAs, Locus says. That could help some recipients who are retired or otherwise not working, Locus says.

"To make an IRA contribution, you have to have earned income, so even if you have a $5 million portfolio and you have $100,000 in dividends, that doesn't qualify," she explains. "But getting paid alimony qualifies."

"A lot of CPAs don't think about that," she adds. "A lot of people who've gotten divorced don't think about that."

5. Make Up for Lost Time
Remember that even seemingly well-off clients may need last-minute retirement help, cautions Paul Auslander, director of financial planning at ProVise Management Group in Clearwater, Fla.

"There are those heart-wrenching meetings when you have someone where you think they are doing fine and they are not," he says, citing one example.

"There was a well-known M.D. in town who for whatever reason had her world kind of blow up, and she had to pay most of her money to a spouse in a divorce," Auslander recalls. "He thought he was going to be a novelist, yet never wrote a book. Now she's 58 years old and she has to scramble.

"She's paid for all the kids' education because she was the breadwinner," he adds. "Now she's panicking and worried about her own security. I've seen [similar] cases, male and female."

Doctors and lawyers—especially trial lawyers, Auslander says -- can find themselves in this predicament as they near retirement. The answer is to get them to make catch-up contributions to their traditional or Roth retirement plans.

Some clients can also open up a SEP right before they file their tax return, he says.

"They can deposit 25% of their income -- up to $52,000 for 2014 -- and $53,000 for the 2015 tax year. It's an opportunity to make up lost ground," he says. "That's an old strategy, but ... it keeps coming back and is valuable."

6. Take State Deductions on Lease Income
Clients who receive lease income from oil and gas producing companies -- who lease the right to drill for oil on their land -- are profiting now, Brownlee says. Although oil producers are sitting on their heels, waiting for the price of oil to rebound, they are still paying pricey three-year leases to property owners for the right to drill eventually.

Lease holders must file a state tax return wherever they derive this income from, Brownlee says -- as long as that state has an income tax -- but some states also offer a deduction on that income.

Brownlee cites an example. "A client had a $400,000 lease bonus check" from Oklahoma this year, he says, and that state's 22% deduction gave her an $88,000 deduction against Oklahoma income, saving her roughly $4,400 on her state tax return. Out-of-state CPAs and planners might miss that, he notes.

7. Switch Deductions among Divorced Couples
This tactic might require ex-spouses to work together amicably, but there's a worthwhile payoff, Locus says.

Because the IRS is phasing out certain deductions for high earners who bring in $254,000 or more annually, she explains, formerly married couples may want to switch some deductions from the high-earning parent to the lower-earning one to reduce the total amount paid to the feds.

"Usually the person [in a divorced couple] who has the higher income takes the kids as a deduction exemption," she says, to get the biggest bang for the buck. However, "in 2013, a phase-out for itemized deductions and personal exemptions for high earners began again -- and now people who have an adjusted gross income of $376,000 for a single person or $402,125 for a head of a household don't get any benefit from it. So, it may make sense that the person in the higher tax bracket lets the other spouse take the deduction and the [co-parents] either split the tax benefit or put that money in a 529 college account for a kid."

Failing to swap these deductions means that, she says, "the IRS is just getting more money."

8. Remind Clients to Max Out 401(k)s
Occasionally, Auslander takes on new clients whose former advisors convinced them that they would do better by not investing as much in their 401(k)s. However, those advisors' aims in giving that advice was entirely self-serving: to keep more assets to manage for themselves, he says.

In reality, clients are always better off putting the maximum amounts into their company's retirement plans, he says.

"The math is so compelling that you'd have to be an absolute fool not to," Auslander says.

Last Minute Input from IRS

Your friends at the Internal Revenue Service today want to threaten remind taxpayers that quick and easy solutions are available if you can’t file your returns or pay your taxes on time, and you can even ask for an extension, make a payment or request payment options online at IRS.gov.

Most taxpayers have already filed their 2014 returns. Figures released today show that as of April 3, the IRS had already received just over 99 million returns and issued more than 77 million refunds averaging over $2,800.

For those who have yet to file, the IRS says don’t panic. Tax-filing extensions are available to taxpayers who need more time to finish their returns. Remember, this is an extension of time to file; not an extension of time to pay. However, taxpayers who are having trouble paying what they owe may qualify for payment plans and other relief.

- WARNING - this is tedious reading. If you'd like to discuss tax issues with a real person and a tax professional, contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC at (502) 896-2999. Or if you have nothing better to do, then continue -

Either way, taxpayers will avoid stiff penalties if they file either a regular income tax return or a request for a tax-filing extension by this year’s April 15 deadline. While taxpayers should pay as much as they can to minimize any penalties and interest, they should always file even if they can’t pay the full amount due. Here are further details on the options available.

More Time to File
People who haven’t finished filling out their return can get an automatic six-month extension. The fastest and easiest way to get the extra time is through the Free File link on IRS.gov. In a matter of minutes, anyone, regardless of income, can use this free service to electronically request an automatic tax-filing extension on Form 4868.

Filing this form gives taxpayers until Oct. 15 to file a return. To get the extension, taxpayers must estimate their tax liability on this form and should also pay any amount due.

By properly filing this form, a taxpayer will avoid the late-filing penalty, normally five percent per month based on the unpaid balance that applies to returns filed after the deadline. In addition, any payment made with an extension request will reduce or eliminate interest and late-payment penalties that apply to payments made after April 15. The interest rate is currently three percent per year, compounded daily, and the late-payment penalty is normally 0.5 percent per month.

Besides Free File, taxpayers can choose to request an extension through a paid tax preparer, using tax-preparation software or by filing a paper Form 4868, available on IRS.gov. Of the nearly13 million extension forms received by the IRS last year, almost 8 million were filed electronically.

Those who owe taxes and need a tax-filing extension can get a two-for-one deal. Use IRS Direct Pay or one of the other electronic payment options to pay by April 15 the estimated amount of tax owed, designate the payment as an extension payment, and the IRS will count that as a validly-requested extension – no need to separately file a Form 4868.

Some taxpayers get more time to file without having to ask for it. These include:

Taxpayers abroad. U.S. citizens and resident aliens who live and work abroad, as well as members of the military on duty outside the U.S., have until June 15 to file. Tax payments are still due April 15.
Members of the military and others serving in Afghanistan or other combat zone localities. Typically, taxpayers can wait until at least 180 days after they leave the combat zone to file returns and pay any taxes due. For details, see Extensions of Deadlines in Publication 3, Armed Forces’ Tax Guide.

People affected by certain recent natural disasters.

Easy Ways to E-Pay
Taxpayers who owe taxes can now choose among several quick and easy e-pay options, including the newest and easiest, IRS Direct Pay. Again, making a payment through one of these electronic options and designating it as an extension payment counts as filing for an extension. Available options include:

• Direct Pay. Available at IRS.gov/directpay, this free online tool allows individuals to securely pay their income tax directly from checking or savings accounts without any fees or pre-registration. No need to write a check, buy a stamp or find a mailbox. Payments can even be scheduled up to 30 days in advance, and the tool is available round the clock. Any taxpayer who uses the tool receives instant confirmation that their payment was submitted. More than 3.5 million tax payments totaling more than $7.2 billion have been received from individual taxpayers since Direct Pay debuted during last year’s tax-filing season.
• Electronic Federal Tax Payment System. This free service gives taxpayers a safe and convenient way to pay individual and business taxes online or by phone. Pre-registration is required. To enroll or for more information, visit EFTPS.gov or call 800-316-6541.
• Electronic funds withdrawal. E-file and e-pay from a checking or savings account in a single step.
• Credit or debit card. Both paper and electronic filers can pay their taxes online or by phone through any of several authorized credit and debit card processors. Though the IRS does not charge a fee for this service, the card processors do. For taxpayers who itemize their deductions, these convenience fees can be claimed on Schedule A Line 23.

Taxpayers who choose to pay by check or money order should make the payment out to the “United States Treasury.” Write “2014 Form 1040,” name, address, daytime phone number and Social Security number on the front of the check or money order. To help ensure that the payment is credited promptly, also enclose a Form 1040-V payment voucher.

More Time to Pay
Taxpayers who have finished their returns should file by the regular April 15 deadline, even if they can’t pay the full amount due. In many cases, those struggling with unpaid taxes qualify for one of several relief programs, including the following:

Most people can set up a payment agreement with the IRS online in a matter of minutes. Those who owe $50,000 or less in combined tax, penalties and interest can use the Online Payment Agreement to set up a monthly payment agreement for up to 72 months. Taxpayers can choose this option even if they have not yet received a bill or notice from the IRS. With the Online Payment Agreement, no paperwork is required, there is no need to call, write or visit the IRS and qualified taxpayers can avoid the filing of a Notice of Federal Tax Lien if one was not previously filed. Alternatively, taxpayers can request a payment agreement by filing Form 9465. This form can be downloaded from IRS.gov and mailed along with a tax return, bill or notice.
Some struggling taxpayers may qualify for anOffer in Compromise. This is an agreement with the IRS that settles the taxpayer’s tax liabilities for less than the full amount owed. The IRS looks at the taxpayer’s income and assets to make a determination regarding the taxpayer’s ability to pay. To help determine eligibility, individuals can use theOffer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier, a free online tool available on IRS.gov.
Details on all filing and payment options are on IRS.gov.

Capital Gains for 2014

According to Motley Fool, Clients can avoid paying taxes on long-term capital gains on an asset by either not selling at all or holding onto the property a little longer. You can lower your tax bill by holding the asset for at least 12 months to trigger long-term capital gains rates and not short-term capital gains rates, which are higher. Read the article to know how long-term capital gain taxes will be calculated this year on state and federal levels.
Or if you don't feel like reading something, just call Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC at 502-896-2999.
-Gary

Rates Likely to Remain Low, Fisher says

by Michael S. Derby, the Wall Street Journal

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Richard Fisher said Friday he supports ending the central bank’s bond-buying stimulus program this year, while adding it is very likely that very low interest rates will prevail for some time to come.

“There is abundant liquidity to finance economic expansion, and the [Federal Open Market Committee] will assure that it remains affordable as long as the prospect of inflation rising above its 2% target remains in abeyance,” Mr. Fisher said in the text of a speech prepared for delivery before a local group in New Orleans.

Mr. Fisher is a voting member of the Fed’s monetary-policy setting FOMC this year. He has been a persistent critic of the recent round of Fed moves to stimulate growth, done mainly by buying longer-dated Treasury and mortgage bonds in a bid to lower borrowing costs to stimulate growth and lower unemployment. Heartened by signs of economic improvement, the Fed has been cutting the pace of its bond-buying program this year — the monthly buying rate now stands at $45 billion — and officials broadly agree the effort will be wound down this year.

“Barring some destabilizing development in the real economy that comes out of left field, I will continue to vote for the pace of reduction we have undertaken, reducing by $10 billion per meeting our purchases and eliminating them entirely at the October meeting with a final reduction of $15 billion,” Mr. Fisher said.

Positive news for your weekend from your friends at Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC, a Louisville based accounting firm serving clients across the south and midwest.

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Congress Puts $310 Billion Up For Grabs

The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee approved $310 billion of tax breaks, as Republicans defeated Democratic objections to the plan’s budgetary costs. Are you keeping up with what Uncle Sam has in mind? Contact Neikirk Mahoney & Smith CPAs. They keep up with what's going on in Washington. Click $310 Billion in Tax Breaks Approved to read the entire article!

Time to Re-evaluate Your Accounting Resources

Now that tax season is over for most of us, now would be a good time to re-evaluate your resources to make sure you're getting the most bang for your accounting buck.

How do you feel about the way your 2013 taxes were done? Did your accounting firm keep you informed of changes in the tax code that could impact your business?

Did your accounting firm take the time to really understand how your business operates? Did they provide you with suggestions and ideas that would positively impact your bottom line? Were they proactive or reactive? And at the end of the day, do you feel like you were getting what you expected at the cost your expected?

If the answer to any of the questions above is anything but a resounding "yes", contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith today. We'll spend some time together, discussing and learning what really matters to you, not to us.

In a world of fast talkers and false guarantees, Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith stands out from the white noise. That's because we really do care about you and your business.

Here's a great article for your reference from Entepreneur.com. And after you've read it, give us a call today.

HOW TO HIRE AN ACCOUNTANT

Every dollar counts for business owners, so if you don't know where you stand on a monthly basis, you may not be around at the end of the year. And while using do-it-yourself accounting software can help monitor costs, the benefits of hiring good accountants extend far beyond crunching numbers. Potentially, they can be your company's financial partner for life, with intimate knowledge of not only how you're going to finance your next forklift, for instance, but also how you're going to finance your daughter's college education.

Before you hire one though, make sure you understand the four basic areas of expertise in a general accounting practice:

1. Business advisory services. Since an accountant should be knowledgeable about your business environment, your tax situation and your financial statements, it makes sense to ask them to pull all the pieces together and help you come up with a business plan and personal financial plan. Accountants can offer advice on everything from insurance (do you really need business interruption insurance or is it cheaper to lease a second site?) to expansion (how will additional capacity affect operating costs?). Accountants can bring a new level of insight, simply by virtue of their perspective.
2. Accounting and record-keeping. These are perhaps the most basic of accounting disciplines. While it makes sense for many business owners to manage their day-to-day records, an accountant can help set up bookkeeping and accounting systems and show you how to use them. A good system allows you to evaluate profitability and modify prices. It also lets you monitor expenses, track a budget, spot trends and reduce accounting fees required to produce financial statements and tax returns.
3. Tax advice. Accountants that provide assistance with tax-related issues usually can do so in two areas: tax compliance and tax planning. Planning refers to reducing your overall tax burden. Compliance refers to obeying the tax laws.
4. Auditing. These services are most commonly required by banks as a condition of a loan. There are many levels of auditing, ranging from simply preparing financial statements to an actual audit, where the accountant or other third party provides assurance that a company's financial information is accurate.

Choosing an Accountant
The best way to find a good accountant is to get a referral from your attorney, your banker or a business colleague. You can also check in with the Society of Certified Public Accountants in your state, which can make a referral.

While accountants usually work for large companies, CPAs (certified public accountants) work for a variety of large and small businesses. Don't underestimate the importance of a CPA. This title is only awarded to people who have passed a rigorous a two-day, nationally standardized test. Most states require CPAs to have at least a college degree or its equivalent. Several states also require post-graduate work.

Once you have come up with some good candidates, it is important to determine how much of the work your company will do and how much will be done by the accountant.

Accounting services can be divided into three broad categories: recording transactions, assembling them, and generating returns and financial statements. Although the first two categories require a lower skill level than the latter, many firms charge the same hourly rate for all three. This is why it's important to determine exactly what work you want an accountant to handle.

The next step is to interview your referrals. For each, plan on two meetings before making your decision. One meeting should be at your site. The other should be at theirs. During the interviews, your principal goal is to find out about three things: services, personality and fees. Here's what to ask in each area.

1. Services: Most accounting firms offer tax and auditing services. But what about bookkeeping? Management consulting? Estate planning? Will the accountant help you design and implement financial information systems? A CPA may offer services that include analyzing transactions for loans and financing; preparing, auditing, reviewing and compiling financial statements; managing investments; and representing you before tax authorities.
   
   Although smaller accounting firms are generally a better bet for entrepreneurs, they may not offer all these services. Make sure the firm has what you need. If it can't offer specialized services, it may have relationships with other firms to which it can refer you to handle these matters. In addition to services, make sure the firm has experience with small business and your specific industry.
2. Personality: Is the accountant's style compatible with yours? Be sure the people you are meeting are the same ones who will be handling your business. At many accounting firms, some partners handle sales and new business, then pass the actual account work on to others.
   
   When evaluating competency and compatibility, ask candidates how they would handle situations relevant to you. For example: How would you handle an IRS office audit seeking verification of automobile expenses? Listen to the answers and decide if that's how you would like your affairs to be handled.
   
   Realize, too, that having an accountant who takes a different approach can be a good thing. Just be sure that the accountant doesn't pressure you into doing things you aren't comfortable with.
3. Fees: Ask about this upfront. Most accounting firms charge by the hour with fees ranging from $100 to $275. However, others work on a monthly retainer. Get a range of quotes from different accountants. Also try to get an estimate of the total annual charges based on the services you have discussed.
   
   Don't base your decision solely on cost, however, as an accountant who charges higher hourly rate is likely to be more experienced and able to work faster than a novice who charges less.
   
   Also be sure to ask for references -- particularly from clients in your industry. Call them to find out how satisfied they were with the accountant's services, fees and availability.

Make the Most of the Relationship
After you make a choice, spell out the terms of the agreement in an engagement letter. The document should detail the returns and statements to be prepared and the fees to be charged. This ensures that you and your accountant have the same expectations.

Also, hold up your end of the agreement. Don't hand your accountant a shoebox full of receipts. Write down details of all the checks in your check register, whether they are for utilities, supplies and so on. Likewise, identify sources of income on your bank deposit slips. The better you maintain your records, the less time your accountant has to spend and the lower your fees will be.

It's a good idea to meet or at least speak with your accountant every month. Review financial statements and go over problems so you know where your money is going. Your accountant should go beyond number-crunching to suggest alternative ways of cutting costs and act as a sounding board for any ideas or questions you have.

Excerpted from Start Your Own Business, Fifth Edition by the staff ofEntrepreneur.

Social Security to Stop Seizing Tax Refunds

BY MICHAEL COHN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, ACCOUNTINGTODAY.COM

A pair of senators have called on the Social Security Administration to end the policy of seizing taxpayers’ refunds to hold them accountable for decades-old errors made by the agency that led to the overpayment of benefits, and the agency has agreed to do so.

Senators Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., highlighted a story on the front page of the Washington Post last Friday morning that detailed the case of Mary Grice, whose tax refund was seized by the U.S. government to repay an overpayment of benefits made to an unknown member of her family in 1977. 

“While this policy of seizing tax refunds to repay decades-old Social Security overpayments might be allowed under the law, it is entirely unjust,” the senators wrote in a letter Friday to the Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Carolyn Colvin. “Grice and other families like hers are unfairly being held responsible for decades-old errors at the Social Security Administration – even though many of these taxpayers were children at the time the error was made. Too many of these families are now finding themselves trapped in a mess of paperwork and red tape that is both costly and time-consuming.” 

To learn more about how this measure might affect you, contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC

Read more at Accounting Today

Read This If You Have A Home-based Business

The Internal Revenue Service today reminded people with home-based businesses that this year for the first time they can choose a new simplified option for claiming the deduction for business use of a home.

In tax year 2011, the most recent year for which figures are available, some 3.3 million taxpayers claimed deductions for business use of a home (commonly referred to as the home office deduction) totaling nearly $10 billion.

The new optional deduction, capped at $1,500 per year based on $5 a square foot for up to 300 square feet, will reduce the paperwork and recordkeeping burden on small businesses by an estimated 1.6 million hours annually.

The new option is available starting with the 2013 return taxpayers are filing now.  Normally, home-based businesses are required to fill out a 43-line form (Form 8829) often with complex calculations of allocated expenses, depreciation and carryovers of unused deductions.  Instead, taxpayers claiming the optional deduction need only complete a short worksheet in the tax instructions and enter the result on their return. Self-employed individuals claim the home office deduction onSchedule C Line 30, farmers claim it on Schedule F  Line 32 and eligible employees claim it onSchedule A Line 21. 

Though homeowners using the new option cannot depreciate the portion of their home used in a trade or business, they can claim allowable mortgage interest, real estate taxes and casualty losses on the home as itemized deductions on Schedule A. These deductions need not be allocated between personal and business use, as is required under the regular method.

Business expenses unrelated to the home, such as advertising, supplies and wages paid to employees, are still fully deductible.

Long-standing restrictions on the home office deduction, such as the requirement that a home office be used regularly and exclusively for business and the limit tied to the income derived from the particular business, still apply under the new option.

For further details on the home office deduction and the new option, contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC, one of America's premier business accounting firms. 

Tax-Credit Plan Refocuses Poverty Debate

BY JEANNA SMIALEK

BLOOMBERG

(Bloomberg) Policy makers on both sides of the partisan divide, from Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew to Mitt Romney’s economic adviser Glenn Hubbard, favor expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit. This rare harmony holds the potential to reshape the debate on bridging the growing opportunity gap.

“The dynamics surrounding EITC are changing,” said Alex Brill, a researcher at the American Enterprise Institute, referring to the refundable tax credit for low-income workers. “There’s a little bit of a shift among conservatives and Republicans—an increased level of interest in issues around the working poor.”

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Bloomberg BNA Has A Nice Offer

Bloomberg BNA is offering a free 7 day trial subscription to their Daily Tax Report. Even if you're already working with the accounting firm of Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith CPAs, you might find this a handy tool. 

Sign up here ->  FREE 7-day trial subscription to the Daily Tax Report and receive a complimentary copy of our highly-anticipated 2014 Outlook: Tax, Accounting and Pensions. This comprehensive report provides an overview of what to expect in 2014 including discussions on international tax, tax legislation, state developments, tax administration, and more!

Tax Tips of the Day

The Internal Revenue Service is warning taxpayers to be sure to notify your accountant or the Social Security Administration before they file their taxes if they have changed their own name or the name of one of their dependents has changed. Otherwise their tax refund could be delayed.
Read more from Accounting Today

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The Internal Revenue Service today announced the release of IRS2Go 4.0, an update to its smartphone application featuring new added features available in both English and Spanish.

The redesigned IRS2Go provides new features for taxpayers to access the latest information to help them in the preparation of their tax returns. In this version, IRS2Go highlights the addition of an innovative new refund status tracker, providing taxpayers an easy-to-use feature to follow their tax return throughout the process.

The newest version of the free mobile app offers a number of safe and secure ways for taxpayers to access other popular tools and the most up-to-date tax information, including:

• Refund Status. Taxpayers can check the status of their federal tax refund through IRS2Go. People simply enter their Social Security number, which will be masked and encrypted for security purposes, then select their filing status and enter the amount of their anticipated refund for their 2013 tax return. A new refund status tracker has been added so that taxpayers can follow their tax return throughout the process. Users can check their refund status 24 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of an e-filed return, or four weeks after mailing a paper return. The IRS reminds taxpayers the tool is updated just once a day, usually overnight, so there is no reason to check more than once a day.
• Free Tax Prep Providers. The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs offer free tax help for taxpayers who qualify. This brand new tool on IRS2Go will help taxpayers find the nearest VITA site to their home by simply entering their zip code and selecting a mileage range. By clicking on the directions button within the results, the maps application on the device will load with the address, making it easy to navigate to your desired location.
• Tax Records. Taxpayers can request their tax account or tax return transcript from IRS2Go. The transcript will be delivered via the U.S. Postal Service to their address of record.

It's Tax Season!

The Internal Revenue Service began accepting individual tax returns on Friday. 

The IRS postponed the beginning of tax season this year until January 31 due to the two-week federal government shutdown, which delayed the testing and implementation of some of its computer systems. The IRS is also starting off this tax season with a new commissioner, John Koskinen. Newly approved by Congress, he has been brought in to fix some of the problems that emerged last year, including with the agency’s Exempt Organizations unit, as well as contend with budget cuts that have been reducing taxpayer service.

The IRS is encouraging taxpayers to use electronic filing, noting that last year, nearly 120 million taxpayers opted for IRS e-file. Since 1990, taxpayers have e-filed more than 1 billion Form 1040 series tax returns through e-file.

If you need any help preparing your own personal or business tax returns, contact the accounting professionals at Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC where you'll be dealing with a real Certified Public Accountant and not someone that will try to sell you a car when tax season is over!

Read the rest of the article here - Thanks to Michael Cohn and Accounting Today!

IRS preparing to muzzle tea party groups

Now that we’re into an all-important midterm election year, the Obama administration is turning up the heat on tea party groups and other conservative organizations, the very people who many say caused the Democrats’ “shellacking” in the 2010 midterms.

The Obama administration is using the ultimate agency of intimidation — the Internal Revenue Service — to give Democrats a leg up in what is predicted to be a difficult year for the party.

The IRS has proposed new rules for 501(c)(4) organizations that strike at the the heart of the tea party’s very existence — political activism. 

The laundry list of provisions the IRS proposes that 501(c)(4) organizations must comply with includes, according to WND:

• Prohibit using words like “oppose,” “vote,” “support,” “defeat,” and “reject.”
•  Prohibit mentioning, on its website or on any communication (email, letter, etc.) that would reach 500 people or more, the name of a candidate for office, 30 days before a primary election and 60 days before a general election.
• Prohibit mentioning the name of a political party, 30 days before a primary election and 60 days before a general election, if that party has a candidate running for office.
•  Prohibit voter registration drives or conducting a non-partisan “get-out-the-vote drive.”

Click Here to Read the Rest of the Article and the Additional IRS Provisions

Article by Michael Dorstewitz - BizPac Review. 

2014 Tax Planning - 5 Tips

Tax planning very rarely makes it on people’s new year’s resolution lists. But perhaps 2014 should be the year you vow to achieve a greater level of understanding about your taxes and to properly organize and plan for your liability, according to Fox Business.

Not only would this pledge make your life easier come tax season, it could also end up keeping more money in your bank account.

Check out some tips to get rolling on fulfilling this resolution:

1. Set up your 2014 tax file. This could be an electronic file in which you scan documents and transactions throughout the year that will affect your tax return, or a folder or bin that holds the information.

The beauty of an electronic file is that at tax time you can simply e-mail it to your tax professional, who will likely also maintain the file in the event of an audit. Just make sure you have adequate back up of your data in case something goes wrong. Adding notes on the tax documents to aid your tax pro in understanding the transaction can help the filing process.

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IRS Cracking Down on Fraudulent Minnesota Tax Advisors

Tax Cheats Beware! -

A 63-count indictment has been unsealed charging Chatonda Khofi, Ishmael Kosh, Amadou Sangaray and Francis Saygbay in a conspiracy to defraud the IRS.

The indictment alleges that Primetime Tax Services Inc., where Khofi was CEO and Kosh and Sangaray managers, prepared false returns. According to court documents, Khofi, Kosh, Sangaray and Saygbay conspired among themselves and with others to prepare and file false individual returns for clients. Some of these returns reported false dependents, false deductions, false Schedule Cs and false wage income, resulting in inflated refunds.

As part of the scheme, court documents alleged, the defendants prepared and filed false Minnesota state returns for clients that contained the same or similar false information as reported on the federal returns. From 2007 to 2009, Primetime filed more than 2,000 customer federal income tax returns with the IRS.

The indictment further charges each defendant with multiple counts of aggravated ID theft and aiding and assisting in the preparation of false individual returns. The aggravated ID theft charges stem from the defendants’ alleged use of the names and Social Security names of actual persons to falsely claim as dependents on clients’ individual returns. According to the indictment, the defendants also accompanied some clients to check-cashing businesses to cash their falsely inflated refund checks, then demanded a portion of the cashed check in addition to tax prep fees already collected.

The indictment further alleges that in some instances the defendants withdrew cash from debit cards containing clients’ refunds without permission, again in addition to the prep fees already collected. 

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum of five years in prison for the conspiracy count and three years of prison for each count of aiding in the preparation of a false return. The ID theft counts carry a mandatory two-year sentence. This was also provided by Accounting Today!

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