Keeping Your Passwords Protected

From Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith, the IRS has published tips on the topic of protecting your passwords. Much of the public uses the same password over and over again on their different accounts online. This is partially why a single successful phishing scam can be so devastating, because when they get a password for one of your accounts it is likely that password will work on another.

For this reason, new stronger standards are being implemented in tax software products for 2016. Those standards include:

• A password that has eight or more characters, including upper case, and lower case letters as well as numbers and a special character.
• New features include a timed lockout and limits on unsuccessful log-in attempts.
• You must complete three security questions.
• Tax software partners must verify email addresses. In many cases, this means a PIN will be sent to your email or text that you must use to verify your address before you can proceed with your tax software.

These are just a few of the new protections that will be in place for the 2016 tax season to protect you from identity thieves. Most of the protections we are taking may not be visible to you, but they will add layers of protection nonetheless, adding new and stronger protections during tax time.

While these are changes that are being implemented in tax software, it would be a good idea to think about these standards with all passwords that you create.
You can contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith by phone at 502-896-2999, or through their website contact form

IRS: Five Common Questions from Taxpayers

From Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith, the IRS has released five common questions that they receive from taxpayers, along with the answers.

1. What is included in household income?
"For purposes of the PTC, household income is the modified adjusted gross income of you and your spouse if filing a joint return, plus the modified AGI of each individual in your tax family whom you claim as a dependent and who is required to file a tax return because their income meets the income tax return filing threshold. Household income does not include the modified AGI of those individuals you claim as dependents and who are filing a return only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax."

2. The IRS is asking to see my 1095-A. What should I do?
"You should follow the instructions on the correspondence that you received from the IRS.  You may be asked for a copy of Form 1095-A in order to verify information that has been entered on your tax return."

3. If I got advance payments of the PTC, do I have to file even if I never had a filing requirement before?
"Yes. If you received the benefit of advance payments of the premium tax credit, you must file a tax return to reconcile the amount of advance credit payments made on your behalf with the amount of your actual premium tax credit.  You must file a return and submit a Form 8962 for this purpose even if you are otherwise not required to file a return."

4. Marketplace says I did not file, but I did file before the extended due date.  What should I do?
"In advance of the open enrollment period that runs through January 31, 2016, the Marketplace sent Marketplace Open Enrollment and Annual Redetermination letters to individuals who might not have filed a tax return. Follow the instructions in the letter you received."

5. What are my options to receive help with filing a return and reconciling?
"Filing electronically is the easiest way to file a complete and accurate tax return as the software guides you through the filing process. Electronic filing options include free Volunteer Assistance, IRS Free File, commercial software, and professional assistance."

For more information from the IRS, check out their website at irs.gov
You can also contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC at 502-896-2999, or through our website contact form.

Tax Planning Strategies for the Year's End

From Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith...
The year is coming to an end, and the Journal of Accountancy has published some tips on last minute tax planning strategies.
According to the Journal of Accountancy, "Taxpayers who have been sitting on the sidelines due to the lack of certainty on the expanded Section 179 deduction, bonus depreciation, the R&D credit and other items normally renewed in an extender package need to take action soon, according to Michael Silvio, director of tax services at Hall & Co. CPAs."

Their last minute strategies include:

1) A Hierarchy of Planning
"Last-minute tax issues could be things that can be done by the end of the year before it’s too late to do them, or could be things that can still be done up to the time you file the tax return or later, to get a better result for that prior year, according to Matthew Frooman, a member at the Atlanta office of Top 100 Firm Warren Averett."

2) New Due Dates
"For tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2015, the due dates for partnership tax returns will change from April 15 for calendar-year partnerships to March 15, and the fifteenth day of the third month after the end of the fiscal year for fiscal-year partnerships. The due date for C corporations will be April 15, or the fifteenth day of the fourth month after the close of their year. S corporation return due dates continue to be March 15, or the third month following the close of the taxable year."

3) Extender Watch 
"The tax extenders have historically been passed, so we have to plan for the fact that they will be passed, advised Gary Fox, managing partner of tax services at Top 100 Firm Crowe Horwath."

4) Hoping for Better
"Next filing season can’t be as bad as the previous one, according to Rick Wojciechowski of Top 100 Firm The Bonadio Group: 'Provided the extenders get passed earlier than they did for 2014, it should be better. Plus, the tangible property regs are better understood now. But we do have layering of the ACA, which affects business clients. CPAs need to communicate the rules to their clients.'"

You can check out the full article at the Journal of Accountancy.
You can also contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC at 502-896-2999, or through our website contact form.

FASB Proposes Clarifying the Definition of a Business

From Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith, the FASB is proposing clarifications to the definition of the business. This proposal is not because the FASB believes that the current definition is too narrow, but rather that it is too broad. They are concerned that this broad definition can lead to transactions being reported as acquisitions or disposals of businesses rather than assets.

"Clarifying the Definition of a Business, would require that under FASB’s definition, a business would include at least an input and a substantive process that together contribute to the ability to create outputs and would remove the evaluation of whether a market participant could replace any missing element."

You can check out the full article at the Journal of Accountancy.
You can also contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC at 502-896-2999, or through our website contact form.

AICPA Proposes Peer Review Standards Changes

From Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith, according to the Journal of Accountancy the AICPA has proposed changes to the peer review standards "to help audit firms increase their focus on the proper design and operating effectiveness of their systems of quality control."

The AICPA peer review program monitors the quality of reviewed firms’ accounting and auditing engagements and evaluates the systems under which those engagements are performed. Participation in the peer review program is mandatory for AICPA membership, and peer review is required for licensure in nearly every state.

For more details on the specific changes that have been proposed to the peer review standards, check out the full article at The Journal of Accountancy 

You can also contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC at 502-896-2999, or through our website contact form.

Three Tax Considerations during Marketplace Open Enrollment

From Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith, the IRS has just published some tips on the health insurance marketplace. When you apply for assistance to help pay the premiums for health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, the Marketplace will estimate the amount of the premium tax credit that you may be able to claim.  The Marketplace will use information you provide about your family composition, your projected household income, whether those that you are enrolling are eligible for other non-Marketplace coverage, and certain other information to estimate your credit.

Here are three things you should consider during the Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment period:

1. Advance credit payments lower premiums - You can choose to have all, some, or none of your estimated credit paid in advance directly to your insurance company on your behalf to lower what you pay out-of-pocket for your monthly premiums.  These payments are called advance payments of the premium tax credit or advance credit payments.  If you do not get advance credit payments, you will be responsible for paying the full monthly premium.

2. A tax return may be required - If you received the benefit of advance credit payments, you must file a tax return to reconcile the amount of advance credit payments made on your behalf with the amount of your actual premium tax credit.  You must file an income tax return for this purpose even if you are otherwise not required to file a return.

3. Credit can be claimed at tax time - If you choose not to get advance credit payments, or get less than the full amount in advance, you can claim the full benefit of the premium tax credit that you are allowed when you file your tax return. This will increase your refund or lower the amount of tax that you would otherwise owe.

For more information about open season enrollment, which runs through January 31, 2016, visit Healthcare.gov. You can also contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC at 502-896-2999, or through our website contact form.

Are You Underestimating Your Retirement Expenses?

From Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith, a recent AICPA survey revealed that over 50% of people underestimated their retirement expenses and the amount of money that they would need to be able to retire. According to the survey, the main cause for people having to change their retirement plans included overspending, health care costs, and poor estimates of retirement spending and income. According to the Journal of Accountancy, to increase clients’ confidence about investing, CPA financial planners who hold the PFS credential recommend that advisers take the following three steps.

1. Help clients create disciplined investing plans
2. Educate clients about the factors that cause volatility
3. Remind clients that stock market returns should be evaluated in terms of three-to-five-year cycles, not quarterly returns.

You can read more on this topic from this article at the Journal of Accountancy.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC at 502-896-2999. You can also contact us through our website contact form.

U.S. Treasury Launches myRA Program

From Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has just released this information on their new myRA program. The myRA (my Retirement Account) program is designed to help bridge America's retirement savings gap. This program is much needed because many Americans aren't making a large effort to put money into a savings account. A Survey in October by GOBankingRates found that 62% of Americans Have Under $1,000 in Savings. Luckily myRA has arrived to help us out, a simple, safe and affordable new savings option for those who don’t have access to a retirement savings plan at work. People can get information about myRA and sign up for an account at myRA.gov.

The program is now available nationwide with multiple ways for people to start saving:

• Paycheck. Set up automatic direct deposit contributions to myRA through an employer.
• Checking or savings account. Now savers can fund a myRA account directly by setting up recurring or one-time contributions from a checking or savings account.
• Federal tax refund. At tax time, direct all or a portion of a federal tax refund to myRA.

For more information about myRA or to sign up for an account, visit myRA. gov. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC at 502-896-2999. You can also contact us through our website contact form.

Understanding Your Form 1095-B, Health Coverage

From Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith, the IRS has just released the following information to help the public understand Form 1095-B.

"Form 1095-B, Health Coverage, is used to report certain information to the IRS and to taxpayers about individuals who are covered by minimum essential coverage and therefore aren't liable for the individual shared responsibility payment.

Minimum essential coverage includes government-sponsored programs, eligible employer-sponsored plans, individual market plans, and other coverage the Department of Health and Human Services designates as minimum essential coverage.

By January 31, 2016, health coverage providers should furnish a copy of Form 1095-B, to you if you are identified as the “responsible individual” on the form.

The “responsible individual” is the person who, based on a relationship to the covered individuals, the primary name on the coverage, or some other circumstances, should receive the statement. Generally, the recipient should be the taxpayer who would be liable for the individual shared responsibility payment for the covered individuals. A recipient may be a parent if only minor children are covered individuals, a primary subscriber for insured coverage, an employee or former employee in the case of employer-sponsored coverage, a uniformed services sponsor for TRICARE, or another individual who should receive the statement. Health coverage providers may, but aren't required to, furnish a statement to more than one recipient.

The Form 1095-B sent to you may include  only the last four digits of your social security number or taxpayer identification number, replacing the first five digits with asterisks or Xs. In general, statements must be sent on paper by mail or hand delivered, unless you consent to receive the statement in an electronic format.  The consent ensures that you will be able to access the electronic statement. If mailed, the statement must be sent to your last known permanent address, or, if no permanent address is known, to your temporary address."

If you have any questions or concerns, contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC at 502-896-2999. You can also contact us through our website contact form.

IRS, States, Industry Continue Progress to Protect Taxpayers from Identity Theft

From Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith, the Internal Revenue Service, state tax administrators and leaders of the tax industry announced today continued progress to expand and strengthen protections against identity theft refund fraud for the 2016 tax season.

The public-private sector partnership announced success in identifying and testing more than 20 new data elements on tax return submissions that will be shared with the IRS and the states to help detect and prevent identity-theft related filings. In addition, the software industry is putting in place enhanced identity requirements and validation procedures for their customers to protect accounts from identity thieves.

“This unprecedented partnership continues to put strong new safeguards in place for the 2016 tax season,” IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said. “We are breaking new ground in the battle against identity theft. Taxpayers will have more protection than ever when they file their tax returns.”
Known as the Security Summit, the unprecedented collaborative effort began in March and culminated in the development of several recommendations in June between the IRS, leaders of tax preparation and software firms, payroll and tax financial product processors and state tax administrators. Security Summit participants also identified additional topics for collaboration in the months ahead, and have continued to work together as a group to leverage their collective resources and efforts to protect taxpayers.

Koskinen and other leaders met in Washington, D.C., Tuesday to update the effort. To date, 34 state departments of revenue and 20 tax industry members have signed memorandums of understanding regarding roles, responsibilities and information sharing, with more expected to sign later.

As part of the Security Summit process, members from the IRS, states and industry are co-chairing and serving on several teams. The teams have focused on a number of areas including improved validation of the authenticity of taxpayers and information included on tax return submissions, increased information sharing to improve refund fraud detection and expand prevention, as well as more sophisticated threat assessment and strategy development to prevent risks and threats.

The industry and government groups identified numerous new data elements that can be shared at the time of filing with the IRS and states to help authenticate a taxpayer and detect identity theft refund fraud. There are more than 20 new data components that will help detect possible identity theft. The data will be submitted with the tax return transmission for the 2016 filing season, a step that will help detect and prevent refund fraud on both the federal and state level.

Another component will enhance identity validation for taxpayers using tax software. These stronger steps will protect taxpayer accounts by creating stronger verification of customers. This effort will include creation of security questions and device identity recognition at the time of log-on — both steps being used in the financial sector.

“We are taking new steps upfront to protect taxpayers at the time they file and beyond,” Koskinen said. “Thanks to the cooperative efforts taking place between the industry, the states and the IRS, we will have new tools in place this January to protect taxpayers during the 2016 filing season.”

In addition to the states and companies from the private sector, the summit team includes several groups including the Federation of Tax Administrators (FTA) representing the states, the Council for Electronic Revenue Communication Advancement (CERCA) and the American Coalition for Taxpayer Rights (ACTR). A wide variety of groups have also joined in supporting the summit effort, including Free File Inc., the National Association of Computerized Tax Processors, the Network Branded Prepaid Card Association and the Financial Services Roundtable.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC at 502-896-2999.

Taypayer Bill of Rights

If you've never seen this before, it's certainly worth reviewing again as we plow our way toward 4th Quarter. Brought to you by the tax professionals at Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith.

Each and every taxpayer has a set of fundamental rights they should be aware of when dealing with the IRS. Know your rights and understand the nation's obligations to protect them.

The Right to Be Informed
Taxpayers have the right to know what they need to do to comply with the tax laws. They are entitled to clear explanations of the laws and IRS procedures in all tax forms, instructions, publications, notices, and correspondence. They have the right to be informed of IRS decisions about their tax accounts and to receive clear explanations of the outcomes.

The Right to Quality Service
Taxpayers have the right to receive prompt, courteous, and professional assistance in their dealings with the IRS, to be spoken to in a way they can easily understand, to receive clear and easily understandable communications from the IRS, and to speak to a supervisor about inadequate service.

The Right to Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax
Taxpayers have the right to pay only the amount of tax legally due, including interest and penalties, and to have the IRS apply all tax payments properly.

The Right to Challenge the IRS’s Position and Be Heard
Taxpayers have the right to raise objections and provide additional documentation in response to formal IRS actions or proposed actions, to expect that the IRS will consider their timely objections and documentation promptly and fairly, and to receive a response if the IRS does not agree with their position.

The Right to Appeal an IRS Decision in an Independent Forum
Taxpayers are entitled to a fair and impartial administrative appeal of most IRS decisions, including many penalties, and have the right to receive a written response regarding the Office of Appeals’ decision. Taxpayers generally have the right to take their cases to court.

The Right to Finality
Taxpayers have the right to know the maximum amount of time they have to challenge the IRS’s position as well as the maximum amount of time the IRS has to audit a particular tax year or collect a tax debt. Taxpayers have the right to know when the IRS has finished an audit.

The Right to Privacy
Taxpayers have the right to expect that any IRS inquiry, examination, or enforcement action will comply with the law and be no more intrusive than necessary, and will respect all due process rights, including search and seizure protections and will provide, where applicable, a collection due process hearing.

The Right to Confidentiality
Taxpayers have the right to expect that any information they provide to the IRS will not be disclosed unless authorized by the taxpayer or by law. Taxpayers have the right to expect appropriate action will be taken against employees, return preparers, and others who wrongfully use or disclose taxpayer return information.

The Right to Retain Representation
Taxpayers have the right to retain an authorized representative of their choice to represent them in their dealings with the IRS. Taxpayers have the right to seek assistance from a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic if they cannot afford representation.

The Right to a Fair and Just Tax System
Taxpayers have the right to expect the tax system to consider facts and circumstances that might affect their underlying liabilities, ability to pay, or ability to provide information timely. Taxpayers have the right to receive assistance from the Taxpayer Advocate Service if they are experiencing financial difficulty or if the IRS has not resolved their tax issues properly and timely through its normal channels.

If you have questions, don't hesitate to contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith at 502-896-2999.

Is your small business growing?

That's the thing about small business. It's either growing or its dying!
If you're among the lucky ones - we all know it isn't just "luck" - your accounting needs are going to be changing as quickly as your business is growing.
That's why you should seek out the advice of one of Louisville's leading accounting firms, Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith.
They can help you plan the right financial strategies you're going to need to make sure your business is ready to meet the challenges that lie ahead.
Do something good for your business. Call Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith today. 502-896-2999.

Health Care Law Tax Provisions in Video

Employers and health coverage providers now have access to recorded webinars from IRS about the Affordable Care Act’s employer provisions and related tax requirements. If you are a business owner, tax manager, employee benefits manager, or health coverage provider, you can access and review these videos anytime to better understand how the health care law may affect your organization.

Each of the following ACA videos on the IRS Video Portal provides about 40 minutes of detailed information on the specific tax provision mentioned in the title.

Employer Shared Responsibility Provision

Learn about determining applicable large employer status, payments, and transition relief for 2015.

Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage Information Reporting Requirements for Applicable Large Employers (37 minutes)
Learn about employer-sponsored health coverage information reporting requirements for applicable large employers, including:

• who is required to report
• what information the law requires you to report
• how to complete the required forms

Information Reporting Requirements for Providers of Minimum Essential Coverage (35 minutes)
Learn about the information reporting requirements for providers of minimum essential coverage, including employers that provide self-insured coverage.  Learn about:

• who is required to report
• what information the law requires you to report
• how to complete the required forms

View the recorded webinars in the IRS Video Portal using one of the following tabs: Businesses, Tax Professionals, Governments and Non-Profits. After clicking on one of these tabs, simply select “Affordable Care Act” from the list of topics on the left side of the screen, and you will see a list of recordings about these and other ACA topics.

In addition to videos about the tax provisions of the Affordable Care Act on the IRS Video Portal, there is a wide range of videos on other tax topics for individuals, businesses and tax professionals.

For more information about the Affordable Care Act visit IRS.gov/aca or call your Louisville Tax Professionals at Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith, PLLC at 502-896-2999.

IRS Offers Tips for Starting a New Business

When you start a business, a key to your success is to know your tax obligations. You may need to not only know about tax rules but also on rules payroll tax.

Here are five tips IRS tax that can help make your business off to a good start.

Business structure. Need early to decide what type of structure will choose for your business.

Business tax. There are four general types of business taxes. These are: income tax, self-employment tax, employment tax and excise duties. In most cases, the types of taxes you pay your business depends on the type of business structure that you set. You may have to make payments of estimated taxes. If you do, use IRS Direct Pay to pay. It's fast, easy and secure way to pay for your checking or savings account so.

Employer Identification Number (EIN). You may need to get an EIN for federal tax purposes. Visit IRS.gov to find out if you need it and to apply online.

Method of accounting. An accounting method is a set of rules used to determine when to report income and expenses. You must use a consistent method. The two most common are the cash method and accrual method. Under the cash method, you generally report income and expenses deducted in the year they are received or paid. Under the accrual method, you generally report income and deduct expenses in the year in which the gains or incurred. This is true even if the income is earned or paid the expense in a year later.

Employee health care. The health tax credit for small businesses helps small businesses and tax-exempt organizations to pay for the health care coverage they offer their employees. A small employer is eligible for the credit if you have fewer than 25 employees working full time, or a combination of full time and part time. The maximum credit is 50 percent of the premiums paid by small business employers and 35 percent of premiums paid by small tax-exempt employers such as charities.

The provisions of the shared responsibility of the employer of the Health Care Act Affordable affect employers who employ at least a certain number of employees (usually 50 full-time employees or a combination of full- and time partial). These employers are called large employers applicable (ALE).

ALEs must offer minimum essential coverage for full-time employees (and their dependents), or potentially make a payment dela shared responsibility of the employer to the IRS. The vast majority of employers fall under the threshold number of employees of ALE and, therefore, not subject to the provisions of shared responsibility of employers.

Employers also have the responsibility to report the information in relation to the minimum essential coverage offered or provided to full-time employees. Employers must send reports to employees and the IRS about new forms that the IRS created for this purpose.

Get all the tax bases of starting a business on IRS.gov in the Small Business Center and the Center for self-employment taxes.

Tax Laws Slowing Growth of Small Business

In a recent testimony before Congress, Troy Lewis, CPA, CGMA, and chair of the American Institute of CPAs’ (AICPA) Tax Executive Committee, claimed that that compliance with federal tax laws can act as a road block in the growth of small businesses, according to Seth Fineberg, writing in Accounting Web.

 “It is imperative that small businesses and their tax return preparers have the ability to communicate with the IRS when preparing their taxes and addressing compliance issues,” Lewis told committee members. “However, there has been increasingly limited access to the agency. Taxpayer service must remain a high priority in order for small businesses to receive the assistance they need on tax issues.”

Click here to read the complete article.

Scam Phone Calls Continue; IRS Identifies Five Easy Ways to Spot Suspicious Calls

The Internal Revenue Service issued a consumer alert today providing taxpayers with additional tips to protect themselves from telephone scam artists calling and pretending to be with the IRS.

These callers may demand money or may say you have a refund due and try to trick you into sharing private information. These con artists can sound convincing when they call. They may know a lot about you, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. They use fake names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers. If you don’t answer, they often leave an “urgent” callback request.

“These telephone scams are being seen in every part of the country, and we urge people not to be deceived by these threatening phone calls,” IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said. “We have formal processes in place for people with tax issues. The IRS respects taxpayer rights, and these angry, shake-down calls are not how we do business.”

The IRS reminds people that they can know pretty easily when a supposed IRS caller is a fake. Here are five things the scammers often do but the IRS will not do. Any one of these five things is a tell-tale sign of a scam. The IRS will never:

1. Call to demand immediate payment, nor will we call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill..
   
2. Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
   
3. Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
   
4. Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
   
5. Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, here’s what you should do:

• If you know you owe taxes or think you might owe, call the IRS at 1.800.829.1040. The IRS workers can help you with a payment issue.
  
• If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to believe that you do, report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1.800.366.4484 or atwww.tigta.gov.
  
• You can file a complaint using the FTC Complaint Assistant; choose “Other” and then “Imposter Scams.” If the complaint involves someone impersonating the IRS, include the words “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

Remember, too, the IRS does not use unsolicited email, text messages or any social media to discuss your personal tax issue. For more information on reporting tax scams, go to www.irs.gov and type “scam” in the search box.

Additional information about tax scams are available on IRS social media sites, including YouTube and Tumblr where people can search “scam” to find all the scam-related posts.

Tax Tips for Students with Summer Jobs from Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith

Students often get a job in the summer. If it’s your first job it gives you a chance to learn about work and paying tax. The tax you pay supports your home town, your state and our nation. Here are some tips students should know about summer jobs and taxes:

• Withholding and Estimated Tax.  If you are an employee, your employer withholds tax from your paychecks. If you are self-employed, you may have to pay estimated tax directly to the IRS on set dates during the year. This is how our pay-as-you-go tax system works.
• New Employees.  When you get a new job, you will need to fill out a Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. Employers use it to figure how much federal income tax to withhold from your pay. The IRS Withholding Calculator tool on IRS.gov can help you fill out the form.
• Self-Employment.  Money you earn doing work for others is taxable. Some work you do may count as self-employment. These can be jobs like baby-sitting or lawn care. Keep good records of your income and expenses related to your work. You may be able to deduct (subtract) those costs from your income on your tax return. A deduction can cut taxes.
• Tip Income.  All tip income is taxable. Keep a daily log to report them. You must report $20 or more in cash tips in any one month to your employer. And you must report all of your yearly tips on your tax return.
• Payroll Taxes.  You may earn too little from your summer job to owe income tax. But your employer usually must withhold social security and Medicare taxes from your pay. If you’re self-employed, you may have to pay them yourself. They count for your coverage under the Social Security system.
• Newspaper Carriers.  Special rules apply to a newspaper carrier or distributor. If you meet certain conditions, you are self-employed. If you do not meet those conditions, and are under age 18, you may be exempt from social security and Medicare taxes.
• ROTC Pay.  If you’re in ROTC, active duty pay, such as pay you get for summer camp, is taxable. A subsistence allowance you get while in advanced training is not taxable.
• Use IRS Free File.  You can prepare and e-file your tax return for free using IRS Free File. It is only available on IRS.gov. 
• You may not earn enough money to be required to file a federal tax return. Even if that is true, you may still want to file. For example, if your employer withheld income tax from your pay, you will have to file a return to get a tax refund.

If you have more questions, or if you could use some advice, contact Neikirk, Mahoney & Smith PLLC, at (502) 896-2999.

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.

Most Suspicious IRS Audit Triggers

According to Accounting Today, the Minnesota Society of CPAs has compiled a list of red flags that could trigger an audit from the IRS if they apply to your clients' tax returns.

1. Misreporting Your Income
Always make sure your income on your Form W-2 and Form 1099 matches the reported income on your return.

2. Unusually High Charitable Deductions
You may raise some eyebrows if your charitable donations are well above average for your income range.

3. Unusually Low Salaries
The IRS takes a close look at S corporation compensation practices, particularly if the salary paid to a principal owner looks suspiciously low.

4. Your Social Security Number Is Wrong
Make sure you clearly write or carefully type your Social Security number to avoid added scrutiny over your hand-filed return, or the rejection of your e-filed return.

5. Claiming Losses from “Hobby” Activities
Certain types of businesses showing losses, such as horse racing or horse breeding, will often generate increased attention.

6. Claiming a Different Amount for Your Alimony Deduction or Alimony Income than Your Ex-spouse Claimed for the Corresponding Item This is easy pickings. You must report the Social Security number of your ex-spouse when you report your alimony deduction.

7. A Large Amount for Meals and Entertainment Expenses
Sizable meals and entertainment expenses for your type of business are common targets.

Retirees Face April 1 Deadline

Many Retirees Face April 1 Deadline to Take Required Retirement Plan Distributions
IR-2015-55, March 19, 2015 — The IRS today reminded taxpayers who turned 70½ during 2014 that in most cases they must start receiving required minimum distributions from Individual Retirement Accounts and workplace retirement plans by Wednesday, April 1, 2015.