It's important to think about hurricanes, tornadoes, and other disasters so you're prepared in case they happen. This includes safeguarding your tax forms and other financial records. First, you could take advantage of electronic record keeping. See if you can receive your bank statements and related documents by email. For paper documents such as W-2s and [...]
If you think filing invoices, tracking expenses, and keeping records isn't that important, think again. Come tax time, the IRS doesn't allow you to "casually" do taxes. If you forgot to keep good records so far, the IRS does allow you to reasonably reconstruct figures and provide receipts. Tax preparer due diligence must-do's include asking the [...]
Things aren't always as they seem. In this episode of Tax Tales: The Case of the Unclear Aunt, does Aunt Joan qualify for the EITC? The preparer must take a closer look at Aunt Joan's AGI and whether the tie-breaker rules apply to determine if she can claim the EITC.
All tax preparers must practice due diligence, especially when it comes to the EITC, or they could be fined $500. Their clients could be fined as well. EITC eligibility is complicated. An updated version of Form 8867, the paid preparer's checklist, is worth reviewing in every situation. If tax preparers complete and submit the form with [...]
Think you can claim the Earned Income Tax Credit for having a disabled child? You may need to think again. Tax law says you can only claim the EITC for a disabled child if s/he's disabled for more than 12 months. However, the caregiver of a disabled child may qualify for a smaller credit just for [...]
