In November of 2021, the Internal Revenue Service launched an improved identity verification and sign-in process that enables more people to securely access and use IRS online tools and applications. Taxpayers using this new mobile-friendly verification procedure can gain entry to existing IRS online services such as the: Child Tax Credit Update Portal, Online Account, …
A common question among parents is, “How might I save for a child’s post-secondary education in a tax beneficial way?” The answer depends on how much the education is expected to cost and how much time is left until the child heads off to college or a university or enters an apprenticeship program. The amount…
“Gig work” is the new “bankers’ hours.” Anyone who isn’t doing it wishes that they were, and those who are lucky enough to be freelancing know just how good it really is. But being a successful freelancer means more than making your own hours and having as much work as you want to do. It…
On November 19, 2021, the House of Representatives passed their proposed version of President Biden’s Build Back Better Act, which was substantially pared down from the original version. The Senate will now take up the legislation, and without question there will be changes. Then the Senate-altered version will have to go back to the House…
If you had to make a list of some of the most critical elements of running a business that most new entrepreneurs don’t think enough about until it’s far too late, bookkeeping would undoubtedly be right at the top. On a surface level, bookkeeping is simply the process of keeping accurate, thorough records of the…
When Congress established tax-favored retirement plans, they allowed taxpayers to take a tax deduction for the amount of their allowable contribution to the plans. But they also included a requirement for a portion of the funds to be distributed each year and be subject to income tax. Such a distribution is referred to as a…
Taxes are like vehicles in that they sometimes need a periodic check-up to make sure they are performing as expected, and if ignored, can cost you money. That is true of taxes as well, especially for 2021, as the pandemic benefits begin to wane and President Biden’s tax proposals loom. The following is a list…
We tend to fall into the same old patterns once we’ve learned how to make a computer application work for us. We learn the features we need and rarely venture beyond those unless we find we need the software or website to do more. QuickBooks Online is no exception. It makes its capabilities known through…
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS was getting refunds out swiftly and responded to calls and correspondence in a reasonable amount of time. However, COVID-19 brought about a perfect storm of delays, initially caused by employees having to stay home because lockdowns prevented processing centers from operating and workers from going to their offices. And…
For years, politicians have been talking about simplifying the process of filing federal taxes, but despite the promises, the process continues to be complicated and stressful. But as bad as preparing taxes can be, it pales in comparison to the sinking sensation of receiving an IRS notification telling you that you’ve done something wrong. The…
