Paycheck Protection Program If your business is in immediate need of cash, the federal government has rolled out several different programs to assist businesses, one of which is the Paycheck Protection Program. The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) is a federally guaranteed loan to businesses to pay their payroll and certain other operating expenses. PPP has […]
COVID-19 Tax Relief: Everything You Need to Know
The IRS and state governments have announced various COVID-19 tax relief programs due to the coronavirus. We’ll do our best to keep this page updated with the most up to date information. The IRS’s COVID-19 Tax Relief Announcements The IRS officially extended the deadline to file and pay your 2019 taxes until July 15, 2020, […]
How Long Does an IRS Audit Typically Take?
The IRS has three years from the due date of a return or when you actually file the return to audit you. Most audits are completed in under a year, but they can sometimes take longer. Bear in mind that three years is the limit under normal circumstances. If you excluded more than 25% of […]
The Four Types Of Tax Audits Explained
Although everyone dreads the prospect of a tax audit, they’re a rare occurrence. In 2018, the IRS audited an estimated 1 million returns, which is only 0.5% of all returns filed the year before. Situations that can trigger a tax audit include: Miscalculations on any of your personal or business tax return Claiming a high […]
Estimated Tax Payment Penalties- How It Works
Last March, attorney Michael Avenatti, who is best remembered for his representation of actress Stormy Daniels, proved that failure to make estimated tax payments is a bad idea. In addition to being charged with providing false tax returns for 2011-13 in order to receive $4.1 million in loans, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles […]
Understanding the IRS Collections Process
Like most creditors, the IRS will act on its right to collect taxes that you owe. In the beginning, its collection process is similar to what you may have encountered with an overdue credit card or utility bill: you get a Notice and Demand for Payment (also known as a CP501 notice) in the mail […]
How And When To Get A Tax Extension in 2020
For most people, the deadline for paying taxes on income earned in 2019 will be April 15, 2020. If you have a more complicated return or just need extra time collecting the documentation needed to complete and send it, you have to file an extension with the IRS by April 15 or face interest and […]
How To Stop IRS Wage Garnishment
When you owe money to the IRS, you’ll quickly learn that it has collection resources that outstrip any other creditor. The government has the authority to garnish your wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, and other forms of income without getting a court order first. It can also take more of your money than a regular creditor […]
IRS Now Targeting Cryptocurrency Owners
Many people invest in digital currencies like Bitcoin, LiteCoin, and Etherium but they don’t always reveal their gains at tax time. According to Fortune, only a tiny percentage of cryptocurrency owners have been reporting profits and losses on their yearly returns. After examining the 2013 to 2015 tax returns of Bitcoin buyers, the IRS found […]
Do You Have to File Delinquent Returns for All Missing Years?
People fail to file their personal or business tax returns on time for a variety of reasons. You may not have the money when your return comes due, or you could be struggling with a prolonged and debilitating health condition that leaves you unable to cope with daily life, let alone your tax obligations. Whatever […]
What is FATCA?
Do you have a foreign bank account? If so, you’ve probably received correspondence from your bank advising you that they will be providing your financial information to the IRS. When foreign governments sign the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) agreements with the United States, these notices always follow to U.S. bank account holders. The […]
Tax Preparer Misconduct: What to Do
Few people have the time, experience, or inclination to navigate the often-complicated federal and state tax forms. Instead, they rely on professional tax preparer misconduct to complete and submit their personal and business returns. Unfortunately, there are tax preparers who abuse the trust placed in them. They attempt to secure a higher refund for you […]
How to Request an IRS Audit Reconsideration
Has the IRS audited one of your tax returns and determined that your tax liability is bigger than you presented? Or did it create a return for you after you filed to file and present you with a large tax bill? In either case, you can challenge the result by requesting an IRS audit reconsideration. […]
What is an IRS Enforced Collection Action?
When people joke about the IRS breathing down their throat, they’re usually talking about an enforced collection action. When it comes to claiming overdue taxes, the IRS has a wide repertoire of collection tools, the most dreaded of which are liens and levies that garnish your wages, seize the contents of your bank account, and […]
Appealing an IRS Audit
You know that the IRS can audit a person or a business for any number of reasons. What you may not be aware of is that you don’t have to accept the government’s conclusions as to the final say on whether or not you owe back taxes. You can appeal an IRS audit in the […]
IRS Scams: A Complete List
Each year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) releases its list of the “dirty dozen,” which it bills as the worst of the worst tax scams. While many of these scams relate to taxpayers attempting to defraud the federal government by abusing tax law or failing to report income, others involve an increasing problem in the […]
Why Do the Self-Employed Have Higher Audit Risks?
Yes, it’s true. If you forgo traditional employment in favor of the American Dream, you have a higher chance of being noticed by Uncle Sam- and not in a good way. The Internal Revenue Service has many agendas, but a top one is collecting unpaid taxes from self-employed people. The IRS believes that this group […]
Can the IRS Cancel Your Passport?
In January 2018, the IRS implemented more aggressive collection measures for people with what it described as “seriously delinquent” tax debts. This change, which applies to those who owe over $52,000, appeared as part of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, can result in revocation of your passport. According to CBS News, the State […]
Can You Go to Jail for Not Paying Your Taxes?
One of the most common questions we receive is, “Can you go to jail for not paying taxes?’” While jail is not the default consequence for unpaid taxes, it is possible. Most famously, on October 17, 1931, Judge James H. Wilkerson sentenced Chicago gangster Al Capone to 11 years in federal prison for income tax […]
How Will A Government Shutdown Affect My NJ Tax Refund?
From December 22, 2018, until January 25, 2019, the U.S. federal government was partially shut down. Now that it’s ended, the leading question for many New Jersey residents seems to be “When will I get my tax refund?” The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was among the government agencies impacted by the closure. It retained approximately […]
