Anthony Sykes & Company

          The Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) knows that people are looking to make contributions and charitable donations this time of year. In fact, they want to support this effort, as many individuals and businesses are still trying to recover. Certain temporary tax changes have been extended to the end of the year.           Deductions. Normally if a taxpayer were to use the Standard Deduction, they would not be able to deduct a charitable contribution. The law now allows for a deduction of up to $300 for a single individual. For a business, the limits of what can be claimed as a charitable donation in cash or food have changed as well. It varies depending on the type of business you have, and the increase in limits is not automatic. To find out what you can do before the end of the year, make an appointment with your Qualified Tax Professional .

             For those who have filed a tax extension, the time to file will arrive soon. At this point, you may be considering hiring a Tax Preparer. The Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) wants to make sure that you hire the most qualified individual to care for your needs in this area. This is especially important considering that the taxpayer is always responsible for what is in the tax return, no matter who files it.           Not all tax preparers are the same, pick one that fits your needs. There are a few things you can look for. Make sure your preparer offers the ability to e-file . This is the preferred method of the IRS and it makes filing so much simpler. Make sure the preparer includes their Preparer Tax Identification Number . All paid tax preparers must sign and put their PTIN on every tax return they work on. Ask about fees . Make sure they are clear about their fees. Stay away from t...