Anthony Sykes & Company

                 While most people do, there are some who do not normally file a tax return. There are good reasons to check and see if you should file this year. For example, to claim any tax credit like the Child Tax Credit or the Earned Income Tax Credit ( EITC ) a tax return must be filed. This will determine if the taxpayer qualifies.           Something that is still relatively new is the Recovery rebate credit. This is a result of the Economic Impact Payments. If you qualified but did not receive your third stimulus payment last year, it can be claimed as a credit. This can only happen if you file a tax return and provide your income for 2021. This credit can reduce any taxes that you might owe, or it will be included in your total refund.

                 With a new Tax Season set to begin, we need to remember to take steps to protect ourselves from scam artists and criminals. For a certainty, they are adjusting and preparing to attempt to capture your personal information. We need to be aware of their current tactics and remain vigilant. Here are some basic points to keep in mind.           One common trick that they use is to make a phone call and impersonate a Franchise Tax Board ( FTB ) or Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) employee demanding a tax payment. If these agencies need to confirm details with you, the first step is always a letter mailed through the United States Postal Service. If a call is necessary, the employee will identify themselves, be courteous, and never demand immediate payment. They will never threaten to call the police, ask for gift cards, or try to find out your banking information. These are the hallmarks of criminal activity. If you receive a call like this, just hang up.           S

                 We now know that the filing season for 2022 will officially start in less than 2 weeks. What can we expect? We should be prepared for many challenges and frustrations, delays and difficulties. Why?           For one reason, it is no secret that the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) has had customer service issues and shortages for years. For example, last tax season the IRS was only able to answer about 10% of phone calls. That is not expected to improve. In fact, things can get worse due to budget cuts related to the current pandemic. They are also still to trying deal with some requirements like processing Economic Impact Payments ( EIP ) and advanced child tax credits.           As of November, the IRS still had almost 9 million tax returns left to process. That backlog is far greater than a normal year. It usually takes 3 weeks to process them. However, returns that are claiming credits must be held until mid-February before they are released. In addition, Tax

             It is now official that the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) will begin to accept and process tax returns on January 24, 2022 . To make this tax season go as smoothly as possible, it is strongly recommended that Taxpayers have all of their documents gathered ahead of time. This will allow them to file a complete return the first time and avoid processing delays.           Your Qualified Tax Professional can help you determine what documents are needed. With the stimulus and child credit payments in 2021, there is a greater need for keeping good records than before. Another important note is that the deadline for filing an individual tax return is April 18,  2022,  because Emancipation Day is observed in Washington D.C.

             Every year some are surprised by a large tax bill. It can often be resolved by adjusting the withholding on paychecks with the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) to avoid the same thing happening the next year. However, there are some who choose to pay their income tax on an estimated quarterly basis. Taxes are paid as you go during the year so either method works.           If that was the situation last year, and no action was taken, you can expect the same results. There may also be a penalty that comes with underpaying taxes. But there is a chance to avoid this. The last day to make a payment for the fourth quarter is January 18, 2022 . Making a payment by this date can cover a missed payment from 2021 and might lessen a possible penalty. Do not confuse this with the 2021 tax return, it’s too early for that. If you need to make a quarterly payment, don’t wait. It will reduce the stress of tax season which is coming soon. Talk to your Qualified Tax Professional to pre