Anthony Sykes & Company

                 Everyone wants to be treated fairly. That is an essential quality that all people have. But what is fairness? Trying to answer that question can prove to be difficult for some. While fairness is impartial and just treatment without favoritism or discrimination, applying this principle is a challenge. Each person has their own idea of what is fair. That is certainly true when it comes to the current tax system.           The Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) is aware of that sentiment. After a year of review following the passing of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act funding, they are determined to make a change. These changes will focus attention on the wealthy, partnerships, and other high-income earners who in recent years have had a sharp reduction in audits. The IRS is planning to use Artificial Intelligence to detect patterns in tax avoidance and new threats. They will al...

            With the start of the new school year upon us, educators will want their students to have a complete classroom available to them. That might mean having some out-of-pocket expenses that are not reimbursed. If that’s the case, any principal, counselor, aide, or teacher who works at a K-12 school for at least 900 hours in a year can claim the Educator Expense Deduction . The current limit is $300, but that can be adjusted in the future based on inflation.           The qualifying costs can be related to books, supplies, and other materials used in the classroom. Equipment, including computer equipment and software can qualify. COVID-19 protective items used in the classroom would also apply. This can be claimed even if you use the standard deduction on your tax return. As a reminder, it is always best practice, especially when claiming a deduction, to keep good records which would include receip...

             Is your QuickBooks Online account safe? Most likely it is. There is a reason why they are the most popular cloud-based accounting software today. However, when something is popular with consumers, it is also popular with criminals looking to take advantage of any opportunity they can. Consider this real-life example of how we helped one of our clients recover from an account hack.           The following details indicate a very sophisticated hack and underscore the need to be vigilant when it comes to criminals trying to steal your money. The Administrator’s account was hacked, and the associated phone number was changed. A Payroll Core subscription plan was added. This allowed the thief to add fake contractor names and associated email addresses. That step is key because this meant W-9’s were emailed to the “contractors”, filled out, and signed via DocuSign and then added to the Administ...

          The Employee Retention Credit ( ERC ) is a tax credit for employers who kept paying employees while closed by government order or had a great decrease in income due to COVID-19. This is a credit that can only be claimed by certain businesses and organizations that had employees during specific time periods. With this set of criteria, the ERC is continuing to be the subject of a growing advertising campaign. Wild claims are being made about who can qualify for it.           The eligibility requirements should be considered closely. One sign of a scam is stating that the application process is easy, or that someone can find out if they are eligible for it in minutes. The ERC is noted for being a very complex credit. Scammers are trying to use this situation to steal personal information or run away with large upfront fees for work that will never take place. Dishonest promoters try to lure in victims ...

               On July 24, 2023, the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) stated that it was ending the general practice of making unannounced in-person visits to taxpayers. The IRS is working on a new strategic plan in line with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act last year. It is believed that this change will increase safety for revenue officers and taxpayers. There were tens of thousands of these types of visits each year. The goal was to help resolve delinquent tax matters.           In place of the visits, the IRS will send appointment letters and schedule meetings to deal with the tax problems. There will still be certain situations when unannounced visits will take place. This will be related to serving a summons or subpoenas and enforcement activity like seizure of property. If you want help in resolving a pressing tax issue, visit our website at help4yourtaxproblems.com .

              Until recently the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) had been encouraging many taxpayers to hold off on filing their tax returns. This is not because of a technical flaw, but there was a question that needed to be answered. Would state tax payments over the past year be taxable at the federal level? California is one of 21 states to provide such payments.           After discussion, it was determined that these payments would not need to be reported as income, and therefore not taxable. They will be viewed as payments for general welfare and disaster relief. This was a complex situation that had many questions for the IRS . One determining factor is that since the federal pandemic disaster declaration is ending in May 2023, there is no need to make an issue of these payments made in 2022. With that issue settled, please be sure to gather your important documents and prepare to file your t...

                 With the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) ready to accept tax returns, you may be wondering how to take advantage of an early start date. The best thing to do is use your time wisely. How can you do that?  The first thing you should do is to gather all of your necessary information. This is the time of year that tax information is arriving, so keep it organized and make copies to give to your Qualified Tax Professional . The earlier you start this process, the easier it will be. As a bonus, you will be less likely to be in a rush and have missing details that will prevent you from filing your tax return. If you are choosing a new Qualified Tax Professional , make appointments early to meet them and discuss your needs. The longer you wait, the less availability they will have. The best way to prepare for tax season is to gather your information and get your questions answered early.

             The tax season for this year has been established. As announced by the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ), the first day tax returns will be accepted is January 23 . The deadline to file is April 18 . However, in light of the recent devastating storms, many counties in California were declared federal disaster areas. How does this designation change things for the affected taxpayers?           As is often stated, this allows for federal funding to care for the practical needs of disaster victims. This also makes the way for federal agencies like the ( IRS ) to have the ability to adjust deadlines as circumstances dictate. In this case, the taxpayers that live in California counties that have been declared federal disaster areas, will have until May 15 to file federal individual and business tax returns. This also postpones any estimated tax payments. This allows for time to focus on what is needed now.

                 The tax season for this year has been established. As announced by the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ), the first day tax returns will be accepted is January 23 . The deadline to file is April 18 . After reflecting on the past 3 years, the IRS has taken steps to make improvements in the service it provides to taxpayers.           As part of the Inflation Reduction Act passed in August 2022, the IRS has hired 5,000 new employees. They will answer phone inquiries and provide in-person assistance. The date of January 23 was chosen to allow for training and needed updates to the software so IRS systems will work smoothly. Tuesday, April 18, 2023 will be the tax filing deadline in observance of Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia. Since there is more help available this year than in previous years, our next post will discuss how to best use our time in preparation f...