Are you thinking about opening a new business? Here are a few tips to consider beforehand.
1. This credit – still available for 2010 – equals 6.2 percent of a taxpayer’s earned income. The maximum credit for a married couple filing a joint return is $800 and $400 for other taxpayers.
2. Eligible self-employed taxpayers can benefit from the credit by evaluating their expected income tax liability and, if they are eligible, by making the appropriate adjustments to the amounts of their estimated tax payments. (more…)
The Internal Revenue Service issues a list of the top 12 tax scams each year – known as the Dirty Dozen. The scams are illegal and can lead to problems for taxpayers including significant penalties, interest and possible criminal prosecution. These scams don’t just happen during the tax filing season, they can happen anytime during the year. Here are five scams from the 2010 Dirty Dozen list every taxpayer should be aware of this summer. (more…)
Planning what to do in case of a disaster is an important part of being prepared. The Internal Revenue Service encourages taxpayers to safeguard their records. Some simple steps can help taxpayers protect financial and tax records in case of disasters.
Listed below are tips for individuals on preparing for a disaster. (more…)
School’s out and many students now have a summer job. Some students may not realize they have to pay taxes on their summer income. Here are the six things the IRS wants everyone to know about income earned while working a summer job.
Did you know that you may be able to deduct some of your job search expenses on your tax return?
Many taxpayers spend time during the summer months updating their résumé and attending career fairs. If you are searching for a job this summer, you may be able to deduct some of your expenses on your tax return. Here are six things the IRS wants you to know about deducting costs related to your job search. (more…)
Did you know that your summer day care expenses may qualify for an income tax credit? Many parents who work or are looking for work must arrange for care of their children under 13 years of age during the school vacation. Those expenses may help you get a credit on next year’s tax return.
Here are five facts the IRS wants you to know about a tax credit available for child care expenses. The Child and Dependent Care Credit is available for expenses incurred during the lazy hazy days of summer and throughout the rest of the year. (more…)
Starting July 1, 2010, many businesses offering tanning services must collect a 10 percent excise tax on the tanning services they provide. This excise tax requirement is part of the Affordable Care Act that was enacted in March 2010. (more…)
Our beloved Congress has granted nice tax breaks for some transportation-related employee fringe benefits. Several of these breaks are intended to encourage you to give up your evil, gas-guzzling, pollution-spewing vehicle when commuting to work. If your employer offers these tax-favored fringes, you should probably take advantage. After all, you might not be able to find much gasoline at any price after our entire oil supply winds up in the Gulf of Mexico
On June 30, Congress passed H.R. 5623, the Homebuyer Assistance Improvement Act of 2010. The Act, which is now cleared for the President’s signature, provides first-time homebuyer credit relief to taxpayers who couldn’t meet a key June 30, 2010, closing date.
Under prior law, both the regular Code 36 first-time homebuyer credit of $8,000 and the reduced credit of $6,500 for long-term residents generally expired for homes purchased after Apr. 30, 2010. However, if a written binding contract to purchase a principal residence was entered into before May 1, 2010, the credit could be claimed if the purchase closed before July 1, 2010. (more…)
