Tax Preparation Archives - Robert J. Kratz & Co.

Instructions on How to E-file a Federal and PA Tax Return

February 24 2023 RgKAdmin14 Tax Tips, Tax Preparation 0 comments

Both Pennsylvania and the federal government give individual taxpayers the option to file their taxes electronically, also known as E-filing.

There are a few benefits to E-filing your tax returns, including:

Faster because it is electronically transmitted directly to the taxing authorities’ computer system
Safer because the filing cannot get lost in the mail
More secure
More convenient, you don’t have to wait on line at the post office if you are too close to the filing deadline
If your E-file submission is rejected, then the IRS will email the filer with a link you can use to see an explanation and resolve the issue

Click here for instructions on how to E-file a Federal Tax Return

Click her for instructions on how to E-file a PA Tax Return

This blog provides summary information regarding the subject matter at the time of publishing. Please call our office at 610-296-2500 if you have questions on how E-filing works. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. All rights reserved.

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It’s Tax Time! Tips to Get Organized

January 16 2023 RgKAdmin14 Tax Tips, Tax Preparation 0 comments Tags: Preparing for Tax Season

It may be the beginning of a new year, but now is the time to recap the previous year for Uncle Sam. Here are some tips and a checklist to help get you organized.

Watch for your tax forms.Forms W-2, 1099, and 1098 will start hitting your inbox or mailbox in the next couple of weeks. Review last year’s records and create a checklist of the forms to make sure you get them all.
Collect your tax documents using this checklist. Using a tax organizer or last year’s tax return will help you in the process. Sort your tax records to match the items on your tax return. Here is a list of the more common tax records:
- Informational tax forms (W-2s, 1099s, 1098s, 1095-A) that disclose wages, interest income, dividends and capital gain/loss activity
- Other forms that disclose possible income (jury duty, unemployment, IRA distributions and similar items)
- Business K-1 forms
- Social Security statements
- Mortgage interest statements
- Tuition paid statements
- Property tax statements
- Mileage log(s) for business, moving, medical and charitable driving
- Medical, dental and vision expenses
- Business expenses
- Records of any asset purchases and sales, including cryptocurrency
- Health insurance records (including Medicare and Medicaid)
- Charitable receipts and documentation
- Bank and investment statements
- Credit card statements
- Records of any out of state purchases that may require use tax
- Records of any estimated tax payments
- Home sales (or refinance) records
- Educational expenses (including student loan interest expense)
- Casualty and theft loss documentation (federally declared disasters only)
- Moving expenses (military only)

If you aren’t sure whether something is important for tax purposes, retain the documentation. It is better to save unnecessary documentation than to later wish you had the document to support your deduction.

Clean up your auto log.You should have the necessary logs to support your qualified business miles, moving miles, medical miles and charitable miles driven by you. Gather the logs and make a quick review to ensure they are up to date and totaled.
Coordinate your deductions.If you and someone else share a dependent, confirm you are both on the same page as to who will claim the dependent. This is true for single taxpayers, divorced taxpayers, taxpayers with elderly parents/grandparents, and parents with older children.

With proper organization, your tax filing experience can be timely and uneventful.

This blog provides summary information regarding the subject matter at the time of publishing. Please call our office at 610-296-2500 with any questions on how this information may impact your situation. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. All rights reserved.

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TIPS FOR REDUCING YOUR 2022 FEDERAL TAX BILL

December 04 2022 RgKAdmin14 Tax Tips, Tax Preparation 0 comments

2022 Tax Tips for an Individual

We are alwlays looking ahead to the new year, which means it’s time to think about things you can do to reduce your 2022 federal tax bill. It looks like planning for income taxes may be a little simpler this year than in the past few years.

Lookfor Ways to Defer Taxable Income. Deferring taxable income (which includes accelerating deductions) when it makes sense is a good idea in an inflationary environment.
Evaluate Your Investment Assets with an Eye Toward Selling. Look at your investment portfolio to see if selling before year-end makes tax sense. If you have recognized capital losses this year (or have capital loss carryovers from previous years), you can use those losses to shelter 2022 capital gains.
Bunch Itemized Deductions to Maximize Their Value.You can deduct the greater of your itemized deductions (mortgage interest, charitable contributions, medical expenses, and taxes) or the standard deduction. For 2022, the standard deduction is $25,900 for joint filers, $19,400 for HOH, and $12,950 for single taxpayers. If your total annual itemizable deductions for 2022 will be close to your standard deduction amount, consider bunching your expenditures so that they exceed the standard deduction in one year, and then use the standard deduction in the following year.
Make Your Charitable Giving Plans.Donor-advised funds allow donors to make a charitable contribution to a specific public charity or community foundation that uses the assets to establish a separate fund to receive grant requests from charities seeking distributions from the advised fund. If you donate appreciated assets to a public charity, you can deduct the full fair market value of the donated asset. If you are age 70½ or older, consider a direct transfer from your IRA to a charity [known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)]. While you will not be able to claim a charitable donation for the amount transferred to the charity, the QCD does count toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD).
Evaluate Intra-family Loans.You can lend money to relatives without any tax consequences if you charge interest at least equal to the Applicable Federal Rate (AFR), which is published by the IRS monthly. The AFR is typically lower than what commercial lenders offer, thus allowing the borrower to save money on interest expense. Making intra-family loans is still an attractive option, but it’s important to be sure you are charging a rate that won’t create a taxable gift, unless that is your intention.
Take Advantage of the Annual Gift Tax Exclusion. The basic estate, gift, and generation skipping transfer tax exclusion is scheduled to fall from $12.06 million ($24.12 million for married couples) in 2022 to $5 million ($10 million for married couples) in 2026. For 2022, you can make annual exclusion gifts up to $16,000 per donee, with no limit on the number of donees.

If you own a business, consider the following strategies.

Maximize Retirement Plan Contributions.You can make deductible contributions to several types of retirement plans, while earnings in the plan accumulate tax-free until they are withdrawn. For example, if you’re self-employed and set up a SEP-IRA, you can contribute up to 20% of your self-employment earnings, with a maximum contribution of $61,000 for 2022. If you’re employed by your own corporation, up to 25% of your salary can be contributed with a maximum contribution of $61,000. Other small business retirement plan options include the 401(k) plan (which can be set up for just one person), the defined benefit pension plan, and the SIMPLE-IRA. Be aware that if your business has employees, you may have to cover them too.
Plan Your Business Asset Purchases. The bonus depreciation rate is scheduled to drop from the current 100% deduction to 80% of the cost of qualified property placed in service after 2022. So, placing a qualified asset in service by the end of 2022, rather than waiting until 2023, can have a big impact since you will be able to deduct the entire cost of that asset this year. Some assets that don’t qualify for bonus depreciation are eligible for Section 179 expensing. For qualifying property placed in service in tax years beginning in 2022, the maximum Section 179 deduction is $1.08 million.
Take Advantage of Larger Deductions for Business Meals.Normally, the deduction for business meals is limited to 50% of the meal’s total cost. However, the cost of food and beverages provided by a restaurant that is paid or incurred in 2022 is 100% deductible (assuming the meal qualifies as a business meal). If you use the per diem method to reimburse employees for business expenses, you can treat the entire meal portion of the per diem rate paid or incurred in 2022 as being attributable to food or beverages provided by a restaurant, making the meal per diem 100% deductible.

This blog covers some of the year-end tax planning moves that could potentially benefit you, your family, and your business. Please contact us at 610-296-2500 if you have questions, want more information, or would like us to help in designing a year-end planning package that delivers the best tax results for your particular circumstances.

This blog provides summary information regarding the subject matter at the time of publishing. Please call our office at 610-296-2500 with any questions on how this information may impact your situation. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. All rights reserved.

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It’s Time to Hire a CPA: What You Need to Do

August 23 2022 RgKAdmin14 Tax Tips, Tax Preparation 0 comments Tags: what you should expect from CPA, Prepare to meet with accountant

Do you get anxious or stressed when tax time rolls around? If you have never worked with a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for tax preparation, now may be the time to consider it. With the ever changing tax laws you may be missing out on important deductions. Starting the process in August rather than waiting until next year may save you from headaches.

What should you expect of a CPA?

First and foremost, expect your accountant to file your tax return accurately and on time. Reputable accountants do more than complete and file your return; they also represent you if an audit is requested by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and they keep electronic copies of your tax return.

How should you prepare to meet with an accountant?

Preparation is key to a successful first meeting. You may want to arrange a phone call before your first in person meeting.

Begin by asking for a breakdown of the fees you may incur. Some fees are optional, so choose those you need and/or what makes you most comfortable.
You should tell the accountant what documents you have and ask what else, if anything, you need to bring to the meeting.
With what you need in-hand, ask if there is a particular way to organize your documents that will make tax preparation easier and filing faster?

Now that you know what you need and how to organize it, schedule an in-person meeting.

How long should you keep your tax return and supporting documents?

According to the IRS you should:

Keep records for 3 years if situations (4), (5), and (6) below do not apply to you.
Keep records for 3 years from the date you filed your original return or 2 years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later, if you file a claim for credit or refund after you file your return.
Keep records for 7 years if you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction.
Keep records for 6 years if you do not report income that you should report, and it is more than 25% of the gross income shown on your return.
Keep records indefinitely if you do not file a return.
Keep records indefinitely if you file a fraudulent return.
Keep employment tax records for at least 4 years after the date that the tax becomes due or is paid, whichever is later.¹

The Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General reminds people

“to safeguard “paperwork that includes personal and financial information – like your tax returns and forms – to protect you from identity theft.

Keep tax paperwork in a safe location.
Shred any documents that are no longer needed.
If you are filing online, make sure you have an updated firewall, antivirus and spyware software installed on your computer.
Do not leave tax documents in an open outgoing mailbox. Take them directly to the Post Office or mailbox.”

When you use a CPA some of these concerns will be moot. He/she will be responsible for either filing online or mailing your returns.

When your taxes are completed your tax return and all related documents will be returned to you. Keep them filed together in a safe place. They will help you:

Prepare for the following tax year. Although your accountant keeps electronic files of your return, you should keep all your supporting documents for the designated amount of time as outlined above.
In case they are required by a lending organization as proof of income for a loan.
If you or your child is applying for federal student aid by filing a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
If you need to file an amendment within three years.

This blog provides summary information regarding the subject matter at the time of publishing. Please call our office at 610-296-2500 with any questions on how this information may impact your situation. Remember, call our office to learn what you need to prepare for your 2022 taxes.

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/how-long-should-i-keep-records#:~:text=Keep%20records%20for%203%20years%20from%20the%20date%20you%20filed,securities%20or%20bad%20debt%20deduction

https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/protect-yourself/consumer-advisories/do-you-have-any-tax-preparation-advice/

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I Owe Tax on That?

March 14 2022 RgKAdmin14 Tax Tips, Tax Preparation 0 comments Tags: Gambling tax deductions, scholarship and financial aid taxes, gambling taxes, unemployment tax, Social Security benefits taxes, alimony taxes

5 Surprising Taxable Items

Wages and self-employment earnings are taxable, but what about the random cash or financial benefits you receive through other means? If something of value changes hands, you can bet the IRS considers a way to tax it. Here are five taxable items that might surprise you:

Scholarships and financial aid. Applying for scholarships and financial aid are top priorities for parents of college-bound children. But be careful — if any part of the award your child receives goes toward anything except tuition, it might be taxable. This could include room, board, books, travel expenses or aid received in exchange for work (e.g., tutoring or research).

Tip: When receiving an award, review the details to determine if any part of it is taxable. Don’t forget to review state rules as well. While most scholarships and aid are tax-free, no one needs a tax surprise.

Gambling winnings. Hooray! You hit the trifecta for the Kentucky Derby. But guess what? Technically, all gambling winnings are taxable, including casino games, lottery tickets and sports betting. Thankfully, the IRS allows you to deduct your gambling losses (to the extent of winnings) as an itemized deduction, so keep good records. For more detailed information about gambling and taxes check out last month’s blog: https://robertjkratz.com/court-is-in-session-notable-tax-court-cases/

Tip: Know when the gambling establishment is required to report your winnings. It varies by type of betting. For instance, the filing threshold for winnings from fantasy sports betting and horse racing is $600, while slot machines and bingo are typically $1,200. But beware, the gambling facility and state requirements may lower the limit.

Unemployment compensation. Congress gave taxpayers a one-year reprieve in 2020 from paying taxes on unemployment income. Unfortunately, this tax break did not get extended for the 2021 tax year. So unless Congress passes a law extending the 2020 tax break, unemployment will once again be taxable starting with your 2021 tax return.

Tip: If you are collecting unemployment, you can either have taxes withheld and receive the net amount or make estimated payments to cover the tax liability.

Social Security benefits. If your income is high enough after you retire, you could owe income taxes on up to 85% of the Social Security benefits you receive.

Tip: Consider if delaying when you start collecting Social Security benefits makes sense for you. Waiting to start benefits means you’ll avoid paying taxes on your Social Security benefits for now, plus you’ll get a bigger payment each month you delay until you reach age 70.

Alimony Deductable. Prior to 2019, alimony was generally deductible by the person making alimony payments, with the recipient generally required to report alimony payments received as taxable income. Now the situation is flipped: For divorce and separation agreements executed since December 31, 2018, alimony is no longer deductible by the payer, and alimony payments received are not reported as income.

Tip: Alimony payments no longer need to be made in cash. Consider having the low-income earning spouse take more retirement assets such as 401(k)s and IRAs in exchange for reduced alimony payments. This arrangement would allow the higher-earning spouse to make alimony payments by transferring retirement funds without paying income taxes on it.

When in doubt, it’s a good idea to keep accurate records so your tax liability can be correctly calculated, and you don’t get stuck paying more than what’s required.

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Get a Jump On Your Taxes

October 28 2021 RgKAdmin14 Tax Preparation 0 comments

This year, 2021, may again prove to be challenging relative to your taxes. Preparing for taxes early can not only save you time, but it may also save you money.

FEMA dollars provided to you due to Hurricane Ida damages, other government benefits, unemployment benefits, or working multiple jobs (several examples) may complicate your taxes. There are formerly temporary deductions that have been made permanent, as in medical deductions. According to the New York Times, there is now “a lower threshold for deducting medical expenses. You can continue to deduct unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of their income, instead of 10 percent. To take the deduction, filers must itemize.”

If you have had anything unusual occur that you believe may impact your taxes, preparing your taxes in advance is vitally important. Along with your tax advisor at Robert J. Kratz, you can get things rolling and ensure your taxes are filed on time, without the concern of late filing penalties.

You may find the following checklist helpful.

Let’s start with your basic information:

Name and full address
The names and relationships of all family members
Social Security numbers for all family members
Your filing status, i.e. Married, Single, Head of Household, and so on.

Next, you need your income documentation:

W2s
1099s
Unemployment benefit statements
Social Security benefit statements
Rental property income
Documentation of any other income you received
Alimony
Other business-related income

Now that you have established your income, you can take a look at your possible deductions:

IRA contributions
IRA withdrawals
Mortgage Interest
Real estate taxes
Any other taxes, i.e. city, township, earned income tax
Charitable contributions (cash, miles driven, other donations, etc. – political contributions are not tax-deductible
Medical expenses (including insurance premiums if substantial after-tax premiums paid)
Unreimbursed employee expenses (personal expenses paid for business, job search costs, uniforms, etc.)
Child and/or dependent care expenses
Business use of home expenses (square footage of office, not square footage of house)

Finally, make a list of any questions you have about possible deductions.

This blog provides summary information regarding the subject matter at the time of publishing. Please call our office at 610-296-2500 with any questions on how this information may impact your situation. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed without permission, except as noted here. This blog includes or may include links to third-party Internet websites controlled and maintained by others. When accessing these links the user leaves this blog. These links are included solely for the convenience of users and their presence does not constitute any endorsement of the Websites linked or referred to nor does ROBERT J KRATZ & CO have any control over, or responsibility for, the content of any such Websites. All rights reserved.

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Category Archives: Tax Preparation