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Did You File a Tax Extension? File Now to Get Your Health Insurance Advanced Premium Tax Credit Did you apply for an extension of time to file your 2015 federal taxes and receive an advanced premium tax credit to help you pay for your 2016 health insurance? If the answer is yes, the IRS urges you to file your 2015 taxes as soon as possible, in order to receive a timely advanced premium tax credit...

Self-employment can be hard, but if it was easy, everyone would do it, right? In an attempt to lighten your load and ease your burden, whether you are just trying to make the October 17 tax extension deadline, figuring out estimated taxes, or are gearing up for next tax season, take a look at these six tax tips for the self-employed and some of the most missed tax deductions. Work Expenses and...

In light of the flooding disaster that has struck our neighbors in Louisiana and left thousands in need of the basics, here are some donatable items that are also tax deductions: Furniture: Consider donating your couch or bed when you buy a new one, or perhaps finally get rid of the armchair that didn’t fit in your living room and now lives in the garage. Keep in mind, household goods must be in...

Taking the family along on a business trip this summer? Learn how to save on your taxes and take the tax deductions you’re entitled to on your working vacation. It’s tricky to mix, but with the right mindset and careful planning, you can take advantage of some travel related tax deductions for business. Working Vacations If you’re attending a business conference or meeting in another city and...

Every few years, radical ideas sweep across the internet and capture the interest of so many people. Most recently, there have been a plethora of stories about folks looking for a simpler life. For some, that simpler life is a tiny house where the upkeep is low, the costs are low, and you strip your residence down to the bare essentials. For others, it’s the allure of travel and living life in an...

It’s summertime, which means the IRS is busy sending out letters to taxpayers if there were issues processing the returns filed this spring. Receiving any correspondence from the IRS can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Check out these tips for what to do if you receive a letter from the IRS. Don’t panic. You can usually deal with a notice simply by responding to it. Most IRS notices...

Have you been using some help around the house? Hiring a babysitter or other house staff could be a luxury or a necessity. Regardless, this activity, under the right circumstances, could affect your taxes. If you hire a babysitter or other house staff, you may need to: Report the amount you paid to this employee to the IRS when you file your taxes. Pay employment taxes, income taxes, and...

Do you receive income from a foreign source? Are you a U.S. citizen or resident who works abroad? If you answered ‘yes’ to either of those questions, here are some tax tips to keep in mind about reporting foreign income: Report Worldwide Income. By law, U.S. citizens and residents must report their worldwide income. Be sure you’re reporting foreign income from foreign trusts and foreign bank and...

Most states and cities get a good portion of their operating revenue from sales taxes tagged onto just about everything you buy. But on the federal level, Uncle Sam lets taxpayers use those taxes to help reduce their IRS bills. The sales tax deduction is particularly welcomed by taxpayers in states that do not collect income taxes but do levy state sales taxes, like our own great state of Texas....

The Internal Revenue Service wants to remind taxpayers born before July 1, 1945, that they generally must receive payments from their individual retirement arrangements (IRAs) and workplace retirement plans by December 31. “The Special Rule” Known as required minimum distributions (RMDs), these payments normally must be made by the end of 2015. But a special rule allows first-year recipients of...