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Starting a business is one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have. However, the process is wrought with pitfalls for inexperienced entrepreneurs. Seeking advice from your Dallas accountant regarding entity selection and structure enhances your chances for long term success. Your accountant can act as a sounding board for your ideas and suggest courses of action. Entity Selection...

The impediments to same-sex marriages throughout the country are being washed away. This trend has continued in the wake of the landmark Supreme Court decision last year (Windsor v. U.S, No. 12-307, 6/26/13) invalidating Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). In the latest development on October 6, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear cases from five states — Indiana, Oklahoma,...

Don’t worry if you made a mistake on your tax return or forgot to claim a tax credit or deduction. Or maybe a financial institution sent out corrected 1099 statements for your investments. You can fix it by filing an amended return. Here are 10 tips that you should know about amending your federal tax return: 1. When to amend. You should amend your tax return if you need to correct your filing...

Are you, your spouse or a dependent heading off to college? If so, here’s a quick tip from the IRS: some of the costs you pay for higher education can save you money at tax time. Here are several important facts you should know about education tax credits: American Opportunity Tax Credit. The AOTC can be up to $2,500 annually for an eligible student. This credit applies for the first four years...

Earlier this week we talked about deducting expenses related to your hobby. In addition to business and/or hobby expenses, you may be able to deduct certain miscellaneous costs you pay during the year. Examples include employee expenses and fees you pay for tax advice. If you itemize, these deductions could lower your tax bill. Here are some things the IRS wants you to know about miscellaneous...

Millions of people enjoy hobbies that are also a source of income. Some examples include stamp and coin collecting, craft making, and horsemanship. You must report on your tax return the income you earn from a hobby. The rules for how you report the income and expenses depend on whether the activity is a hobby or a business. There are special rules and limits for deductions you can claim for a...

Going on a fun trip this summer where you’re planning to do some gambling? Whether you like to play the ponies, roll the dice or pull the slots, your gambling winnings are taxable. You must report all your gambling income on your tax return. If you’re a casual gambler, odds are good that these basic tax tips can help you at tax time next year: 1. Gambling income. Gambling income includes winnings...

As we are half way through the year, now is the best time to take action and avoid most common tax mistakes that small businesses make. Following are some of the best practices to help your business avoid tax trouble. Maintain Good Records Mid-year is an ideal time to examine your recordkeeping habits. Good recordkeeping not only allows you to monitor the progress of your business but also...

The IRS has been alerted to a new email phishing scam. The emails appear to be from the IRS and include a link to a bogus web site intended to mirror the official IRS web site. These emails contain the direction “you are to update your IRS e-file immediately.” The emails mention USA.gov and IRSgov, though notably, not IRS.gov (IRS-dot-gov). Don’t get scammed. These emails are not coming from the...

Taking money out early from your retirement plan may trigger an additional tax. Here are seven things from the IRS that you should know about early withdrawals from retirement plans: 1. An early withdrawal normally means taking money from your plan before you reach age 59½. 2. If you made a withdrawal from a plan last year, you must report the amount you withdrew to the IRS. You may have to pay...