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Tax Tips for Federal Withholdings | W-4

Posted on April 28, 2022April 28, 2022 by Archie

The most common reason why you may not received a tax refund when filing your taxes is because your withholding is wrong. This applies to most W-2 filers only. Getting your withholding right enables you to receive a refund. Below is what the IRS suggest you do to ensure you have selected the correct withholding.

All taxpayers should review their federal withholding each year to make sure they’re not having too little or too much tax withheld. Doing this now can help protect against facing an unexpected tax bill or penalty in 2023. The sooner taxpayers check their withholding, the easier it is to get the right amount of tax withheld.

Taxpayers whose employers withhold federal income tax from their paycheck can use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to help decide if they should make a change to their withholding. This online tool guides users through the process of checking their withholding to help determine the right amount to withhold for their personal situation. Taxpayers can check with their employer to update their withholding or submit a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate.

Adjustments to withholding
Individuals should generally increase withholding if they hold more than one job at a time or have income from sources not subject to withholding. If they don’t make any changes, they may owe additional tax and possibly penalties when filing their tax return.

Individuals should generally decrease their withholding if they qualify for income tax credits or deductions other than the basic standard deduction.

Either way, those who need to adjust their withholding must prepare a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate. They need to submit the new Form W-4 to their employer as soon as possible since withholding occurs throughout the year.

Individuals who should check their withholding include those:

who experienced a marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of child, purchase of a new home or retirement
who are working two or more jobs at the same time or who only work for part of the year
who claim credits such as the child tax credit
with dependents age 17 or older
who itemized deductions on prior year returns
with other personal and financial changes

Tax Withholding Estimator benefits
The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator can help taxpayers:

determine if they should complete a new Form W-4.
know what information to put on a new Form W-4.
save time because the tool completes the form worksheets.

Taxpayers should prepare before using the Tax Withholding Estimator by having their most recent pay statements, information for other income sources and their most recent income tax return. The tool does not ask for sensitive information such as name, Social Security number, address, or bank account numbers.

Taxpayers shouldn’t use the Tax Withholding Estimator if:

They have a pension but not a job. They should estimate their tax withholding with the new Form W-4P.
They have nonresident alien status. They should use Notice 1392, Supplement Form W-4 Instructions for Nonresident Aliens.
Their tax situation is complex. This includes alternative minimum tax, long-term capital gains or qualified dividends. See Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax.

More information:
Tax Withholding Estimator FAQs

Accountant | Tax Preparer for Uber or Lyft Drivers

Posted on March 23, 2022May 6, 2023 by Archie

We came across this post on uberpeople.net and commented on it. The questions asked is below.

Discussion Starter · #1 · Oct 3, 2018

Any clues on how to find the best recordkeeping, tax filing advice? Key word search shows a lot of info on this from 2016. Bah-humbug. I’m thinking I might get a CPA’s help once, and see how they organize and arrange…and do my own work after. But maybe there are tax magicians to be found.

I save receipts and records, and am moderately educated on common deductions. I have been hammered with car expenses over and over and have not contacted the IRS at all this year (last year I did not earn enough to get a 1099 and just used TurboTax).

Perhaps I’m equipped to handle it on my own. I use Excel, although I’m kinda playing catch-up with logging everything and thinking my bookkeeping may not need to be as meticulous as I’m making it. I enter weekly earnings. I copy & paste fueling records from Speedway. I document mileage at every fill-up. My mileage is for sure 95% rideshare–maybe higher (I record exceptions)!

Not looking for app suggestions, by the way. I know the best rated ones and am not interested.

I’m not real big on traveling far from New Lenox/Mokena for help. But I suppose it’s a 1x or 2x consult and maybe there’s a real magician out there with Illinois-specific advice.

Here is our response:

Here is our advice. Coming from an Accountant, Tax Expert and a former Uber Driver.

Most of us drive ourselves to work and to other destinations. If we do not have a car, we use public transportation. There is a difference between driving yourself and driving as a Uber or Lyft driver.

Here is the difference

When we are driving ourselves, all we do is to sit at the wheel, turn on the engine and get going. We do not put any thoughts into what the rules of the road are. The rules are subconsciously programmed into our heads. That is, we start the engine and go to where ever we are heading. We stopped at the stop lights, stop signs, and signal left or right and get to where we want to go. That is so easy. It’s routine !!!

When I am driving for uber, I do much the same as above. The difference being is that I am more conscientious of the laws that governs driving. I tend to drive for Uber with my antenna up. I now know that have the responsibility of taking my passenger to his/her destination safely. The same applies to Do-it-Yourself taxes and have a Tax Expert do your taxes.

A Tax Professional is much more verse in the laws that govern preparing taxes. He or She can save you time and money. He or she has been trained to know what is allowable or not allowable. What is deductible or not deductible. For example, you can not say I made $50,000 driving and my expenses are $45,000. Like how do you support yourself? Are you married or single? What makes up the $45,000 allowable expenses?

That knowledge the Tax Preparer has comes from education, training and experience. You can not do taxes without knowing the ramifications and consequences of taking non-deductible expenses.

We can help you with your taxes.

We can help save you money and time.

We are Tax Experts. We are LA PREMIER Tax Service.

Call us (213) 418-9600 or set an appointment | FRIENDLY Tax Services (Accountants and Tax Preparers)

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What Is a Tax Accountant?

Posted on January 3, 2022January 7, 2022 by Archie

Ok. So, you ask what a tax accountant is. The short answer, a Tax Accountant is someone who has been train in preparing income tax returns and is an Accountant. Thus, the term Tax Accountant refer to someone that specialize in the tax laws, rules, and regulations.

Ideally, a Tax Accountant training must include any of the following.

An Attorney
CPA – Certified Public Accountant
Enrolled Agent
Tax Practitioner

These are the four categories of people the IRS considers preparing taxes and represent their clients. The list of people practicing before the IRS is much longer. See Publication 947 (02/2018), Practice Before the IRS and Power of Attorney | Internal Revenue Service

However, a Tax Accountant must know tax laws as well as General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Sixty percent (60%) of tax filing deals with tax laws and the other forty percent (40%) deals with accounting.

So then, a Tax Accounting is someone with adequate knowledge of tax laws as well as General Accepted Accounting Principles. These two qualities are not mutually exclusive.

Here’s What’s New and What to Consider When Filing in 2022

Posted on December 20, 2021February 14, 2022 by Archie

The IRS encourages taxpayers to get informed about topics related to filing their federal tax returns in 2022. These topics include special steps related to charitable contributions, economic impact payments and advance child tax credit payments. Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov/getready for online tools, publications and other helpful resources for the filing season.

Here are some key items for taxpayers to know before they file next year.

Changes to the charitable contribution deduction

Taxpayers who don’t itemize deductions may qualify to take a deduction of up to $600 for married taxpayers filing joint returns and up to $300 for all other filers for cash contributions made in 2021 to qualifying organizations.

Check on advance child tax credit payments

Families who received advance payments will need to compare the advance child tax credit payments that they received in 2021 with the amount of the child tax credit that they can properly claim on their 2021 tax return.

Taxpayers who received less than the amount for which they’re eligible will claim a credit for the remaining amount of child tax credit on their 2021 tax return.
Eligible families who did not get monthly advance payments in 2021 can still get a lump-sum payment by claiming the child tax credit when they file a 2021 federal income tax return next year. This includes families who don’t normally need to file a return.

In January 2022, the IRS will send Letter 6419 with the total amount of advance child tax credit payments taxpayers received in 2021. People should keep this and any other IRS letters about advance child tax credit payments with their tax records. Individuals can also create or log in to IRS.gov online account to securely access their child tax credit payment amounts.

Economic impact payments and claiming the recovery rebate credit

Individuals who didn’t qualify for the third Economic Impact Payment (STIMULUS) or did not receive the full amount may be eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit based on their 2021 tax information. They’ll need to file a 2021 tax return, even if they don’t usually file, to claim the credit.

Individuals will need the amount of their third economic impact payment and any plus-up payments received to calculate their correct 2021 recovery rebate credit amount when they file their tax return.

In early 2022, the IRS will send Letter 6475 that contains the total amount of the third economic impact payment and any plus-up payments received. People should keep this and any other IRS letters about their stimulus payments with other tax records. Individuals can also create or log in to IRS.gov online account to securely access their economic impact payment amounts.

More information: Tax Filing Made Easy

Reconciling Your Advance Child Tax Credit Payments on Your 2021 Tax Return

What is a CP53A IRS Letter?

Posted on November 26, 2021December 13, 2021 by Archie

Question: Why did I get a cp53a from the IRS if I didn’t file taxes for 2020 it came in my child name also her father filed not me?”

The IRS CP53A Letter means IRS tried to deposit your tax refund into your bank account but your bank cannot process the submission. The IRS will research your account but it will take 8-10 weeks to reissue your refund. The IRS maybe trying to get a hold of someone that’s why you are getting this letter

The letter usually ask you “please follow up your refund by calling IRS to this number 1-866-682-7451.”

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Category: Tax Preparation Service