There are few things worse that receiving a notice in the mail of an impending IRS audit. People tend to associate this uncomfortable process with the IRS finding mistakes and assessing bills for hundreds of dollars in penalties and fees. However, it does not have to go that way. There…
When someone, either an individual or a business, fails to submit a yearly tax return, the IRS uses the information that it has available to create one for them. After they do this, they’ll send out a proposed tax assessment, which includes the amount of money that they believe you…
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a number of temporary changes in the tax code, as well as several incentive programs designed to help small businesses stay afloat during this trying time. For example, one option, the Paycheck Protection Program offers loans to small businesses that need the funds to…
It seems at times as though the IRS is an all-knowing, all-powerful entity that no one can escape. You can’t run, and you can’t hide. They know how much money you make, how much you have in your bank and investment accounts, and even how much you won while playing…
Audits are not a welcomed entity in anyone’s eyes. So, if you’ve just received a notice informing you of an impending IRS audit and state audit, do not panic. In some cases, people or businesses are selected for an audit at random. In others, an IRS audit is triggered by…
Let us begin with a simple question: who prepares your taxes? Many individuals and small businesses attempt to go it alone to cut costs, which can be problematic in a few different ways. Many times, you do not have sufficient time to prepare the documentation properly, so you opt for shortcuts…
Winning money at a casino, sportsbook, or via the lottery is a rollercoaster ride with its inevitable up and downs. Yes, it is undeniably exciting to win and stash a little extra cash in your pocket. But the downside that many forget in the heat of the moment, is that you owe…
The IRS has estimated that U.S. taxpayers underpay their taxes by around $300 billion each year. Each taxpayer is responsible for calculating their own tax bill, but the IRS also uses other sources of information. It compares the information provided on taxpayer returns to that other information. If it finds…
Preparing a tax return can be a time-consuming process. It can also generate a considerable amount of paperwork. Even if you have gone “paperless,” tax records take up space on a computer or external drive that you might rather use for something fun, like family photos or video games. How…