Tax Planning Year Round

In this blog post, the IRS recommends ways to keep up with your taxes throughout the year so that when tax time approaches you’ll be prepared and not stressed. A few of the suggestions include, organizing tax records, adjusting check withholding, and saving for retirement. Read more here and start planning for next year’s tax season today. Tax planning doesn’t stop after a taxpayer files a tax return

Tax Season Delays

The IRS is understaffed and refunds may be delayed. Currently, the IRS has a workforce similar to that of the 1970s, 15,000 employees handle around 240 million calls during tax season, about 16,000 calls per employee. 90% of people file electronically helps the process and many in the remaining percentage would prefer filing online but cannot for various reasons including forms the agency does not yet process electronically. Reduced budgets and a decline in tax payer enforcement in recent years have led to concerns about a growing “tax gap.” Read more here: Treasury warns of ‘enormous challenges’ this tax filing season that could delay refunds

Go Paperless!

Ready to lose the piles, folders, and filing cabinets in your home office?  Now’s the time! Wirecutter recommends the Scanbot Pro Ap for Android and IOS to begin saving your paper files onto your phone and home computer.  One exciting feature is text recognition that will allow you to search for any word within each document.  Wirecutter also offers a list of shredders for when you no longer need the paper files, How to Go Paperless With Your Home Office.  Organizing these files into a specific folder and backing them up onto a thumb drive or other external hard drive is the final, important step.  They assure that you will be amazed during tax season when all of your documents are accessible at the touch of a button.

Tax Confusion?

What will the new tax bills mean for you?  At the moment it’s not quite clear.  Accountants and tax advisors everywhere are watching with bated breath as we approach the current tax season where these new laws will take affect.  The best advice in the article? Schedule your tax professional appointment early this year.

Confused by the Tax Bills? Be Glad You’re Not an Accountant

 

It’s Tax Day, Hug Your CPA

Tax-FormToday is one of the most stressful dates for many Americans.  April 15th, Tax Day brings all kinds of worries for those who have waited to complete their tax forms and not sought the help of a CPA.  On the other hand, accountants are just coming to the end of an extremely busy work season.  Maureen Schwartz offers a humorous view of living with a CPA during this time and how best to care for them.  Happy tax season and raise a glass to your and all CPAs in the US this monumental day!  The 10 simple rules of caring for your CPA this busy season