Tax Reform: What is the new “Other Dependent” Credit?

Under the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act guidelines, a taxpayer may be able to claim a $500 credit for household dependents that don’t meet the definition of a qualifying child or qualifying relative.  Provided that the individual has income of less than $4,150 and meets the

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1099-NEC: A New Way to Report Non-Employee Compensation

In July 2019, the IRS released a draft of form 1099-NEC, which is designed to report non-employee compensation.  While this may seem like a new form to many, it’s actually a revival of a form used until the early 1980’s, which was eventually replaced by form 1099-MISC.

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Uh-Oh; I Got an Audit Notice from the IRS. Now What?

If you receive an audit notice from the IRS, do not panic.  Just breathe! Read the letter in its entirety to see what they are auditing.  In many cases, it’s a great idea to hire a tax representation professional to deal with the audit, especially if it’s

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Could You Save on Taxes with a QOZ Investment?

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created a new tax incentive to defer (and possibly even eliminate) capital gains taxes by investing in a Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ). What is a Qualified Opportunity Zone? A Qualified Opportunity Zone is an economically distressed community. For an area to

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Is There Still a Marriage Tax Penalty?

The term “marriage penalty” in taxes refers to the situation that two people with the same income would pay more tax if they married and filed a joint return (MFJ) than if they stay single and file separately as single taxpayers. In order to avoid a marriage

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Do You Have Foreign Assets or Bank Accounts?

If you have a financial interest in or signature authority over a foreign financial account, including a bank account, brokerage account, mutual fund, trust, or other type of foreign financial account, exceeding certain thresholds, the Bank Secrecy Act may require you to report the account yearly to

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Tax Scams – Protect Yourself

There are many tax scams out there with the purpose of stealing your identity, stealing your money, or filing fraudulent tax returns using your private information. Tax scammers work year-round, not just during tax season, and target virtually everyone. Stay alert to the ways criminals pose as

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Depreciation Options Under the New Tax Law

When a business acquires an asset that will last longer than a year, the cost of the asset must be expensed over time to match the asset’s life instead of being deducted all at once. This treatment increases taxes in the short term, and the tax code

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