W-2s and 1099s Due Monday!

If you have employees or independent contractors, you only have a few days left to prepare and issue W-2s and 1099s for them.  January 31 is the official due date, but since it falls on a Saturday this year, you have until Monday February 2 to complete your forms.

Just to be clear, employees get Form W-2, independent contractors get Form 1099-MISC reporting their income.

Since most of the people visiting this blog are more likely to have independent contractors than employees, we will focus on the Form 1099-MISC for the rest of this post.

Do you need to prepare Form 1099 for anyone in your business?

Basically, you must prepare a 1099 if you paid $600 or more to an individual to perform services for you.  Some examples would be web designers, eBay assistants, virtual assistants, affiliates, accountants, etc.

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Tax Carnival 46 – Inauguration Day

The 46th Tax Carnival is posted.  And since today is Inauguration Day, Kay Bell (keeper of the Tax Carnival) has chosen the inaugural process as the theme.

Here are a few articles you’ll find in this week’s tax carnival:

Pragmaticsage has some advice in Choosing a tax preparer: Do you need a CPA?

Robert D Flach, THE WANDERING TAX PRO of the Web, tells us WHAT NOT TO DO! when searching for a tax pro.

Continue Reading Tax Carnival 46 – Inauguration Day

Final Tax Estimate for 2008 Approaching Quickly

Just a reminder that your fourth quarter 2008 tax estimate is due on January 15, 2009.

This estimate goes towards your 2008 tax liability so it reduces the amount you will owe on your 2008 tax return when you file.

To avoid the penalty for not paying enough estimated tax, you need to pay in at least 90% of your 2008 tax liability or 100% of your 2007 tax liability, whichever is less.

Alternatively, you can choose to file and pay your 2008 taxes by January 31, 2009 to avoid any underpayment penalties.

Use Form 1040-ES to submit your estimated tax payment.

For a refresher on estimated tax payments, see ‘Do I Need to Make Estimated Tax Payments?’

Recovery Rebate Credit for 2008

If you didn’t receive a rebate check in 2008, or if you think you should have gotten a larger check than you did, you can apply for the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2008 tax return.

The Recovery Rebate Credit is a special one-time benefit that most people received last year in the form of an Economic Stimulus Payment. But people who did not receive the maximum amount of the Economic Stimulus Payment, or whose circumstances have changed, may be eligible now.

In most cases, the IRS will calculate whether a person is eligible and how much of the credit may be due automatically. To allow the IRS to calculate this automatically, simply file your 2008 tax return and follow the “Credit Figured by the IRS” instructions. However, may choose to calculate the Recovery Rebate Credit themselves instead.

Continue Reading Recovery Rebate Credit for 2008

More About Obama’s Proposed ‘Paycheck Bonus’

One of the tax cuts I talked about in ‘Obama’s Proposed Tax Cuts Total $300 Billion’ was the payroll tax cut for low to mid-income workers.

Since this is the tax break that will affect most American’s I wanted to share some more details on what is being called Obama’s paycheck bonus (the official name, right now anyway, is the ‘Make Work Pay Credit’.

The details are still being hammered out, but basically it looks like the tax plan will include a payroll tax break that will mean anywhere from $83 to $166 extra per paycheck for workers, during the first quarter of the year.

Continue Reading More About Obama’s Proposed ‘Paycheck Bonus’

Good Reads: Interesting Tax Posts This Week

I’m reading my favorite tax blogs and found several posts worth sharing:

• Ask the taxgirl: Girl Scout cookies – In the case of the Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts of the USA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. The “Cookies from Home” program allows you to pay for the cost of a box of cookies and instead of taking the cookies home and eating them …

Speaking of charitable donations, don’t forget that you must have receipts for all donations in order to deduct them.  This is trickier for non-cash donations, such as clothing given to Goodwill or the Council of the Blind.  Here’s a valuation-guide you can use to help you assign values to your non-cash donations.

Continue Reading Good Reads: Interesting Tax Posts This Week

Obama’s Proposed Tax Cuts Total $300 Billion

In an earlier post, I asked ‘How Will Obama’s Tax Plan Affect Self Employed Americans?’.  Well, more details are emerging as Obama proposes $300 Billion in tax cuts.

Presidential Elect Obama is working with Congress on a tax cut proposal that would make up about 40% of a $775 billion economic stimulus package.

Cuts would be aimed at both individuals and businesses.  At the moment, these are just proposals, but here’s what’s being discussed so far:

• The largest piece of the tax relief package is a payroll tax break of $500 for individuals and $1,000 for couples aimed at low- and moderate-income workers.  I’m wondering if this will also apply to self employed people, but am unsure of the answer so far.
• Relief for businesses include a provision that would allow companies to write off huge losses incurred last year, as well as any losses from 2009, to retroactively reduce tax bills dating back five years.  While businesses would have been able to claim most of the tax write-offs on future tax returns anyway, the proposal accelerates those write-offs to make them available in the current tax season.  This will help companies who are experiencing cash flow problems due to credit being unavailable.
• The Obama plan also proposes to increase the Section 179 deduction up to $250,000 in 2009 and 2010. Currently, the limit is $175,000.  This probably won’t help most small businesses, but those that are expanding or need new equipment will benefit.
• Finally, businesses that create jobs here in the US or avoid future layoffs would receive a tax credit.  Hopefully this will reduce the amount that unemployment is expected to rise in 2009.

While I like the idea of the payroll tax credit, it really needs to apply to self employed people as well.  I’ve heard rumors that self employed people may get to reduce their 1st quarter estimated tax payment, and will confirm or deny as soon as more details become available.

Remember these are just proposals right now.  There will be lots of debate and changes before the final bill is approved.

Are Prizes and Awards Taxable?

As I was entering the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway (the only sweepstakes that I enter regularly, can’t help it, these homes are so beautiful!), I wondered how I would pay the taxes if I actually won.

According to the IRS, awards, prizes, contest winnings and gambling proceeds (including lotteries) are taxable income which must be reported on Form 1040.  Which means if I am lucky enough to win the gorgeous HGTV Dream Home in Sonoma California, then I have to come up with the money to pay taxes on the value of the home and other prizes included.  Bummer, huh?

If you win a cash prize, such as gambling winnings or the lottery, sure it’s a bummer to pay the taxes, but at least you have the cash to do so.

When you win a non-cash prize, such as a vacation, a new car, or a house (such as in the case of the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway), then paying the taxes is an even bigger challenge because you have to come up with the cash to do so.

Continue Reading Are Prizes and Awards Taxable?

Standard Deduction and Personal Exemptions Increased For 2009

The IRS adjusts key tax numbers each year, including personal exemptions and the standard deduction amounts.  These are cost of living adjustments required by law.

The effect of these adjustments is that the tax brackets widen (so you can earn more income before you jump into the next tax bracket).

Here are a few of the changes in effect for 2009:

• The personal and dependency exemption, available to most taxpayers, increased $150 to $3,650.
  Continue Reading Standard Deduction and Personal Exemptions Increased For 2009

December 31st Is The Last Day for Most Tax Planning Strategies

Just a reminder that 2008 will be over in less than two weeks, and that means that your opportunity to reduce your 2008 taxes is coming to an end soon as well.  Most tax planning strategies must be implemented before the end of the year to reduce the current year’s taxes.  There are a few exceptions (funding your IRA for example), but for the most part, once the tax year is over, it’s too late to reduce your taxes for that year.

There have been many changes to the tax law this year so you may not even be aware of all the tax credits and deductions that you may qualify for.  Here are some tax planning strategies that you may be able to take advantage of before the year ends:

Real Estate Tax Deduction — New for 2008, there is an additional standard deduction for those who don’t itemize their deductions, but who pay real estate taxes. The additional deduction amount is equal to the amount of real estate taxes paid up to $500 for single filers or up to $1,000 for joint filers. This deduction is available for the 2008 and 2009 tax years and increases your standard deduction.

Continue Reading December 31st Is The Last Day for Most Tax Planning Strategies

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