To contact us Click HERE
The H and R Block office has reopened and there are signs all over town announcing deals on tax preparation. That can mean only one thing: it's tax time. The wonderful time of year when we all whimper at the pile of paperwork and forms demanding our immediate attention, realizing we've lost most of our receipts, and we have no idea if we got all of our 1099's and W2's from everyone we worked for.
This is also an excellent time of year to crack open that expensive bottle of scotch Uncle Jo gave us for Christmas.
When I was writing What You Need to Know to Be a Pro, I decided not to include a chapter about taxes because the tax code changes all the time. There is plenty of info throughout the book about keeping track of expenses in preparation of tax season, but I skipped specific info about filing. Instead, I research taxes every year and post my findings on this blog.
First, I found this video on ehow. It's more about keeping track of deductions rather than forms, but she explains receipts very well. The presenter in the video has a whole series about Freelance Writing.
Taxes & Being a Freelance Writer —powered by eHow.com
And here are a few articles I found this morning. Click the links to read the full article.
Writing.org Taxes for Freelancers
Did you earn your first income from freelancing last year? If so, you're in for a new adventure: calculating your income and Social Security taxes as a self-employed person.
The basic principle of paying freelance taxes is simple: You add up your income, deduct your expenses, and transfer the net profit or loss to Line 12, "Business income (or loss)," on Form 1040.
Unfortunately, what's simple in principle can be complicated in practice. Here are a few guidelines to help you get started:
Tax Issues for Freelance Writers
Here are some tips and strategies for thinking about your taxes. There are special circumstances that apply to freelance writers and other independent professionals, so I will highlight what you need to know to prepare your taxes.
Being self-employed is quite possibly one of the best tax strategies available today. Unlike being an employee, freelancers are in full control of their financial and tax situation. But independence also comes at a cost. Independent contractors face higher taxes and more record keeping duties than employees.
I really like this next article, written by a freelance writer and business expert.
Blue Inkwell Taxes for the Freelance Writer
Setting up shop as a freelance is easy enough. Unfortunately, most novices don’t think about the tax implications of what they’re doing until their first tax season rolls around. Then the questions pour out.
What do I have to claim?How do I deal with 1099s?What classifies as a deduction?Am I supposed to pay quarterly taxes?
I'll keep researching the tax code for 2011 and post what I find here. If you have any helpful articles, post the link in comments.
And good luck with the receipt hunt. Check your car. I found lots of Medusa receipts in mine.
13 Ekim 2012 Cumartesi
Recording Church's New Building (and Depreciating it)
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Question:
A church recently built a new church building. How should a church account for its fixed assets? How should it account for the church building on its balance sheet? How does it recognize depreciation?
Answer:
If a church uses full Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for its books, then fixed assets must be capitalized and depreciated. However, in many situations, it is our belief that many churches should use the modified cash basis. This means that capital asset purchases are recorded as expenses, and not as depreciable assets. Expensing asset purchases allows the church’s congregation to more easily understand the financial situation of the church. This concept of expensing assets is discussed at greater length in the following blog posts:
Church Accounting for Fixed Assets
Churches Recording Depreciation
For a MS-PowerPoint presentation on financial management for a church, follow the link provided below to MinistryCPA.org and click on the Presentation: Church and Christian Ministry Financial Management download.
Church and Christian Ministry Financial Management
A church recently built a new church building. How should a church account for its fixed assets? How should it account for the church building on its balance sheet? How does it recognize depreciation?
Answer:
If a church uses full Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for its books, then fixed assets must be capitalized and depreciated. However, in many situations, it is our belief that many churches should use the modified cash basis. This means that capital asset purchases are recorded as expenses, and not as depreciable assets. Expensing asset purchases allows the church’s congregation to more easily understand the financial situation of the church. This concept of expensing assets is discussed at greater length in the following blog posts:
Church Accounting for Fixed Assets
Churches Recording Depreciation
For a MS-PowerPoint presentation on financial management for a church, follow the link provided below to MinistryCPA.org and click on the Presentation: Church and Christian Ministry Financial Management download.
Church and Christian Ministry Financial Management
Couldn't wait to share this one...
To contact us Click HERE
Happy Father's Day.
I found this article at a site called Open Forum. The site appears to be maintained by American Express, and they provide a lot of good material. I'll be going back there.
Your Staff is the Key to Referral Success
John Jantsch April 21st, 2009 - 07:36 PM
Here’s something your customers won’t ever tell you, but you better understand - Your employees are probably treating your customers about the same way you are treating your employees. Soak that in a minute and process the impact that might have on your organization’s ability to generate referrals.
Organizations that easily generate a high number of referrals hire for referral factors and treat their people as the prime target customer. It makes sense of course, happy employees are much more likely to represent the brand in a positive manner.
In all but the most technical positions, much of what employees do on a day to day basis can be taught. It’s much harder, however, to teach someone to be trustworthy, to give or to serve, yet, as stated above, these are key traits of organizations that generate referrals. A habit of referral for any organization that has more than two or three employees then is entrusted to the actions of the entire staff.
Mike McDerment, founder of FreshBooks, an online time tracking and invoicing service located in Toronto Canada shared these thoughts on how he addresses the customer, employee relationship, “First, we try to find people for fit, shared values and a passion for excellence. That doesn’t mean we have some preconceived idea of what they look like. It’s more that they match our brand in some way. We’re not in the billing business, we’re in the service business and we like to have fun. It really makes things easy if we surround our customers with employees that like to serve and like to have fun.”
The final element of the employee as customer habit lies in the word empowerment. While the word empowerment shows up in almost every book ever written about management, it’s a term that is easy to say but not so easy to put into action.
In the 1999 book, First, Break All The Rules: What The World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently, Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman published findings from research conducted by the Gallup Organization involving 80,000 managers across different industries.
The primary thesis of the work was that if a company could not satisfy an employee’s basic needs first, it could never expect the employee to give stellar performance.
The research found that a productive employee’s basic needs are: knowing what is expected at work, having the equipment and support to do the work right, and answering basic questions of self-worth and self-esteem by receiving praise for good work and development as a person.
Highly referred companies place so much focus on delighting customers that employees grow to understand that the primary thing that is expected, and even measured, is attaining referrals from every customer.
When this expectation is then reinforced with tools that allow the focus to be on the outcome as much as the process, they often learn to do whatever it takes to get a positive result.
This can be one of the hardest adjustments a small business owner can be forced to make as their business grows.
Larry Ryan founded Ryan Lawn and Tree in the Kansas City area over twenty years ago. He started out on the back seat of a tractor and steadily grew the business by taking care of his customers and employees.
Today, he is the CEO of one of the largest lawn services in the Midwest with over 150 employees and he still admits, “The hardest job I have is getting out of the way and letting my people do what they need to do.”
Although Ryan may claim that empowering employees is still hard for him he has always run his business with the philosophy that every customer will be thrilled and almost no matter how illogical the demand he would try to make it right in the eyes of the customer. He will tell you that this philosophy has caused him to scratch his head in disbelief at times, but he can also recount hundreds of instances when thrilled customers have voluntarily written him notes expressing how incredible it was that their turf manager came back on their own accord to redo a patch of grass that just didn’t work out right.
He hires for personal fit and talent, his employees are 100% certain what is expected of them, and given the tools, permission, and encouragement to take matters into their own hands to achieve the ultimate objective.
As a result his business, generated primarily through referral, has grown steadily year in and year out.
I found this article at a site called Open Forum. The site appears to be maintained by American Express, and they provide a lot of good material. I'll be going back there.
Your Staff is the Key to Referral Success
John Jantsch April 21st, 2009 - 07:36 PM
Here’s something your customers won’t ever tell you, but you better understand - Your employees are probably treating your customers about the same way you are treating your employees. Soak that in a minute and process the impact that might have on your organization’s ability to generate referrals.
Organizations that easily generate a high number of referrals hire for referral factors and treat their people as the prime target customer. It makes sense of course, happy employees are much more likely to represent the brand in a positive manner.
In all but the most technical positions, much of what employees do on a day to day basis can be taught. It’s much harder, however, to teach someone to be trustworthy, to give or to serve, yet, as stated above, these are key traits of organizations that generate referrals. A habit of referral for any organization that has more than two or three employees then is entrusted to the actions of the entire staff.
Mike McDerment, founder of FreshBooks, an online time tracking and invoicing service located in Toronto Canada shared these thoughts on how he addresses the customer, employee relationship, “First, we try to find people for fit, shared values and a passion for excellence. That doesn’t mean we have some preconceived idea of what they look like. It’s more that they match our brand in some way. We’re not in the billing business, we’re in the service business and we like to have fun. It really makes things easy if we surround our customers with employees that like to serve and like to have fun.”
The final element of the employee as customer habit lies in the word empowerment. While the word empowerment shows up in almost every book ever written about management, it’s a term that is easy to say but not so easy to put into action.
In the 1999 book, First, Break All The Rules: What The World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently, Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman published findings from research conducted by the Gallup Organization involving 80,000 managers across different industries.
The primary thesis of the work was that if a company could not satisfy an employee’s basic needs first, it could never expect the employee to give stellar performance.
The research found that a productive employee’s basic needs are: knowing what is expected at work, having the equipment and support to do the work right, and answering basic questions of self-worth and self-esteem by receiving praise for good work and development as a person.
Highly referred companies place so much focus on delighting customers that employees grow to understand that the primary thing that is expected, and even measured, is attaining referrals from every customer.
When this expectation is then reinforced with tools that allow the focus to be on the outcome as much as the process, they often learn to do whatever it takes to get a positive result.
This can be one of the hardest adjustments a small business owner can be forced to make as their business grows.
Larry Ryan founded Ryan Lawn and Tree in the Kansas City area over twenty years ago. He started out on the back seat of a tractor and steadily grew the business by taking care of his customers and employees.
Today, he is the CEO of one of the largest lawn services in the Midwest with over 150 employees and he still admits, “The hardest job I have is getting out of the way and letting my people do what they need to do.”
Although Ryan may claim that empowering employees is still hard for him he has always run his business with the philosophy that every customer will be thrilled and almost no matter how illogical the demand he would try to make it right in the eyes of the customer. He will tell you that this philosophy has caused him to scratch his head in disbelief at times, but he can also recount hundreds of instances when thrilled customers have voluntarily written him notes expressing how incredible it was that their turf manager came back on their own accord to redo a patch of grass that just didn’t work out right.
He hires for personal fit and talent, his employees are 100% certain what is expected of them, and given the tools, permission, and encouragement to take matters into their own hands to achieve the ultimate objective.
As a result his business, generated primarily through referral, has grown steadily year in and year out.
Update of the Driscolls' Two Houses
To contact us Click HERE
On February 8th, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals slammed the door on the ability to use housing allowances for multiple homes. In a short but definitive ruling, the court states, in essence, that "a" means "one" and that it should not be construed to be able to mean "more than one". The court relies on the consistent use of the term "home" as holding a singular connotation within the statute. Therefore, if a minister was planning on utilizing his or her housing allowance for more than one "home", it is time to make the appropriate adjustments to the 2012 tax estimates.
What's New for 2009
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This article contains information that effects your 2009 tax return.
Tax Break for New Car Purchases in 2009
Taxpayers who buy a new passenger vehicle in 2009 (after Feb. 16, 2009, and before Jan. 1, 2010) may be entitled to deduct state and local sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase on their 2009 tax returns. Thus the taxpayers can buy now get cash back later on their tax returns. The deduction is limited to the state and local sales and excise taxes paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of a qualified new car, light truck, motor home or motorcycle which has a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 8,500 lbs. The special deduction is available regardless of whether a taxpayer itemizes deductions on their return.
The amount of the deduction is phased out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is between $125,000 and $135,000 for individual filers and between $250,000 and $260,000 for joint filers.
If you are claiming standard deduction, with your tax return complete schedule L (Form 1040). Check box 40b on Form 1040. The sales taxes, local taxes and excise duty paid on the new car appear as increase in the standard deduction. It you are itemizing your deductions, the new car deduction will appear on line 7 of schedule A (Form 1040). Complete the worksheet for line 7 on the back of schedule A (Form 1040).
First $2,400 of Unemployment Benefits Tax Free for 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which includes making every person who receives unemployment benefits during 2009 is eligible to exclude the first $2,400 of these benefits on their 2009 tax return. For a married couple, the exclusion applies to each spouse, separately. Thus, if both spouses receive unemployment benefits during 2009, each may exclude from income the first $2,400 of benefits they receive.
You must subtract $2,400 from the amount in box 1 of 1099-G and report it on line 19 of Form 1040, line 13 of Form 1040A, or line 3 of Form 1040-EZ. If married filing jointly, include any unemployment compensation received by your spouse that is more than $2,400.
Unemployed workers can choose to have income tax withheld from their unemployment benefit payments at a flat 10 percent. Unemployed workers who expect to receive more than $2,400 in benefits this year should consider having tax withheld from their benefit payments in excess of that amount.
First-Time Homebuyers Tax Credit
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, qualifying taxpayers who purchase a home in 2009 before Dec. 1, 2009 receive up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately. People can claim the credit either on their 2008 tax returns or on their 2009 tax returns. Read More...
Standard Deduction and Personal Exemption
Standard Deduction
Single ... $5,700 (add $1,400 for Blind/Elderly)
Married Filing Jointly ... $11,400 (add $1,100 for Blind/Elderly)
Head of Household ... $8,350 (add $1,400 for Blind/Elderly)
Married Filing Separately ... $5,700 (add $1,100 for Blind/Elderly)
Dependent ... Greater of $950 or sum of $300 and individual's earned income
Personal Exemption
$3,650
Temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides a temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children. The maximum EITC for this new category is $5,657. These changes apply to 2009 and 2010 tax returns.
The EITC credit begins to phase out at $21,420 for married taxpayers filing a joint return with children and completely phases out at $40,463 for one child, $45,295 for two children and $48,279 for three or more children. For married taxpayers filing a joint return with no children, the credit begins to phase out at $12,470 and completely phases out at $18,440.
Additional Child Tax Credit
Under ARRA more families will be eligible for the additional child tax credit, which is a refundable credit.
ARRA reduces the minimum earned income amount used to calculate the additional child tax credit to $3,000. Before ARRA, the minimum earned income amount was set to rise to $12,550. This change applies to tax years beginning in 2009 and 2010.
American Opportunity Credit for college education expenses
Under ARRA, the American Opportunity Credit modifies the existing Hope Credit for tax years 2009 and 2010, making the Hope Credit available to a broader range of taxpayers, including many with higher incomes and those who owe no tax. The credit can be claimed for four post-secondary education years instead of two, and it also adds required course materials to the list of qualifying expenses. The maximum annual credit is $2,500 per student. If you or your parents get the education credit, you cannot claim any type of education deduction.
The full credit is available to individuals whose modified adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less, or $160,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return. The credit is phased out for taxpayers with incomes above these levels. These income limits are higher than under the existing Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits.
If you choose to file as married filing separately you cannot take education credits, the deduction for student loan interest, or the tuition and fees deduction.
Homeowner's Energy Credit & Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit
Homeowner's energy credit is available for 2009 and 2010. The credit is thirty percent with a maximum of $1,500 for windows, doors, furnaces, water boilers, skylights, pellet stoves and insulation. Any credits received in previous years, do not effect this maximum credit amount.
For residential energy efficient property the credit is 30% of your costs of qualified property. Qualified properties include solar electric, solar water heating, fuel cell, small wind energy, and geothermal heat pump.
To take the credit, complete Form 5695 Residential Energy Credits. Enter the credit on line 52 of Form 1040 and check box c.
Making Work Pay and Government Retiree Credits
Taxpayers with earned income will get Making Work Pay credit. It is 6.2% of your earned income with a maximum of $400 ($800 if married filing jointly). You must file schedule M (Form 1040 or 1040A) to claim the credit. Include the credit on line 63 of Form 1040 or line 40 of Form 1040A. If you are filing Form 1040-EZ, include the credit on line 8 and do not file schedule M. Those with AGI of more than $95,000 ($190,000 if married filing jointly), nonresidents and dependents do not get this credit.
If you received a government pension or annuity in 2009, you may be able to take Government retiree credit. The credit is $250 ($500 if married filing joint return and both spouses received a qualifying pension or annuity). You can not take the credit if you received a $250 economic recovery payment during 2009. You must file schedule M (Form 1040 or 1040A) to claim the credit.
Cash for Clunkers
A $3,500 or $4,500 voucher or payment made for such a voucher under "cash for clunkers" (CARS) program to buy or lease a new fuel-efficient automobile is not taxable.
More Articles
Your Filing Status
1. Filing Status for Married
2. Head of Household
Exemptions for Dependents
1. Requirements for claiming a dependent
2. Child of separated or divorced parents
Filing Requirements
1. 2009 Filing Requirements
2. 2008 Filing Requirements
3. Filing Requirement for a Dependent
Your Income
1. W2 vs 1099-Misc: Employee vs Independent Contractor
2. Tax Filing by Self Employed Sole Proprietor or Independent Contractor
3. Partnerships
4. Filing W4 Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate
5. Missing W2, 1099-Misc, 1099-R, 1099-Int
Your Foreign Income
1. U.S. Citizen or Resident with Foreign Income
2. Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts
Income Exemptions and Deductions
1. Moving Expenses
2. Itemized deductions
3. Student Loan Interest Deductions
Income Adjustment
1. Traditional IRA and Roth IRA
2. Elective Deferrals 401(k) Plans
U.S. Gift tax and Inheritance Tax
1. The U.S. Gift Tax
2. Tax on Inheritances
Sale of Your Home
1. Profit from the Sale of Your Home
2. Foreclosure or Repossession of Main Home
3. First-Time Homebuyer Credit
State Tax Return
1. Working in Two or More States
Income Tax
1. My Tax Refund?
Complete List of Articles
OctroTalk - instant messaging, P2P file transfer, VoIP, SIP calling, live video chat and video conference for Nokia S60 3rd., Window Mobile Smartphone and Pocket PC and Windows Desktop. Free Download http://www.octro.com/
Tax Break for New Car Purchases in 2009
Taxpayers who buy a new passenger vehicle in 2009 (after Feb. 16, 2009, and before Jan. 1, 2010) may be entitled to deduct state and local sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase on their 2009 tax returns. Thus the taxpayers can buy now get cash back later on their tax returns. The deduction is limited to the state and local sales and excise taxes paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of a qualified new car, light truck, motor home or motorcycle which has a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 8,500 lbs. The special deduction is available regardless of whether a taxpayer itemizes deductions on their return.
The amount of the deduction is phased out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is between $125,000 and $135,000 for individual filers and between $250,000 and $260,000 for joint filers.
If you are claiming standard deduction, with your tax return complete schedule L (Form 1040). Check box 40b on Form 1040. The sales taxes, local taxes and excise duty paid on the new car appear as increase in the standard deduction. It you are itemizing your deductions, the new car deduction will appear on line 7 of schedule A (Form 1040). Complete the worksheet for line 7 on the back of schedule A (Form 1040).
First $2,400 of Unemployment Benefits Tax Free for 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which includes making every person who receives unemployment benefits during 2009 is eligible to exclude the first $2,400 of these benefits on their 2009 tax return. For a married couple, the exclusion applies to each spouse, separately. Thus, if both spouses receive unemployment benefits during 2009, each may exclude from income the first $2,400 of benefits they receive.
You must subtract $2,400 from the amount in box 1 of 1099-G and report it on line 19 of Form 1040, line 13 of Form 1040A, or line 3 of Form 1040-EZ. If married filing jointly, include any unemployment compensation received by your spouse that is more than $2,400.
Unemployed workers can choose to have income tax withheld from their unemployment benefit payments at a flat 10 percent. Unemployed workers who expect to receive more than $2,400 in benefits this year should consider having tax withheld from their benefit payments in excess of that amount.
First-Time Homebuyers Tax Credit
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, qualifying taxpayers who purchase a home in 2009 before Dec. 1, 2009 receive up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately. People can claim the credit either on their 2008 tax returns or on their 2009 tax returns. Read More...
Standard Deduction and Personal Exemption
Standard Deduction
Single ... $5,700 (add $1,400 for Blind/Elderly)
Married Filing Jointly ... $11,400 (add $1,100 for Blind/Elderly)
Head of Household ... $8,350 (add $1,400 for Blind/Elderly)
Married Filing Separately ... $5,700 (add $1,100 for Blind/Elderly)
Dependent ... Greater of $950 or sum of $300 and individual's earned income
Personal Exemption
$3,650
Temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides a temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children. The maximum EITC for this new category is $5,657. These changes apply to 2009 and 2010 tax returns.
The EITC credit begins to phase out at $21,420 for married taxpayers filing a joint return with children and completely phases out at $40,463 for one child, $45,295 for two children and $48,279 for three or more children. For married taxpayers filing a joint return with no children, the credit begins to phase out at $12,470 and completely phases out at $18,440.
Additional Child Tax Credit
Under ARRA more families will be eligible for the additional child tax credit, which is a refundable credit.
ARRA reduces the minimum earned income amount used to calculate the additional child tax credit to $3,000. Before ARRA, the minimum earned income amount was set to rise to $12,550. This change applies to tax years beginning in 2009 and 2010.
American Opportunity Credit for college education expenses
Under ARRA, the American Opportunity Credit modifies the existing Hope Credit for tax years 2009 and 2010, making the Hope Credit available to a broader range of taxpayers, including many with higher incomes and those who owe no tax. The credit can be claimed for four post-secondary education years instead of two, and it also adds required course materials to the list of qualifying expenses. The maximum annual credit is $2,500 per student. If you or your parents get the education credit, you cannot claim any type of education deduction.
The full credit is available to individuals whose modified adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less, or $160,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return. The credit is phased out for taxpayers with incomes above these levels. These income limits are higher than under the existing Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits.
If you choose to file as married filing separately you cannot take education credits, the deduction for student loan interest, or the tuition and fees deduction.
Homeowner's Energy Credit & Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit
Homeowner's energy credit is available for 2009 and 2010. The credit is thirty percent with a maximum of $1,500 for windows, doors, furnaces, water boilers, skylights, pellet stoves and insulation. Any credits received in previous years, do not effect this maximum credit amount.
For residential energy efficient property the credit is 30% of your costs of qualified property. Qualified properties include solar electric, solar water heating, fuel cell, small wind energy, and geothermal heat pump.
To take the credit, complete Form 5695 Residential Energy Credits. Enter the credit on line 52 of Form 1040 and check box c.
Making Work Pay and Government Retiree Credits
Taxpayers with earned income will get Making Work Pay credit. It is 6.2% of your earned income with a maximum of $400 ($800 if married filing jointly). You must file schedule M (Form 1040 or 1040A) to claim the credit. Include the credit on line 63 of Form 1040 or line 40 of Form 1040A. If you are filing Form 1040-EZ, include the credit on line 8 and do not file schedule M. Those with AGI of more than $95,000 ($190,000 if married filing jointly), nonresidents and dependents do not get this credit.
If you received a government pension or annuity in 2009, you may be able to take Government retiree credit. The credit is $250 ($500 if married filing joint return and both spouses received a qualifying pension or annuity). You can not take the credit if you received a $250 economic recovery payment during 2009. You must file schedule M (Form 1040 or 1040A) to claim the credit.
Cash for Clunkers
A $3,500 or $4,500 voucher or payment made for such a voucher under "cash for clunkers" (CARS) program to buy or lease a new fuel-efficient automobile is not taxable.
More Articles
Your Filing Status
1. Filing Status for Married
2. Head of Household
Exemptions for Dependents
1. Requirements for claiming a dependent
2. Child of separated or divorced parents
Filing Requirements
1. 2009 Filing Requirements
2. 2008 Filing Requirements
3. Filing Requirement for a Dependent
Your Income
1. W2 vs 1099-Misc: Employee vs Independent Contractor
2. Tax Filing by Self Employed Sole Proprietor or Independent Contractor
3. Partnerships
4. Filing W4 Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate
5. Missing W2, 1099-Misc, 1099-R, 1099-Int
Your Foreign Income
1. U.S. Citizen or Resident with Foreign Income
2. Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts
Income Exemptions and Deductions
1. Moving Expenses
2. Itemized deductions
3. Student Loan Interest Deductions
Income Adjustment
1. Traditional IRA and Roth IRA
2. Elective Deferrals 401(k) Plans
U.S. Gift tax and Inheritance Tax
1. The U.S. Gift Tax
2. Tax on Inheritances
Sale of Your Home
1. Profit from the Sale of Your Home
2. Foreclosure or Repossession of Main Home
3. First-Time Homebuyer Credit
State Tax Return
1. Working in Two or More States
Income Tax
1. My Tax Refund?
Complete List of Articles
OctroTalk - instant messaging, P2P file transfer, VoIP, SIP calling, live video chat and video conference for Nokia S60 3rd., Window Mobile Smartphone and Pocket PC and Windows Desktop. Free Download http://www.octro.com/
12 Ekim 2012 Cuma
It's Tax Time. Do you know where your receipts are?
To contact us Click HERE
The H and R Block office has reopened and there are signs all over town announcing deals on tax preparation. That can mean only one thing: it's tax time. The wonderful time of year when we all whimper at the pile of paperwork and forms demanding our immediate attention, realizing we've lost most of our receipts, and we have no idea if we got all of our 1099's and W2's from everyone we worked for.
This is also an excellent time of year to crack open that expensive bottle of scotch Uncle Jo gave us for Christmas.
When I was writing What You Need to Know to Be a Pro, I decided not to include a chapter about taxes because the tax code changes all the time. There is plenty of info throughout the book about keeping track of expenses in preparation of tax season, but I skipped specific info about filing. Instead, I research taxes every year and post my findings on this blog.
First, I found this video on ehow. It's more about keeping track of deductions rather than forms, but she explains receipts very well. The presenter in the video has a whole series about Freelance Writing.
Taxes & Being a Freelance Writer —powered by eHow.com
And here are a few articles I found this morning. Click the links to read the full article.
Writing.org Taxes for Freelancers
Did you earn your first income from freelancing last year? If so, you're in for a new adventure: calculating your income and Social Security taxes as a self-employed person.
The basic principle of paying freelance taxes is simple: You add up your income, deduct your expenses, and transfer the net profit or loss to Line 12, "Business income (or loss)," on Form 1040.
Unfortunately, what's simple in principle can be complicated in practice. Here are a few guidelines to help you get started:
Tax Issues for Freelance Writers
Here are some tips and strategies for thinking about your taxes. There are special circumstances that apply to freelance writers and other independent professionals, so I will highlight what you need to know to prepare your taxes.
Being self-employed is quite possibly one of the best tax strategies available today. Unlike being an employee, freelancers are in full control of their financial and tax situation. But independence also comes at a cost. Independent contractors face higher taxes and more record keeping duties than employees.
I really like this next article, written by a freelance writer and business expert.
Blue Inkwell Taxes for the Freelance Writer
Setting up shop as a freelance is easy enough. Unfortunately, most novices don’t think about the tax implications of what they’re doing until their first tax season rolls around. Then the questions pour out.
What do I have to claim?How do I deal with 1099s?What classifies as a deduction?Am I supposed to pay quarterly taxes?
I'll keep researching the tax code for 2011 and post what I find here. If you have any helpful articles, post the link in comments.
And good luck with the receipt hunt. Check your car. I found lots of Medusa receipts in mine.
This is also an excellent time of year to crack open that expensive bottle of scotch Uncle Jo gave us for Christmas.
When I was writing What You Need to Know to Be a Pro, I decided not to include a chapter about taxes because the tax code changes all the time. There is plenty of info throughout the book about keeping track of expenses in preparation of tax season, but I skipped specific info about filing. Instead, I research taxes every year and post my findings on this blog.
First, I found this video on ehow. It's more about keeping track of deductions rather than forms, but she explains receipts very well. The presenter in the video has a whole series about Freelance Writing.
Taxes & Being a Freelance Writer —powered by eHow.com
And here are a few articles I found this morning. Click the links to read the full article.
Writing.org Taxes for Freelancers
Did you earn your first income from freelancing last year? If so, you're in for a new adventure: calculating your income and Social Security taxes as a self-employed person.
The basic principle of paying freelance taxes is simple: You add up your income, deduct your expenses, and transfer the net profit or loss to Line 12, "Business income (or loss)," on Form 1040.
Unfortunately, what's simple in principle can be complicated in practice. Here are a few guidelines to help you get started:
Tax Issues for Freelance Writers
Here are some tips and strategies for thinking about your taxes. There are special circumstances that apply to freelance writers and other independent professionals, so I will highlight what you need to know to prepare your taxes.
Being self-employed is quite possibly one of the best tax strategies available today. Unlike being an employee, freelancers are in full control of their financial and tax situation. But independence also comes at a cost. Independent contractors face higher taxes and more record keeping duties than employees.
I really like this next article, written by a freelance writer and business expert.
Blue Inkwell Taxes for the Freelance Writer
Setting up shop as a freelance is easy enough. Unfortunately, most novices don’t think about the tax implications of what they’re doing until their first tax season rolls around. Then the questions pour out.
What do I have to claim?How do I deal with 1099s?What classifies as a deduction?Am I supposed to pay quarterly taxes?
I'll keep researching the tax code for 2011 and post what I find here. If you have any helpful articles, post the link in comments.
And good luck with the receipt hunt. Check your car. I found lots of Medusa receipts in mine.
Couldn't wait to share this one...
To contact us Click HERE
Happy Father's Day.
I found this article at a site called Open Forum. The site appears to be maintained by American Express, and they provide a lot of good material. I'll be going back there.
Your Staff is the Key to Referral Success
John Jantsch April 21st, 2009 - 07:36 PM
Here’s something your customers won’t ever tell you, but you better understand - Your employees are probably treating your customers about the same way you are treating your employees. Soak that in a minute and process the impact that might have on your organization’s ability to generate referrals.
Organizations that easily generate a high number of referrals hire for referral factors and treat their people as the prime target customer. It makes sense of course, happy employees are much more likely to represent the brand in a positive manner.
In all but the most technical positions, much of what employees do on a day to day basis can be taught. It’s much harder, however, to teach someone to be trustworthy, to give or to serve, yet, as stated above, these are key traits of organizations that generate referrals. A habit of referral for any organization that has more than two or three employees then is entrusted to the actions of the entire staff.
Mike McDerment, founder of FreshBooks, an online time tracking and invoicing service located in Toronto Canada shared these thoughts on how he addresses the customer, employee relationship, “First, we try to find people for fit, shared values and a passion for excellence. That doesn’t mean we have some preconceived idea of what they look like. It’s more that they match our brand in some way. We’re not in the billing business, we’re in the service business and we like to have fun. It really makes things easy if we surround our customers with employees that like to serve and like to have fun.”
The final element of the employee as customer habit lies in the word empowerment. While the word empowerment shows up in almost every book ever written about management, it’s a term that is easy to say but not so easy to put into action.
In the 1999 book, First, Break All The Rules: What The World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently, Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman published findings from research conducted by the Gallup Organization involving 80,000 managers across different industries.
The primary thesis of the work was that if a company could not satisfy an employee’s basic needs first, it could never expect the employee to give stellar performance.
The research found that a productive employee’s basic needs are: knowing what is expected at work, having the equipment and support to do the work right, and answering basic questions of self-worth and self-esteem by receiving praise for good work and development as a person.
Highly referred companies place so much focus on delighting customers that employees grow to understand that the primary thing that is expected, and even measured, is attaining referrals from every customer.
When this expectation is then reinforced with tools that allow the focus to be on the outcome as much as the process, they often learn to do whatever it takes to get a positive result.
This can be one of the hardest adjustments a small business owner can be forced to make as their business grows.
Larry Ryan founded Ryan Lawn and Tree in the Kansas City area over twenty years ago. He started out on the back seat of a tractor and steadily grew the business by taking care of his customers and employees.
Today, he is the CEO of one of the largest lawn services in the Midwest with over 150 employees and he still admits, “The hardest job I have is getting out of the way and letting my people do what they need to do.”
Although Ryan may claim that empowering employees is still hard for him he has always run his business with the philosophy that every customer will be thrilled and almost no matter how illogical the demand he would try to make it right in the eyes of the customer. He will tell you that this philosophy has caused him to scratch his head in disbelief at times, but he can also recount hundreds of instances when thrilled customers have voluntarily written him notes expressing how incredible it was that their turf manager came back on their own accord to redo a patch of grass that just didn’t work out right.
He hires for personal fit and talent, his employees are 100% certain what is expected of them, and given the tools, permission, and encouragement to take matters into their own hands to achieve the ultimate objective.
As a result his business, generated primarily through referral, has grown steadily year in and year out.
I found this article at a site called Open Forum. The site appears to be maintained by American Express, and they provide a lot of good material. I'll be going back there.
Your Staff is the Key to Referral Success
John Jantsch April 21st, 2009 - 07:36 PM
Here’s something your customers won’t ever tell you, but you better understand - Your employees are probably treating your customers about the same way you are treating your employees. Soak that in a minute and process the impact that might have on your organization’s ability to generate referrals.
Organizations that easily generate a high number of referrals hire for referral factors and treat their people as the prime target customer. It makes sense of course, happy employees are much more likely to represent the brand in a positive manner.
In all but the most technical positions, much of what employees do on a day to day basis can be taught. It’s much harder, however, to teach someone to be trustworthy, to give or to serve, yet, as stated above, these are key traits of organizations that generate referrals. A habit of referral for any organization that has more than two or three employees then is entrusted to the actions of the entire staff.
Mike McDerment, founder of FreshBooks, an online time tracking and invoicing service located in Toronto Canada shared these thoughts on how he addresses the customer, employee relationship, “First, we try to find people for fit, shared values and a passion for excellence. That doesn’t mean we have some preconceived idea of what they look like. It’s more that they match our brand in some way. We’re not in the billing business, we’re in the service business and we like to have fun. It really makes things easy if we surround our customers with employees that like to serve and like to have fun.”
The final element of the employee as customer habit lies in the word empowerment. While the word empowerment shows up in almost every book ever written about management, it’s a term that is easy to say but not so easy to put into action.
In the 1999 book, First, Break All The Rules: What The World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently, Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman published findings from research conducted by the Gallup Organization involving 80,000 managers across different industries.
The primary thesis of the work was that if a company could not satisfy an employee’s basic needs first, it could never expect the employee to give stellar performance.
The research found that a productive employee’s basic needs are: knowing what is expected at work, having the equipment and support to do the work right, and answering basic questions of self-worth and self-esteem by receiving praise for good work and development as a person.
Highly referred companies place so much focus on delighting customers that employees grow to understand that the primary thing that is expected, and even measured, is attaining referrals from every customer.
When this expectation is then reinforced with tools that allow the focus to be on the outcome as much as the process, they often learn to do whatever it takes to get a positive result.
This can be one of the hardest adjustments a small business owner can be forced to make as their business grows.
Larry Ryan founded Ryan Lawn and Tree in the Kansas City area over twenty years ago. He started out on the back seat of a tractor and steadily grew the business by taking care of his customers and employees.
Today, he is the CEO of one of the largest lawn services in the Midwest with over 150 employees and he still admits, “The hardest job I have is getting out of the way and letting my people do what they need to do.”
Although Ryan may claim that empowering employees is still hard for him he has always run his business with the philosophy that every customer will be thrilled and almost no matter how illogical the demand he would try to make it right in the eyes of the customer. He will tell you that this philosophy has caused him to scratch his head in disbelief at times, but he can also recount hundreds of instances when thrilled customers have voluntarily written him notes expressing how incredible it was that their turf manager came back on their own accord to redo a patch of grass that just didn’t work out right.
He hires for personal fit and talent, his employees are 100% certain what is expected of them, and given the tools, permission, and encouragement to take matters into their own hands to achieve the ultimate objective.
As a result his business, generated primarily through referral, has grown steadily year in and year out.
Church Reimburses Expenses Only (No compensation)
To contact us Click HERE
Question: Do churches and Christian organizations that provide onlyreimbursement for expenses incurred (and no salary) need to report these expenses on either Form W-2 or1099-MISC?
Answer: Expenditures reimbursed to an employee under an accountable plan arenot reported on Form W-2 or 1099-MISC. However, the organization must be surethat the reimbursements are of the non-taxable type. According to IRSPublication 463, “To be an accountable plan, your employer's reimbursement … arrangement must include all of the following rules.1. Your expenses must have a business connection — that is, you must have paid or incurred deductible expenses while performing services as an employee of your employer. 2. You must adequately account to your employer for these expenses within a reasonable period of time.3. You must return any excess reimbursement or allowance within a reasonable period of time.” Of course, the minister’s cash compensation, if any, must be reported on Form W-2.
Question: Do churches and Christian organizations that provide onlyreimbursement for expenses incurred (and no salary) need to report these expenses on either Form W-2 or1099-MISC?
Answer: Expenditures reimbursed to an employee under an accountable plan arenot reported on Form W-2 or 1099-MISC. However, the organization must be surethat the reimbursements are of the non-taxable type. According to IRSPublication 463, “To be an accountable plan, your employer's reimbursement … arrangement must include all of the following rules.1. Your expenses must have a business connection — that is, you must have paid or incurred deductible expenses while performing services as an employee of your employer. 2. You must adequately account to your employer for these expenses within a reasonable period of time.3. You must return any excess reimbursement or allowance within a reasonable period of time.” Of course, the minister’s cash compensation, if any, must be reported on Form W-2.
Review of Form W-2 Reporting for Ministers
To contact us Click HERE
Question:
Is it necessary for a church to withhold Social Security and Medicare (FICA tax) from its pastor’s compensation? How does the church report housing allowance paid to its pastor?
Answer:
Ministers are exempt from all withholding, including FICA tax. By Internal Revenue Code statute, ministers are dual status employees--employees in every respect except for purposes of withholding. For purposes of Social Security and Medicare they are treated as self-employed (SE) individuals. Therefore, boxes 3, 4, 5, and 6 on a Form W-2, for reporting Social Security and Medicare wages and withholding, are left blank. Whether the minister has personally chosen to opt-out of SE tax is irrelevant to the church. It cannot withhold and match FICA tax for a minister.
We recommend that the housing allowance be reported in box 14 of Form W-2 as a memorandum item. Illustrations of these concepts are in the accompanying link to our website. Click on the Presentation: Church and Christian Ministry Compensation Concepts.
Link to MS-PowerPoint presentation
Is it necessary for a church to withhold Social Security and Medicare (FICA tax) from its pastor’s compensation? How does the church report housing allowance paid to its pastor?
Answer:
Ministers are exempt from all withholding, including FICA tax. By Internal Revenue Code statute, ministers are dual status employees--employees in every respect except for purposes of withholding. For purposes of Social Security and Medicare they are treated as self-employed (SE) individuals. Therefore, boxes 3, 4, 5, and 6 on a Form W-2, for reporting Social Security and Medicare wages and withholding, are left blank. Whether the minister has personally chosen to opt-out of SE tax is irrelevant to the church. It cannot withhold and match FICA tax for a minister.
We recommend that the housing allowance be reported in box 14 of Form W-2 as a memorandum item. Illustrations of these concepts are in the accompanying link to our website. Click on the Presentation: Church and Christian Ministry Compensation Concepts.
Link to MS-PowerPoint presentation
Recording Church's New Building (and Depreciating it)
To contact us Click HERE
Question:
A church recently built a new church building. How should a church account for its fixed assets? How should it account for the church building on its balance sheet? How does it recognize depreciation?
Answer:
If a church uses full Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for its books, then fixed assets must be capitalized and depreciated. However, in many situations, it is our belief that many churches should use the modified cash basis. This means that capital asset purchases are recorded as expenses, and not as depreciable assets. Expensing asset purchases allows the church’s congregation to more easily understand the financial situation of the church. This concept of expensing assets is discussed at greater length in the following blog posts:
Church Accounting for Fixed Assets
Churches Recording Depreciation
For a MS-PowerPoint presentation on financial management for a church, follow the link provided below to MinistryCPA.org and click on the Presentation: Church and Christian Ministry Financial Management download.
Church and Christian Ministry Financial Management
A church recently built a new church building. How should a church account for its fixed assets? How should it account for the church building on its balance sheet? How does it recognize depreciation?
Answer:
If a church uses full Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for its books, then fixed assets must be capitalized and depreciated. However, in many situations, it is our belief that many churches should use the modified cash basis. This means that capital asset purchases are recorded as expenses, and not as depreciable assets. Expensing asset purchases allows the church’s congregation to more easily understand the financial situation of the church. This concept of expensing assets is discussed at greater length in the following blog posts:
Church Accounting for Fixed Assets
Churches Recording Depreciation
For a MS-PowerPoint presentation on financial management for a church, follow the link provided below to MinistryCPA.org and click on the Presentation: Church and Christian Ministry Financial Management download.
Church and Christian Ministry Financial Management
11 Ekim 2012 Perşembe
What's New for 2010
To contact us Click HERE
This article contains information that effects your 2010 tax return.
Due date of return.
File individual taxpayers the due date for 2010 tax return is April 18, 2011 instead of April 15, 2011.
Standard Deduction and Personal Exemption
Standard Deduction
Single ... $5,700 (add $1,400 for Blind/Elderly)
Married Filing Jointly ... $11,400 (add $1,100 for Blind/Elderly)
Head of Household ... $8,350 (add $1,400 for Blind/Elderly)
Married Filing Separately ... $5,700 (add $1,100 for Blind/Elderly)
Dependent ... Greater of $950 or sum of $300 and individual's earned income
Personal Exemption
$3,650
Standard mileage rates.
For 2010, the standard mileage rate for the cost of operating your car for business use is 50 cents a mile, for medical reasons is 16½ cents a mile for the cost of operating your car for determining moving expenses is 16½ cents a mile.
Limits on personal exemptions and overall itemized deductions ended.
For 2010, you do not lose part of your deduction for personal exemptions and itemized deductions, regardless of the amount of your adjusted gross income (AGI).
Temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides a temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children. The maximum EITC for this new category is $5,657. These changes apply to 2009 and 2010 tax returns.
The EITC credit begins to phase out at $21,420 for married taxpayers filing a joint return with children and completely phases out at $40,463 for one child, $45,295 for two children and $48,279 for three or more children. For married taxpayers filing a joint return with no children, the credit begins to phase out at $12,470 and completely phases out at $18,440.
Additional Child Tax Credit
Under ARRA more families will be eligible for the additional child tax credit, which is a refundable credit.ARRA reduces the minimum earned income amount used to calculate the additional child tax credit to $3,000. Before ARRA, the minimum earned income amount was set to rise to $12,550. This change applies to tax years beginning in 2009 and 2010.
American Opportunity Credit for college education expenses
Under ARRA, the American Opportunity Credit modifies the existing Hope Credit for tax years 2009 and 2010, making the Hope Credit available to a broader range of taxpayers, including many with higher incomes and those who owe no tax. The credit can be claimed for four post-secondary education years instead of two, and it also adds required course materials to the list of qualifying expenses. The maximum annual credit is $2,500 per student. Use Form 8863 Education Credit.
The full credit is available to individuals whose modified adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less, or $160,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return. The credit is phased out for taxpayers with incomes above these levels. These income limits are higher than under the existing Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits.
If you choose to file as married filing separately you cannot take education credits, the deduction for student loan interest, or the tuition and fees deduction.
Self-employed health insurance deduction.
Effective March 30, 2010, if you were self-employed and paid for health insurance, you may be able to include in your self-employed health insurance deduction any premiums you paid to cover your child who was under age 27 at the end of 2010, even if the child was not your dependent.
First-time homebuyer credit.
You generally cannot claim the credit for a home you bought after April 30, 2010. However, you may be able to claim the credit if you entered into a written binding contract before May 1, 2010, to buy the home before July 1, 2010, and actually bought the home before October 1, 2010. Also, certain members of the Armed Forces and certain other taxpayers have additional time to buy a home and take the credit.
Homeowner's Energy Credit & Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit
Homeowner's energy credit is available for 2009 and 2010. The credit is thirty percent with a maximum of $1,500 for windows, doors, furnaces, water boilers, skylights, pellet stoves and insulation. Any credits received in previous years, do not effect this maximum credit amount.
For residential energy efficient property the credit is 30% of your costs of qualified property. Qualified properties include solar electric, solar water heating, fuel cell, small wind energy, and geothermal heat pump.
To take the credit, complete Form 5695 Residential Energy Credits. Enter the credit on line 52 of Form 1040 and check box c.
Making Work Pay Credit
Taxpayers with earned income will get Making Work Pay credit. It is 6.2% of your earned income with a maximum of $400 ($800 if married filing jointly). You must file schedule M (Form 1040 or 1040A) to claim the credit. Include the credit on line 63 of Form 1040 or line 40 of Form 1040A. If you are filing Form 1040-EZ, include the credit on line 8 and do not file schedule M. Those with AGI of more than $95,000 ($190,000 if married filing jointly), nonresidents and dependents do not get this credit.
Roth IRAs
Beginning in 2010, you can make a qualified rollover contribution to a Roth IRA regardless of the amount of your modified AGI.Also, half of any income that results from a rollover or conversion to a Roth IRA from another retirement plan in 2010 is included in income in 2011, and the other half in 2012, unless you elect to include all of it in 2010.
More Articles
Your Filing Status
1. Filing Status for Married
2. Head of Household
Exemptions for Dependents
1. Requirements for claiming a dependent
2. Child of separated or divorced parents
Filing Requirements
1. 2009 Filing Requirements
2. 2008 Filing Requirements
3. Filing Requirement for a Dependent
Your Income
1. W2 vs 1099-Misc: Employee vs Independent Contractor
2. Tax Filing by Self Employed Sole Proprietor or Independent Contractor
3. Partnerships
4. Filing W4 Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate
5. Missing W2, 1099-Misc, 1099-R, 1099-Int
Your Foreign Income
1. U.S. Citizen or Resident with Foreign Income
2. Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts
Income Exemptions and Deductions
1. Moving Expenses
2. Itemized deductions
3. Student Loan Interest Deductions
Income Adjustment
1. Traditional IRA and Roth IRA
2. Elective Deferrals 401(k) Plans
U.S. Gift tax and Inheritance Tax
1. The U.S. Gift Tax
2. Tax on Inheritances
Sale of Your Home
1. Profit from the Sale of Your Home
2. Foreclosure or Repossession of Main Home
3. First-Time Homebuyer Credit
State Tax Return
1. Working in Two or More States
Income Tax
1. My Tax Refund?
Complete List of Articles
OctroTalk for Winodws Phone 7. (Free App). Octrotalk version 1.0.3 is a Google Talk client for Windows Phone 7, which allows you to stay logged in to the Google Talk service, and receive incoming messages via push (in case app is not running in the foreground). OctroTalk supports both tile and push notifications. Download http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/42f332f9-4d13-42d2-8214-e290bbd54cde
Due date of return.
File individual taxpayers the due date for 2010 tax return is April 18, 2011 instead of April 15, 2011.
Standard Deduction and Personal Exemption
Standard Deduction
Single ... $5,700 (add $1,400 for Blind/Elderly)
Married Filing Jointly ... $11,400 (add $1,100 for Blind/Elderly)
Head of Household ... $8,350 (add $1,400 for Blind/Elderly)
Married Filing Separately ... $5,700 (add $1,100 for Blind/Elderly)
Dependent ... Greater of $950 or sum of $300 and individual's earned income
Personal Exemption
$3,650
Standard mileage rates.
For 2010, the standard mileage rate for the cost of operating your car for business use is 50 cents a mile, for medical reasons is 16½ cents a mile for the cost of operating your car for determining moving expenses is 16½ cents a mile.
Limits on personal exemptions and overall itemized deductions ended.
For 2010, you do not lose part of your deduction for personal exemptions and itemized deductions, regardless of the amount of your adjusted gross income (AGI).
Temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides a temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children. The maximum EITC for this new category is $5,657. These changes apply to 2009 and 2010 tax returns.
The EITC credit begins to phase out at $21,420 for married taxpayers filing a joint return with children and completely phases out at $40,463 for one child, $45,295 for two children and $48,279 for three or more children. For married taxpayers filing a joint return with no children, the credit begins to phase out at $12,470 and completely phases out at $18,440.
Additional Child Tax Credit
Under ARRA more families will be eligible for the additional child tax credit, which is a refundable credit.ARRA reduces the minimum earned income amount used to calculate the additional child tax credit to $3,000. Before ARRA, the minimum earned income amount was set to rise to $12,550. This change applies to tax years beginning in 2009 and 2010.
American Opportunity Credit for college education expenses
Under ARRA, the American Opportunity Credit modifies the existing Hope Credit for tax years 2009 and 2010, making the Hope Credit available to a broader range of taxpayers, including many with higher incomes and those who owe no tax. The credit can be claimed for four post-secondary education years instead of two, and it also adds required course materials to the list of qualifying expenses. The maximum annual credit is $2,500 per student. Use Form 8863 Education Credit.
The full credit is available to individuals whose modified adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less, or $160,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return. The credit is phased out for taxpayers with incomes above these levels. These income limits are higher than under the existing Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits.
If you choose to file as married filing separately you cannot take education credits, the deduction for student loan interest, or the tuition and fees deduction.
Self-employed health insurance deduction.
Effective March 30, 2010, if you were self-employed and paid for health insurance, you may be able to include in your self-employed health insurance deduction any premiums you paid to cover your child who was under age 27 at the end of 2010, even if the child was not your dependent.
First-time homebuyer credit.
You generally cannot claim the credit for a home you bought after April 30, 2010. However, you may be able to claim the credit if you entered into a written binding contract before May 1, 2010, to buy the home before July 1, 2010, and actually bought the home before October 1, 2010. Also, certain members of the Armed Forces and certain other taxpayers have additional time to buy a home and take the credit.
Homeowner's Energy Credit & Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit
Homeowner's energy credit is available for 2009 and 2010. The credit is thirty percent with a maximum of $1,500 for windows, doors, furnaces, water boilers, skylights, pellet stoves and insulation. Any credits received in previous years, do not effect this maximum credit amount.
For residential energy efficient property the credit is 30% of your costs of qualified property. Qualified properties include solar electric, solar water heating, fuel cell, small wind energy, and geothermal heat pump.
To take the credit, complete Form 5695 Residential Energy Credits. Enter the credit on line 52 of Form 1040 and check box c.
Making Work Pay Credit
Taxpayers with earned income will get Making Work Pay credit. It is 6.2% of your earned income with a maximum of $400 ($800 if married filing jointly). You must file schedule M (Form 1040 or 1040A) to claim the credit. Include the credit on line 63 of Form 1040 or line 40 of Form 1040A. If you are filing Form 1040-EZ, include the credit on line 8 and do not file schedule M. Those with AGI of more than $95,000 ($190,000 if married filing jointly), nonresidents and dependents do not get this credit.
Roth IRAs
Beginning in 2010, you can make a qualified rollover contribution to a Roth IRA regardless of the amount of your modified AGI.Also, half of any income that results from a rollover or conversion to a Roth IRA from another retirement plan in 2010 is included in income in 2011, and the other half in 2012, unless you elect to include all of it in 2010.
More Articles
Your Filing Status
1. Filing Status for Married
2. Head of Household
Exemptions for Dependents
1. Requirements for claiming a dependent
2. Child of separated or divorced parents
Filing Requirements
1. 2009 Filing Requirements
2. 2008 Filing Requirements
3. Filing Requirement for a Dependent
Your Income
1. W2 vs 1099-Misc: Employee vs Independent Contractor
2. Tax Filing by Self Employed Sole Proprietor or Independent Contractor
3. Partnerships
4. Filing W4 Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate
5. Missing W2, 1099-Misc, 1099-R, 1099-Int
Your Foreign Income
1. U.S. Citizen or Resident with Foreign Income
2. Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts
Income Exemptions and Deductions
1. Moving Expenses
2. Itemized deductions
3. Student Loan Interest Deductions
Income Adjustment
1. Traditional IRA and Roth IRA
2. Elective Deferrals 401(k) Plans
U.S. Gift tax and Inheritance Tax
1. The U.S. Gift Tax
2. Tax on Inheritances
Sale of Your Home
1. Profit from the Sale of Your Home
2. Foreclosure or Repossession of Main Home
3. First-Time Homebuyer Credit
State Tax Return
1. Working in Two or More States
Income Tax
1. My Tax Refund?
Complete List of Articles
OctroTalk for Winodws Phone 7. (Free App). Octrotalk version 1.0.3 is a Google Talk client for Windows Phone 7, which allows you to stay logged in to the Google Talk service, and receive incoming messages via push (in case app is not running in the foreground). OctroTalk supports both tile and push notifications. Download http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/42f332f9-4d13-42d2-8214-e290bbd54cde
Update of the Driscolls' Two Houses
To contact us Click HERE
On February 8th, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals slammed the door on the ability to use housing allowances for multiple homes. In a short but definitive ruling, the court states, in essence, that "a" means "one" and that it should not be construed to be able to mean "more than one". The court relies on the consistent use of the term "home" as holding a singular connotation within the statute. Therefore, if a minister was planning on utilizing his or her housing allowance for more than one "home", it is time to make the appropriate adjustments to the 2012 tax estimates.
Introducing the newest Medusa's Muse author
To contact us Click HERE
Right now I am preparing to edit a brand new manuscript from a brand new Medusa's Muse author. This is why I created a book publishing company: discovering new authors and fresh voices with a passionate story to tell. I've got my reading glasses on, my lap-top battery fully charged, a fresh cup of coffee, the manuscript opened in Word and "track changes" turned to "on." My muse is eagerly peering over my shoulder watching as I type notes inside the pages on my screen. Eventually she'll get a little bored; she finds editing tedious. But for now, she's just as fixated on this brand new Medusa's Muse book as I am.
The writer is Shannon Drury, author of The Radical Housewife. Click the link to explore her blog and get a taste of her writing. She's fabulous. A feminist housewife and mother living in Minnesota, and president of the Minnesota chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Her story is exactly the type I look for. It's honest, funny, passionate, and the author doesn't quiet fit within any category. If she's a housewife, how can she call herself a feminist? She gets criticism from both conservatives and liberals, which means she's perfect for my Muse.
Of course, I'll get a lot more editing done if my daughter would leave me alone for more than 10 minutes at a time.
The writer is Shannon Drury, author of The Radical Housewife. Click the link to explore her blog and get a taste of her writing. She's fabulous. A feminist housewife and mother living in Minnesota, and president of the Minnesota chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Her story is exactly the type I look for. It's honest, funny, passionate, and the author doesn't quiet fit within any category. If she's a housewife, how can she call herself a feminist? She gets criticism from both conservatives and liberals, which means she's perfect for my Muse.
Of course, I'll get a lot more editing done if my daughter would leave me alone for more than 10 minutes at a time.
It's Tax Time. Do you know where your receipts are?
To contact us Click HERE
The H and R Block office has reopened and there are signs all over town announcing deals on tax preparation. That can mean only one thing: it's tax time. The wonderful time of year when we all whimper at the pile of paperwork and forms demanding our immediate attention, realizing we've lost most of our receipts, and we have no idea if we got all of our 1099's and W2's from everyone we worked for.
This is also an excellent time of year to crack open that expensive bottle of scotch Uncle Jo gave us for Christmas.
When I was writing What You Need to Know to Be a Pro, I decided not to include a chapter about taxes because the tax code changes all the time. There is plenty of info throughout the book about keeping track of expenses in preparation of tax season, but I skipped specific info about filing. Instead, I research taxes every year and post my findings on this blog.
First, I found this video on ehow. It's more about keeping track of deductions rather than forms, but she explains receipts very well. The presenter in the video has a whole series about Freelance Writing.
Taxes & Being a Freelance Writer —powered by eHow.com
And here are a few articles I found this morning. Click the links to read the full article.
Writing.org Taxes for Freelancers
Did you earn your first income from freelancing last year? If so, you're in for a new adventure: calculating your income and Social Security taxes as a self-employed person.
The basic principle of paying freelance taxes is simple: You add up your income, deduct your expenses, and transfer the net profit or loss to Line 12, "Business income (or loss)," on Form 1040.
Unfortunately, what's simple in principle can be complicated in practice. Here are a few guidelines to help you get started:
Tax Issues for Freelance Writers
Here are some tips and strategies for thinking about your taxes. There are special circumstances that apply to freelance writers and other independent professionals, so I will highlight what you need to know to prepare your taxes.
Being self-employed is quite possibly one of the best tax strategies available today. Unlike being an employee, freelancers are in full control of their financial and tax situation. But independence also comes at a cost. Independent contractors face higher taxes and more record keeping duties than employees.
I really like this next article, written by a freelance writer and business expert.
Blue Inkwell Taxes for the Freelance Writer
Setting up shop as a freelance is easy enough. Unfortunately, most novices don’t think about the tax implications of what they’re doing until their first tax season rolls around. Then the questions pour out.
What do I have to claim?How do I deal with 1099s?What classifies as a deduction?Am I supposed to pay quarterly taxes?
I'll keep researching the tax code for 2011 and post what I find here. If you have any helpful articles, post the link in comments.
And good luck with the receipt hunt. Check your car. I found lots of Medusa receipts in mine.
This is also an excellent time of year to crack open that expensive bottle of scotch Uncle Jo gave us for Christmas.
When I was writing What You Need to Know to Be a Pro, I decided not to include a chapter about taxes because the tax code changes all the time. There is plenty of info throughout the book about keeping track of expenses in preparation of tax season, but I skipped specific info about filing. Instead, I research taxes every year and post my findings on this blog.
First, I found this video on ehow. It's more about keeping track of deductions rather than forms, but she explains receipts very well. The presenter in the video has a whole series about Freelance Writing.
Taxes & Being a Freelance Writer —powered by eHow.com
And here are a few articles I found this morning. Click the links to read the full article.
Writing.org Taxes for Freelancers
Did you earn your first income from freelancing last year? If so, you're in for a new adventure: calculating your income and Social Security taxes as a self-employed person.
The basic principle of paying freelance taxes is simple: You add up your income, deduct your expenses, and transfer the net profit or loss to Line 12, "Business income (or loss)," on Form 1040.
Unfortunately, what's simple in principle can be complicated in practice. Here are a few guidelines to help you get started:
Tax Issues for Freelance Writers
Here are some tips and strategies for thinking about your taxes. There are special circumstances that apply to freelance writers and other independent professionals, so I will highlight what you need to know to prepare your taxes.
Being self-employed is quite possibly one of the best tax strategies available today. Unlike being an employee, freelancers are in full control of their financial and tax situation. But independence also comes at a cost. Independent contractors face higher taxes and more record keeping duties than employees.
I really like this next article, written by a freelance writer and business expert.
Blue Inkwell Taxes for the Freelance Writer
Setting up shop as a freelance is easy enough. Unfortunately, most novices don’t think about the tax implications of what they’re doing until their first tax season rolls around. Then the questions pour out.
What do I have to claim?How do I deal with 1099s?What classifies as a deduction?Am I supposed to pay quarterly taxes?
I'll keep researching the tax code for 2011 and post what I find here. If you have any helpful articles, post the link in comments.
And good luck with the receipt hunt. Check your car. I found lots of Medusa receipts in mine.
Couldn't wait to share this one...
To contact us Click HERE
Happy Father's Day.
I found this article at a site called Open Forum. The site appears to be maintained by American Express, and they provide a lot of good material. I'll be going back there.
Your Staff is the Key to Referral Success
John Jantsch April 21st, 2009 - 07:36 PM
Here’s something your customers won’t ever tell you, but you better understand - Your employees are probably treating your customers about the same way you are treating your employees. Soak that in a minute and process the impact that might have on your organization’s ability to generate referrals.
Organizations that easily generate a high number of referrals hire for referral factors and treat their people as the prime target customer. It makes sense of course, happy employees are much more likely to represent the brand in a positive manner.
In all but the most technical positions, much of what employees do on a day to day basis can be taught. It’s much harder, however, to teach someone to be trustworthy, to give or to serve, yet, as stated above, these are key traits of organizations that generate referrals. A habit of referral for any organization that has more than two or three employees then is entrusted to the actions of the entire staff.
Mike McDerment, founder of FreshBooks, an online time tracking and invoicing service located in Toronto Canada shared these thoughts on how he addresses the customer, employee relationship, “First, we try to find people for fit, shared values and a passion for excellence. That doesn’t mean we have some preconceived idea of what they look like. It’s more that they match our brand in some way. We’re not in the billing business, we’re in the service business and we like to have fun. It really makes things easy if we surround our customers with employees that like to serve and like to have fun.”
The final element of the employee as customer habit lies in the word empowerment. While the word empowerment shows up in almost every book ever written about management, it’s a term that is easy to say but not so easy to put into action.
In the 1999 book, First, Break All The Rules: What The World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently, Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman published findings from research conducted by the Gallup Organization involving 80,000 managers across different industries.
The primary thesis of the work was that if a company could not satisfy an employee’s basic needs first, it could never expect the employee to give stellar performance.
The research found that a productive employee’s basic needs are: knowing what is expected at work, having the equipment and support to do the work right, and answering basic questions of self-worth and self-esteem by receiving praise for good work and development as a person.
Highly referred companies place so much focus on delighting customers that employees grow to understand that the primary thing that is expected, and even measured, is attaining referrals from every customer.
When this expectation is then reinforced with tools that allow the focus to be on the outcome as much as the process, they often learn to do whatever it takes to get a positive result.
This can be one of the hardest adjustments a small business owner can be forced to make as their business grows.
Larry Ryan founded Ryan Lawn and Tree in the Kansas City area over twenty years ago. He started out on the back seat of a tractor and steadily grew the business by taking care of his customers and employees.
Today, he is the CEO of one of the largest lawn services in the Midwest with over 150 employees and he still admits, “The hardest job I have is getting out of the way and letting my people do what they need to do.”
Although Ryan may claim that empowering employees is still hard for him he has always run his business with the philosophy that every customer will be thrilled and almost no matter how illogical the demand he would try to make it right in the eyes of the customer. He will tell you that this philosophy has caused him to scratch his head in disbelief at times, but he can also recount hundreds of instances when thrilled customers have voluntarily written him notes expressing how incredible it was that their turf manager came back on their own accord to redo a patch of grass that just didn’t work out right.
He hires for personal fit and talent, his employees are 100% certain what is expected of them, and given the tools, permission, and encouragement to take matters into their own hands to achieve the ultimate objective.
As a result his business, generated primarily through referral, has grown steadily year in and year out.
I found this article at a site called Open Forum. The site appears to be maintained by American Express, and they provide a lot of good material. I'll be going back there.
Your Staff is the Key to Referral Success
John Jantsch April 21st, 2009 - 07:36 PM
Here’s something your customers won’t ever tell you, but you better understand - Your employees are probably treating your customers about the same way you are treating your employees. Soak that in a minute and process the impact that might have on your organization’s ability to generate referrals.
Organizations that easily generate a high number of referrals hire for referral factors and treat their people as the prime target customer. It makes sense of course, happy employees are much more likely to represent the brand in a positive manner.
In all but the most technical positions, much of what employees do on a day to day basis can be taught. It’s much harder, however, to teach someone to be trustworthy, to give or to serve, yet, as stated above, these are key traits of organizations that generate referrals. A habit of referral for any organization that has more than two or three employees then is entrusted to the actions of the entire staff.
Mike McDerment, founder of FreshBooks, an online time tracking and invoicing service located in Toronto Canada shared these thoughts on how he addresses the customer, employee relationship, “First, we try to find people for fit, shared values and a passion for excellence. That doesn’t mean we have some preconceived idea of what they look like. It’s more that they match our brand in some way. We’re not in the billing business, we’re in the service business and we like to have fun. It really makes things easy if we surround our customers with employees that like to serve and like to have fun.”
The final element of the employee as customer habit lies in the word empowerment. While the word empowerment shows up in almost every book ever written about management, it’s a term that is easy to say but not so easy to put into action.
In the 1999 book, First, Break All The Rules: What The World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently, Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman published findings from research conducted by the Gallup Organization involving 80,000 managers across different industries.
The primary thesis of the work was that if a company could not satisfy an employee’s basic needs first, it could never expect the employee to give stellar performance.
The research found that a productive employee’s basic needs are: knowing what is expected at work, having the equipment and support to do the work right, and answering basic questions of self-worth and self-esteem by receiving praise for good work and development as a person.
Highly referred companies place so much focus on delighting customers that employees grow to understand that the primary thing that is expected, and even measured, is attaining referrals from every customer.
When this expectation is then reinforced with tools that allow the focus to be on the outcome as much as the process, they often learn to do whatever it takes to get a positive result.
This can be one of the hardest adjustments a small business owner can be forced to make as their business grows.
Larry Ryan founded Ryan Lawn and Tree in the Kansas City area over twenty years ago. He started out on the back seat of a tractor and steadily grew the business by taking care of his customers and employees.
Today, he is the CEO of one of the largest lawn services in the Midwest with over 150 employees and he still admits, “The hardest job I have is getting out of the way and letting my people do what they need to do.”
Although Ryan may claim that empowering employees is still hard for him he has always run his business with the philosophy that every customer will be thrilled and almost no matter how illogical the demand he would try to make it right in the eyes of the customer. He will tell you that this philosophy has caused him to scratch his head in disbelief at times, but he can also recount hundreds of instances when thrilled customers have voluntarily written him notes expressing how incredible it was that their turf manager came back on their own accord to redo a patch of grass that just didn’t work out right.
He hires for personal fit and talent, his employees are 100% certain what is expected of them, and given the tools, permission, and encouragement to take matters into their own hands to achieve the ultimate objective.
As a result his business, generated primarily through referral, has grown steadily year in and year out.
10 Ekim 2012 Çarşamba
What's New for 2009
To contact us Click HERE
This article contains information that effects your 2009 tax return.
Tax Break for New Car Purchases in 2009
Taxpayers who buy a new passenger vehicle in 2009 (after Feb. 16, 2009, and before Jan. 1, 2010) may be entitled to deduct state and local sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase on their 2009 tax returns. Thus the taxpayers can buy now get cash back later on their tax returns. The deduction is limited to the state and local sales and excise taxes paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of a qualified new car, light truck, motor home or motorcycle which has a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 8,500 lbs. The special deduction is available regardless of whether a taxpayer itemizes deductions on their return.
The amount of the deduction is phased out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is between $125,000 and $135,000 for individual filers and between $250,000 and $260,000 for joint filers.
If you are claiming standard deduction, with your tax return complete schedule L (Form 1040). Check box 40b on Form 1040. The sales taxes, local taxes and excise duty paid on the new car appear as increase in the standard deduction. It you are itemizing your deductions, the new car deduction will appear on line 7 of schedule A (Form 1040). Complete the worksheet for line 7 on the back of schedule A (Form 1040).
First $2,400 of Unemployment Benefits Tax Free for 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which includes making every person who receives unemployment benefits during 2009 is eligible to exclude the first $2,400 of these benefits on their 2009 tax return. For a married couple, the exclusion applies to each spouse, separately. Thus, if both spouses receive unemployment benefits during 2009, each may exclude from income the first $2,400 of benefits they receive.
You must subtract $2,400 from the amount in box 1 of 1099-G and report it on line 19 of Form 1040, line 13 of Form 1040A, or line 3 of Form 1040-EZ. If married filing jointly, include any unemployment compensation received by your spouse that is more than $2,400.
Unemployed workers can choose to have income tax withheld from their unemployment benefit payments at a flat 10 percent. Unemployed workers who expect to receive more than $2,400 in benefits this year should consider having tax withheld from their benefit payments in excess of that amount.
First-Time Homebuyers Tax Credit
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, qualifying taxpayers who purchase a home in 2009 before Dec. 1, 2009 receive up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately. People can claim the credit either on their 2008 tax returns or on their 2009 tax returns. Read More...
Standard Deduction and Personal Exemption
Standard Deduction
Single ... $5,700 (add $1,400 for Blind/Elderly)
Married Filing Jointly ... $11,400 (add $1,100 for Blind/Elderly)
Head of Household ... $8,350 (add $1,400 for Blind/Elderly)
Married Filing Separately ... $5,700 (add $1,100 for Blind/Elderly)
Dependent ... Greater of $950 or sum of $300 and individual's earned income
Personal Exemption
$3,650
Temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides a temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children. The maximum EITC for this new category is $5,657. These changes apply to 2009 and 2010 tax returns.
The EITC credit begins to phase out at $21,420 for married taxpayers filing a joint return with children and completely phases out at $40,463 for one child, $45,295 for two children and $48,279 for three or more children. For married taxpayers filing a joint return with no children, the credit begins to phase out at $12,470 and completely phases out at $18,440.
Additional Child Tax Credit
Under ARRA more families will be eligible for the additional child tax credit, which is a refundable credit.
ARRA reduces the minimum earned income amount used to calculate the additional child tax credit to $3,000. Before ARRA, the minimum earned income amount was set to rise to $12,550. This change applies to tax years beginning in 2009 and 2010.
American Opportunity Credit for college education expenses
Under ARRA, the American Opportunity Credit modifies the existing Hope Credit for tax years 2009 and 2010, making the Hope Credit available to a broader range of taxpayers, including many with higher incomes and those who owe no tax. The credit can be claimed for four post-secondary education years instead of two, and it also adds required course materials to the list of qualifying expenses. The maximum annual credit is $2,500 per student. If you or your parents get the education credit, you cannot claim any type of education deduction.
The full credit is available to individuals whose modified adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less, or $160,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return. The credit is phased out for taxpayers with incomes above these levels. These income limits are higher than under the existing Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits.
If you choose to file as married filing separately you cannot take education credits, the deduction for student loan interest, or the tuition and fees deduction.
Homeowner's Energy Credit & Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit
Homeowner's energy credit is available for 2009 and 2010. The credit is thirty percent with a maximum of $1,500 for windows, doors, furnaces, water boilers, skylights, pellet stoves and insulation. Any credits received in previous years, do not effect this maximum credit amount.
For residential energy efficient property the credit is 30% of your costs of qualified property. Qualified properties include solar electric, solar water heating, fuel cell, small wind energy, and geothermal heat pump.
To take the credit, complete Form 5695 Residential Energy Credits. Enter the credit on line 52 of Form 1040 and check box c.
Making Work Pay and Government Retiree Credits
Taxpayers with earned income will get Making Work Pay credit. It is 6.2% of your earned income with a maximum of $400 ($800 if married filing jointly). You must file schedule M (Form 1040 or 1040A) to claim the credit. Include the credit on line 63 of Form 1040 or line 40 of Form 1040A. If you are filing Form 1040-EZ, include the credit on line 8 and do not file schedule M. Those with AGI of more than $95,000 ($190,000 if married filing jointly), nonresidents and dependents do not get this credit.
If you received a government pension or annuity in 2009, you may be able to take Government retiree credit. The credit is $250 ($500 if married filing joint return and both spouses received a qualifying pension or annuity). You can not take the credit if you received a $250 economic recovery payment during 2009. You must file schedule M (Form 1040 or 1040A) to claim the credit.
Cash for Clunkers
A $3,500 or $4,500 voucher or payment made for such a voucher under "cash for clunkers" (CARS) program to buy or lease a new fuel-efficient automobile is not taxable.
More Articles
Your Filing Status
1. Filing Status for Married
2. Head of Household
Exemptions for Dependents
1. Requirements for claiming a dependent
2. Child of separated or divorced parents
Filing Requirements
1. 2009 Filing Requirements
2. 2008 Filing Requirements
3. Filing Requirement for a Dependent
Your Income
1. W2 vs 1099-Misc: Employee vs Independent Contractor
2. Tax Filing by Self Employed Sole Proprietor or Independent Contractor
3. Partnerships
4. Filing W4 Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate
5. Missing W2, 1099-Misc, 1099-R, 1099-Int
Your Foreign Income
1. U.S. Citizen or Resident with Foreign Income
2. Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts
Income Exemptions and Deductions
1. Moving Expenses
2. Itemized deductions
3. Student Loan Interest Deductions
Income Adjustment
1. Traditional IRA and Roth IRA
2. Elective Deferrals 401(k) Plans
U.S. Gift tax and Inheritance Tax
1. The U.S. Gift Tax
2. Tax on Inheritances
Sale of Your Home
1. Profit from the Sale of Your Home
2. Foreclosure or Repossession of Main Home
3. First-Time Homebuyer Credit
State Tax Return
1. Working in Two or More States
Income Tax
1. My Tax Refund?
Complete List of Articles
OctroTalk - instant messaging, P2P file transfer, VoIP, SIP calling, live video chat and video conference for Nokia S60 3rd., Window Mobile Smartphone and Pocket PC and Windows Desktop. Free Download http://www.octro.com/
Tax Break for New Car Purchases in 2009
Taxpayers who buy a new passenger vehicle in 2009 (after Feb. 16, 2009, and before Jan. 1, 2010) may be entitled to deduct state and local sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase on their 2009 tax returns. Thus the taxpayers can buy now get cash back later on their tax returns. The deduction is limited to the state and local sales and excise taxes paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of a qualified new car, light truck, motor home or motorcycle which has a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 8,500 lbs. The special deduction is available regardless of whether a taxpayer itemizes deductions on their return.
The amount of the deduction is phased out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is between $125,000 and $135,000 for individual filers and between $250,000 and $260,000 for joint filers.
If you are claiming standard deduction, with your tax return complete schedule L (Form 1040). Check box 40b on Form 1040. The sales taxes, local taxes and excise duty paid on the new car appear as increase in the standard deduction. It you are itemizing your deductions, the new car deduction will appear on line 7 of schedule A (Form 1040). Complete the worksheet for line 7 on the back of schedule A (Form 1040).
First $2,400 of Unemployment Benefits Tax Free for 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which includes making every person who receives unemployment benefits during 2009 is eligible to exclude the first $2,400 of these benefits on their 2009 tax return. For a married couple, the exclusion applies to each spouse, separately. Thus, if both spouses receive unemployment benefits during 2009, each may exclude from income the first $2,400 of benefits they receive.
You must subtract $2,400 from the amount in box 1 of 1099-G and report it on line 19 of Form 1040, line 13 of Form 1040A, or line 3 of Form 1040-EZ. If married filing jointly, include any unemployment compensation received by your spouse that is more than $2,400.
Unemployed workers can choose to have income tax withheld from their unemployment benefit payments at a flat 10 percent. Unemployed workers who expect to receive more than $2,400 in benefits this year should consider having tax withheld from their benefit payments in excess of that amount.
First-Time Homebuyers Tax Credit
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, qualifying taxpayers who purchase a home in 2009 before Dec. 1, 2009 receive up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately. People can claim the credit either on their 2008 tax returns or on their 2009 tax returns. Read More...
Standard Deduction and Personal Exemption
Standard Deduction
Single ... $5,700 (add $1,400 for Blind/Elderly)
Married Filing Jointly ... $11,400 (add $1,100 for Blind/Elderly)
Head of Household ... $8,350 (add $1,400 for Blind/Elderly)
Married Filing Separately ... $5,700 (add $1,100 for Blind/Elderly)
Dependent ... Greater of $950 or sum of $300 and individual's earned income
Personal Exemption
$3,650
Temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides a temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children. The maximum EITC for this new category is $5,657. These changes apply to 2009 and 2010 tax returns.
The EITC credit begins to phase out at $21,420 for married taxpayers filing a joint return with children and completely phases out at $40,463 for one child, $45,295 for two children and $48,279 for three or more children. For married taxpayers filing a joint return with no children, the credit begins to phase out at $12,470 and completely phases out at $18,440.
Additional Child Tax Credit
Under ARRA more families will be eligible for the additional child tax credit, which is a refundable credit.
ARRA reduces the minimum earned income amount used to calculate the additional child tax credit to $3,000. Before ARRA, the minimum earned income amount was set to rise to $12,550. This change applies to tax years beginning in 2009 and 2010.
American Opportunity Credit for college education expenses
Under ARRA, the American Opportunity Credit modifies the existing Hope Credit for tax years 2009 and 2010, making the Hope Credit available to a broader range of taxpayers, including many with higher incomes and those who owe no tax. The credit can be claimed for four post-secondary education years instead of two, and it also adds required course materials to the list of qualifying expenses. The maximum annual credit is $2,500 per student. If you or your parents get the education credit, you cannot claim any type of education deduction.
The full credit is available to individuals whose modified adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less, or $160,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return. The credit is phased out for taxpayers with incomes above these levels. These income limits are higher than under the existing Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits.
If you choose to file as married filing separately you cannot take education credits, the deduction for student loan interest, or the tuition and fees deduction.
Homeowner's Energy Credit & Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit
Homeowner's energy credit is available for 2009 and 2010. The credit is thirty percent with a maximum of $1,500 for windows, doors, furnaces, water boilers, skylights, pellet stoves and insulation. Any credits received in previous years, do not effect this maximum credit amount.
For residential energy efficient property the credit is 30% of your costs of qualified property. Qualified properties include solar electric, solar water heating, fuel cell, small wind energy, and geothermal heat pump.
To take the credit, complete Form 5695 Residential Energy Credits. Enter the credit on line 52 of Form 1040 and check box c.
Making Work Pay and Government Retiree Credits
Taxpayers with earned income will get Making Work Pay credit. It is 6.2% of your earned income with a maximum of $400 ($800 if married filing jointly). You must file schedule M (Form 1040 or 1040A) to claim the credit. Include the credit on line 63 of Form 1040 or line 40 of Form 1040A. If you are filing Form 1040-EZ, include the credit on line 8 and do not file schedule M. Those with AGI of more than $95,000 ($190,000 if married filing jointly), nonresidents and dependents do not get this credit.
If you received a government pension or annuity in 2009, you may be able to take Government retiree credit. The credit is $250 ($500 if married filing joint return and both spouses received a qualifying pension or annuity). You can not take the credit if you received a $250 economic recovery payment during 2009. You must file schedule M (Form 1040 or 1040A) to claim the credit.
Cash for Clunkers
A $3,500 or $4,500 voucher or payment made for such a voucher under "cash for clunkers" (CARS) program to buy or lease a new fuel-efficient automobile is not taxable.
More Articles
Your Filing Status
1. Filing Status for Married
2. Head of Household
Exemptions for Dependents
1. Requirements for claiming a dependent
2. Child of separated or divorced parents
Filing Requirements
1. 2009 Filing Requirements
2. 2008 Filing Requirements
3. Filing Requirement for a Dependent
Your Income
1. W2 vs 1099-Misc: Employee vs Independent Contractor
2. Tax Filing by Self Employed Sole Proprietor or Independent Contractor
3. Partnerships
4. Filing W4 Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate
5. Missing W2, 1099-Misc, 1099-R, 1099-Int
Your Foreign Income
1. U.S. Citizen or Resident with Foreign Income
2. Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts
Income Exemptions and Deductions
1. Moving Expenses
2. Itemized deductions
3. Student Loan Interest Deductions
Income Adjustment
1. Traditional IRA and Roth IRA
2. Elective Deferrals 401(k) Plans
U.S. Gift tax and Inheritance Tax
1. The U.S. Gift Tax
2. Tax on Inheritances
Sale of Your Home
1. Profit from the Sale of Your Home
2. Foreclosure or Repossession of Main Home
3. First-Time Homebuyer Credit
State Tax Return
1. Working in Two or More States
Income Tax
1. My Tax Refund?
Complete List of Articles
OctroTalk - instant messaging, P2P file transfer, VoIP, SIP calling, live video chat and video conference for Nokia S60 3rd., Window Mobile Smartphone and Pocket PC and Windows Desktop. Free Download http://www.octro.com/
What's New for 2010
To contact us Click HERE
This article contains information that effects your 2010 tax return.
Due date of return.
File individual taxpayers the due date for 2010 tax return is April 18, 2011 instead of April 15, 2011.
Standard Deduction and Personal Exemption
Standard Deduction
Single ... $5,700 (add $1,400 for Blind/Elderly)
Married Filing Jointly ... $11,400 (add $1,100 for Blind/Elderly)
Head of Household ... $8,350 (add $1,400 for Blind/Elderly)
Married Filing Separately ... $5,700 (add $1,100 for Blind/Elderly)
Dependent ... Greater of $950 or sum of $300 and individual's earned income
Personal Exemption
$3,650
Standard mileage rates.
For 2010, the standard mileage rate for the cost of operating your car for business use is 50 cents a mile, for medical reasons is 16½ cents a mile for the cost of operating your car for determining moving expenses is 16½ cents a mile.
Limits on personal exemptions and overall itemized deductions ended.
For 2010, you do not lose part of your deduction for personal exemptions and itemized deductions, regardless of the amount of your adjusted gross income (AGI).
Temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides a temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children. The maximum EITC for this new category is $5,657. These changes apply to 2009 and 2010 tax returns.
The EITC credit begins to phase out at $21,420 for married taxpayers filing a joint return with children and completely phases out at $40,463 for one child, $45,295 for two children and $48,279 for three or more children. For married taxpayers filing a joint return with no children, the credit begins to phase out at $12,470 and completely phases out at $18,440.
Additional Child Tax Credit
Under ARRA more families will be eligible for the additional child tax credit, which is a refundable credit.ARRA reduces the minimum earned income amount used to calculate the additional child tax credit to $3,000. Before ARRA, the minimum earned income amount was set to rise to $12,550. This change applies to tax years beginning in 2009 and 2010.
American Opportunity Credit for college education expenses
Under ARRA, the American Opportunity Credit modifies the existing Hope Credit for tax years 2009 and 2010, making the Hope Credit available to a broader range of taxpayers, including many with higher incomes and those who owe no tax. The credit can be claimed for four post-secondary education years instead of two, and it also adds required course materials to the list of qualifying expenses. The maximum annual credit is $2,500 per student. Use Form 8863 Education Credit.
The full credit is available to individuals whose modified adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less, or $160,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return. The credit is phased out for taxpayers with incomes above these levels. These income limits are higher than under the existing Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits.
If you choose to file as married filing separately you cannot take education credits, the deduction for student loan interest, or the tuition and fees deduction.
Self-employed health insurance deduction.
Effective March 30, 2010, if you were self-employed and paid for health insurance, you may be able to include in your self-employed health insurance deduction any premiums you paid to cover your child who was under age 27 at the end of 2010, even if the child was not your dependent.
First-time homebuyer credit.
You generally cannot claim the credit for a home you bought after April 30, 2010. However, you may be able to claim the credit if you entered into a written binding contract before May 1, 2010, to buy the home before July 1, 2010, and actually bought the home before October 1, 2010. Also, certain members of the Armed Forces and certain other taxpayers have additional time to buy a home and take the credit.
Homeowner's Energy Credit & Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit
Homeowner's energy credit is available for 2009 and 2010. The credit is thirty percent with a maximum of $1,500 for windows, doors, furnaces, water boilers, skylights, pellet stoves and insulation. Any credits received in previous years, do not effect this maximum credit amount.
For residential energy efficient property the credit is 30% of your costs of qualified property. Qualified properties include solar electric, solar water heating, fuel cell, small wind energy, and geothermal heat pump.
To take the credit, complete Form 5695 Residential Energy Credits. Enter the credit on line 52 of Form 1040 and check box c.
Making Work Pay Credit
Taxpayers with earned income will get Making Work Pay credit. It is 6.2% of your earned income with a maximum of $400 ($800 if married filing jointly). You must file schedule M (Form 1040 or 1040A) to claim the credit. Include the credit on line 63 of Form 1040 or line 40 of Form 1040A. If you are filing Form 1040-EZ, include the credit on line 8 and do not file schedule M. Those with AGI of more than $95,000 ($190,000 if married filing jointly), nonresidents and dependents do not get this credit.
Roth IRAs
Beginning in 2010, you can make a qualified rollover contribution to a Roth IRA regardless of the amount of your modified AGI.Also, half of any income that results from a rollover or conversion to a Roth IRA from another retirement plan in 2010 is included in income in 2011, and the other half in 2012, unless you elect to include all of it in 2010.
More Articles
Your Filing Status
1. Filing Status for Married
2. Head of Household
Exemptions for Dependents
1. Requirements for claiming a dependent
2. Child of separated or divorced parents
Filing Requirements
1. 2009 Filing Requirements
2. 2008 Filing Requirements
3. Filing Requirement for a Dependent
Your Income
1. W2 vs 1099-Misc: Employee vs Independent Contractor
2. Tax Filing by Self Employed Sole Proprietor or Independent Contractor
3. Partnerships
4. Filing W4 Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate
5. Missing W2, 1099-Misc, 1099-R, 1099-Int
Your Foreign Income
1. U.S. Citizen or Resident with Foreign Income
2. Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts
Income Exemptions and Deductions
1. Moving Expenses
2. Itemized deductions
3. Student Loan Interest Deductions
Income Adjustment
1. Traditional IRA and Roth IRA
2. Elective Deferrals 401(k) Plans
U.S. Gift tax and Inheritance Tax
1. The U.S. Gift Tax
2. Tax on Inheritances
Sale of Your Home
1. Profit from the Sale of Your Home
2. Foreclosure or Repossession of Main Home
3. First-Time Homebuyer Credit
State Tax Return
1. Working in Two or More States
Income Tax
1. My Tax Refund?
Complete List of Articles
OctroTalk for Winodws Phone 7. (Free App). Octrotalk version 1.0.3 is a Google Talk client for Windows Phone 7, which allows you to stay logged in to the Google Talk service, and receive incoming messages via push (in case app is not running in the foreground). OctroTalk supports both tile and push notifications. Download http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/42f332f9-4d13-42d2-8214-e290bbd54cde
Due date of return.
File individual taxpayers the due date for 2010 tax return is April 18, 2011 instead of April 15, 2011.
Standard Deduction and Personal Exemption
Standard Deduction
Single ... $5,700 (add $1,400 for Blind/Elderly)
Married Filing Jointly ... $11,400 (add $1,100 for Blind/Elderly)
Head of Household ... $8,350 (add $1,400 for Blind/Elderly)
Married Filing Separately ... $5,700 (add $1,100 for Blind/Elderly)
Dependent ... Greater of $950 or sum of $300 and individual's earned income
Personal Exemption
$3,650
Standard mileage rates.
For 2010, the standard mileage rate for the cost of operating your car for business use is 50 cents a mile, for medical reasons is 16½ cents a mile for the cost of operating your car for determining moving expenses is 16½ cents a mile.
Limits on personal exemptions and overall itemized deductions ended.
For 2010, you do not lose part of your deduction for personal exemptions and itemized deductions, regardless of the amount of your adjusted gross income (AGI).
Temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides a temporary increase in the earned income tax credit (EITC) for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children. The maximum EITC for this new category is $5,657. These changes apply to 2009 and 2010 tax returns.
The EITC credit begins to phase out at $21,420 for married taxpayers filing a joint return with children and completely phases out at $40,463 for one child, $45,295 for two children and $48,279 for three or more children. For married taxpayers filing a joint return with no children, the credit begins to phase out at $12,470 and completely phases out at $18,440.
Additional Child Tax Credit
Under ARRA more families will be eligible for the additional child tax credit, which is a refundable credit.ARRA reduces the minimum earned income amount used to calculate the additional child tax credit to $3,000. Before ARRA, the minimum earned income amount was set to rise to $12,550. This change applies to tax years beginning in 2009 and 2010.
American Opportunity Credit for college education expenses
Under ARRA, the American Opportunity Credit modifies the existing Hope Credit for tax years 2009 and 2010, making the Hope Credit available to a broader range of taxpayers, including many with higher incomes and those who owe no tax. The credit can be claimed for four post-secondary education years instead of two, and it also adds required course materials to the list of qualifying expenses. The maximum annual credit is $2,500 per student. Use Form 8863 Education Credit.
The full credit is available to individuals whose modified adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less, or $160,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return. The credit is phased out for taxpayers with incomes above these levels. These income limits are higher than under the existing Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits.
If you choose to file as married filing separately you cannot take education credits, the deduction for student loan interest, or the tuition and fees deduction.
Self-employed health insurance deduction.
Effective March 30, 2010, if you were self-employed and paid for health insurance, you may be able to include in your self-employed health insurance deduction any premiums you paid to cover your child who was under age 27 at the end of 2010, even if the child was not your dependent.
First-time homebuyer credit.
You generally cannot claim the credit for a home you bought after April 30, 2010. However, you may be able to claim the credit if you entered into a written binding contract before May 1, 2010, to buy the home before July 1, 2010, and actually bought the home before October 1, 2010. Also, certain members of the Armed Forces and certain other taxpayers have additional time to buy a home and take the credit.
Homeowner's Energy Credit & Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit
Homeowner's energy credit is available for 2009 and 2010. The credit is thirty percent with a maximum of $1,500 for windows, doors, furnaces, water boilers, skylights, pellet stoves and insulation. Any credits received in previous years, do not effect this maximum credit amount.
For residential energy efficient property the credit is 30% of your costs of qualified property. Qualified properties include solar electric, solar water heating, fuel cell, small wind energy, and geothermal heat pump.
To take the credit, complete Form 5695 Residential Energy Credits. Enter the credit on line 52 of Form 1040 and check box c.
Making Work Pay Credit
Taxpayers with earned income will get Making Work Pay credit. It is 6.2% of your earned income with a maximum of $400 ($800 if married filing jointly). You must file schedule M (Form 1040 or 1040A) to claim the credit. Include the credit on line 63 of Form 1040 or line 40 of Form 1040A. If you are filing Form 1040-EZ, include the credit on line 8 and do not file schedule M. Those with AGI of more than $95,000 ($190,000 if married filing jointly), nonresidents and dependents do not get this credit.
Roth IRAs
Beginning in 2010, you can make a qualified rollover contribution to a Roth IRA regardless of the amount of your modified AGI.Also, half of any income that results from a rollover or conversion to a Roth IRA from another retirement plan in 2010 is included in income in 2011, and the other half in 2012, unless you elect to include all of it in 2010.
More Articles
Your Filing Status
1. Filing Status for Married
2. Head of Household
Exemptions for Dependents
1. Requirements for claiming a dependent
2. Child of separated or divorced parents
Filing Requirements
1. 2009 Filing Requirements
2. 2008 Filing Requirements
3. Filing Requirement for a Dependent
Your Income
1. W2 vs 1099-Misc: Employee vs Independent Contractor
2. Tax Filing by Self Employed Sole Proprietor or Independent Contractor
3. Partnerships
4. Filing W4 Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate
5. Missing W2, 1099-Misc, 1099-R, 1099-Int
Your Foreign Income
1. U.S. Citizen or Resident with Foreign Income
2. Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts
Income Exemptions and Deductions
1. Moving Expenses
2. Itemized deductions
3. Student Loan Interest Deductions
Income Adjustment
1. Traditional IRA and Roth IRA
2. Elective Deferrals 401(k) Plans
U.S. Gift tax and Inheritance Tax
1. The U.S. Gift Tax
2. Tax on Inheritances
Sale of Your Home
1. Profit from the Sale of Your Home
2. Foreclosure or Repossession of Main Home
3. First-Time Homebuyer Credit
State Tax Return
1. Working in Two or More States
Income Tax
1. My Tax Refund?
Complete List of Articles
OctroTalk for Winodws Phone 7. (Free App). Octrotalk version 1.0.3 is a Google Talk client for Windows Phone 7, which allows you to stay logged in to the Google Talk service, and receive incoming messages via push (in case app is not running in the foreground). OctroTalk supports both tile and push notifications. Download http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/42f332f9-4d13-42d2-8214-e290bbd54cde
Update of the Driscolls' Two Houses
To contact us Click HERE
On February 8th, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals slammed the door on the ability to use housing allowances for multiple homes. In a short but definitive ruling, the court states, in essence, that "a" means "one" and that it should not be construed to be able to mean "more than one". The court relies on the consistent use of the term "home" as holding a singular connotation within the statute. Therefore, if a minister was planning on utilizing his or her housing allowance for more than one "home", it is time to make the appropriate adjustments to the 2012 tax estimates.
Introducing the newest Medusa's Muse author
To contact us Click HERE
Right now I am preparing to edit a brand new manuscript from a brand new Medusa's Muse author. This is why I created a book publishing company: discovering new authors and fresh voices with a passionate story to tell. I've got my reading glasses on, my lap-top battery fully charged, a fresh cup of coffee, the manuscript opened in Word and "track changes" turned to "on." My muse is eagerly peering over my shoulder watching as I type notes inside the pages on my screen. Eventually she'll get a little bored; she finds editing tedious. But for now, she's just as fixated on this brand new Medusa's Muse book as I am.
The writer is Shannon Drury, author of The Radical Housewife. Click the link to explore her blog and get a taste of her writing. She's fabulous. A feminist housewife and mother living in Minnesota, and president of the Minnesota chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Her story is exactly the type I look for. It's honest, funny, passionate, and the author doesn't quiet fit within any category. If she's a housewife, how can she call herself a feminist? She gets criticism from both conservatives and liberals, which means she's perfect for my Muse.
Of course, I'll get a lot more editing done if my daughter would leave me alone for more than 10 minutes at a time.
The writer is Shannon Drury, author of The Radical Housewife. Click the link to explore her blog and get a taste of her writing. She's fabulous. A feminist housewife and mother living in Minnesota, and president of the Minnesota chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Her story is exactly the type I look for. It's honest, funny, passionate, and the author doesn't quiet fit within any category. If she's a housewife, how can she call herself a feminist? She gets criticism from both conservatives and liberals, which means she's perfect for my Muse.
Of course, I'll get a lot more editing done if my daughter would leave me alone for more than 10 minutes at a time.
It's Tax Time. Do you know where your receipts are?
To contact us Click HERE
The H and R Block office has reopened and there are signs all over town announcing deals on tax preparation. That can mean only one thing: it's tax time. The wonderful time of year when we all whimper at the pile of paperwork and forms demanding our immediate attention, realizing we've lost most of our receipts, and we have no idea if we got all of our 1099's and W2's from everyone we worked for.
This is also an excellent time of year to crack open that expensive bottle of scotch Uncle Jo gave us for Christmas.
When I was writing What You Need to Know to Be a Pro, I decided not to include a chapter about taxes because the tax code changes all the time. There is plenty of info throughout the book about keeping track of expenses in preparation of tax season, but I skipped specific info about filing. Instead, I research taxes every year and post my findings on this blog.
First, I found this video on ehow. It's more about keeping track of deductions rather than forms, but she explains receipts very well. The presenter in the video has a whole series about Freelance Writing.
Taxes & Being a Freelance Writer —powered by eHow.com
And here are a few articles I found this morning. Click the links to read the full article.
Writing.org Taxes for Freelancers
Did you earn your first income from freelancing last year? If so, you're in for a new adventure: calculating your income and Social Security taxes as a self-employed person.
The basic principle of paying freelance taxes is simple: You add up your income, deduct your expenses, and transfer the net profit or loss to Line 12, "Business income (or loss)," on Form 1040.
Unfortunately, what's simple in principle can be complicated in practice. Here are a few guidelines to help you get started:
Tax Issues for Freelance Writers
Here are some tips and strategies for thinking about your taxes. There are special circumstances that apply to freelance writers and other independent professionals, so I will highlight what you need to know to prepare your taxes.
Being self-employed is quite possibly one of the best tax strategies available today. Unlike being an employee, freelancers are in full control of their financial and tax situation. But independence also comes at a cost. Independent contractors face higher taxes and more record keeping duties than employees.
I really like this next article, written by a freelance writer and business expert.
Blue Inkwell Taxes for the Freelance Writer
Setting up shop as a freelance is easy enough. Unfortunately, most novices don’t think about the tax implications of what they’re doing until their first tax season rolls around. Then the questions pour out.
What do I have to claim?How do I deal with 1099s?What classifies as a deduction?Am I supposed to pay quarterly taxes?
I'll keep researching the tax code for 2011 and post what I find here. If you have any helpful articles, post the link in comments.
And good luck with the receipt hunt. Check your car. I found lots of Medusa receipts in mine.
This is also an excellent time of year to crack open that expensive bottle of scotch Uncle Jo gave us for Christmas.
When I was writing What You Need to Know to Be a Pro, I decided not to include a chapter about taxes because the tax code changes all the time. There is plenty of info throughout the book about keeping track of expenses in preparation of tax season, but I skipped specific info about filing. Instead, I research taxes every year and post my findings on this blog.
First, I found this video on ehow. It's more about keeping track of deductions rather than forms, but she explains receipts very well. The presenter in the video has a whole series about Freelance Writing.
Taxes & Being a Freelance Writer —powered by eHow.com
And here are a few articles I found this morning. Click the links to read the full article.
Writing.org Taxes for Freelancers
Did you earn your first income from freelancing last year? If so, you're in for a new adventure: calculating your income and Social Security taxes as a self-employed person.
The basic principle of paying freelance taxes is simple: You add up your income, deduct your expenses, and transfer the net profit or loss to Line 12, "Business income (or loss)," on Form 1040.
Unfortunately, what's simple in principle can be complicated in practice. Here are a few guidelines to help you get started:
Tax Issues for Freelance Writers
Here are some tips and strategies for thinking about your taxes. There are special circumstances that apply to freelance writers and other independent professionals, so I will highlight what you need to know to prepare your taxes.
Being self-employed is quite possibly one of the best tax strategies available today. Unlike being an employee, freelancers are in full control of their financial and tax situation. But independence also comes at a cost. Independent contractors face higher taxes and more record keeping duties than employees.
I really like this next article, written by a freelance writer and business expert.
Blue Inkwell Taxes for the Freelance Writer
Setting up shop as a freelance is easy enough. Unfortunately, most novices don’t think about the tax implications of what they’re doing until their first tax season rolls around. Then the questions pour out.
What do I have to claim?How do I deal with 1099s?What classifies as a deduction?Am I supposed to pay quarterly taxes?
I'll keep researching the tax code for 2011 and post what I find here. If you have any helpful articles, post the link in comments.
And good luck with the receipt hunt. Check your car. I found lots of Medusa receipts in mine.
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