by | Nov 6, 2021 | Tax Tips and News
A new provision in the tax code lets more taxpayers deduct up to $600 in donations to qualified charities—even if they don’t itemize.
Itemizing is ordinarily the key that unlocks the charitable donation deduction; taxpayers choosing the standard deduction usually just don’t have that option.
A new, albeit temporary, change in the tax law now lets taxpayers claim a limited deduction on their 2021 federal income taxes for cash contributions to qualified charitable organizations.
First enacted in 2020, the special deduction was extended in December 2020 to run through the end of 2021.
Individual taxpayers can claim up to $300 for such donations; married taxpayers filing jointly can claim double that amount.
The provision covers donations made by check, credit card or debit card and also includes amounts an individual may have in unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses incurred through volunteering with a qualified charitable organization. Qualifying donations, however, don’t include the value of securities, household items or other property, or volunteer services.
This new deduction is not open to contributions to just any organization; only recognized charitable organizations qualify. Use the IRS Exempt Organization Search Tool to check the status of a charity.
Generally, cash contributions to most charities will qualify—but not always. Donating either to what’s called “supporting organizations” or to establish or maintain a donor-advised fund aren’t covered by the temporary deduction.
A donor-advised fund is generally a fund or an account that’s maintained by a charity that allows donors to tell the fund how to invest or distribute amounts contributed by the donor.
Supporting organizations are charities that support other tax-exempt organizations, which are usually other public charities.
There are other limitations in the deduction: qualified contributions can’t be carried forward from previous years and donations to most private foundations and charitable remainder trusts aren’t qualified.
Taxpayers claiming this deduction need to keep in mind that special record-keeping rules apply. This includes getting a letter from the charity acknowledging the donation before filing a return and keeping a cancelled check or credit card receipt to prove donations of cash.
Details on the rules of proving charitable gives are available in Publication 526, Charitable Contributions, on the IRS website.
Source: IR-2021-214
– Story provided by TaxingSubjects.com
by | Nov 5, 2021 | Tax Tips and News
Taxpayers in Connecticut are getting a little extra time to file their taxes, courtesy of Hurricane Ida and the IRS. Ida tore up coastal areas in the southern U.S., and went on to batter the Northeast with flooding and other damage.
The Internal Revenue Service recognizes that some victims of the storm may have trouble getting their taxes in on time, so it’s giving taxpayers in part of Connecticut until Jan. 3, 2022 to file and pay various taxes.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officially declared parts of Connecticut a federal disaster area and the taxpayers within those areas are eligible for individual or public assistance.
Currently, the designated area includes Fairfield and New London counties, including the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribal Nation.
If any counties, township or other jurisdiction are added later, taxpayers within those additional locations will be automatically eligible for the IRS relief measures.
What are the terms of the relief?
The IRS relief measure basically postpones a number of tax filing and payment deadlines that would have taken place between Sept. 1, 2021, and Jan. 3, 2022. Taxpayers in the affected areas now have until Jan. 3 to file and pay taxes that would have been due during the period.
Worth noting, however, is that while taxpayers with valid extensions of time to file now have until January 3 to file their taxes, there is no extension of time to pay, since that payment was originally due May 17, 2021.
What payments are covered by the extension include quarterly estimated income tax payments that were due in September, and quarterly payroll and excise tax returns that would have been due otherwise on November 1.
Businesses also are getting more time to file and pay various returns. Calendar-year partnerships and S corporations with a 2020 extension that ended in September and calendar-year corporations that had an extension that ran out in October are also covered by the new deadline, as are calendar-year tax-exempt groups with 2020 extensions that end Nov. 15, 2021.
There are other provisions of the relief package, for both individuals and businesses. Visit the IRS disaster relief page for details on the returns, payments and other actions that qualify for the additional time.
There’s no need to call
Taxpayers don’t need to contact the IRS to qualify for the relief measures; in fact, the relief is granted automatically to any taxpayer with an address on file with the IRS within a declared disaster area.
That said, if a taxpayer within the disaster area gets a notice they’ve been assessed a penalty for filing late or paying late for missing a filing deadline within the September 1 to January 3 timeframe, they have a solution. Simply call the phone number printed on the notice and the IRS will have the penalty abated.
Other taxpayers, the IRS says, indeed should call the agency. Those who qualify for relief but live outside the declared disaster area – such as relief workers attached to a government or recognized philanthropic organization – should contact the IRS at 866-562-5227.
Taxpayers who live outside the disaster area but whose records are needed to file and are located within the disaster area should also call the number for guidance.
How do taxpayers file a loss claim?
Taxpayers have two options when it comes to claiming an uninsured or unreimbursed loss on an income tax return. First, they can claim the loss on a return for the year the loss occurred – such as 2021 in this case, the return normally filed next year.
The second option is to claim the loss on the return for the prior year (2020). In either instance, Connecticut taxpayers claiming losses from the storm need to write the FEMA declaration number DR-4629 on their return.
For more on claiming a loss on a tax return, see Publication 547 for details.
The IRS’ tax relief measures are part of the federal government’s coordinated response to Hurricane Ida. They are based on local assessments of storm damage conducted by FEMA.
DisasterAssistance.gov has additional information on disasters and federal recovery measures.
Source: IR-2021-213
– Story provided by TaxingSubjects.com
by | Nov 3, 2021 | Tax Tips and News
Families who have significant income changes to report for the advance Child Tax Credit payments are running out of time to pass those changes on to the Internal Revenue Service.
The IRS says the changes must be entered on the Child Tax Credit Update Portal (CTC UP) by November 29 to be in effect for the December payment. A Spanish version of the CTC UP is expected to launch in late November.
When income is updated, the IRS can adjust the remaining advance payment amounts so the eligible taxpayers get the correct total amount for the year. The agency reminds married couples that if one spouse updates income on the portal, the update will apply to both spouses and so could affect future advance payments of the CTC for them both.
Time is short for tweaks
There’s no need to report minor fluctuations in income through the portal. Instead, the IRS says, taxpayers should use the online update portal to report substantial changes in annual income.
With the December payment being the last advance installment to be paid in 2021, it’s also the last chance for families to report income changes and have them put into effect for the year.
Updates have to be received on the portal before midnight on November 29 to be included in the December 15 advance payment.
Some families receiving the advance monthly payments are getting amounts below the maximum and may be eligible for an increase. This could happen if, for example, the taxpayer had a job loss during the year or had some other decline in income. Reporting the loss of income through the portal could increase the taxpayer’s advance Child Tax Credit payments for the remainder of 2021.
Updating income through the CTC UP is also important for those CTC recipients who find themselves making more income. Those who now get the maximum monthly payments – but expect to qualify for less at tax time – should update their income amounts now to avoid surprises when they file their income tax return.
Topic C of the IRS’ Frequently Asked Questions has more on calculating the Child Tax Credit. QC4 and QC5 have details for families that qualify to receive less than the full amount.
The IRS has tips for using the CTC Update Portal
The IRS says its Child Tax Credit Update Portal is only available to any taxpayer who is already eligible for the tax credit and is receiving advance payments of the CTC. But there are other limitations to keep in mind:
- The update portal is the only place to report a change in income circumstance to the IRS by advance payment recipients. IRS telephone operators can’t take these changes from callers and representatives at Taxpayer Assistance Centers cannot take them in person.
- Joint filers should note that taxpayers who submitted a joint return in 2020 can only update their income on the portal if they intend to submit a joint return for 2021 with the same spouse.
- Portal users should not be caught off-guard if the portal doesn’t show details of their changes. The IRS says the CTC UP will acknowledge a change was made – but will not display the change itself. Calling the IRS won’t be much help; their telephone representatives won’t be able to confirm a change was made, either.
There’s still time to sign up for the CTC
Low-income families still have time to sign up for the remaining advance payment of the Child Tax Credit.
Any family that isn’t normally required to file a tax return and isn’t already receiving advance payments of the CTC need to check out the IRS website. IRS.gov has tools to help determine a taxpayer’s eligibility for the credit and to help them fill out a simplified tax return to sign up.
Taxpayers have until November 15 to sign up.
Eligible families can get half of the credit amount as advance payments; the other half comes as a refund when the taxpayer files a tax return in 2022.
Need more information?
A special Advance Child Tax Credit 2021 page providing the most recent information about the tax credit and advance payments is available at IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021. The site provides a number of online tools, including a list of frequently asked questions and a user guide for the Child Tax Credit Update Portal (Publication 5549).
In addition, the site contains direct links to the portal and other tools and resources.
Source: IR-2021-211
– Story provided by TaxingSubjects.com
by | Oct 30, 2021 | Tax Tips and News
While most of the nation’s attention is turned to fall colors and the Thanksgiving holidays, residents of some Mississippi counties still have all-too-vivid memories of meaner weather earlier in the summer.
That’s when Hurricane Ida ravaged the state with high winds, heavy rain and serious flooding. Because of the problems caused by Ida, the Internal Revenue Service is placing some Mississippi Counties in the relief measures tailored to help the storm’s worst-off victims.
Not all of the state is covered by this relief package. Currently, the expanded relief applies to Amite, Claiborne, Copiah, Covington, Franklin, Georgia, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pearl River, Pike, Simpson, Walthall, Wayne and Wilkinson counties.
Other counties may be added if they become part of the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s (FEMA) disaster declaration, which names counties and localities that qualify for individual or public assistance.
The terms of relief
In a nutshell, the IRS relief package postpones various deadlines for filing and paying federal taxes in the named counties until Jan. 3, 2022. In other parts of Mississippi—covered by a separate relief measure previously—the deadline remains Nov. 1 of this year.
To see a full list of eligible locations, check out the disaster relief page on the IRS website.
This new relief package applies only to the counties named, and delays filing and payment deadlines that otherwise would have started on August 28. The relief applies to qualified individuals and businesses alike, giving them until Jan. 3, 2022, to file tax returns and pay any tax that would have otherwise been due during that time.
Taxpayers with a valid extension to file by Oct. 15, 2021, now have until Jan. 3, 2022 to file. In the case of extensions, however, any tax due should have already been paid back on the original filing deadline of May 17 and is not covered by the new relief package.
What else is covered?
Quarterly estimated income tax payments, usually due in September, are also postponed due to the new relief terms, as are quarterly payroll and excise tax returns that would otherwise be due on November 1.
In addition, businesses with an original or extended due date have more time; this includes calendar-year partnerships and S corporations with 2020 extensions that ran out in September, and calendar-year corporations with 2020 extensions that ended on October 15.
Calendar-year tax-exempt organizations with 2020 extensions ending November 15 are also covered.
To see a full list of what returns, payments and other tax-related actions qualify for the January 3 filing date, visit the IRS disaster relief page.
Do not contact the IRS
There’s no need for taxpayers to contact the IRS to see if they qualify for the delayed filing and payment deadline. The agency automatically determines eligibility by the taxpayer’s address of record on file when a return is filed.
Taxpayers who qualify for relief but live outside one of the 19 currently named counties should contact the IRS at 866-562-5227; this includes relief workers who are part of a recognized government or philanthropic organization.
Taxpayers within the federal disaster area who seek to claim their uninsured or unreimbursed losses from the storm on their federal income tax return can do it in one of two ways. They can claim the losses on the return for the year the loss occurred—in this case, on their 2021 return that will be filed next year—or they can claim the loss on the return for the prior year, which would be 2020.
In either case, the taxpayer has to write the FEMA declaration number on any return claiming a loss. To claim a loss in the original disaster area, which includes the entire state of Mississippi, the declaration number is EM-3569.
The declaration number for the new, 19-county disaster declaration is EM-4626.
Publication 547 has details on filing and claiming disaster losses.
The IRS says its disaster relief measures are part of a coordinated response to Hurricane Ida that includes not just FEMA and the IRS, but a number of federal agencies. For the full scope of the federal response to the hurricane, visit DisasterAssistance.gov.
Source: IR-2021-210
– Story provided by TaxingSubjects.com
by | Oct 29, 2021 | Tax Tips and News
The Internet is filled with cybersecurity threats that can jeopardize family finances. Just one of many scams, identity theft tax refund fraud (ITTRF) is big business for criminals, and it can cause big headaches for victims.
The IRS, state departments of revenue, and private members of the tax industry established the Security Summit in 2015 to help combat the rising incidence of tax-related scams. One of the primary ways the group works toward this goal is by spreading awareness of new scams, common phishing tactics, and basic data security strategies.
4 tips for safely using the Internet from the Security Summit
For National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the Security Summit is providing four tips that “children, teens, and other vulnerable groups” can follow to avoid scams and malware when online:
- Teach them to recognize and avoid scams. Phishing emails, threatening phone calls and texts from thieves posing as the IRS or legitimate organizations pose ongoing risks. Do not click on links or download attachments from unknown or suspicious emails.
- Remind them why security is important. Be careful not to reveal too much personal information. Keeping data secure and only providing what is necessary minimizes online exposure to scammers and criminals. Birthdates, addresses, age, financial information such as bank account and Social Security numbers are among things that should not be shared freely.
- Teach them about public Wi-Fi networks. Connection to Wi-Fi in a mall or coffee shop is convenient but it may not be safe. Hackers and cybercriminals can easily intercept personal information. Always use a virtual private network when connecting to public Wi-Fi.
- Always use security software with firewall and anti-virus protections. Make sure the security software is always turned on and can automatically update. Remember, to encrypt sensitive files such as tax records stored on computers. Be sure all family members have comprehensive protection especially if devices are being shared. Use strong, unique passwords for each account.
Finally, the Summit closes the press release by reminding that the IRS “does not use text messages or social media to discuss personal tax issues, such as those involving tax refunds, stimulus payments, or tax bills.” Instead, the agency will first reach out to taxpayers in an official letter or notice before following up with other methods of communication.
Want to learn more about data security?
Check out the following links from the IRS to learn more about data security issues:
Need help creating or updating a written tax office security plan?
Download the Drake Software Tax Office Security Plan.
Source: IR-2021-209
– Story provided by TaxingSubjects.com
by | Oct 27, 2021 | Tax Tips and News
There’s not much doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a strong labor market and turned it on its ear, producing a shortage of available workers.
To help employers navigate these uncertain waters, the Internal Revenue Service is reassuring them that businesses rehiring retirees or keeping employees after they reach retirement age won’t put them crossways with their pension plans.
Many employers, including governmental agencies—public school districts, for example—have had to resort to these measures in order to keep key positions filled. Previously, hiring back workers who retired or retaining those older than the normal retirement age while paying them retirement benefits may have jeopardized the status of their pension plans.
The IRS, however, has posted two new sets of frequently asked questions (FAQs) giving guidance to public and private employers who have pension plans for their employees. These new instructions are aimed helping employers meet their staffing needs while still managing to comply with their pension plan’s qualification rules.
The FAQs explain an employer can usually deal with unexpected hiring needs by rehiring former employees—even if they have already retired and started receiving pension benefits. If the plan permits, these rehired employees can even continue getting pension benefits after they are rehired.
Giving employers another tool to retain older employees, the FAQs also allow employers to make retirement distributions available to existing workers who reach age 59 1/2—or whatever the normal retirement age of their plan may be.
The IRS is also hosting two webinars in October on school labor shortages. Webinar 1 deals with teacher and substitute teacher shortages, while Webinar 2 targets staff shortages, such as bus drivers and food service workers. Follow the links to preregister.
Source: IR-2021-208
– Story provided by TaxingSubjects.com
Arnold & Company, LLC