“IT’S LATER!”

We’ve been telling you since the start of the year that tax planning is the key to paying the minimum tax possible. We’ve urged you to come in for your free tax analysis, but we’ve been disappointed that you haven’t accepted our offer.

Most of you agree that tax planning is a good idea that can save you money. But you’ve procrastinated, and made excuses to avoid taking advantage of the opportunity. You told yourself “I’ll wait ‘til later, after April 15.” Then after April 15, you said “I’ll wait ‘til later, when it’s closer to the end of the year.” Then, as the year drew to a close, you said “I’ll wait ‘til later, after the election results are in.”

Well, guess what. It’s later.

December 31 is just a few short weeks away. If you we don’t sit down to talk before then, your best planning opportunities will vanish, just like Cinderella’s carriage turning back to a pumpkin. And trust us here — you do not want to be left without a ride home that night!

December 31 is even more important this year than usual, because there’s so much uncertainty in the air. Will the Bush tax cuts be extended? How much will the new Obamacare taxes cost you? What opportunities are you missing to save? We can’t give you the answers if we don’t sit down to plan.

Do it before it’s too late. We’ll find the mistakes and missed opportunities that may be costing you thousands today, and show you how smart planning can save thousands more tomorrow. So call now to schedule your Analysis!

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

There's good news for those who collect Social Security benefits and those who want to contribute to pension plans in 2013.

The Social Security Administration recently announced benefit increases for 2013 of 1.7 percent for millions of Americans. For eight million recipients of Supplemental Security Income, the cost-of-living increase will begin on December 31, 2012, while 56 million Social Security beneficiaries will see payment increases beginning in January 2013.

Other changes include a higher wage base on which those who remain in the workforce will pay Social Security tax. In 2012, that maximum is $110,100 and it will rise in 2013 to $113,700.

PERENNAIL AUDIT RED FLAGS

• Not reporting all income. The IRS is adept at "matching" income reported about you by employers, banks, and brokerage firms against what is reported on your tax return.
• Self-employment. If you work for yourself and file Schedule C, you have a greater chance of an audit. The IRS is especially suspicious of businesses that look like hobbies.
• Dealing in cash. IRS auditors are trained to search every nook and cranny of the cash-based financial world to detect cheating.
• Out-of-line figures. IRS computers compare returns with those filed by taxpayers with similar incomes. If deductions are significantly higher, you may be asked why. Of course, this doesn't mean you shouldn't claim every deduction you are entitled to. You just need to be aware of how audits work and hang onto the proper records.
• Large travel and entertainment deductions.
• Being a "tax protestor."Some people refuse to pay because they claim taxes are unconstitutional. The IRS has little patience for these arguments.

THIS IS WHAT EXPERTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

I just spent 2 days attending the National Tax Conference.  One of the speakers was a specialist in health care reform.  The more I learn about the act the more confusing it is.  Here are a few of his comments of the unexpected outcome of the act that he thinks will come about as employers and taxpayers become more aware of the act. 

·         Many owners may consider transferring enough ownership to prevent combination of entities into one “employer” for tax purposes.  This will help keep the employee number under 50 to avoid providing expensive insurance for full time employees. 

·         Many employers will increase  the amount of self coverage that they pay for, but may eliminate or substantially reduce family coverage.

·         Because employers will be encouraged to keep employees under 30 hours, lower income workers will most likely need to work at least two jobs to make a living.   Therefore, these employees will need two jobs to have a chance at making a living.

·         Many employers may eliminate health insurance coverage completely.  This will place these employees into the “public” exchange plan.  Employers will consider this since it may be substantially cheaper to simply pay the penalty and adjust pay for upper level employees.

·         It is cheaper for employers to have younger employees to keep their average premiums downs, so there will be an advantage to reduce the number of older employees.

 

“BLACK FRIDAY” TAX PLANNING PUTS TAXES ON SALE

The holidays are here, and millions of Americans kicked off the season with “Black Friday” shopping. Braving the crowds and the cold, facing scorn from family they’ve left behind, they line up at obscenely early hours (or duck out of Thanksgiving dinner before the pumpkin pie is even served) to save $20 on a DVD player or $40 on a flat-screen television.

It’s sad, but true, that most Americans spend more time planning their “Black Friday” shopping than they spend planning their taxes. But that can be an expensive mistake!

What if the IRS had a sale? What if the IRS let you discount your taxes by thousands of dollars, this year and every year to come? And what if they let you do it from the comfort of your home or your office, without lining up in the pre-dawn hours of a chilly November morning? Would you give thanks for a sale like that?

You’re probably not holding your breath for the scrooges at the IRS to hold a “sale.” The good news is, you don’t have to wait for that to happen. You just need a plan. Tax planning is the key to paying the legal minimum, especially with the “fiscal cliff” looming on the horizon. And a good tax plan can pay for a holiday season full of gifts and fun.

Have we showed you how “Black Friday” tax planning can save thousands?

OUTRAGEOUS MARKUPS YOU PAY EVERY DAY

I saw this in the December Reader's Digest. I thought you might find interesting.

Learn smart ways to avoid the hidden costs of convenience.

6,000% - Text Messages - Phone users commonly pay 10 cents per text message, but sending it might cost the carrier only a sixth of a cent. If the same markup applied to a short phone call, the call would cost $120.

4,000% - Bottled Water - A $2 bottle of water costs only about 5 cents to produce.

1,275% - Movie Theater Popcorn - Theaters know that viewers will pay more for movie snacks, so they hike up the prices: A bag of popcorn that costs 37 cents to make can easily sell for $5. One Michigan man found the price so outrageous that he is suing his local theater.

300% - Wine at a Restaurant - Restaurants routinely charge as much as $30 for bottles of wine that retail online for $7 or $8. Check in advance whether the restaurant allows BYOB, or opt for a nonalcoholic beverage.

40% - Precut Produce - Precut fruits and vegetables may save you time, but they definitely won't save you money: Grocery stores charge almost 1.5 times more for precut than for uncut produce.

AS THIS PERSON FOUND OUT, THE RULES ON INHERITED IRAS CAN BE COMPLICATED

The 60-day rollover rule won’t apply if an inherited IRA is first paid to you, as a woman who was the beneficiary of her deceased mom’s IRA learned the hard way.

The custodian paid the death benefits to the daughter. Within the usual 60-day period, she set up a new IRA and deposited into the account the check she had received. Because she didn’t arrange to have the money transferred directly into her IRA, the Tax Court says she’s taxed on the distribution.

 (Beech, TC Summ. Op. 2012-74)

2013 STANDARD MILEAGE RATES UP

The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2013 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2013, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

• 56.5 cents per mile for business miles driven
• 24 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

The rate for business miles driven during 2013 increases 1 cent from the 2012 rate.  The medical and moving rate is also up 1 cent per mile from the 2012 rate.

The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs.

Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates.

A taxpayer may not use the business standard mileage rate for a vehicle after using any depreciation method under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) or after claiming a Section 179 deduction for that vehicle.  In addition, the business standard mileage rate cannot be used for more than four vehicles used simultaneously.

These and other requirements for a taxpayer to use a standard mileage rate to calculate the amount of a deductible business, moving, medical, or charitable expense are in Rev. Proc. 2010-51.  Notice 2012-72 contains the standard mileage rates, the amount a taxpayer must use in calculating reductions to basis for depreciation taken under the business standard mileage rate, and the maximum standard automobile cost that a taxpayer may use in computing the allowance under a fixed and variable rate plan.

GET THEM NOW BEFORE IT IS TO LATE

WHAT IS THE STANDARD MILEAGE RATE?

Since July 1, 2011 the standard mileage rate has been 55.5 cents per mile. 

If you own a vehicle, you can use this deduction beginning with the first year that you place your vehicle in service. If you are leasing your vehicle, and use this deduction, you must use it for the entire period that you lease the vehicle for. This means that you cannot switch between the standard mileage deduction and the actual expenses deduction. 

With the standard rate, you can deduct miles driven as well as toll expenses and parking fees. You cannot deduct depreciation expenses, fees for leasing and renting or vehicle operating expenses.

IRS APPROVES LEAVE-SHARING PROGRAMS TO HELP HURRICANE SANDY VICTIMS

IRS has announced that employees won't be taxed when they forgo vacation, sick, or personal leave in exchange for employer contributions of amounts to charitable organizations providing relief to Hurricane Sandy victims. Employers may deduct the amounts as business expenses.

Treatment of leave based-programs.

Some employers have set up programs where employees can donate their vacation, sick or personal leave in exchange for the employer making cash payments to qualified tax-exempt organizations that provide relief for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. The IRS has announced that it will not assert that cash payments an employer makes to organizations in exchange for vacation, sick, or personal leave that its employees elect to forgo constitute gross income or wages of the employees if the payments are:

(1) made to the qualified organizations for the relief of victims of Hurricane Sandy; and

(2) paid to qualified organizations before Jan. 1, 2014.

Nor will giving employees the choice to participate cause employees to be considered in constructive receipt of income. However, employees who participate in a leave-sharing donation program won't be allowed to claim a charitable contribution deduction for the value of forgone leave excluded from compensation and wages.

As for employers, IRS won't assert that payments made under a leave-sharing donation program are deductible as charitable contributions.

Thus, the employer will be able to deduct the payments without being subject to the various charitable contribution limits to C corporations.

Treatment of Form W-2. Amounts representing leave-sharing donations need not be included in Box 1 (wages, tips, or other compensation), Box 3 (Social Security wages, if applicable), or Box 5 (Medicare wages and tips) of Form W-2.

In other words, these amounts also will be free of income- and payroll-tax withholding.

Participation in these programs can help both employees who itemize and those who don't. For example, a non-itemizer who forgoes $2,000 worth of leave will get the equivalent of a $2,000 deduction that would not be available if he took the leave and contributed $2,000 in cash himself.

The lower adjusted gross income (AGI) from participating in the program may make it possible for the employee to achieve a greater tax benefit from any of the numerous deductions and credits that are reduced as AGI increases. For example, participation may yield a higher deduction for a contribution to a traditional IRA. Itemizers can also benefit from the lower AGI. Both itemizers and non-itemizers can save Social Security taxes on the amount foregone. On the downside, participation could result in smaller retirement plan contributions depending on how compensation is defined under the employer's retirement plan.

IRS WARNS CONSUMERS OF POSSIBLE SCAMS RELATING TO HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today issued a consumer alert about possible scams taking place in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Following major disasters, it’s common for scam artists to impersonate charities to get money or private information from well-intentioned taxpayers. Such fraudulent schemes may involve contact by telephone, social media, email or in-person solicitations.

The IRS cautions both hurricane victims and people wishing to make disaster-related charitable donations to avoid scam artists by following these tips:

• To help disaster victims, donate to recognized charities.  
• Be wary of charities with names that are similar to familiar or nationally known organizations. Some phony charities use names or websites that sound or look like those of respected, legitimate organizations. The IRS website at IRS.gov has a search feature, Exempt Organizations Select Check, which allows people to find legitimate, qualified charities to which donations may be tax-deductible. Legitimate charities may also be found on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Web site at fema.gov.
• Don’t give out personal financial information — such as Social Security numbers or credit card and bank account numbers and passwords — to anyone who solicits a contribution from you. Scam artists may use this information to steal your identity and money.
• Don’t give or send cash. For security and tax record purposes, contribute by check or credit card or another way that provides documentation of the gift.
• Call the IRS toll-free disaster assistance telephone number, 1-866-562-5227, if you are a hurricane victim with specific questions about tax relief or disaster related tax issues.

Scam artists can use a variety of tactics. Some scammers operating bogus charities may contact people by telephone to solicit money or financial information. They may even directly contact disaster victims and claim to be working for or on behalf of the IRS to help the victims file casualty loss claims and get tax refunds. They may attempt to get personal financial information or Social Security numbers that can be used to steal the victims’ identities or financial resources.

Bogus websites may solicit funds for disaster victims. Such fraudulent sites frequently mimic the sites of, or use names similar to, legitimate charities, or claim to be affiliated with legitimate charities, in order to persuade members of the public to send money or provide personal financial information that can be used to steal identities or financial resources.   Additionally, scammers often send e-mail that steers the recipient to bogus websites that sound as though they are affiliated with legitimate charitable causes.

Taxpayers suspecting disaster-related frauds should go to IRS.gov and search for the keywords  “Report Phishing.”

More information about tax scams and schemes may be found at IRS.gov using the keywords “scams and schemes.”  

EMPLOYERS HIRING VETERANS BY YEAR'S END MAY GET EXPANDED TAX CREDIT

Employers planning to claim an expanded tax credit for hiring certain veterans should act soon, according to the IRS. Many businesses may qualify to receive thousands of dollars through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, but only if the veteran begins work before the new year.

Here are six key facts about the WOTC as expanded by VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.

1. Hiring Deadline: Employers may be able to claim the expanded WOTC for qualified veterans who begin work on or after Nov. 22, 2011 but before Jan. 1, 2013.

2. Maximum Credit: The maximum tax credit is $9,600 per worker for employers that operate for-profit businesses, or $6,240 per worker for tax-exempt organizations.

3. Credit Factors: The amount of credit will depend on a number of factors. Such factors include the length of the veteran’s unemployment before being hired, the number of hours the veteran works and the amount of the wages the veteran receives during the first-year of employment.

4. Disabled Veterans: Employers hiring veterans with service-related disabilities may be eligible for the maximum tax credit.

5. State Certification: Employers must file Form 8850, Pre-Screening Notice and Certification Request for the Work Opportunity Credit, with their state workforce agency. The form must be filed within 28 days after the qualified veteran starts work. For additional information about your SWA visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s WOTC website.

6. E-file: Some states accept Form 8850 electronically.

SECTION 179 FOR 2013

As we are doing yearend tax planning, the question has come up several times on how to plan for the fast write off of equipment called section 179 will change in 2013. It is confusing. The current law is a limit of $25,000 for 2013, but will Congress change this low number. Who knows?

Both the President and Congress have discussed increasing the deduction up to $500,000 with a phase-out starting at $2 million. It appears at the moment that the Democrats are pushing this more than the Republicans, but they have other incentives that may provide small business tax relief similar to the Section 179 deduction.

There is even a chance that it may go to $500,000 from the current $139,000 in 2012. Maybe now that the election is over we will get some movement.

We will keep you posted.

RELIEF FOR EMPLOYERS OWING BACK PAYROLL TAXES

During the Sept. 12, 2012 IRS webinar titled “Payment Alternatives – When You Owe the IRS,” Traci Suiter, lead public affairs specialist with IRS's Small Business/Self-Employed Division, explained the criteria that must be met for a business owing payroll taxes to qualify for an In-Business Trust Fund Express Installment Agreement (IBTF-Express IA). These plans don't require detailed financial information and may help the owner to avoid a responsible person penalty.

Background on installment agreements.

IRS may enter into written agreements with any taxpayer under which that taxpayer may make payment on any tax in installment payments if IRS determines that the installment agreement will facilitate full or partial collection of the tax liability.

Before entering into such an agreement, IRS determines if it's appropriate for the circumstances and then sets up the agreement, processes the payments and monitors the taxpayer's compliance with the agreement. If a taxpayer fails to comply with any of the installment agreement's terms, the agreement is deemed to be in default and IRS has the right to terminate the agreement.

Guidance on IBTF-Express IAs.

In order to qualify for an IBTF-Express IA, a business owing payroll taxes must satisfy the following requirements:

• They must owe $25,000 or less at the time the agreement is established. If they owe more than $25,000, they may pay down the liability before entering into the agreement in order to qualify.
• The debt must be paid in full within 24 months or prior to the Collection Statute Expiration Date (CSED), whichever is earlier.
• They must enroll in a Direct Debit installment agreement (DDIA) if the amount they owe is between $10,000 and $25,000.
• They must be compliant with all filing and payment requirements.

One of the advantages of applying for an IBTF-Express IA is that a business is generally not required to provide a financial statement or financial verification as part of the application process, so the agreement is likely to be approved more quickly than other payment alternatives. The Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) also notes that it is IRS policy not to pursue the trust fund recovery penalty against an individual in a business that has set up an IBTF-Express IA.

To request an IBTF-Express IA, a business may call the number on the tax bill, or (800) 829-4933. A business could also complete Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request, and send it to the address on the tax bill (or the address on page 2 of the instructions for Form 9465). Suiter noted that applications for the payroll tax installment agreement are not currently available online, but said that may change in the future.

Further information on the program is available on the Small Business/Self-Employed section of the IRS website on the webpage called“Fresh Start Installment Agreements.”

AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU DON'T LIVE IN OHIO?

More than 58,000 television ads on the presidential race were broadcast over the last month in Ohio. To view them all, you’d have to watch ads 24 hours a day for 80 days. Bloomberg.com

LAST WEEK’S BLOG

Last week I decided that I was going to tell people who I was supporting for president and why. I knew there would be some ramifications for this and I was right.

I was called a “Right Ring Radical”, a “stooge for the Republican Party” and some other names that I probably shouldn’t say. . I was disappointed that none of the people that criticized my blog told me what was wrong with my rationale.  They just called me names.  People, the countries deficit problem is huge and it needs to be dealt with. We can’t close our eyes and leave things as they are. I looked forward to receiving some comments of people telling me why I was wrong which I did not get.

I think that everybody should be able to have their opinion. That’s why we have a free country.  Because of my comments, we had several people unsubscribe to my blog. It’s interesting. I try to give information that hopefully can help people in their business but, apparently, the information I give is not enough to offset the anger they felt because I dare to express my opinion.

I apologize if I offended you.

WHAT I’VE BEEN UP TO

On October 31, I was honored to make a presentation to the Nebraska CPA Annual Meeting on income tax updates.  As part of my presentation I reviewed all the cases, rulings and the future of income taxes with the 190 CPA’s that were in attendance.

It is always an honor to make this presentation but it is also stressful.  This is not only stressful on me; it is stressful to the firm.   It takes me a considerable amount of time to put the Tax Update together and our staff does a terrific job of making sure everything gets done while I am engrossed in putting this project.

The good thing about the program is that it does make me look at all the court cases, revenue rulings, procedures and happenings over the last twelve months so that I am completely up to date.

Knowledge is Power!