Five Questions to Ask before Hiring a CPA

Are you in the process of searching for a CPA who can assist with helping you file your tax return? How about somebody who can provide you with the help you need to get your business up and running? Regardless of why you are seeking a local CPA, it is important to compare multiple professionals … Read more

IRS Announces Recognition for Same-Sex Marriages

Last week the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced that all legal same-sex marriages will be recognized for federal tax purposes. This move invalidated a key provision of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which specifically required that couples must be heterosexual to be recognized as married. The ruling will apply to couples who … Read more

Does Your Tax Withholding Need an Adjustment?

Whether you get a tax refund or you owe taxes after completing your tax return depends largely on how much you paid in taxes throughout the year. If you receive a refund, then you overpaid. On the other hand, owing taxes indicates that you underpaid taxes throughout the year. You probably know, from your paystub, … Read more

Tips to Avoid Tax Identity Theft

Tax identity theft is growing in the United States. In fact, 43% of identity theft complaints received by the FTC in 2012 were related to tax fraud. The IRS received close to 940,000 fraudulent tax returns in 2012 (for the 2011 tax year) compared to only 242,124 in 2011. They expect the number to reach … Read more

Tax Relief Scammers Ordered to Pay Over $15 Million

American Tax Relief, a company who purported to reduce consumer’s tax debt, has been ordered to pay more than $15 million to the FTC for deceiving consumers. As their name implies, American Tax Relief sold tax debt relief services to consumers. The FTC filed charges against the company for making false claims about significant reductions … Read more

Four Reasons to Use Your Tax Refund on Debt

People who expect to get a tax refund this year have probably already started daydreaming and planning on what they’ll do with the extra money. Last year, the average tax refund was around $3,000. While you may be tempted to use the money on a vacation, shopping spree, new furniture, or electronics, there may be … Read more

Tax Season Opens January 30 for Most

Though the tax filing season is open for most taxpayers – whether they are filing electronically or on paper – on January 30th, the Internal Revenue Service will not be ready to accept returns claiming education credits until mid-February, the agency reported on Monday. Those affected by the delay are taxpayers filing form 8863, Education … Read more

Options for Filing Income Taxes

At the beginning of every year, millions of Americans get ready to file their income tax return. Some do it because they know they’re legally required to file (whether you’re required to file depends on your age, income, and filing status). Others are eager to receive a refund of taxes that were overpaid throughout the … Read more