Tips are an integral component of an employee’s income at restaurants, hotels and casinos, among other service businesses. Even though tips may appear “under the table”, they’re still subject to tax.
Tipped employees must report their tip income to their employers and maintain a daily tip record. If their actual tips fall below those reported by all staff, the employer must allocate this difference among themselves and give the funds directly to those tipped employees.
Tax deductions
As an entrepreneur, it’s crucial that you realize you can claim tax deductions for many expenses associated with your business – this will reduce taxable income and save money in taxes in the long run.
Take deductions either through itemizing (listing all your deductible items on Schedule A) or the standard deduction (an automatic amount that every taxpayer can claim automatically). Your choice between itemization and standard deduction depends on which option makes more sense for you and should reflect what makes sense financially for you.
Tax deductions that are popularly claimed include charity donations, mortgage interest deduction and state and local taxes. Other expenses which qualify include unreimbursed medical costs, retirement savings accounts and education expenses.
The Internal Revenue Service allows individuals to take deductions based on their adjusted gross income (AGI), including itemised tax returns as well as above-the-line deductions. Even if your tax return doesn’t provide enough to itemize deductions, taking numerous above-the-line deductions may still reduce AGI significantly.
Home-related business expenses such as office equipment and travel costs for business may also qualify for deduction. Deductions based on your adjusted gross income could help save on taxes in the long run.
There are other ways you can lower your tax liability beyond tax deductions; one such credit is the Earned Income Tax Credit which may lower it by as much as $250 annually.
Also, eligible educational expenses qualify for the American Opportunity Tax Credit of up to $2,500; this refundable credit can bolster your tax refund and make a significant dent in your taxes.
Small businesses rely on tax deductions as an essential way of lowering their tax bill, and these expenses could include insurance premiums, office supplies and business travel costs.
Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI, is another common business expense that is tax deductible. PMI serves to protect borrowers in case they default on their loan payments and could lead to their home becoming subject to repossession.
Tax credits
Tax credits are an integral component of income taxation systems. They offer an incentive for taxpayers to take actions that benefit the economy, the environment or any other objective identified as important by government. Some credits programs are even refundable, meaning if your owed tax amount falls short of their value then a refund will be given back as cash back from Uncle Sam.
There are various tax credits, from those targeted at families with young children and purchasing renewable energy or supporting environmental efforts, to lowering health insurance premiums. Each of these tax credits comes with its own set of requirements and eligibility limitations that must be fulfilled to qualify.
The federal government offers numerous credits for investing in business assets, including accelerated depreciation for investment property. These can be an effective tool for business owners hoping to reduce their tax bills.
If you’re planning a major purchase of business assets such as a building, it is advisable to investigate available tax credits first and determine whether the expense is worth it from a tax perspective. This will enable you to assess if it makes financial sense for the investment to proceed.
Accelerated depreciation for business equipment is a federal tax incentive that enables you to deduct a percentage of its cost from your taxable income in the year it was acquired, sometimes combined with other business tax breaks such as normal deduction for depreciation.
But some tax credits are nonrefundable; that is, they reduce your tax liability without giving anything back in return. Even if your income is high enough, the full value of these credits may not be available for claim.
Nonrefundable tax credits include Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, both based on an income-dependent formula that only reduces your tax liability to the extent that taxes on that income were due.
Most popular tax credits include the Earned Income Tax credit and Child Tax Credit. The EITC provides fully refundable relief that corresponds with your earned income; while CTC only reduces liability if there are children or joint filing.
Tax filing
Tax filing can be a complex and time-consuming task, but with these tips you can make the process much simpler. Whether you file on your own or with help from an accountant, these strategies will give your filing process an extra boost and ensure that your return is accurate and complete.
Before filing your taxes, one of the first things to take into account is your gross income. This refers to all money that has come into your possession during a year – this could range from receiving paychecks and investments through to selling homes. The IRS uses your gross income figure as part of their calculation when deciding what filing threshold and status are needed to file taxes successfully.
If you are confused about your gross income, the IRS offers an online Interactive Tax Assistant which can provide valuable answers and assist in determining if filing taxes this year is required.
Save receipts for charitable donations, medical bills and any other deductions throughout the year to streamline filing your taxes at tax time. This could include receipts for donations made, medical expenses incurred or other items.
Once you’ve organized your records, go back through them carefully to verify all deductions are valid and eliminate errors when it comes time to file taxes. Doing this will save time when preparing tax forms!
Remember, however, if you owe taxes and don’t pay by April 18th then additional interest and penalties may be charged against your account. An extension request form may allow for six month extension but ensure you pay at least 90% of what owe by this deadline.
Filing taxes can be a complex and time-consuming task, but with these tips it can become less cumbersome and costly. Start the process early to receive your refund more quickly so you can start reaping the benefits of your hard-earned dollars sooner!
With so many changes in the tax code this year – including a cap on state and local tax deductions, increasing standard deduction amounts, etc – it is crucial that you fully comprehend all your options prior to filing your taxes. Otherwise, reclaiming credits could become more costly in the long run than simply paying what is owed.
Tax preparation
Tax preparation is an integral component of tax season for both individuals and businesses alike, whether owed a refund. Early tax filing can help avoid delays and other complications as well as help maximize the potential return.
First step to filing an accurate tax return or an extension application should always be gathering all of the appropriate information, like receipts, bank statements, business expenses and other pertinent documents that will help uncover deductions and credits that could reduce your tax burden.
Many reputable companies now provide online tools to assist with tax return preparation. Typically they cost less than in-person appointments and save you both time and money.
Get help from a financial expert or certified public accountant (CPA), who can advise on the optimal way to structure and take advantage of tax laws for your finances and tax laws in general. They also provide checks up on your business’s financial health as well as advice on ways to improve it.
Be sure to work with a reliable tax professional by verifying their credentials, getting referrals, reviewing consumer feedback and interviewing them. Furthermore, ask to see their previous year return as well as if they will represent you at an audit.
Finally, verify whether or not they possess an IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), which is required by law in order to prepare taxes. If they don’t, walk away and hire another provider instead.
Tax preparation can be a tedious and anxiety-inducing task for all taxpayers, which is why it’s vitally important to follow these tips on selecting an experienced preparer and optimizing your filing experience.