Two tax term that hold significant value are ‘safe harbor.’
Moreover, five more tax terms that bring great benefits are ‘tax-advantaged expensing without recapture.’
To establish and safeguard your safe-harbor expensing, you, your corporation, or your partnership must formally elect, on your tax return, to utilize the de minimis safe harbor for assets valued at $2,500 or less (or $5,000 with applicable financial statements, as explained later).
This advantageous safe-harbor election removes the hassles associated with:
The term ‘safe harbor’ signifies that the IRS will approve your expensing of the qualified assets as long as you adhere to the safe-harbor rules.
For asset purchases that do not qualify for safe-harbor expensing, there is no issue: Section 179 expensing and Section 168(k) bonus depreciation are both available options.”
Overview
You aim to have your safe-harbor expensing ready for implementation by January 1, 2024, which is why you’re reading this article in September 2023. We’re providing this information well in advance to ensure you have ample time to establish your safe harbor for the upcoming year.
If you’ve utilized safe-harbor expensing in previous years, you should find your prior-year safe-harbor election on those respective tax returns.
If you’re a small business that has chosen the $2,500 limit for safe-harbor expensing, let’s consider a scenario where you purchase two desks, each costing $2,100. The invoice indicates a quantity of two, a total cost of $4,200, along with a sales tax of $378 and a $200 delivery and setup fee, bringing the total to $4,778.
Before adopting the safe harbor option, you would typically have treated each desk as a capital expense, totaling $2,389 ($4,778 ÷ 2). Subsequently, you would have either utilized Section 179 expensing or depreciation for both desks. Additionally, you would have maintained the desks on your depreciation schedule until they were eventually disposed of.
However, with the safe harbor provision, you can expense the desks as office supplies. This eliminates the necessity to include the desks in your accounting books, simplifying your financial record-keeping process.
Safe Harbor
When put into practice, involves the following:
The de minimis safe harbor consists of two options, and which one applies to you depends on whether you have what’s called an “applicable financial statement” (AFS) for your business. If your financial statements have been subject to a certified public accountant (CPA) audit or a similar process, then you have an applicable financial statement.
The key difference between having an AFS and not having one is as follows:
Creating the Safe Harbor
Filing taxes can be a daunting process, but for some, it’s much more than that – tax audits. This stressful situation involves having the IRS put your tax return under a microscope to see if you reported all your income and to see if you overstated your deductions and expenses. The IRS’s main goal in an audit is to assess more taxes, penalties, and interest. It’s an intimidating experience that most Americans dread facing!
An IRS audit can cause even the most squeaky-clean of taxpayers to become fearful and anxious when faced with defending themselves to an auditor. It’s understandable why the majority feel powerless in this situation. You also have to understand and get comfortable with, in the eyes of an IRS auditor, you are guilty until proven innocent. Navigating the tax code on your own is not a good place to be.
Tax audits don’t have to be a source of fear as long as you’ve remained compliant with all the rules and regulations. The best way to ensure peace of mind is to work with an experienced Tax Resolution Specialist who represents clients in such matters and has a good track record. Contact our firm for a complimentary no-obligation consultation to assess your situation. https://calendly.com/premierbusinessstrategist/freeconsult
An IRS audit can be a very time-consuming and intrusive exercise that can include a visit from the auditor. Audits can also be conducted remotely. This method, known as a desk audit, involves sending documents through fax or mail to evaluate accuracy and compliance with established law.
Filing taxes is a complex process and the IRS seeks to ensure accuracy by auditing income tax returns. These examinations may be focused on certain deductions, particularly if taxpayers have claimed for more than what their reported incomes suggest – but this does not necessarily indicate any wrongdoing or misconduct. The IRS can also select your return to be audited for no reason at all. These are referred to as “random” audits to ensure compliance with tax laws.
Taxes are a fundamental pillar of our society and the government strives to ensure that everyone is compliant. To this end, random audits from both Federal and State authorities may be conducted in order to verify taxpayers’ income as well as expenses incurred throughout the year; making sure all taxation payments due remain accurate.
Preparing for a tax audit should be an ongoing process. To avoid any problems, ensure that all deductions taken are backed up with proof and every receipt is kept on file along with the return – you never know what may arise in the future! It’s important to remember: only declare items that can easily be defended – your documents are a crucial piece to your defense. Ensure each tax record remains safely stored away for at least seven years as per IRS regulations.
Protect your finances and future by taking the time to review your tax returns before signing off, even if you have a professional do them. A thorough examination of the documents will not only help ensure accuracy in filing but also offers an invaluable opportunity for you to gain knowledge on taxes – safeguarding against potential penalties or interest charges related to inaccuracies down the line.
Tax audits can be intimidating, but with a little foresight and the right representation it doesn’t have to cause stress. Staying organized throughout the year is key for having peace of mind when tax season rolls around. Finding an experienced professional who understands your individual needs will help make dealing with the audit as painless as possible.
Take the worry out of representing yourself in front of the IRS, which is like going to court without a lawyer. Let our expert team lift this from your shoulders and navigate the IRS on your behalf. Schedule a no-obligation consultation to explore your options and get on track toward permanently resolving any worries you have over having to meet with and defend yourself in an IRS or State income tax audit. https://calendly.com/premierbusinessstrategist/freeconsult
Paying taxes is a fact of life, but when the amount is excessive, you may not have the funds to pay in full. Making a mistake on your taxes can be costly as well, and if you plug in the wrong numbers, the IRS will surely come calling.
Whether you owe money to the IRS due to an innocent oversight, a lack of funds, or something else, ignoring the problem will not make it go away.
Once you owe money to the IRS, the clock is ticking, and all the while penalties and compounded interest will be piling up. So what should you do if you owe back taxes? Here are some critical steps to take.
Until you know how deep the hole is, you will not be able to start digging your way out. Before you do anything else, you should assess the situation, going through your old tax returns, reviewing communications from the IRS, and adding up what you owe the tax agency.
Once you have assessed the situation, you will be in a better position to make concrete plans. If you owe a lot of money, you may not be able to pay it off all at once, but with the help of a tax relief professional, you may be able to come up with a suitable repayment plan or you may be able to settle for less than you owe.
Owing money to the IRS is no fun, but you will have to resolve this one way or another. Hopefully, you can work out a more favorable payment plan
with the IRS, one that might allow you to pay a reduced amount, but that will depend on your income, your allowable expenses, and your assets, if any.
It is important to review your monthly household budget carefully if you owe back taxes to the IRS. Every dollar you can pay back is one less dollar you will owe interest on, so think about where you can cut back and how you might be able to free up some cash.
The bad news is that you owe back taxes to the IRS. The good news is you may be able to settle the entire amount, including penalties and interest, for a fraction of what’s owed through the IRS’s offer in compromise program.
If you qualify for one of those programs, you may be able to settle your debt for less than you owe, but this is not something to tackle on your own. Work with a tax-relief expert, both to identify the proper programs and to make negotiating with the tax agency easier and more effective.
You can use the budget you reviewed earlier to identify sources of income and resources you have access to. Once that information is presented, the tax-relief expert can help you find a suitable tax compromise plan that just might save you a lot of money.
Time is of the essence when you owe money to the IRS. Once those back taxes are assessed, the clock is ticking, and every day that passes will mean higher penalties, and compounding interest.
If you want to put your tax debt behind you once and for all, you will want to act fast. The sooner you start working on your tax resolution plan, the sooner you can take your financial life back.
To help ease the stress from your situation, we offer a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our tax resolution experts. You don’t have to worry about confidentiality or cost because the consultation is free with zero gimmicks or commitments. Schedule an appointment with one of our tax resolution specialists today by clicking on this link: https://calendly.com/premiersmlbus/consult .
When you owe back taxes and can’t afford to make any payments, then it may be time for a special tax status known as currently not collectible. This means that your debt is still considered valid even though there’s no chance of recovery right now. When you’re approved for currently not collectible status, the IRS can no longer garnish your wages or seize any property.
Now, don’t forget about these debts because the IRS is still looking for payment.
The IRS will place your account in currently not collectible status if you can’t pay both back taxes and reasonable living expenses. You may request this by submitting the proper form with documentation that proves how much income you have left over that is available to make a payment, along with any assets that have been sold recently to cover mounting debts – like homes!
To qualify for the currently not collectible status, you will need to put together a case that you will present to the IRS. Gather copies of your bills, proof of your income (pay stubs, bank statements, alimony, etc), and your investments. It is important to document your inability to pay so that if the IRS determines you cannot afford your necessary expenses, it can grant you status.
When dealing with the IRS, it is best to have a professional in your corner. The IRS can be very intimidating and might ask invasive questions that could land you deeper into trouble than before if you do not know how to answer properly. Remember – they are not friends of yours; their job entails collecting what they believe you owe them so make sure any interaction stays as simple and effective as possible. That is why it is crucial to reach out for help from one of our tax resolution specialists.
If your status is approved, it does not mean you do not have to file your current and future taxes. This status only applies to your back taxes that the IRS is looking to collect. The currently not collectible status is simply a bandaid to help you get back on your feet. That way you can put yourself in a better position to make a payment in the future. The IRS may review your status every year or two if it looks like there is potential for repayment. You will only be able to keep the status active if you still can not make a payment on your back taxes.
The IRS is an institution that prides itself on being collections-oriented. They will try to collect outstanding taxes for only 10 years from the date they were assessed against you. Once the 10 years is up, the IRS can no longer collect the back taxes. This also applies if you have the currently not collectible status. If you do not have the status, are in an installment agreement, or have an offer in compromise pending, the IRS can garnish wages and add more penalties to your case making things worse for you as well as your wallet.
In today’s tough economic climate, many families are struggling to make ends meet. If you’re worried about the IRS garnishing your wages or levying bank accounts, or filing liens against your property for non-payment of taxes you owe – then reaching out may give you some peace of mind.
Our firm will help explain all options available in order to relieve any anxiety associated with these situations because we know how intimidating this can be if nothing has been done before. There is a solution to every IRS problem. Connect with one of our tax resolution specialists to see if you qualify for the currently not collectible status or any of the other IRS settlement options you may be eligible for and the best next steps for your situation. https://calendly.com/premiersmlbus/consult
When it comes to your money, there’s only one person that truly has your best interests at heart – and that person is looking back at you in the mirror. Handling your own finances and making your own decisions can give you peace of mind and help you avoid a costly mistake.
There is a lot to be said for the do-it-yourself approach to your money, yet the go it alone path does have its limitations, especially when it comes to the IRS and back taxes.
We see clients that have tried to handle their taxes on their own, sometimes raising red flags with the IRS, resulting in audits, or getting hit with a big tax bill they can’t pay. They might set up an installment agreement on their own, but oftentimes, the DIY approach just makes the penalties and interest keep stacking up, placing you in an endless loop of compounding interest, penalties and your tax debt growing every month despite making monthly payments. Many of our clients started out by trying to do this on their own or with their current tax preparer and didn’t get the results they were hoping for.
Dealing with the IRS takes a very specialized skill set that most tax preparers and even CPA’s don’t possess. Make sure you have a tax resolution specialist on your side.
So, before you end up in that horror story, here are 3 times when hiring a tax pro or a tax relief firm like ours is the only way to go.
#1 You Just Received a Major Windfall
Even if you know how to handle your finances, receiving a major windfall can throw your plans for a loop. Whether you are the lucky holder of a winning lottery ticket or the recipient of a major inheritance, it pays to seek outside advice.
If you choose the DIY approach and make a mistake, you could end up paying more in taxes than you should, but a high tax bill is not the only danger. Handling your windfall the wrong way could throw off your asset allocation, impact financial aid for your college-bound children and create additional problems down the road.
#2 You Have Existings Tax Problems with the IRS
When you have issues with the IRS, you absolutely cannot afford to go it alone. Attempting to resolve tax issues on your own is unwise in the extreme, and a single slipup could leave you on the hook for even more. I mean, ask yourself if you would go before a judge in court without a lawyer representing you? Probably not. It’s the same here. Representing yourself before the IRS is generally not a good idea. Don’t do it. You most likely will get “creamed”!
If you receive a notice from the IRS, time is of the essence, but you should not let the desire for fast action override the need for professional help and guidance. If you want to resolve your issues fairly without going broke, do yourself a favor and find the right tax resolution firm. Hiring an enrolled agent, CPA or an attorney that is trained in tax relief is the best way to preserve your rights, and you do not want to go it alone.
#3 When You Have Assets You Need to Protect
When you owe taxes, the IRS only cares about one thing, and that is to get paid what they think you owe them.
They’ll levy your bank account, emptying everything you have in there. If you run a business, that means you won’t be able to pay your employees, pay your office rent or keep your lights on, ultimately putting you out of business.
They’ll also garnish your paycheck leaving you about 10% to 25% of your net pay to live on. Good luck with that.
They can also put a lien on your assets, including real estate, personal property and financial assets. This puts in jeopardy everything you’ve worked so hard to attain.
Hiring the right tax relief professional can help you avoid such extreme measures taken by the IRS. They’ll communicate with the IRS on your behalf and can often remove a lien or levy. If you have assets you can’t afford to lose, then hiring a tax relief pro is the only way to go.
The Bottom Line
Even if you are confident in your Do It Yourself (DIY) approach or feel your tax problem isn’t so serious, it never hurts to get a second opinion. If you are doing everything right, that tax resolution specialist’s advice will give you peace of mind. If there are deficiencies in your actions, the advice you get could stop you from making a devastating, and possibly irreversible, mistake. Plus, you may find out that you can settle your back tax liabilities for less than what you owe. Oftentimes, for a fraction of what’s owed!
If you do run into tax trouble, reach out to our tax resolution firm and we’ll schedule a free, no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options in full to permanently resolve your tax problem. https://calendly.com/premiersmlbus/consult
If you don’t have money to pay what you owe the IRS, you have a few options to work with. Whatever you do, don’t ignore the letters from the IRS, and don’t let your back tax problem go unattended. The IRS has a great deal of power when it comes to recovering the money they think is theirs.
When you owe the IRS money, they can garnish your wages, levy your bank accounts, put a lien on your home, and seize other assets.
Here’s what you can do if you find yourself not being able to pay your taxes. Note, we always recommend getting in touch with a tax resolution professional to help avoid the harsh penalties and interest that accrued on your back taxes. It’s far easier to navigate towards tax resolution if you have a professional working on your behalf. If you’d like to schedule a no-cost confidential tax relief consultation, contact us here. https://calendly.com/premiersmlbus/consult
First, make sure that you file your returns
Even if you have no hope of being able to pay your taxes, you must at least file your income tax returns. Whatever the penalties are for not paying your taxes, the penalties for not filing are much larger and non-filers can be subject to a criminal investigation. . The IRS will remove penalties for not filing and not paying but you have to have a good reason. We can request to have your penalties removed or reduced. It’s also important to remember that when you file for an extension, it only gives you more time to file. Your payment date remains unchanged.
Revisit your W-4 withholdings
If your employer withholds money from your salary to pay your taxes with, you shouldn’t have to worry about paying anything extra from that income source. If you do owe more, it’s a sign that your withholding exemptions are incorrectly reported on your W-4 form. To make sure that you don’t get into tax trouble repeatedly, you should make sure your W-4 form is correct and get advice from a tax professional about the kind of withholdings necessary for exemptions.
Make a partial payment
If you can’t afford to pay all that you owe, you should pay whatever you can. While you will still be hit with interest and penalty charges, they will be smaller than they would be if you paid nothing. These charges are proportional to what you owe the IRS.
Try to work with the IRS
If you can’t pay, there are resolution options available to you if you qualify for them. They include a payment plan or an offer in compromise to name a few. You need to first step up and admit to your inability to pay, though.
An offer in compromise is an agreement between the IRS and the taxpayer that allows the taxpayer to settle their debt for less than the amount owed. Sometimes, for a fraction of the amount owed. There are strict eligibility requirements and you should consult with a tax resolution specialist first.
An installment agreement, aka payment plan, is an agreement between the IRS and the taxpayer that permits the taxpayer to pay back their debt over time, generally in 60-72 months. Depending upon the amount owed, and ability to make monthly payments, determines the type of installment agreement the IRS will allow, as there are several variations of these payment plans. An experienced tax resolution specialist will guide you through the maze and myriad of these different options.
If you need an expert tax resolution provider who knows how to navigate the IRS maze, reach out to our firm and we’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem. https://calendly.com/premiersmlbus/consult
It is one of the scariest things that can befall a taxpayer – the dreaded notice from the IRS stating you owe them more money you can’t pay. When you open up the mailbox and see the return address of the tax agency staring back at you, your heart is bound to skip a beat (or two).
Few people look forward to communicating with the IRS, but plenty of taxpayers receive these notices every year. If you do find yourself on the receiving end of such a notice, knowing what to do next could make all the difference, and possibly save your bank account. Here are seven critical steps to take if the IRS disagrees with the income (or expense) figures you have reported.
Note: If you fall behind on filing your taxes, you’re not alone and we can help. Reach out to our tax resolution firm and we’ll help you file late tax returns and negotiate with the IRS if you owe back taxes. https://calendly.com/premiersmlbus/consult
If you do need to contact the IRS, keep in mind that their phone lines are extremely busy. Many people who have been through this trauma recommend calling early in the morning, right after the phone lines open, so you can get in line and get your questions answer before the lines fill up.
We NEVER suggest our clients try to contact the IRS on their own. It would be like going to court without a lawyer. The IRS is not your friend, they’re sole responsibility in these cases is to collect taxes they think they’re owed.
Hopefully you will never be on the receiving end of a nasty letter from the IRS but it is still important to be prepared. If you do find a letter from the IRS in your mailbox, following the seven critical steps listed above could save you from further trouble.
Reach out to our tax resolution firm and we’ll schedule a free, no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options in full to permanently resolve your tax problem. https://calendly.com/premiersmlbus/consult
Whether you are expecting a nice tax refund or preparing to write a big scary check, you know that April 15 is the annual tax filing deadline. What you may not know, however, is that tax day is every day at the IRS, and the tax agency is always reviewing the information taxpayers and business owners have provided.
That means that keeping tax records is about more than just smart bookkeeping – it is an integral form of self protection. You see, millions of Americans get letters from the IRS stating they owe back taxes or requesting more information about their tax returns.
It may be disconcerting, but the IRS has the right to request additional information months, or even years, after the return you filed has supposedly been processed and accepted. In fact, the much feared tax agency can request additional documentation for up to three years after the annual tax deadline has come and gone.
We help people resolve their back tax problems and often settle with the IRS for less than the amount they owe, but in order to do this, we need to provide the right records. Thats where having your tax records saved can be the difference between settling your tax debt or not.
As a result, it is important to retain your tax records and keep certain tax documents on hand, just in case the IRS asks for them. Here are the most common tax records and how long you should keep them around.
If you owe back taxes, our firm can help negotiate with the IRS and potentially settle your tax debt. Call us today. Our tax resolution specialists can navigate the IRS maze so that you have nothing to worry about. [https://calendly.com/premiersmlbus/consult]
In most cases the IRS will have up to three years to question the figures you reported on your tax return, or otherwise challenge the information you provided. You may think the tax year is over, but for the IRS the final curtain does not fall for a full 36 months.
For this reason, it is generally a good idea to keep your old tax returns for a minimum of three years. You do not necessarily have to print and retain hard copies of your tax returns – electronic documents are fine as long as you will be able to access them quickly should you need them.
If you fail to keep copies of your tax returns, you can still access them by asking the IRS for transcripts. It is best to keep your own records, and doing so will make your life a lot easier.
As with the tax returns themselves, it is generally a good idea to keep your W2 forms for a minimum of three years. This will provide you with the documentation you need should the IRS find a discrepancy between the amount of income you reported to the agency and the figures your employer provided.
It is also a good idea to retain at least your year-end pay stubs, not only to help reconcile them with the W2 forms but also for other forms of income documentation. If you are applying for a mortgage, for instance, the lender may ask to see several years worth of tax returns, pay stubs and other income documents, and having them on hand will make the application process faster and easier.
The IRS looks at all of the income you report when you complete and submit your tax returns, but the agency does not just take your word for the accuracy of those figures. Instead the IRS uses sophisticated matching programs to compare the amount of income you reported from various sources with what they receive from third party sources.
Those third party sources could include your bank and credit union, your brokerage firms and mutual fund companies and any other places that provide you with income. It is therefore a good idea to hold onto any income related forms you receive for at least three years, and possibly longer if you run your own business or earn income from gig work or freelancing.
Once again, these income documents can do double duty, serving as backup if the IRS questions the numbers on your tax return but also giving you the information lenders and others might need down the road. If you store these documents electronically you will not even need to worry about buying a file cabinet, so there is really no reason to not keep them around.
Filing taxes can be a stressful experience, but the difficulty does not end when you click send on your e-filed tax return. Even after that return has been filed and accepted, the IRS could still question or challenge your numbers, and that is why it is so important to retain the backup documentation until the challenge window has passed. Now that you know what to retain and for how long, you can rest a little easier when tax time rolls around.
If you do run into tax trouble or the IRS states you owe back taxes, reach out to our tax resolution firm and we’ll schedule a free, no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options in full to permanently resolve your tax problem. [https://calendly.com/premiersmlbus/consult]