Monday, April 15, 2019, was the tax deadline for most taxpayers to file their tax returns. If you haven’t filed a 2018 tax return yet, it’s not too late.

First, gather any information related to income and deductions for the tax years for which a return is required to be filed, then call the office.Continue reading

As a reminder, individuals with “seriously delinquent tax debts” are subject to a new set of provisions courtesy of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, signed into law in December 2015. These provisions went into effect in February 2018.

The FAST Act requires the IRS to notify the State Department of taxpayers the IRS has certified as owing a seriously delinquent tax debt and also requires the State Department to deny their passport application or deny renewal of their passport. In certain instances, the State Department may revoke their passport.

Taxpayers affected by this law are those with a seriously delinquent tax debt, generally, an individual who owes the IRS more than $51,000 in back taxes, penalties and interest for which the IRS has filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien and the period to challenge it has expired, or the IRS has issued a levy.

Taxpayers can avoid having the IRS notify the State Department of their seriously delinquent tax debt by doing the following:

• Paying the tax debt in full
• Paying the tax debt timely under an approved installment agreement,
• Paying the tax debt timely under an accepted offer in compromise,
• Paying the tax debt timely under the terms of a settlement agreement with the
• Department of Justice,
• Having requested or have a pending collection due process appeal with a levy, or
• Having collection suspended because a taxpayer has made an innocent spouse election or requested innocent spouse relief.

However, a taxpayer’s passport won’t be at risk under this program if an individual:

• Is in bankruptcy
• Is identified by the IRS as a victim of tax-related identity theft
• Has an account that the IRS has determined is currently not collectible due to hardship
• Is located within a federally declared disaster area
• Has a request pending with the IRS for an installment agreement
• Has a pending offer in compromise with the IRS
• Has an IRS accepted adjustment that will satisfy the debt in full

For taxpayers serving in a combat zone, and who also owe a seriously delinquent tax debt, the IRS postpones notifying the State Department and the individual’s passport is not subject to denial during this time.

Taxpayers who are behind on their tax obligations should come forward and pay what they owe or enter into a payment plan with the IRS and may qualify for one of several relief programs, including the following:

• Taxpayers can request a payment agreement with the IRS by filing Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request. Taxpayers can download this form from IRS.gov and mail it along with a tax return, bill or notice. Some taxpayers may be eligible to use the online payment agreement to set up a monthly payment agreement for up to 72 months.
• Financially distressed taxpayers may qualify for an offer in compromise, an agreement between a taxpayer and the IRS that settles the taxpayer’s tax liabilities for less than the full amount owed. The IRS looks at the taxpayer’s income and assets to determine the taxpayer’s ability to pay.

If you owe back taxes and are worried your passport could be revoked because of unpaid taxes, please contact the office.

Starting May 13, 2019 only individuals with tax identification numbers may request an Employer Identification Number (EIN) as the “responsible party” on the application. An EIN is a nine-digit tax identification number assigned to sole proprietors, corporations, partnerships, estates, trusts, employee retirement plans and other entities for tax filing and reporting purposes.Continue reading

On April 24^th the Wheeler team hopped on a chartered bus and headed to the Oakland Coliseum to watch the A’s take on the Rangers. Everyone enjoyed hanging out in the Connie Mack Club, the weather was beautiful, and the A’s won! Sue Conners, Senior Tax Specialist, even caught a foul ball. It was a great way to blow off some steam after a long and busy tax season and a chance for the team to enjoy each other’s company outside the office!

 

On May 17^th 2019 the David Andrew “Pooh” Maddan foundation (DAM Cancer) will be holding its annual Golf tournament at the Presidio Golf course in San Francisco. DAM Cancer is a non profit organization that was established in honor of David Andrew Maddan, whose life was cut short at the age of 28 due to complications from cancer treatment, and who’s dream was to create a foundation helping young cancer patients like himself. The goal of DAM Cancer, is to raise money in support of young adults (ages 18-35) battling cancer, a demographic who is most financially vulnerable and who are under-represented in financial assistance. The foundation has made over 540 grants for living expenses to recipients so that they may focus their attention on their fight; 100% of the proceeds from this event will go directly to young adult recipients. For more information on this event, and/or to RSVP please go to https://www.dam-cancer.org/dam-cancer-annual-golf-tournament/

The tax credit available for purchasers of new General Motors plug-in electric vehicles begins phasing out on April 1, 2019. The phaseout was triggered because General Motors, LLC has sold more than 200,000 vehicles eligible for the plug-in electric drive motor vehicle credit during the fourth quarter of 2018.Continue reading

All income is taxable unless the law specifically excludes it, but as you might have guessed, there’s more to it than that. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at taxable vs. nontaxable income.

Taxable Income

Taxable income includes any money you receive, such as wages and tips, but it can also include non-cash income from property or services. For example, both parties in a barter exchange must include the fair market value of goods or services received as income on their tax return.Continue reading

Tax reform eliminated a number of deductions that many taxpayers counted on to reduce their taxable income. Here are four that could affect you.

1. Personal Exemptions

Personal exemptions enabled individual taxpayers to reduce their taxable income in addition to the standard deduction, but were repealed for tax years 2018 through 2025. While the standard deduction did increase significantly under tax reform to compensate – $12,000 for individuals, $24,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly, $18,000 for heads of household – some taxpayers could still lose out.Continue reading

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has resulted in questions from taxpayers about many tax provisions including whether interest paid on home equity loans is still deductible. The good news is that despite newly-enacted restrictions on home mortgages, taxpayers can often still deduct interest on a home equity loan, home equity line of credit (HELOC) or second mortgage, regardless of how the loan is labeled.

Background

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, enacted December 22, 2017, suspends the deduction for interest paid on home equity loans and lines of credit, unless they are used to buy, build or substantially improve the taxpayer’s home that secures the loan. This suspension is in effect from 2018 through 2025.

Under the new law, for example, interest on a home equity loan used to build an addition to an existing home is typically deductible, while interest on the same loan used to pay personal living expenses, such as credit card debts, is not. As under prior law, the loan must be secured by the taxpayer’s main home or second home (known as a qualified residence), not exceed the cost of the home and meet other requirements.

New dollar limit on total qualified residence loan balance

For anyone considering taking out a mortgage, the new law imposes a lower dollar limit on mortgages qualifying for the home mortgage interest deduction. Beginning in 2018, taxpayers may only deduct interest on $750,000 of qualified residence loans. The limit is $375,000 for a married taxpayer filing a separate return. These are down from the prior limits of $1 million, or $500,000 for a married taxpayer filing a separate return. The limits apply to the combined amount of loans used to buy, build or substantially improve the taxpayer’s main home and second home.

For more information about deducting interest on home equity loans or the new tax law, please call.