As the tax-filing season unfolds, many taxpayers are taking the bull by the horns and doing their own taxes. Though it may seem like good news for the individual taxpayer, it’s important to watch out for common tax filing mistakes. Tax preparation software makes some errors like addition and subtraction blunders less likely, but even the best software cannot eliminate all potential problems and human error. If you are getting ready to file your tax return, be sure to take a second (or third) look before you hit send. Keep a close eye out for these 4 common tax return mistakes to ensure the IRS does not come knocking at your door.

Note: If you do get in trouble with the IRS and they claim you owe $10,000 or more, call us at 1.888.4TAXREZ or use our contact form and we’ll schedule a free, no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options in full to permanently resolve your tax problem.

That said, let’s jump into the 4 common tax return mistakes that could land you in tax trouble.

1. Transposed Numbers

If the 1099 you receive shows $6300 in income and you inadvertently enter $3600 instead, the IRS may see this as a tax dodge instead of an innocent mistake. At best, transposing numbers will slow down your refund and raise a red flag with the tax agency. At worst, it could trigger an audit or further examination of your entire return.

IRS computers are very good at comparing the figures taxpayers report to the ones they receive independently from banks, brokerage firms, and other agencies. Be sure to double-check and verify every number you enter and make sure it is right. Your tax software can tell you if your numbers do not add up, but they cannot catch transposed figures.

2. Misspelled Names

It is easy to misspell a name or transpose a Social Security number when entering dependent information, but doing so could cause real problems with your return. Be sure to double-check the names, ages, and Social Security numbers of all your children before sending your return to the IRS.

Do not assume that all of that information will be transferred from a prior year’s return.

3. Missing Social Security Numbers

It is easy to forget this vital piece of information, and doing so could delay your return and cause long-lasting problems. You may assume that your tax prep software will automatically enter your Social Security number, but that does not always happen.

Be sure to give your Social Security number (and that of your spouse) one last look before filing your return. That last-minute check could save you a world of trouble later on.

4. Not Reporting All Your Income or Taking Too Many Deductions

The IRS will likely get notified of any income you received throughout the year, and it doesn’t just include your W2 wages. It’s important to keep track of all your income and report it to the IRS correctly to avoid any problems.

It can also be tempting to click a few extra boxes and input a few made-up numbers as deductions to bring your tax liability down. DO NOT DO THIS. Just because the software lets you do this, doesn’t mean you should.

It’s not the software’s job to tell you whether or not you should be taking that extra deduction or write off, it’s the taxpayer’s job, to be honest, and file their tax returns correctly.

Need Tax Relief?

If you made a mistake on your tax return and end up on the receiving end of an IRS notice, or if you have years of un-filed tax returns don’t wait, contact us today. There is a solution to every IRS problem! Let us help you stop worrying and start living!

Contact Us Today

If you need an expert tax resolution provider who knows how to navigate the IRS maze, call us today at 1.888.4TAXREZ or use our contact form, and we’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem.

Cryptocurrency has become an incredibly popular way to invest, but the tax side of this virtual coin can be difficult to navigate. The IRS has gone back and forth over the years on its stance on cryptocurrency, making it confusing even for the most diligent investors. So here’s what you need to know about cryptocurrency and your taxes.

In March of 2021, the IRS announced Operation Hidden Treasure to crack down on cryptocurrency reporting. If you’ve bought and/or sold cryptocurrency recently, it’s important to declare your crypto correctly on your tax forms in order to avoid fraud and evasion charges.

Here’s what you need to know about cryptocurrency and your taxes.

If you know you owe IRS back taxes on your crypto gains, it’s important to reach out to a tax resolution firm like ours that is skilled in negotiating back tax debt with the IRS. We can help you file amended returns and get you back in compliance, while potentially negotiating with the IRS on your behalf. Contact us today for a consultation.

What Is Operation Hidden Treasure?

Operation Hidden Treasure is a joint effort by the IRS Civil Office of Fraud Enforcement and its Criminal Investigation Unit. This operation is designed to search for unreported income from cryptocurrency.

Operation Hidden Treasure has trained agents to examine the blockchain in order to find signs of tax evasion. Blockchain is the digital ledger that tracks your cryptocurrency mining and transactions. The signs that IRS agents look for are marked as signatures that make it easier to detect further fraudulent activity.

Crypto users have found ways to skirt reporting requirements by sending multiple transactions under a certain dollar amount or pouring their virtual currency into shell corporations, different countries, and cold storage. The IRS is also collaborating with European law enforcement agencies to tackle international fraud.

How To Protect Your Assets

The IRS considers virtual currency to be property akin to gold, rather than money and is taxed accordingly. If your only crypto transaction this year was purchasing crypto with US dollars, then that does not need to be reported, according to the IRS FAQ on their website. However, if you sold your crypto or you traded your crypto for any goods or services, then that does need to be reported.

When you sell your crypto, keep track of its value when you purchased it, and its value when you sold it. While crypto and the IRS can both be murky subjects, your transparency is the key to protecting your financial assets from future tax audits.

Need Tax Relief?

To get ready for the upcoming tax season, it’s important to get your portfolio organized. If you have bought, sold, or traded crypto in the past year, contact a tax lawyer or a tax resolution firm like ours for advice on how to report your cryptocurrency transactions. There is a solution to every IRS problem! We help you stop worrying and start living.

There is a solution to every IRS problem!

Contact Us Today

If you need an expert tax resolution provider who knows how to navigate the IRS maze, call us today at 1.888.4TAXREZ or use our contact form, and we’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem.

If you are a member of the gig economy, you are not alone. Millions of others have made the same choice, voting with their feet and their time and left the world of traditional employment. As a member of the gig economy, you have a lot to look forward to, but tax season is probably not one of them. Tax deadlines are a stressful day for everyone, but gig workers face some additional challenges their traditionally employed counterparts do not. Faced with these issues, it’s important to tackle the problem head-on. Here are 3 steps to tax filing success.

Note: It’s not uncommon for gig workers to find themselves behind on their taxes. If you find yourself in tax debt, owe back taxes, or are under audit, our firm can help negotiate with the IRS and potentially settle your tax debt.

As a tax resolution firm, we always recommend that you reach out to a professional who knows how to aggressively negotiate and defend you against the IRS on your behalf. Call us today. Our tax resolution specialists can navigate the IRS maze so that you have nothing to worry about. That said, let’s jump into the 3 steps.

Step 1 — Start As Early As Possible

The first of 3 steps to tax filing success; it’s always a good idea to start your tax planning early! It’s even more critical when you are self-employed or a member of the gig economy. If you are used to getting your taxes done in an afternoon, you have a serious wake-up call in front of you. If you do not start early, you might not finish on time.

Keep in mind that you may not be able to file early, as it likely will take some time to wrap your head around the complicated tax laws, find the right tax professional, research deductions and ensure that all your income numbers are correct. That does not mean, however, that you cannot start early. Taking initiative early is sure to make your life less stressful when the tax filing deadline rolls around.

Step 2 – Make Sure You Are Accounting for All Your Income

It’s easy to overlook some of your income when you are self-employed, especially if you are juggling multiple clients and doing possibly hundreds of different gigs. If you let something slip through the cracks, however, the IRS is likely to call you on it — and hand you a big tax bill for their trouble.

As you get ready to file your taxes, take the time to add up all your income across many different sources, including gig work, freelancing, consulting work, and anything else that brought in money in the year just past. You might even want to cross-reference that income against other sources such as bank deposits and payments by payment processors like PayPal, Stripe, and others. This final step could help you uncover income you might otherwise have missed.

Step 3 – Review Your Possible Deductions

The bad news is that being a member of the gig economy can cause some tax headaches but there is good news as well. As a gig worker or self-employed individual, you have access to some lucrative tax deductions, and now is the time to review and claim them.

Depending on your situation, you may be able to write off things like the amount you pay for internet access, phone service, and office supplies, and those deductions could lower the amount of income subject to the self-employment tax, an important consideration for gig workers and their families.

If you maintain a dedicated space for conducting business in your home, you may be able to take the home office deduction, but it is important to know and follow all the rules. Doing this wrong can trigger a nasty letter from the IRS. These rules can be complicated, and that brings up one final piece of advice.

Welcome to The Gig

When you work for a traditional employer, your tax filing needs are pretty simple. Your employer sends you a W2 at the beginning of each year, and you simply report the amount you made and how much you paid in taxes. From there, it’s simply a matter of math, and in no time your taxes are done.

Your life and your tax situation are far more complicated when gig work and self-employment income are involved. Even if you have been comfortable doing your taxes up to now, your first year of gig work might also be the first time you reach out for help.

The gig economy is going strong, and this fast-growing segment of the economy is showing no signs of slowing down. If you have been working in this economy, you have enjoyed the freedom and flexibility inherent in the business model, but now it’s time to pay the piper — and the IRS. The three-step plan laid out above can make tax time at least a little easier, so you can get on with the rest of your life.

Owe Back Taxes?

That were just 3 steps to tax filing success. If you find yourself a large surprise tax bill or a collection notice from the IRS, the steps you take next are absolutely critical. Trying to take on the IRS on your own is a dangerous and potentially expensive, thing to do, and you should always contact a tax resolution firm.

By working with an expert, you can gain access to vital information about small business settlement programs the IRS offers. You can gain access to the expertise you will need to settle your tax bill for less than you owe and get back in the good graces of the IRS. Time is of the essence when the IRS comes calling, and with the interest and penalty clock ticking you do not have one second to waste.

There is a solution to every IRS problem!

Contact Us Today

If you need an expert tax resolution provider who knows how to navigate the IRS maze, call us today at 1.888.4TAXREZ or use our contact form, and we’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem.

Can you settle with the IRS

You may have heard on the radio, TV, and online, that you can settle your tax bill for less than what you owe. But are these claims actually true? And can you really settle your tax debt without hurting yourself in the long run?

Some of these national tax resolution firms you hear advertising offer very little service, just look at their Google and Yelp Reviews. It’s important to know who to trust and get educated on what your options are to resolve your tax problem.

As a Tax Resolution Firm ourselves, we encourage all readers facing a tax problem to call us today at 1.888.4TAXREZ or use our contact form for a free consultation.

The truth is that though it’s often harder than they claim to settle for less than you owe the IRS, it is possible and you must first learn if you qualify for the program. This is called an “offer in compromise,” but settling is not necessarily a bad thing.

Offer in Compromise

An “offer in compromise” is a negotiated settlement between the taxpayer and the IRS that is intended to help taxpayers who owe more than they can pay. In a lot of cases, you can settle your entire tax bill for a fraction of what you owe, if you qualify. You can only get one if you genuinely can’t afford to pay back taxes or if doing so would cause extreme hardship. This can apply, for example, if you have become disabled.

You have to be current on all legally required income tax returns and must be current on any estimated tax payments if you are self-employed and you can not file for bankruptcy.

The IRS would rather take an offer in compromise than send you to collections and potentially get less money. Taking an offer in compromise will NOT affect your credit score. Having your offer in compromise accepted is a far better financial decision in the long run.

However, working out what offer to make on your own and learning the whole process can be challenging. That’s like representing yourself in a court of law without a lawyer. Not smart. A better answer is to find a tax resolution specialist that can help you with the process to see if you qualify and determine what you will have to pay. A tax resolution specialist will also be a licensed CPA, Enrolled Agent or an Attorney.

One of the great things about working with a qualified and local tax resolution firm is that you get protection from the overbearing IRS, letting you sleep better at night knowing you’re on your way towards permanent tax resolution. They can head-off any impending garnishments of your paycheck or levies on your bank account.

Settling with the IRS is a good thing and is often the best answer to dealing with your back tax bill and moving on with your life.

Contact Us Today

If you need an expert tax resolution provider who knows how to navigate the IRS maze, call us today at 1.888.4TAXREZ or use our contact form, and we’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem.

Unpaid payroll taxes are a serious matter to the IRS and are some of the worst kinds of back taxes you can owe. If you’re a small business owner with a payroll tax problem, read on to learn what you can do to avoid the IRS crippling your business or worse, shutting your business down completely.

Already in payroll tax trouble? Contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, and let’s get your payroll tax issue resolved.

Why Small Business Owners Get into Payroll Tax Trouble in The First Place

It’s hard being a small business owner today, trying to pay your employees their paychecks every week, and pay the IRS all those payroll taxes!

When money is short, you pay the employees first. It’s a natural thing to do—you need to take care of your employees, even if you have to skip paying yourself! Besides, if you don’t pay them, they may quit, and the cycle of hiring has to start all over again.

It can seem easy to “just pay the 941 taxes next pay period” and give yourself a little cash flow cushion but skipping paying your employee payroll tax deposits is never a good idea.

What happens too often is that 1 pay period turns into 2, 3, and 4, and eventually, you’re so deep in payroll tax debt that the only thing you want to do is completely ignore your problem.

The IRS does not care about your financial problems. They just want you to pay your payroll taxes!

The IRS doesn’t care if you can’t pay your employees. They don’t care if they put your employees out on the street. They don’t care if you can’t collect your receivables. They don’t care if one of your largest and best customers just went “belly-up”. All they care about is you have money that belongs to them, and they will do whatever they have to, even put you out of business, to collect it. They don’t care who you are, or even what business you are in.

Penalties are The Kiss of Death When It Comes to Back Payroll Taxes

Penalties for failing to file and pay your payroll taxes are the “kiss of death” for any small business owner. They tack on penalties totaling 33% in just the first 16 days! And it doesn’t stop there. The IRS adds interest on top of the penalties. It is not uncommon that a payroll tax liability doubles in short order. And if you don’t pay them or work something out, they will shut you down! It’s much less work for the Revenue Officer to simply close you down than work out an arrangement with you.

The IRS Will Collect, or They Will Shut You Down

It’s as simple as that. The IRS is the most brutal collection agency on the planet. They have more authority than the President of the United States! And they have all the ways and means to do whatever it takes to collect what’s owed to them. You didn’t wake up in the morning, go to work, and say to yourself, I’m not paying my payroll taxes because you didn’t want to. The money simply wasn’t there. It’s not your fault. One week you’re short of cash. It was a slow week, a customer’s check bounced, or any number of legitimate reasons that just prevent you from paying the IRS. You’re a good person. You figure you will make it up the next week. But then next week comes and goes, and you realize you still don’t have enough money to make that payroll tax deposit. And then the entire situation starts “snow-balling” into an avalanche.

Should You Call the IRS To Get Your Payroll Issue Fixed?

If you were to call the IRS and were able to get through after waiting on “hold” for an hour or two and try to explain your situation—you might as well have a conversation with the wall—because they don’t care. The IRS representative that you’re talking to is more than likely overworked, under trained, and under paid. Do you think they ever had to make a payroll in their life? Do you think they know what it’s like running a small business? Do you really think they will have any sympathy for you?

Not only is the answer “NO” but they can also dictate the fate of your case. What they will try to get, while you’re on the phone, is all your personal and financial information. They want to know where you bank; they’ll want to know all about your customers who owe you money, they’ll want to know about the value of all your assets, like your home, cars, motorcycles, etc. Why? Because now they have all the information, they need to levy your bank accounts, take your receivables and seize your property.

What Should You Do?

Now that you know you shouldn’t be talking to the IRS because they are not going to help you, you might be wondering what you should do? Where should you turn for help? The smartest thing you can do to protect your business and family is to have someone represent you—someone who deals with the IRS for a living. You need to get help—but not just from anyone—you need help from someone who is an experienced competent professional, and deals with the IRS every day, helping small business owners keep their businesses and settle IRS payroll tax problems.

If you were charged with a serious misdemeanor or felony, would you go to court without a lawyer? You don’t want to represent yourself before the IRS either. You need professional, expert representation. Contact us today to get expert tax resolution help. We’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem.

Once you decide to retain us, we step into your shoes and protect you from the IRS’s abusive tactics. We take over all communications from the IRS on your behalf. You don’t have to speak with the IRS anymore. We do. Not only that—they are not allowed to talk to you once you’ve signed our Power of Attorney! Once they realize you have someone on your side protecting you who knows their tricks as well as they do, they have to step back and follow the law. We can protect you from the IRS harassing you, calling you, showing up at your front door, and levying your bank accounts and other assets!

Contact us now and let’s get your payroll tax issue resolved!