This year’s tax deadline is right at your doorstep. If you heeded good advice, you should have been done long before today. Basic of course is checking the math for the actual tax that you owe (or the refund that you’re owed).

For example, make doubly and triply sure that your W-2 and 1099s are all correct. Mistakes are costly. Make sure you put your SSN on all pages, just in case. Also ensure that you’ve claimed all dependents, including retired parents not living with you. If however, for some reason, you’re still doing the paperwork, here’s a quick checklist of possible deductions to look out for before April 15.

Retirement Savings

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can be contributed to any time before the April 15 deadline. These can be claimed against your yearly income tax return. There are arguments for going for the Roth IRA, but only the traditional IRA is tax deductible.

Child and Education Deductions

The Child Tax Credit (CTC) can help parents by reducing their federal income taxes by up to $1,000 for each qualifying child under 17 years old. To qualify, said child must be claimed as a dependent, be under 17 years old at the end of the year, and is a U.S. citizen or permanent alien. He or she must also be a son, daughter, adoptee, grandchild, stepchild, foster child, sibling, stepsibling or other descendant. Check the IRS rules to be sure.

Working parents with a dependent under 13 years old may also be eligible for the child and dependent care tax credit (CDCTC) of 35% of qualifying expenses. The deduction cap is $3,000 per child or $6,000 for two children.

Tuition deductions are also allowed for parents, up to $4,000 for college fees. This is limited to filers at $65,000 for single filers and $130,000 for joint filers. The “Hope Credit” can also be claimed for up to $2,500 for the first four years of college education expenses, depending on qualifications. The Lifetime Learning Credit, on the other hand, has no age limit and can be worth $2,000 per year for education expenses in certain schools. This in turn is capped at income levels of $55,000 for single filers or $110,000 for joint filers.

Business Deductions

Business-related expenses may be deductible from your taxes whether or not you actually own a business. For example, travel is usually deductible. You may also have overpaid your Social Security taxes if you work for multiple companies.

Charitable Donations

Felt generous this past year? I hope you got receipts. Not only are donations helpful to the end recipients, they can be deducted from you federal income tax.  Aside from cash or checks, donations of a car, clothing, shoes, or furniture – basically anything that has value – is tax deductible.

Miscellaneous Tax Deductions

Others we may have missed:

• Alimony
• Student loan interest
• Prescription eyewear or hearing aids
• Orthopedic aids, including crutches and canes
• Transportation costs for medical issues
• Alcohol or drug abuse treatments
• Local and state income taxes
• Real estate taxes
• Mortgage or refinancing charges
• Business expenses
• Volunteer work expenses
• Losses from theft or casualty
• Tax preparation expenses

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The bottom line really is that everyone is in a different situation, and figuring out how much you actually need to pay depends on a lot of factors. Trying to do everything yourself can, not only lead to costly penalties, but can also have you miss out on actual deductions you could be entitled to. When it comes to taxes, it’s always best to get the help of the professionals.

Hazzouri Accounting has almost two decades of experience in helping both individuals and businesses with all their tax needs. We focus on building lasting relationships with the Canton, MI and surrounding communities, putting priority on helping local people and communities – unlike large institutions that focus on profit. Call us today at 734-844-1614 or visit us during regular office hours for more information!

Come find us on social media:  Facebook fan page / Twitter Feed / Google+ Account

April 15 is a huge deal each year since this is the deadline for filing and paying your annual income tax. This deadline should be treated as absolute! The government will have its due, they will have it on time, and there’s no way around it that doesn’t have serious consequences.

In past blog posts, we repeatedly stressed that filing early is always best. Any expert you ask will tell you the same thing. Yet, each year, around 25% of taxpayers wait until the last week, around 12 million file late, and another 7 million fail to file their taxes at all.

Deadline

It cannot be stressed enough – April 15, as mentioned, is the absolute deadliest deadline. Each year, accountants and other tax experts across the country get dozens of calls asking if they absolutely need to file by April 15. One such expert, Forbes’s Tony Nitti, puts it this way: “What has the IRS ever done to lead you to believe that they are in the business of making requests rather than demands?”

If you owe the IRS taxes this year, you need to file and pay your return by the deadline. If for any reason you cannot file your return by then, you still need to file for an extension, and you still need to pay an honest estimate of the taxes you owe, by the deadline.

Probably the only time you can file late without penalties is if you’re expecting a refund. Be absolutely certain however – if you make a mistake and find out you owe taxes, the same penalties will apply. Plus, why would you want to delay getting your money?

Penalties

As with most numbers we encounter when dealing with government, tax penalties and interest can be complicated. Late filing penalties are some of the heaviest the IRS can drop on your lap – at 5% of the taxes owed per month up to a maximum of 25%. In contrast, the late payment penalty is only at 0.5% of the taxes owed per month, again up to a maximum of 25%. If you’re late to file and pay, you’ll get hit with both penalties. Tax controversy lawyer Robert E. McKenzie does the math for us, showing that late filing and late payment penalties add up to over 75% of the tax owed per year.

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Exemptions

Believe it or not, 26 U.S. Code § 6651 actually provides an exemption from late penalties if your failure to pay “is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect.” Reasonable cause is further described as “if the taxpayer exercised ordinary business care and prudence and was nevertheless unable to file the return within the prescribed time.”

Unfortunately, the code stops there, being quite vague and open to interpretation. For example, there was a case in the mid-80’s (U.S. vs. Boyle) involving the late payment of estate taxes. The respondent was assured by his lawyer that the taxes would be paid on time, but due to a clerical error, the taxes were paid three months late. The respondent argued that he “exercised ordinary business care and prudence” in arranging everything with the lawyer long before the deadline, and that it was reasonable for him to assume that the lawyer would take care of it. Ultimately, however, the courts ruled that “It requires no special training or effort on the taxpayer’s part to ascertain a deadline and ensure that it is met. That the attorney, as respondent’s agent was expected to attend to the matter does not relieve the principal of his duty to meet the deadline.”

For its part, the IRS lists a few examples of situations where the exemption may apply:

1. Death of the taxpayer or immediate family member, provided that the taxpayer had no one else to file the return
2. Taxpayer’s records were lost in a fire or other accident
3. Unavoidable absence or being unable to get the needed files
4. Being misinformed by the IRS itself

As you can see, you’ll probably (hopefully) never really be exempted from the penalties of filing or paying late, so it’s best to get things done early and properly. Spare yourself the headaches and trouble and let the professionals handle your taxes today! For help with all of your 2015 Michigan tax needs contact Hazzouri Accounting at 734-844-1614 or fill out our on-line contact form and we will be in touch shortly.

You can also learn more on our social media accounts:  Facebook fan page / Twitter Feed / Google+ Account

Everyone knows and dreads the yearly April 15 deadline for filing federal and state income taxes. But did you know that there are at least 16 other major tax deadlines spread throughout the year from January 15 to December 31?

Some of these deadlines have already passed. There was the January 15, 2015 deadline for paying estimated tax for the last quarter of 2014. This is usually for those with income that is not subject to withholding tax, such as from business, rental, investments, and capital gains. These can be calculated using the IRS Form 1040-ES. You can also still avoid estimated tax penalty if you file and pay in full by February 2, 2015.

Last January 20,2015 was the date the IRS started processing tax returns for the tax year, whether those filed electronically or on paper. February 2, 2015 was also the deadline for employers and businesses to furnish Forms W-2 and 1099, including non-employee compensation, interest on bank accounts, and dividends.

Below are the rest of the major tax deadlines for 2015.

March 2, 2015

This is the deadline for employers to send Forms 1099 and 1096 to the IRS, if filing on paper. If filing electronically, you’ll have until March 31. If you happen to earn from farming or fishing, this is also the deadline for filing and paying for any balance due on your tax return.

March 16, 2015

This is the deadline for corporate tax returns using the corresponding type of Form 1120. If an extension is needed, this is also the deadline to file Form 7004 for a 6-month extension for businesses using the calendar year. This is also the last chance to file an amended corporate tax return for tax years back to 2011 to claim any pending refunds (3 years maximum). These deadlines actually should fall on March 15, but this happens to fall on a Sunday this year.

April 15, 2015

This is the big one. This is the deadline for filing your individual tax return (Form 1040 or subtypes), or filing for a 6-month extension (Form 4868). Note, however, that even if you file for an extension, you still need to pay your taxes on this date or face penalties.

This date is also the last day to make contributions to IRA, Health Savings Account, or your 401(k). If you file for an extension, you will have until October 15, 2015 to contribute to your SEP-IRA or 401(k). For those making estimated tax payments, this is the deadline for the 1^st quarter of 2015. As with corporate tax returns, this is also the deadline for filing an amended tax return for tax years back to 2011 or you will forfeit any refunds you are entitled to for 2011.

This is also the deadline for filing estate or trust income tax returns (Form 1041) or partnership tax returns (Form 1065). Extensions granted for these last only 5 months (Form 7004). Again, this is also the last chance to file for amended tax returns of the same type for refunds from tax year 2011.

May 15, 2015

This is the deadline for filing information returns for tax-exempt organizations (Form 990). Extensions can be requested using Form 8868.

June 1, 2015

This is the deadline for financial institutions to report balances on individual retirement accounts for 2013 (Form 5498).

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This is the deadline for estimated tax payments for the 2^nd quarter of 2015. US citizens living abroad also need to file and pay for their individual tax returns by this date, or request for a 4-month extension (Form 4868).

June 30, 2015

If you have over $10,000 held in foreign bank accounts, you may have to file a Foreign Bank Account Report by this date (FinCEN Form 114). Extensions are not allowed.

September 15, 2015

This is the deadline for estimated tax payments for the 3^rd quarter of 2015. This is also the extended deadline for corporate, trust, and partnership tax returns.

October 1, 2015

This is the deadline for self-employed and small employers who want to open a SIMPLE-IRA for this year.

October 15, 2015

This is the extended deadline for individual tax returns and for funding SEP-IRA or 401(k), and the last day for electronic filing for 2014 taxes.

December 1, 2015

You may be able to contribute to a Health Savings Account for the year if covered by an eligible policy by this date.

December 31, 2015

This is the last day to make any tax moves for the year or set up a 401(k) if self-employed.

If you need help with any of your 2015 Michigan tax needs Hazzouri Accounting is here to help. You can contact us today at 734-844-1614 or fill out our on-line contact form and someone will be in touch with your shortly. We can help!

You can also find us on-line at our social media accounts:  Facebook fan page / Twitter Feed / Google+ Account

Tax season starts on January 20, which is just a few days from now. The last day to file taxes in Michigan follows the federal deadline of April 15, 2015. The well organized and financially savvy are already preparing their paperwork, if they haven’t already submitted it to a CPA to double check everything and file it as soon as the date comes around. If you’re like most people, however, you’re probably not looking forward to filing your taxes at all, let alone early. Here are five reasons you could be making a mistake:

#1 – Avoid Identity Theft Tax Return Fraud

As discussed in another blog post, identity theft tax return fraud has exploded in recent years, amounting to $5.2 billion in 2013 alone. Some unscrupulous people have found easy ways to get the Social Security Numbers (SSN) and other information of unsuspecting victims and use them to claim tax refunds in their name. This has become a ridiculously big “business,” with almost 15 million foiled attempts and almost 2,000 pending cases from the past few years. The IRS is struggling to catch up and find ways to bring these numbers down.

Along with keeping your information secure and entrusting it only to reputable establishments, filing your taxes early is your best defense against ID theft tax fraud.

#2 – Get Refunds Faster

If you’re owed money, the sooner the better, right? If you get a tax refund, you could have extra cash on hand for any unforeseen expenses. This is also always better than getting additional interest and charges on a credit card or loan. Processing time will also be faster since many people across the country will still wait until April when the IRS will get bogged down by the sheer volume.

#3 – Have More Time to Pay

If you will owe the IRS this year, filing early will also let you know early on just how much you need to pay. This gives you time to prepare, set aside the money, and avoid any nasty surprises.

 
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#4 – Avoid Additional Penalties and Paperwork

Life is unpredictable. According to Murphy’s Law, “anything that can go wrong, will.” Filing early gives you time to anticipate and address any problems that may surface. It gives you time to prepare the money you owe, or if needed, to file for an extension.

Figuring everything out in the first place can be complicated and time consuming. If you do things in a hurry at the last minute, you’re much more likely to make costly mistakes. You could miss out on significant deductions you’re entitled to just because you forgot to do the paperwork. On the other hand, you could underestimate how much you’re supposed to pay, leading to penalties and even an audit and criminal charges. Remember also that even if you file on time or file for an extension, you will be charged a stiff interest and penalties on the amount you owe if not paid by the deadline.

#5 – Avoid the Crowds

Waiting until the last minute will mean longer lines, whether at the IRS, the post office, the local CPA office, the bank, etc. Do yourself a favor and get it over with early on. That way, it won’t keep bothering you in the back of your mind for several months to boot. Tax season is an inevitable part of each new year. Since you can’t avoid it, you may as well get it over with and get on with the rest of your year hassle-free.

Contact Hazzouri Accounting and Tax Service Today!

Hazzouri Accounting is here to help. We have over 16 years of experience helping the communities of Canton, MI and the surrounding areas with all their tax needs. We take care of all the paperwork and filing to give you peace of mind, knowing everything was done right, on time, and with the utmost protection of your information. Call us today at (734) 844-1614 to get started! You can also fill out our website contact form or stop by our social media accounts to learn more:

Facebook fan page / Twitter Feed / Google+ Account

According to 60 Minutes, it is “the biggest tax scam around now,” tripling in the past three years. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), it has cheated U.S. taxpayers out of $5.2 billion in 2013 alone (the Treasury Department thinks it’s actually much more). How did they do it? They filed other people’s tax returns before they themselves did, basically stealing their tax refunds.

Although identity theft tax return fraud only really started in recent years, the terms “gone viral” and “epidemic proportions” have been used to describe this problem today. According to the IRS itself, they have stopped close to 15 million suspicious returns from 2011 to 2013, amounting to over $50 billion. According to CBS, over 565,000 cases of identity theft were resolved by IRS agents in 2013, three times the number of cases resolved the previous year. It took an average of almost a year to resolve the cases closed between August 2011 and July 2012.

These refunds also go to all sorts of places, including Bulgaria, Lithuania, Ireland, and Shanghai. In the U.S., Miami tops the list for identity theft tax fraud, partly because of a thriving underground community there, and partly because of the high number of retirees in the state. A big chunk of identities stolen belong to retirees, children, prisoners, and even people who have passed away.

Detroit is included in the list of top cities for identity theft tax fraud, along with Chicago, Atlanta, and Houston.

How It Works

Despite the many criticisms the IRS gets over the years, they’re actually pretty quick about sending tax refunds. They are generally required to send your refund within six weeks, but are usually able to send it within 1-3 weeks. Generally, you can file for your return as early as the end of January, all the way up to midnight of April 15. All you really need in order to file your return is your Social Security number and birth date. To detect fraud, the IRS needs to check your tax return against the W-2 your employer files. Employers have until March to file this, and this is first sent to the Social Security Administration before being forwarded to the IRS. All in all, the IRS can’t even begin checking tax returns against employers’ W-2’s until July.

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How to Avoid It

First of all, you should be careful about giving out your Social Security Number (SSN) and other sensitive information. Even those who’ve protected this information have been victimized because they provided it to offices or clinics that turned around and sold it to scammers. It has become more and more important to provide sensitive information only to institutions with extensive track records and strict policies on keeping your data private.

The IRS is also providing an annual Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) to ensure only the rightful person can file his or her tax return. However, it will probably take a lot more time for this to fully address the problem. While the IRS doubled the number of IP PINs issued for the second year in a row in 2013, it only amounted to 1.2 million out of more than 120 million taxpayers.

Filing your tax return as early as you can remains your best defense against identity theft tax return fraud. Hazzouri Accounting has over 15 years’ experience helping the Canton, MI and surrounding communities with all their Michigan tax needs. Being a local operation, we can ensure the safety of your information when handling and filing your IRS forms on top of affordable rates and quick service. Contact Hazzouri Accounting today at 734-844-1614 or fill out our contact form to get started on your tax return!

You can also find us on-line at our social media accounts:  Facebook fan page / Twitter Feed / Google+ Account