Florida bookkeeping services for small businesses: In the months or years since you first became a business owner, how many times have you been told you need bookkeeping services? If you’re like most business owners, the answer is probably, “A lot.” From the time you first opened your doors and collected your very first dollar, advisors, partners, and other well-meaning associates have undoubtedly weighed in and suggested a bookkeeping service to help keep your company’s books and finances on track.
Automate or Outsource Tax Calculation and Filing: While the IRS has made an effort to simplify tax forms and reduce the time and complexity of filing a tax return, it remains a daunting task, especially since it occurs only once per year and is often stressful. Fortunately, companies like TurboTax and H&R Block offer sophisticated tax software programs to help filers complete the task quickly and relatively inexpensively. The IRS even offers free tax filing software for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $69,000 or less. To determine whether you’re eligible for the free software, check last year’s return for your adjusted gross income (AGI), which appears on line 7 of the 2018 version of Form 1040. For those with incomes greater than $69,000, the IRS provides Free File fillable forms for electronic filing. However, these forms offer only basic guidance, so you must know how to do your taxes yourself. Most of the filing programs allow you to keep track of any refund due and select your preferred method of payment – direct deposit, paper check, or holding and applying the refund for the coming tax year. When deciding whether to use a professional preparer or a software program, consider your income, the complexity of your return, unusual events that significantly affect your income or expenses, and your concern about a tax audit.
Harvest Your Capital Losses: If you own stocks that have lost money, you can sell them and deduct up to $3,000 on your federal taxes. Just be careful not to violate the wash-sale rule, which would disallow the deduction. This rule states you cannot purchase the same or a substantially similar stock within 30 days before or after the sale. “Some people think it’s OK if I do it using two accounts,” Zollars says. They may think they can sell a stock from a taxable account and then immediately purchase similar securities in an IRA. However, this is not allowed. “That’s not the way the rule works,” he says.
Decide how much tax you want withheld: If you received a big refund on your tax return last year, it may mean your employer is withholding too much tax from your paychecks. Decreasing those withholdings might “[give] you access to more of your money throughout the year to invest or pay down debt,” says Fraim, “assuming you have the discipline to actually save the funds.” If you’d rather have a bigger paycheck to work toward your financial goals, instead of that potentially big refund next year, meet with your payroll manager to review your withholding allowances on your W-4 form. Just be careful not to reduce your withholding by too much. Overly reducing your withholding may result in having too little tax withheld throughout the year, and could mean a big tax bill in April and potentially a penalty for failing to properly estimate your taxes as well. Read even more info on https://bookkeepinghelpcoralsprings.com/florida/fort-lauderdale-bookkeeping-and-accounting/.
In some states, provisions exist that allow employers to seek reimbursement from the employee for administrative costs related to excessive garnishments. Additionally, some types of garnishments, such as child support, allow for similar provisions that authorize employers to recoup administrative expenses. The limits on the maximum amount of the administrative fee that can be deducted vary by state. When considering employment actions in relation to an employee who has active garnishments, it is recommended to consult a knowledgeable HR source or employment attorney.
Reinvested dividends: This isn’t really a tax deduction, but it is a subtraction that can save you a lot of money. And it’s one that many taxpayers miss. If, like most investors, you have mutual fund dividends automatically invested in extra shares, remember that each reinvestment increases your “tax basis” in the stock or mutual fund. That, in turn, reduces the amount of taxable capital gain (or increases the tax-saving loss) when you sell your shares. Forgetting to include the reinvested dividends in your cost basis—which you subtract from the proceeds of sale to determine your gain—means overpaying your taxes. TurboTax Premier and Home & Business tax preparation solutions include a very cool tool—Cost Basis Lookup—that will figure your basis for you and make sure you get credit for every dime of reinvested dividends.
Super accountant and tax expert. Kenneth can find all the legal tax deductions and save you thousands of dollars! Call Him NOW if you want the best accountant and/or tax preparation services. Although we are located in Florida, a bunch of our client base is located outside the state. Thru efficient work, excellent communication, and clear expectations, we are more reliable and easier to get ahold of than even an accountant located down the street from you. Read even more information at Affordable Bookkeeping.