- Is Your Schedule C in the Audit Bull's-eye?
- In a recent study, the IRS determined that over half of all underreporting is attributable to Schedule C, the form used by self-employed individuals to report their profits or losses for the year. It is no wonder that the audit rate for Schedule C returns has increased substantially and is among the highest of all rates. Based on 2010 IRS figures, Schedule Cs have a 300% higher chance of being audited than either a partnership or an S-Corporation. Of the Schedule Cs audited in 2010, the average adjustment exceeded $9,000.
- Been Selling Your Gold? Better Read This!
- If you took advantage of escalating gold and silver prices and made any sales of gold, silver, gems, jewelry, or the like during 2011, you are required to report the sales on your tax return. Whether or not the sales are subject to tax, and at what tax rate, depends upon the type of item sold and your tax basis for the item.
- Don't be Scammed by Tax Season Cyber Criminals
- Now that tax season is upon us, so are the e-mail scammers pretending to be the IRS. Most of these scams fraudulently use the IRS name, logo, and/or website header as a lure to make the communication appear to be more authentic and enticing. They lead you to believe you had a refund of some sort coming and request personal information. The goal of these scams - known as phishing - is to trick you into revealing your personal and financial information. The scammers can then use your information - such as your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card numbers - to commit identity theft or steal your money.
- Don't Forget to Report Those Foreign Financial Assets!
- New for 2011 is a requirement for any individual who, during the tax year, holds any interest in a “specified foreign financial asset” to complete and attach Form 8938 to his or her income tax return if a reporting threshold is met. The reporting threshold varies depending on whether the individual lives in the U.S. and files a joint return with his or her spouse. For example, someone who is not married and doesn't live abroad will need to file Form 8938 for 2011 if the total value of his or her specified foreign financial assets was more than $50,000 as of December 31, 2011 or more than $75,000 at any time during 2011. For married taxpayers filing a joint return and living in the U.S., the threshold amounts are doubled. The thresholds also are higher for taxpayers residing abroad.
- Having a Bad Year? You May Qualify For Earned Income Credit
- Many individuals find themselves earning less during these troubled economic times than in years past. As a result, they may find that they qualify for a credit to which they previously were not entitled because of income limitations.
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