The IRS, or Internal Revenue Service, is the agency in the federal government responsible for regulating and collecting taxes. Learn more here about your taxes and what the IRS does in these articles, columns, blog posts, videos and radio shows.
Why Many Homeowners Are Still Underwater
This week we found out that the negative equity rate for 2013 homeowners was below 20 percent for the first time in years, according to Zillow. Negative equity is when a house is worth less than the mortgage amount – commonly referred to as underwater. One year ago, 27.5 percent of all homeowners with a [...]
Need Tax Records Now? New IRS App Can Help
Do you need to get your old tax records right now for a mortgage application, car loan or student financial aid? In the past, you had to wait days or weeks to get your tax records in the mail from the IRS. But now your tax records, including returns and other filing information, are available [...]
What You Need to Know About the Child Tax Credit
When I was in elementary school, there was a boy in my class whose mother seemed to give birth to a new child practically every year. By the time we were in sixth grade, there were eight children in the family. I didn’t realize it then, but looking back I imagine their expenses must have [...]
Eight Tax Questions to Ask Before You Get Married
When two people fall in love, they tend to be blind to life’s realities. The last thing they want to do is bring up issues that might generate conflict, and let’s face it, the topic of taxes is definitely turbulent. Ask the tough tax questions before you get married After decades of working with people [...]
Tax Tips: Four Ways to Write off Gifts on Your Taxes
Most people are generous by nature. We love to see the look on someone’s face when he or she gets the perfect gift—especially when that someone is a business associate with whom we’re eager to keep a good relationship. Unfortunately, the IRS tax laws limit tax deductions for business gifts to a total of $25 [...]
Tax Questions: Is Your Hobby Really a Business?
Over the years, I have regularly helped my clients with their tax audits after the IRS determined that their businesses were really hobbies. Filing taxes as a sole proprietor of a business means you can take advantage of tax deductions you may not have access to if your activity is a hobby, so it’s important [...]
Seven Reasons the IRS May Keep Your Refund (and What to Do About It)
I’ve seen thousands of cases where the IRS grabs tax refunds from taxpayers. In most cases, there is one cause for this irritating IRS practice: The taxpayer didn’t respond to the IRS’s letters. It’s as simple as that. When you have a balance or a new assessment due, the IRS sends out a notice that [...]
How to Adjust Your Tax Withholding if You Receive a Big Refund
At an IRS tax workshop several years ago, someone asked the speaker if the IRS has a problem with taxpayers who get large refunds. We attendees were surprised to learn that the IRS does look upon large refunds with suspicion. Why? According to a discussion I had with an IRS professional, a refund of $3,000 [...]
Tax Tips: Settling Your Outstanding Tax Debt With the IRS
When I started in the tax field, working with the IRS on installment agreements and Offers in Compromise was like standing in quicksand. The IRS made obscure rules and changed them arbitrarily. It acted as an utter tyrant. Then, in the 1980s, there were a series of Senate hearings about the problems, and what emerged [...]
Tax Mistakes: What To Do When Your 1099 or W-2 is Wrong
This article was written by guest blogger Eva Rosenberg. Have you ever received an incorrect W-2 or 1099? Scary, isn’t it? You know you have to file taxes, but you’re nervous about giving incorrect information to the IRS. Then, when you call the person or company issuing your tax forms, he or she may refuse [...]