It’s time to take a look at a few things for your personal tax return.
New charitable contribution option If you do not itemize deductions, you can claim up to $300 of cash or check contributions to a charity on the front page of your tax return. Non-cash donations such as clothing, furniture and other personal property, do not qualify for this deduction. These non-cash donations are still reported on Schedule A (Itemized Deductions).
Did you receive a stimulus payment in 2020? The 2020 tax return asks for any stimulus payment received. If you received too little or none at all this may be the way to receive your payment.
Did you take a distribution from your qualified retirement plan or IRA? If so, and it was for COVID-19 reasons, you will not incur the 10% early withdrawal penalty. Also, you have options on how much to report on your tax return. For example, if you withdrew $60,000 from your IRA, you can report the entire amount in 2020 or spread this out over three years. If you repay the loan within three years, amended returns can be filed to refund the tax paid on the distribution. Contact us for the COVID rules on this distribution.
Look at Roth IRA conversions this year. Did you have less income in 2020? Do you have a traditional IRA? Will your income increase in 2021 and possibly further? What do you think tax rates will be going forward? These are all considerations when looking at Roth IRA conversions. This year may be a good opportunity to pay a one-time lower tax on your conversion. Generally, Roth IRA withdrawals are non-taxable. There are many considerations so call us to discuss your individual situation.
Is your income too high to qualify for a Roth IRA? You can still contribute to a traditional IRA and then convert to a Roth IRA. If you have multiple existing traditional IRA’s the rules are a bit different. Call us and we can discuss the details.
New rules for 529 accounts You can use 529 accounts to pay for apprenticeship program expenses such as fees, books, supplies and equipment required for the program. Also, up to $10,000 (in total, not yearly) can be paid on qualified student loans. This can be for the designated beneficiary or their sibling.
How you can lower capital gains tax With record stock market values check with your financial adviser on estimated capital gains, interest, and dividends on your accounts. Several companies have announced extra year end dividends in anticipation of higher tax rates next year. If you have stock that’s declined in value it may be a good time to sell to offset other gains you may have.
We hope you and your family have a safe and happy holiday season. If you have any questions regarding your personal tax return, or any other related subject, please contact us at David Mills, CPA, LLC.
Does the idea of being your own boss and being in business for yourself appeal to you? Many people who launch small businesses start out as sole proprietors. However, there are tax rules for small business owners, and those who are their own boss.
Here are nine things to consider as a sole proprietor.
To the extent your business generates qualified business income, you are eligible to claim the 20% pass-through deduction, subject to limitations.
The deduction is taken “below the line,” meaning it reduces taxable income, rather than being taken “above the line” against your gross income.
However, you can take the deduction even if you don’t itemize deductions and instead claim the standard deduction.
The net income will be taxable to you regardless of whether you withdraw cash from the business.
Your business expenses are deductible against gross income and not as itemized deductions.
If you have losses, they will generally be deductible against your other income, subject to special rules related to hobby losses, passive activity losses, and losses in activities in which you weren’t “at risk.”
For 2020, you pay self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare) at a 15.3% rate on your net earnings from self-employment of up to $137,700, and Medicare tax only at a 2.9% rate on the excess.
An additional 0.9% Medicare tax (for a total of 3.8%) is imposed on self-employment income in excess of $250,000 for joint returns; $125,000 for married taxpayers filing separate returns; and $200,000 in all other cases.
Self-employment tax is imposed in addition to income tax, but you can deduct half of your self-employment tax as an adjustment to income.
For 2019, these are due April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15, 2021.
If you work from a home office, perform management or administrative tasks there, or store product samples or inventory at home, you may be entitled to deduct an allocable portion of some costs of maintaining your home.
And if you have a home office, you may be able to deduct expenses of traveling from there to another work location.
This means your deduction for medical care insurance won’t be subject to the rule that limits medical expense deductions.
Specifically, you should carefully record your expenses in order to claim all the tax breaks to which you’re entitled.
Certain expenses, such as automobile, travel, meals, and office-at-home expenses, require special attention because they’re subject to special recordkeeping rules or deductibility limits.
When you hire employees, you need to get a taxpayer identification number and withhold and pay employment taxes.
The advantage is that amounts contributed to the plan are deductible at the time of the contribution and aren’t taken into income until they’re are withdrawn.
Because many qualified plans can be complex, you might consider a SEP plan, which requires less paperwork.
A SIMPLE plan is also available to sole proprietors that offers tax advantages with fewer restrictions and administrative requirements.
If you don’t establish a retirement plan, you may still be able to contribute to an IRA.
At David Mills CPA, LLC, we work with small businesses throughout the Central Illinois.
We have offices in Morton and East Peoria and can assist business owners with advice, bookkeeping, payroll, income tax planning and preparations, and business valuations.
We can also help business owners understand the various business structures to ensure their business is structured to best meet their needs.
For more information, contact David Mills CPA, LLC today.
Are you a small to medium sized business near the Peoria, IL area? Do you need help with business tax preparation? Then you have come to the right place. It can be confusing and difficult to prepare your business’ taxes, so we are here to help clear up any confusion. Each business is different as well, and we know the ins and outs of taxes. Your taxes will be different depending on if:
We can help you minimize your taxes each year! Each year, businesses lose tons of money because they aren’t aware of regulations and constantly changing laws. David Mills CPA is here to help guide you through your tax season.
We also provide tax preparation near the Peoria, IL area to individuals looking for guidance. You may think your taxes are simple, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. There are constant changes to the tax laws. Each year there are hundreds of changes. Can you keep up with those tax laws and regulations? Probably not. But we can! We will help you get the biggest return possible.
Contact us today and we will help you or your business with tax preparation. We look forward to being able to guide you or your business through the maze that can be taxes. It’s better to prepare now so you have peace of mind all year! Give us a call today.
This tax season, make sure you are getting the tax return you deserve with our help. Taxes are a complex system, and having a knowledgeable and experienced professional at your back can be the best way to improve your return. We offer tax planning and preparation for both individuals and small to medium-sized businesses.
For business owners, your personal and business taxes are closely linked. It’s especially important for business owners to have proper tax preparation. One issue many business owners face is that sometimes business owners think only of yearly taxes, but they are subject to many more such as:
We have the experience and knowledge required to guide you through the many regulations and laws. Minimizing these taxes is a goal of every business. We can help you and your business through our advising!
Many individuals believe that their tax return is relatively simple. You can go the simple route, but you are likely making mistakes and missing out on deductions you are able to claim. We can help you get the most out of your tax return.
Get the most out of your tax return. Call us today so we can provide you with professional tax preparation. You’ll see the difference for yourself and your business.
If you are like most people regarding taxes, you don’t feel confident in what you are doing. A tax consultant can help relieve stress and reduce mistakes while filing taxes. Check out five reasons why you should consider hiring a tax consultant.
Have you found a mistake on a previous tax return in the past three years? You can work with a tax constant to file an amended return. A consultant can help to minimize any damage that may have been caused. It can also provide you with peace of mind in knowing that your tax return will be properly handled.
Have you gotten married or divorced in the last year? If so, your tax filing may be affected.
Filling Your taxes can be time-consuming. A tax consultant will be able to work quickly and efficiently. They will be able to save you the stress of making sure your taxes are done right.
Taxes can become confusing if you live and work in different states. If you’ve recently moved to a new state it can be confusing as well.
A tax consultant will be able to assist you in the different states’ tax rules and can help you sort out any issues that arise.
A common mistake of new business owners is waiting to hire a tax professional. How you file your taxes the first year can impact future tax filings. It is important to start off right.
David Mills is proud to assist our customers with their taxes and make recommendations that fit your needs. If you need assistance with your taxes, contact David Mills today. We look forward to working with you!
With tax season approaching, it is time to start planning and preparing for taxes. To effectively plan for taxes, it is important to plan with an experienced professional. Continue reading to learn about David Mills’ approach to tax planning and tax preparation.
How does David Mills help you and your company with effective tax planning? We take into consideration the following things:
If you are a business owner, we take into consideration both your personal and business objectives. At David Mills, we take a long-term approach to planning. Our team will provide several planning scenarios that consider both your short and long term goals.
In recent years, there have been over 300 tax law changes and revisions. Several of the laws have limited time frames. David Mill’s team keeps up with all of the current tax law developments that affect you and your business.
We also can answer any questions about any returns that you have prepared yourself or by someone else who prepared them for you. Our team can review your past tax returns to ensure they are accurate and advise you. Learn more about our tax preparation service.
As tax season approaches, it is time to call David Mills. Our team will be happy to help you with both planning and preparation for taxes. Contact our team today for all of your tax needs!