AFS Blog
ANOTHER PFISHING SCAM TO BE AWARE OF
The IRS has alerted the public to another pfishing scam making the rounds. In this one, the taxpayer is mailed an official looking form to fill out, but that form has been altered so as to collect valuable information for identity theft, such as passport number,...
THE NEW POSTCARD SIZE TAX FORM-ITS NOT THAT SIMPLE
Well they promised a postcard sized tax form and they delivered but it may result in a bit of confusion. A draft form leaked to the NYT shows that a number of above-the-line deductions are no longer on the form. I don't see educator expenses, health savings account...
Beware of Another Phone Scam From Fake IRS Agents
The IRS sent out a warning last week regarding another phone scam where the fraudsters are now using phone numbers that mimic IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers while demanding payment on nonexistent tax bills. Yes, even after tax season, they are still at it. In the...
Filing an extension for your taxes
Many are concerned that filing an extension can cause a red flag or increase chances of an audit. That is simply not true. Extensions are used all of the time by families, individuals and businesses. If the gathering of your paperwork is rushed or if you really...
TAX IMPLICATIONS OF BITCOIN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS
Virtual currencies (synonymous with the term Bitcoin) can be used to make electronic purchases of physical items or digitally traded or exchanged into dollars, Euros, and other real or virtual currencies. Peer-to-peer and retail transactions occur electronically...
Just Great! IRS says that you can’t rely on IRS instructions
So, you would think that if the IRS provided instructions, you could rely on them when filling out your tax return. I think that is only common sense. However, that is not the case. In what to me seems to be a classic case of lack of accountability, the only...
IRS Can Use Credit Card Data From 1099-K’s to do more Tax Audits
The IRS is likely to be auditing more tax returns when a discrepancy is seen between payments reported on Form 1099-K and the income reported on tax returns. If you are in business, and you take credit cards for payment, you are likely receiving a 1099-K at the end of...
IRS will enforce health coverage reporting on 2017 returns
In previous seasons, processing of tax returns without the health care coverage box checked slowed down processing of returns but it didn't halt processing. In many situations, the taxpayer received a letter asking for payment of the health care penalty or proof that...
REALTORS SHOULD INCORPORATE as well as many other businesses
Just read a great article from RE/MAX on why realtors should incorporate. But it is not just realtors that should heed this advice. We have been providing this advice to our small business clients for many years. Incorporation with an S Corp status election gives...
S-Corp Deduction for Home Office
Taking a deduction for home office expenses is trickier for an S Corp business but it it still a legitimate deduction if done properly. It is important that you carefully structure the relationship between yourself and the S corporation. Done properly, the deduction...
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