Articles by Optima Financial Group

Tax Evasion, Fraud & the Statute of Limitations

Tax evasion and fraud is not just a problem for white-collar crime criminals. Filing your taxes, particularly if you have considerable assets or run your own business, can be terribly complex. This means that the line between an aggressive – but legal – tax planning strategy and fraud is thinner than you might think. Perfectly […]

Reducing Taxes on Your Holiday Bonus

As the spirit of generosity is in the air, companies and employees need to know that holiday bonuses are considered supplemental wages and subject to taxes. Holiday bonuses are viewed by the IRS as compensation, just like paychecks, so taxes need to be withheld from your holiday bonus. How Much are Holiday Bonuses Taxed? Some […]

How to Report Foreign Income to the IRS

You may live or work abroad, but if you’re an American citizen or legal permanent resident, Uncle Sam still wants his rightful share of your income. Even if you reside outside the United States and receive earnings from a source located outside the country, you must report that income. Depending on your circumstances, you may […]

How Renting Out Your Home Affects Your Taxes

If you have decided to dive into the sharing economy by renting your home or part of it out — whether it’s through a service like AirBnB or independently — you need to be aware of how the rental income will affect your taxes. Renting any part of your home requires some work up-front and […]

What Does IRS Code 9001 Mean?

There are still many IRS terms and codes that are a mystery to the average taxpayer. Tax terms can be confusing, whether you’re a first-time tax filer or have been filing tax returns for years. IRS Code 9001 is a common error code, but many people don’t know what it means. We’ll explore what the […]