Can You Use Cryptocurrency to Pay Taxes? While cryptocurrency has left many people skeptical of its value, the American government is validating its use with some surprising changes in taxes. In the last few years, states have been racing to make cryptocurrency mainstream, in hopes that one day Americans can use it to pay their taxes.
Can the IRS Garnish Your Social Security? Many taxpayers rely on Social Security to get by after retiring. Unfortunately, taxpayers with outstanding tax liabilities may be at risk of a levy on their retirement funds. How much can the IRS take and what should you do? CEO David King and Lead Tax Attorney Phillip Hwang discuss everything you need to know about Social Security garnishments.
2022 IRS Interest Rates Increase Beginning April 1, 2022, the IRS will raise its interest rates for the quarter. These changes apply to quarterly taxpayers, such as corporations and self-employed filers.
Reporting Cryptocurrency to the IRS The topic of crypto gains more mainstream attention as the IRS takes interest in digital assets. In early March, the IRS sent out about 10,000 letters to taxpayers with digital asset transactions, requiring them to report ownership.
Reduced Refunds: Will Your Refund Be Garnished? You may have already received your tax documents for the 2022 season and it’s time to file. Many taxpayers experience some anxiety around filing season because of uncertainty. Will you owe the IRS? Will your refund be garnished? There are a few instances where you can expect the IRS to reduce your refund, or garnish the whole thing.
Side Hustles and Taxes: What You Need to Know Philip Hwang, Lead Tax Attorney, and Optima CEO, David King provide useful tips so that you can understand whether or not you owe, and when you should file your side-hustle income.
Pending Status on Previous Tax Returns Can Delay this Year’s Return Millions of Americans have been waiting for tax returns and refunds from previous years, causing even more delay for 2022. If your returns from last year are still pending, then your return will be delayed this year as well.
It’s the start of a new year, which means that tax season is right around the corner. A few things have changed in the last couple of years, so it’s important to make sure you’re up to date on current tax news before you file. Read More
CEO David King highlights the difficulties of dealing with IRS Enforcement; otherwise known as Collections. Optima’s Lead Tax Attorney, Philip Hwang, shares his insight and offers “Tax Pro Tips” ranging from IRS authority, to what you can expect when you’re subjected to IRS collection actions. Watch Video Click here for more from The Tax Show for People Who Owe.
Retirement accounts can help reduce your taxable income and possibly increase your tax refund. Some accounts may have a year-end deadline for your contribution and required distributions, while others allow additional time. Read More
Dependents are usually children or relatives in your household that require your care. These characteristics allow you to be eligible for some tax deductions and credits. Knowing when to claim a dependent and how will be vital to preparing your tax return this season. Read More
Child tax credit has been a reliable source of additional income for families struggling through the pandemic. While there were plans to continue the monthly checks for at least another five years, it seems the program will be coming to an end in about one year.
Many small business owners are at risk of being assigned a Revenue Officer (RO). If a small business withholds taxes from their employees but fails to hand it over to the IRS, the IRS can assign an RO, garnish bank accounts and wages, seize property and real estate, and even show up at your place of business. Here are some helpful tips for small business owners if they are assigned an RO.
Optima Tax Relief is proud to announce that we have earned our second BBB Torch Award! This award puts the spotlight on businesses with exceptional dedication to integrity and ethical business practices. The Torch Award is just the latest in the series of awards Optima has earned this year, including the Orange County Civic 50, Top Workplaces USA, and several Stevie Awards for best-in-class Consumer Service.
It’s important to choose how you want your earnings to be taxed because the IRS will automatically treat your business as a partnership. This designation doesn’t fit if you’re a sole proprietor or prefer to file as a corporation. Once you choose your tax rules, you cannot change the designation again for five years, which is why you must choose wisely.
The IRS recently signed contracts with three private-sector collection agencies, taking effect Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. Taxpayers that are behind on payments toward their debts may be contacted by one of the new agencies. Here’s what you need to know: Read More
Revenue Officers deal with the most advanced tax collection cases that the IRS has on file. If you owe a large sum of money to the IRS, you could potentially have a Revenue Officer assigned to you. Optima CEO David King and in-house Revenue Officer expert and Enrolled Agent, Rosie Steele, provide helpful tips on what individuals can do if they have been assigned a Revenue Officer. Watch Video
Since 2009, apps such as Venmo have been evolving into common payment methods for businesses and individuals. Now, peer-to-peer payment apps are gaining the government’s attention regarding unreported income. To remain compliant with the IRS, there are some things to consider if you utilize these apps for business. Read More
The Senate recently passed President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill, which includes a pilot program for vehicle mileage tax. This tax would charge drivers based on how many miles they drive in a year. The vehicle mileage fee will likely bring in revenue for transportation and future infrastructure projects. Read More
The recently passed $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan allows qualifying taxpayers who received unemployment during the 2020 tax year to have the first $10,200 of those benefits exempt from their federal income taxes.
The IRS has Resumed its U.S. Passport Revocation Program
The IRS recently announced that they are resuming their Passport Revocation Program. Optima CEO David King and Lead Tax Attorney Philip Hwang discuss how this program can cause delinquent taxpayers to lose their passport until they become compliant with the IRS.
Unemployment Fraud could affect Individuals this Tax Season
Due to the ongoing pandemic, millions of Americans lost their jobs, many of whom received unemployment benefits from their state agency. As taxpayers start to file their taxes, they need to be aware of scammers looking to file fraudulent unemployment benefits and steal their personal information.
The IRS granted taxpayers additional time to file their federal tax returns due to COVID-19 and new stimulus provisions that made the current tax filing season much more complex compared to prior years. With so many new tax law changes, taxpayers should be more cautious when filing their taxes.
