Orange County Accountant

I heard from other people that they itemized all the receipts from groceries and other items that has taxes on them and they include this when they file their tax. They don’t own businesses so I don’t get how they can do this. Is there a separate form that I can fill out to include all my expenses that has taxes on them?

Is the IRS all bad? The IRS is not all about seizing assets, bank accounts, and wages. The IRS does provide ways to reduce your actual taxes through Tax Credits. What makes a credit different from a deduction? A credit lowers your actual amount of taxes. A deduction lowers your actual taxable income.

Help for those who need it…So what kinds of tax credits are there, and how can I get them?

Most tax credits are dependent on your income. The majority of them do require that you be in a lower income bracket, so check with the IRS at irs.gov to see if you can qualify.

Some of the tax credits that you may qualify for are listed below. This is not a complete list, but it should give you an idea of what’s okay and what isn’t:

Child tax credit: You can receive a $1,000 tax credit for each child that is eligible as dependents. Be careful with this one, as claiming a child incorrectly can cause you to be in debt to the IRS.

Education credit: This is available to full and part time students. So whether you’re a twenty-something going full time or if you’re a returning student looking to improve your career options you can claim your schooling. You can claim up to $1,650 as a credit for your schooling for the year. Usually your school will send you a tax statement.

Home Energy Efficiency Credit: If you’ve made changes to your home to make it more energy efficient you can claim up to $500 as a credit. Keep your receipts so you can prove you made the improvements. Not only do you save on utility bills, but you get back money for the government.

Be certain…Tax credits can provide you with a much needed shot in the arm as they can greatly increase your income tax return. But beware, and make sure you know and follow the guidelines set by the IRS before you claim anything as a credit.

These same credits can backfire on you as the IRS frequently audits larger tax returns. You could find yourself owing the IRS if you incorrectly claimed a tax credit, or claimed something you shouldn’t have.

If you’re not sure about a tax credit feel free to drop your friendly former IRS-Hitman an e-mail.

Now you have the smoking gun…Use it!

With not much time remaining until the April 15 IRS income tax deadline, many Americans are scrambling to finalize their income tax returns. This year, a growing percentage of taxpayers will choose to file an IRS income tax extension, which will postpone their tax deadline to October 15.

If you?re considering filing an income tax extension, you?re not alone. The IRS recently estimated that 10.2 million of the 140 million tax filers will file for a tax extension this year. What?s more, approximately 2 million of those extensions will be electronically filed online.File Later tax extension service – a popular website where taxpayers can file their income tax extension – compiled the following list of reasons why taxpayers should consider joining the growing trend of taxpayers filing a tax ex tension rather than stress about getting their returns completed by April 15.

Although the IRS doesn?t care (or ask) why millions of taxpaying Americans file for extensions every year, you may find these valuable: 1. Accountants and tax professionals are much busier in April than they are in October. Getting the proper amount of time with an accountant gets harder and harder the longer you wait leading up to April 15. Extending your income tax deadline to October 15 will give your accountant or tax pro that extra time to focus on your tax return, which may mean extra tax savings in your pocket.2. Filing an income tax extension may reduce your chance of audit. IRS auditors have quotas they need to meet every year on the number of returns audited. Returns are sorted for auditors by filing date, and most auditors will have met their quotas before they get to extended returns.3. Getting paperwork together to complete your taxes isn?t easy. Organizing that shoebox of W2s, 1099s, mortgage interest statements, and receipts can take longer than you expect. Giving yourself the extra time needed will ensure you?re taxes are done right, and extending will give you extra time to track down any additional deductions so you?re getting the biggest tax return possible.4. For business owners, funding retirement plans such as Simplified Employee Pensions (SEPs) or SIMPLE IRA?s can be expensive. Filing for an income tax extension will also extend your deadline to fund these types of retirement plans.5. It?s easy. Your income tax extension can be filed in less than 10 minutes using an online provider like File Later. The process is completely paper-free, and your extension will be e-filed, meaning you?ll get an email confirming the IRS has approved your extension, and you?ll have 6 more months to finalize your tax return.

And remember, even though you may be interested in the reasons to extend your income tax return, the IRS doesn?t care or ask. As long as your application is filed correctly, your extension will be granted by the IRS and your new tax deadline will be October 15.