Tax return : the basics

Small Businesses Filing Amended Federal Tax Returns to Recover Money

By Darren Oliver

April 15th may be gone but, but certainly not forgotten - especially if you, like millions of small businesses, unknowingly overpaid your federal taxes and can recover money by filing an amended return.

According to the IRS tax code, you have three years from the filing date for the tax year in question to file an amended return. For example, if returns for the 2003 tax year were filed on March 1, 2004, the taxpayer has until March 1, 2007 to file an amended return. This same rule also applies if the taxpayer feels they have made errors resulting in a balance.

Most business owners either prepare their business taxes themselves or have a tax preparer or accountant do them. With either method, the tax liability can be calculated as higher than it actually is because of missed deductions, unrecognized changes in tax laws or just plain being given bad advice.

There are a number of applicable deductions which many tax preparers often miss from home office deductions to self-employed health insurance to personal assets converted to business use. Although some deductions may seem minor, over an entire year, they can add up to thousands of dollars.

Another area, which causes many businesses to overpay, is being given incorrect advice by their tax preparer or even the IRS directly. In a poll performed by Money Magazine, the average tax preparer produces an average of 480 returns between February 1 and April 15, making it difficult for each return to get the time and attention it deserves. This same poll also found there was an average discrepancy of 300% between what the tax preparers said was due and what was actually due.

Furthermore, in the IRS’s 2001 assessment of their own call centers, they found that 50% of the time, their representatives gave incorrect or insufficient advice. Whether a business owner does their taxes themselves and had to call the IRS for clarification on an issue or a CPA did, odds are the answer was not correct.

The United States tax law is one of the most complex in the world. Not to mention, tax laws change every year and have changed tremendously in the last couple of years. Even the best tax preparer, CPA or even IRS representative can, like all humans do, easily make a mistake.

In 2002 alone, 3.3 million taxpayers filed an amended return. Samuel Rowley, owner of Muffler Masters in Colorado, was able to recover $14,500 through the filing of an amended return when it was found that he overpaid FICA and payroll taxes. Another small business owner, Karen McClafflin, owner of home-based Secret Canyon Realty, was able to recover $11,000 when her tax preparer failed to include home office and automobile deductions in her past returns.

Why is it that when faced with a life-threatening surgery a second opinion is immediately sought after but, when trusting thousands or millions of dollars to an individual or entity, it’s done without question? Businesses must get a second opinion, whether it is done before or after the return is filed, to ensure they are not overpaying or simply to ensure their returns are accurate in all aspects. If not, they could be leaving thousands of dollars on the table.

Darren Oliver is the Chairman and COO of TRS. Through their network of sales partners and franchisees, TRS is dedicated to recovering overpaid taxes for small businesses. This commitment has resulted in an average $8,000 recovery for qualified reviews. For more information, visit www.trs-esp.com or call (800) 714-3504.

If you find yourself dreading the brown envelope with your self assessment tax return form coming through the post you are certainly not alone.

Millions of people feel the same way as you and go through the same laborious process year after year. It is one of the most time consuming and futile exercises that there are. Add to that the fact that you feel be grunted having to give your hard earned cash away anyway.

Not only this, but the forms are boring and confusing. Even having read the personal tax return guide numerous times it is still not clear and seeing as it isn’t the right time to complete the form (it never is) it gets put away. Your tax return self assessment form usually ends up on top of a pile of bills that gets hidden and then lost in the weeks leading to the tax return deadline!

With resentment you frantically fill in your form just in time. Then you realise that your calculations are slightly out, a genuine mistake that you will get penalised for.

Companies specialising in tax returns have come about to relieve the tormented tax payer. They offer expert tax advice, personal financial planning, self assessment preparation but most importantly they will fill in your tax return assessment forms for you. What is more your dedicated personal tax advisor will guide you and assist you all the way. This not only saves time, effort, and paper work but guarantees that your calculations are right without the hassle.

Here is a good site if you need assistance with filling in your tax returns. They are really helpful and have helped many people. http://www.cus4taxreturns.co.uk/

Keith Bateup works for a UK company called The Media Slice Ltd who specialises in putting people in touch with useful services such as loans, mortgages and pensions.

With a little bit of planning, you could find filing tax returns to be a simple task. First of all, keep documents like your SSN, your spouse’s SSN, and dependent’s SSN in order. Get together medical expense records, charitable contribution records, accounting records of your business, wages and asset purchase records.

Make sure you have gathered the interest income (Form 1099 INT), dividend income (Form 1099-DIV), sale of stocks and bonds (Form 1099-B), mortgage interest (Form 1098) and IRA/ Pension Distribution (Form 1099-R, Form SSA 1099).

Some of the other important documents are Form 1099G, Form W -2G, Form 1099-MISC, Form-1099MSA, and Form-1098 E.

Keep a record of the mileage on your vehicle, Internal Revenue contribution, job travel, wages and taxation of household employees. Home property details, such as total area, home office area, expenses records, rent paid and theft from property are also important details. Along with this you should also have scholarship and bank statement records.

To qualify as head of the household, your filing status for the year has to be either “married filing separately,” or “married filing jointly.” As an unmarried dependent, you must file a tax return if your earned and/or unearned income exceeds certain limits. There are many specific rules for couples who are divorced, separated or living together. It would be a good idea to go through the rules and become clear about them.

Dependents are divided into two categories: qualifying relative and qualifying childv which means your child, as well a relative you are supporting can be claimed as dependents. They must have passed the tests of citizenship or residents, joint return test, gross income and support.

A person claimed as a dependent cannot claim any other dependents during the same calendar year. There is no age limit as long they have passed the above tests. Inspect the rules for dual income, separated or divorced couples. Do keep in mind that the social security number of the dependent has to put on the return and child support payments are not deductible.

Electronic filing has made the filing of tax returns easier. To use the e-file program, you must first choose the authorized IRS e-file alternatives that are best for you. The authorized IRS e-file provider could be an electronic return originator, intermediate service provider, transmitter or software developer.

Publication 1345 (PDF), which is the Handbook for Authorized IRS E-File Providers Individual Income Tax Returns, helps you take part in the e-file program. Technical information is in Publication 1346 (PDF), Electronic Return File Specifications and Record Layouts for Individual Income Tax Returns. Get constant updates to this publication on the Electronic Filing System Bulletin Board.

The IRS website (www.irs.gov) gives you a whole host of information. You could also go to websites like About taxes (www.abouttaxes.org), Complete Tax (www.completetax.com), World Wide Web Tax (www.wwwebtax.com).

Tax Returns provides detailed information on Tax Returns, Income Tax Returns, Tax Return Filing Preparations, Federal Tax Returns and more. Tax Returns is affiliated with Free Tax Filing.

The tax levied on an individual’s or corporation’s income is known as income tax, which is a direct tax. Individuals are taxed on their total income, taking into account the standard deductions. Corporations or businesses are taxed on their net income, which is the difference between gross receipts and expenditure. Companies would have to pay corporate or corporation tax. Tax is charged on wages, business income and capital gains.

Anyone who works in the United States has to file income tax returns and pay federal income tax every year by the 15th of April. If you cannot do so then you can apply for an extension from the IRS by filing Form 4868. You must then file within four months, by August 15th.

The two major types of tax systems are flat rate taxes and progressive taxes. Flat tax rate is when all earnings are charged at the same rate. Progressive taxes are calculated differentially, based on how much has been earned. For example every $10,000 will be charged higher in the beginning and the following ones would be charged at progressively lower rates. Deductions help individuals and companies pay a lower amount in taxes.

U.S. residents have to file Form 1040. Nonresident Americans will have to file Form 1040 NR. If you are exempt from taxes, you then file Form 8843. The most essential documents you need are your visa, passport, and social security number or TIN (Tax Identification Number).

As an employee of a firm you will file the W-2 form, while the self-employed will need to file Form 1099. If you generate income from investments, dividends, royalties or rental income you will also need to file the 1099 form.

If you have paid interest on mortgage or real estate taxes, you will be mailed a 1098 along with this information. These forms come in triplicate, so send the original to the IRS, and keep the copies carefully.

The IRS e-file program makes it easy to file your taxes online. Before you do so, get a PIN number. For this you will need to give your birth date, social security number, and information from your previous year’s tax return.

A single person would file an individual tax return. Those who are married can file jointly or as individuals. There are many rules for separated, divorced or couples living together. Do go through them carefully. Also look closely at the rules for dependents. Do keep in mind that the social security number of the dependent has to be put on the return, and child support payments are not deductible.

After filing, if you owe taxes, pay before the deadline, or you will face penalties. You may also be owed a refund if you have overpaid your taxes. These could be paid directly or by check. Make sure to include bank account information when you are filing the form.

With your income tax returns, you can claim standard deductions or itemized deductions. These are for mortgage, student loans, some specific expensive medical treatments, charities and business expenses. The originals of 1099 forms and documentation of these deductions must be sent to the IRS.

You can file the returns yourself or get a consultant to help you. The IRS also helps filing of your returns. Call the IRS customer service representatives toll-free at 1-800-829-1040.

The IRS website (www.irs.gov) gives you extensive information. You could also go to websites like About Taxes (www.abouttaxes.org), Complete Tax (www.completetax.com), World Wide Web Tax (www.wwwebtax.com).

Tax Returns provides detailed information on Tax Returns, Income Tax Returns, Tax Return Filing Preparations, Federal Tax Returns and more. Tax Returns is affiliated with Free Tax Filing.