Tax return : the basics

In elementary school, kids come up with creative excuses why they did not bring in their homework. “My dog ate it” or “It was stolen by invisible space aliens” might be given as a reason why something was not turned in on time. Don’t try those excuses with the IRS! Don’t blame divorce, business failures, or family troubles either, because except under extreme circumstances, they won’t register with the taxman.

If you have unfiled tax returns, you need to file at least the last 6-7 years. Although under law IRS could make you go back and file that return from the late 1970’s when you were a disco diva or urban cowboy, the good news is that as a matter of policy they don’t! In most cases, filing the last 6-7 years will be OK and IRS will consider you in compliance. So don’t procrastinate any further, file the returns if you made over the standard deduction and personal exemption amounts during those years or were self-employed.

People delay filing returns for 3 main reasons:

1. They are afraid or embarrassed;

2. They have lost the records or don’t know where to go to get the returns done; or

3. Some crackpot advised them income taxes are bogus and that they don’t have to file.

Don’t be afraid of filing, be afraid of what will happen if you don’t file. IRS could file for you and you might owe more than if you would have done it yourself or IRS could send somebody out looking for you. It is not a crime to owe IRS money, it can be a crime under some circumstances for not filing a tax return or a false return.

If you lost your records relax, in most case you can get all your income data from IRS so that you can prepare the tax returns. If you had deductions, you may have to dig those up and organize your records.

IRS is a legitimate government agency and they can and do enforce the laws on filing a Federal Tax Return. It sounds good when somebody says IRS is a fraud, but it is a lie. We all have to pay taxes. If you do not file, IRS can file a tax return for you. Once that happens, it is very burdensome to get corrected.

If you havent’t filed in years you can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and after lots of time on hold and maybe a few transfers, you will eventually get somebody who can help you get your W2 info mailed to you. Your local library may have old tax forms and tax books to help you do the returns. You can do it yourself, but I suggest getting a professional to help you.

Don’t go to some guy or gal advertising on TV with a big company. Go to a professional person or small firm where you can talk one on one with a CPA, Enrolled Agent, or Tax Attorney. It doesn’t have to be a local person, you could hire someone across the country. With email, fax, etc. you can avoid some embarassment of going to a local tax pro if you live in a small town by hiring someone far away. But don’t hire somebody without checking them out. Read any contract they send you. Don’t part with your hard earned money unless you are sure of their qualifications.

Members of the following organizations must adhere to high ethical standards and might be a good choice for you: National Society of Accountants (NSA); National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA); or the American Insitute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). You might also look for professionals holding the Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP) or Accredited Tax Advisor (ATA) designation.

Don’t let your cousin Jimmy do your returns or that nice neighbor who says he is an expert. I have seen more screwed up returns done by friends and relatives than I care to remember. Get peace of mind, file those returns. You may owe money but you may have a refund waiting. Guess what, if you file the return more than three years after the due date; you lose the refund!

Here are some sites that can give you more info:

www.irs.gov
www.naea.org
www.nsacct.org
www.aicpa.org
www.exirsman.com

James Robert Coleman, E.A., A.T.A.
Enrolled Agent & Accredited Tax Advisor
Member: National Association of Enrolled Agents
Former IRS Revenue Officer, GS-11
http://www.exirsman.com

Taxes are compulsory charges or levies collected by states or anything that functions like a state. In a modern society, taxes are usually levied in money. Taxes have always been gathered in one way or the other. Tribal governments used to collect taxes either in the form of labor, produce or even gold.

In the past, taxes have sometimes funded wars or projects. In the modern context, taxes are essential to help a country build infrastructure, offer education, maintain law and order, finance economic structures, roads, administration, defense, etc.

In 1913, President Woodrow Wilson set up the Federal Income Tax. This income tax system deducted about 1% to 7% of a person?s income. Ever since then, new taxes have been added, and after World War I, the American Tax Code has become four times bigger.

In America, citizens who earn above a certain level are expected to file tax returns, and pay taxes if applicable. You are not expected to file returns if you have salaries and pensions taxed under Pay As You Earn (PAYE). This is because the correct amount of tax is being deducted at source.

Tax returns are essentially forms given by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in which all the details of income and incurred expenses have to be given. The taxes that you have to pay are calculated based on this. An individual can calculate these taxes, or the IRS could do it.

The form has one page, which everyone has to complete, and nine supplementary forms, which people with specific types of income have to file. There is also a supplementary booklet that helps to file taxes.

You are expected to file returns if you are self-employed, have other income received in gross and from which taxes have not been cut, such as rental income from property, interest in a national savings income account, etc. Returns would also have to be filed if the taxation rate is high or complex.

Sometimes the IRS many issue tax return forms to you even if you pay taxes under PAYE. This happens if you have changed jobs and it is to check if your taxation is in order.

Always file your tax returns if you know that the correct amount of tax has not been paid on your income. Do not wait for the IRS to send you a tax return. If you fail to do so you may pay a fine or incur a penalty. Several people have gone to prison for failing to file their taxes correctly.

Send your tax returns back to the local tax office by January 31st after the end of the tax year; otherwise you will automatically incur penalties. If you want the IRS to do the tax calculations, you must send the completed return to the local tax office by September 30th following the end of the tax year.

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.

Tax return preparation is an important aspect of payment of taxes annually. Tax payment to the government is mandatory for an individual who has an income. It is very essential for an individual to pay his taxes timely. Tax preparation is a demanding task and so it must never be left for the last minute. It is advisable to get professional help for your tax return preparation.

During the peak taxing season there is a mad rush of people to file their taxes in time. Accountants and accounting firms get busy preparing tax returns of individuals. The workload on accounting firms during this time is pretty hectic. If you find that handling the tax returns have become very demanding on your accounting firm, outsource tax returns. Outsourcing tax returns is the best way for you to deal with these demands.

There are a number of outsourcing companies which will do the work for you for a certain amount of money. All you need to do is find a company which is competent enough to do the work for you. Most of the outsourcing companies have highly trained professionals to help you out.

Tax return outsourcing is one simple method to reap many benefits. First of all you are able to handle the mad rush made by your clients during the tax season. You do not have to make an extra effort or put any additional strain on your existing staff at the firm. Outsourcing the tax return process takes care of everything for you.

Due to outsourcing your tax return preparation you will be able to deliver professional service to your clients. You will be able to give this to your clients without undertaking any new fixed costs. The professionals in outsourcing companies are adequately equipped to deal with different types of tax returns like individual tax returns, business tax returns and corporation tax returns are a few of them.

For accounting firms to prepare your tax returns, you will have to provide them with some information. Some of the information which you will need is your social security number, driving license, information on the major expenses incurred during a financial year. All these information along with some others is vital for preparing your tax return.

Tax payment must never be a harrowing experience for you. Preparing your own tax returns can be very tiring and time consuming as well. There are professionals to help you out in this regard. Seek their help and pay your taxes without any worries.

To know more about tax return preparation, visit http://www.ifrworld.com

James Crystal running a small scale outsourcing company (services: employee leasing, accounting outsourcing, tax return services) in New York.