What you need to know The recently-passed American Rescue Plan Act contains several tax breaks for you and your family. Here are the major provisions of the bill that could mean more money in your pocket during the 2021 tax year. Child tax credit (CTC) The CTC for 2021 increases from $2,000 to $3,000 for kids ages 6 to 17 and $3,600 for kids ages 5 and under. To receive the full tax credit your adjusted

Individual tax return deadline moved to May 17 Congress’ recent move to retroactively make a portion of 2020 unemployment income tax-free is creating havoc during this year’s tax filing season. Here is what you need to know. Background Unemployment compensation was received by millions of Americans during 2020 because of the pandemic. While unemployment income was necessary for many who lost a job, it’s also normally classified as taxable income to be reported on your tax

The same factors that we’ve been dealing with for the past 12 months during the pandemic can also create an opportunity if you are considering starting a small business. Problems create opportunity For one thing, fewer businesses in the marketplace can mean fewer potential competitors. For a start-up company, that can be good news. Also, a slower economy can mean cheaper prices for certain goods and services you’ll need to get up and running. As companies

A terrible tax surprise everyone should know What follows is a true story. A story with a sad ending. But one that has a lesson for everyone. Stick with the story, with a high degree of certainty you probably know someone in this exact situation. The ingredients Back in the 1970s, U.S. Savings Bonds were a popular savings alternative. Grand parents purchased them for kid’s college. Many used them to build funds for retirement. Even better,

Tax challenges can be VERY expensive As a small business owner, you may face the issue of whether to classify workers as employees or as independent contractors. Classifying your workers as independent contractors generally saves you money. That’s because you avoid paying employment taxes and benefits on their behalf. If the IRS determines that you misclassified your employees as contractors, you could end up paying all of the employment taxes and benefits that would have been

Here’s a look at the new world of bank reconciliations and some ideas to use to ensure your bank account is accurate. The bank reconciliation purpose In a nutshell, a bank reconciliation ensures your account is accurate. This is done by comparing all your activity with what the bank is reporting. The importance of timely bank reconciliations There are several reasons for conducting these account reviews on a timely basis: Catch a mistake by the bank.

With the April 15 tax filing deadline right around the corner, here are answers to some common tax questions. When will I get my refund? The pandemic and additional stimulus payments will, in all probability, delay refund payments. But as of now here are the old wait times to receive your refund. * E-file return with a direct deposit – 1 to 3 weeks * E-file return with a mailed check – 1 month * Paper

Many business owners hire their children, their spouse, or other family members to work in their business. Sometimes this works out well. Other times it causes problems. Let’s look at the pros and cons of putting family members on your payroll. Hiring your children Hiring your kids for a summer or part-time job usually has more tax advantages and fewer drawbacks than hiring other relatives. The financial advantage is that if you’re paying your child to

The Problem You hang up the phone with a huge smile on your face. You just learned that you’re getting a pretty sizeable tax refund this year. Now all you need to do is kick back and wait a week or two for the IRS to wire the money into your bank account. This good news, however, is unfortunately short lived. The very next day you get another phone call. “I’m sorry to tell you this,

How companies use your identity and what you can do to protect it. One of the most valuable things you own is YOU. Your identity includes the basics – where you live, your age, and your gender. But it also includes your interests, who you know, and what you buy. So, do you know who has your identity? Here’s the life cycle of your identity and what to do to protect it. It gets collected. Think