Operation Hidden Treasure: Cryptocurrency And Your Taxes
Cryptocurrency has become an incredibly popular way to invest, but the tax side of this virtual coin can be difficult to navigate. The IRS has gone back and forth over the years on its stance on cryptocurrency, making it confusing even for the most diligent investors.
In March of 2021, the IRS announced Operation Hidden Treasure in order to crack down on cryptocurrency reporting. If you've bought and/or sold cryptocurrency recently, it's important to declare your crypto correctly on your tax forms in order to avoid fraud and evasion charges.
Here's what you need to know.
Before we jump into it, if you know you owe IRS back taxes on your crypto gains, it's important to reach out to a tax resolution firm like ours that is skilled in negotiating back tax debt with the IRS. We can help you file amended returns and get you back in compliance, while potentially negotiating with the IRS on your behalf. Contact us today for a consultation.
What Is Operation Hidden Treasure?
Operation Hidden Treasure is a joint effort by the IRS Civil Office of Fraud Enforcement and its Criminal Investigation Unit. This operation is designed to search for unreported income from cryptocurrency.
Operation Hidden Treasure has trained agents to examine the blockchain in order to find signs of tax evasion. Blockchain is the digital ledger that tracks your cryptocurrency mining and transactions. The signs that IRS agents look for are marked as signatures that make it easier to detect further fraudulent activity.
Crypto users have found ways to skirt reporting requirements by sending multiple transactions under a certain dollar amount or pouring their virtual currency into shell corporations, different countries, and cold storage. The IRS is also collaborating with European law enforcement agencies to tackle international fraud.
How To Protect Your Assets
The IRS considers virtual currency to be property akin to gold, rather than money and is taxed accordingly. If your only crypto transaction this year was purchasing crypto with US dollars, then that does not need to be reported, according to the IRS FAQ on their website. However, if you sold your crypto or you traded your crypto for any goods or services, then that does need to be reported.
When you sell your crypto, keep track of its value when you purchased it, and its value when you sold it. While crypto and the IRS can both be murky subjects, your transparency is the key to protecting your financial assets from future tax audits.
To get ready for the upcoming tax season, it's important to get your portfolio organized. If you have bought, sold, or traded crypto in the past year, contact a tax lawyer or a tax resolution firm like ours for advice on how to report your cryptocurrency transactions.
Need Tax Relief?
If you do get in trouble with the IRS and they claim you owe $10,000 or more, reach out to our tax resolution firm and we’ll schedule a free, no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options in full to permanently resolve your tax problem.
8 Ways to Get Ready for Tax Season and Avoid a Back Tax Problem
The holidays are here. Not to be a grinch but right around the corner is a less fondly anticipated time of year. Before you know it, you will be taking down the Christmas tree, pulling down the holiday lights, and getting ready for the tax season to come.
Tax season is decidedly less fun than the holiday season, but the two times of the year do have one thing in common. Just like the holidays, tax season requires lots of preparation and planning, and if you want to be ready, you need to start early.
Why are we writing this article? It's not to spoil your holiday cheer, it's because we've seen what it's like when you're not prepared. We help people who fall behind on their taxes and owe the IRS tens of thousands of dollars in back taxes, and it's often because they simply failed to prepare and they procrastinate on their taxes.
If you do get in trouble with the IRS and they claim you owe $10,000 or more, reach out to our tax resolution firm and we’ll schedule a free, no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options in full to permanently resolve your tax problem.
So if you don't want to end up owing the IRS a ton of money, Here are 10 ways to get ready for tax season and reduce your stress level as this annual ritual approaches.
#1 Organize your records.
Now is the time to drag out last year's tax return, pull out your most recent pay stub, and get organized before the season starts.
#2 Settle any back taxes you might owe.
If you have years of unfiled returns or have a tax issue for anything besides the current year, you should get this handled now, before the upcoming tax season. When April 15th comes around, your tax professional is likely swamped with returns and they'll pay less attention to your back tax debt. We recommend reaching out to a specialized tax relief firm like ours that handles complicated tax debt cases all year round.
#3 Defer bonuses and incentive pay.
If you're going to owe taxes, it might make sense to defer getting paid so you can lower your taxable income. If you can, you might want to defer any bonuses and incentive payments. You can also defer payments from retirement accounts and IRAs to save on current-year taxes.
#4 Look for additional deductions.
Now is the time to make those last-minute donations to charity, so start writing those checks and gathering up those household goods. Be sure to get a receipt and save your canceled checks so you can substantiate your charitable giving if a question should arise later.
#5 Expand your education.
Not only can taking a class to improve your business or career prospects and help you get ahead, but that additional education could also lower your tax bill. You might qualify for a generous tax credit or take a good tax deduction for investing in your future.
#6 Up your retirement savings.
The end of the year is the perfect time to increase your 401(k) contributions and make your annual IRA investment. Maxing out your 401(k) and IRA contributions is one of the best ways to reduce your tax bill while saving for the future.
#7 Sell your losers and let your winners run.
if you have substantial capital gains in your stock portfolio or crypto portfolio, selling your losers could lower your tax bill. You can use those losses to offset your capital gains and save money on your taxes.
#8 Estimate your income for tax planning.
You will not know the exact amount of income you received until all your documents are in, but you can estimate your compensation and start doing some advance tax planning. This can be key in preventing back tax debt since you won't be blindsided by a large tax bill come April 15th.
Tax season will be here before you know it, and now is the time to get ready. You do not have to wait until April to start your tax planning, and the sooner you get started, the sooner you can put this unpleasant task behind you.
Need Tax Relief?
If you want an expert tax resolution specialist who knows how to navigate the IRS maze, reach out to our firm and we’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem.
Tips for Finding a Qualified Tax Resolution Firm
Given how high the stakes are, it is surprising how little thought many people give to their taxes. All too often, individuals simply walk into a neighborhood storefront, hand over their most personal information, and trust the person on the other side of the desk to do the right thing and prepare their taxes properly.
In many cases, that trust is well placed, and the individual preparing the taxes is indeed the honest and trustworthy professional they claim to be. In other cases, however, the trust is misplaced, and the tax preparer will end up making mistakes that could cost the individual a great deal. If an audit is triggered by deliberate misrepresentation or unintentional mistake, you will still be on the hook for any additional taxes, interest, and penalties.
If you’re in tax trouble because you trusted the wrong tax preparer, then you will need a qualified tax resolution firm to help you resolve your tax problem. However, you don’t want to repeat the same mistake twice! So it is important to do your homework and know what to look for in a tax resolution firm. Here are 4 quick tips to help you find a qualified tax resolution firm.
#1 Read Their Reviews Online
By reading online reviews you can quickly see if the tax resolution firm is reputable and stands by its clients. A lot of the big national firms will have terrible reviews but they market themselves heavily, so consumers don’t think twice about their reputation.
If you owe back taxes, waiting can cost you a lot of money and if the tax resolution firm disappears on you or doesn’t return your call, that wasted time could cost you dearly. This can easily be snuffed out by seeing if they have good online reviews about their services.
#2 Make Sure the Tax Resolution Firm Has Experience and A Proven Track Record
Negotiating with the IRS to settle your tax debt is a specialized skill that not all tax attorneys or tax professionals have. It’s important to ask about their recent case settlements and success stories. A true tax resolution professional will have proof they’ve done this before and successfully helped resolve back tax problems.
#3 What Does Their Communication Look Like Once You Sign-On?
A professional and experienced firm will have systems in place to make sure you’re updated regularly on your tax resolution case. The IRS moves slow and there will likely be big gaps in time in between updates from the IRS. That doesn’t mean the tax relief firm should also have gaps in communication.
Ask how long they think it’ll take to resolve your tax problem, and how you’ll be updated even if they don’t have any news from the IRS.
#4 Avoid Big National Firms With Salespeople Who Promise The Moon But Don’t Deliver
You’ve heard their ads on the radio or TV. If you call a big national firm you’ll likely get a salesperson who knows very little about taxes or how to settle your tax debt.
Not every taxpayer qualifies for all the IRS tax debt settlement programs. However, these salespeople will promise you the moon but will fail to deliver because they didn’t take the time to understand your specific situation and they’re not actually licensed tax resolution professionals.
Make sure to ask who will be responsible for your case and try to speak with them directly before signing up. A true tax resolution expert will be happy to speak with you to make sure they can understand your case and offer you the right solution.
Need Tax Relief?
If you want an expert tax resolution specialist who knows how to navigate the IRS maze, reach out to our firm and we’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem.
4 Common Tax Return Mistakes That Could Get You in Trouble with the IRS
As the tax-filing season unfolds, many taxpayers are taking the bull by the horns and doing their own taxes. Though it may seem like good news for the individual taxpayer, it’s important to watch out for common tax filing mistakes. Tax preparation software makes some errors like addition and subtraction blunders less likely, but even the best software cannot eliminate all potential problems and human error.
If you are getting ready to file your tax return, be sure to take a second (or third) look before you hit send. Keeping a close eye out for these common tax filing mistakes is the best way to ensure the IRS does not come knocking at your door.
Note: If you do get in trouble with the IRS and they claim you owe $10,o00 or more, reach out to our tax resolution firm and we’ll schedule a free, no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options in full to permanently resolve your tax problem.
That said, let's jump into the 4 common tax return mistakes that could land you in tax trouble.
#1. Transposed Numbers
If the 1099 you receive shows $6300 in income and you inadvertently enter $3600 instead, the IRS may see this as a tax dodge instead of an innocent mistake. At best, transposing numbers will slow down your refund and raise a red flag with the tax agency. At worst, it could trigger an audit or further examination of your entire return.
IRS computers are very good at comparing the figures taxpayers report to the ones they receive independently from banks, brokerage firms, and other agencies. Be sure to double-check and verify every number you enter and make sure it is right. Your tax software can tell you if your numbers do not add up, but they cannot catch transposed figures.
#2. Misspelled Names
It is easy to misspell a name or transpose a Social Security number when entering dependent information, but doing so could cause real problems with your return. Be sure to double-check the names, ages, and Social Security numbers of all your children before sending your return to the IRS.
Do not assume that all of that information will be transferred from a prior year's return.
#3. Missing Social Security Numbers
It is easy to forget this vital piece of information, and doing so could delay your return and cause long-lasting problems. You may assume that your tax prep software will automatically enter your Social Security number, but that does not always happen.
Be sure to give your Social Security number (and that of your spouse) one last look before filing your return. That last-minute check could save you a world of trouble later on.
#4. Not Reporting All Your Income or Taking Too Many Deductions
The IRS will likely get notified of income you received throughout the year, and it doesn’t just include your W2 wages. It’s important to keep track of all your income and report it to the IRS correctly to avoid any problems.
It can also be tempting to click a few extra boxes and input a few made-up numbers as deductions to bring your tax liability down. DO NOT DO THIS. Just because the software lets you do this, doesn’t mean you should.
It’s not the software's job to tell you whether or not you should be taking that extra deduction or write off, it’s the taxpayer's job, to be honest, and file their tax returns correctly.
NEED TAX RELIEF?
If you made a mistake on your tax return and end up on the receiving end of an IRS notice, or if you have years of unfiled tax returns, reach out to our office. We’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem.
Does the IRS Disagree with Your Income Figures? 7 Critical Steps to Take Next
It is one of the scariest things that can befall a taxpayer - the dreaded notice from the IRS stating you owe them more money you can’t pay. When you open up the mailbox and see the return address of the tax agency staring back at you, your heart is bound to skip a beat (or two).
Few people look forward to communicating with the IRS, but plenty of taxpayers receive these notices every year. If you do find yourself on the receiving end of such a notice, knowing what to do next could make all the difference, and possibly save your bank account. Here are seven critical steps to take if the IRS disagrees with the income (or expense) figures you have reported.
Note: If you fall behind on filing your taxes, you’re not alone and we can help. Reach out to our tax resolution firm and we’ll help you file late tax returns and negotiate with the IRS if you owe back taxes.
1. Stop panicking. Getting a letter from the IRS is enough to send your heart racing, but it is not the end of the world, and panic will not help you. Staying calm and reviewing the communication will be key, so settle your nerves and move on to the next steps.
2. Review the document carefully. The letter you received from the IRS should clearly layout where they disagree with your figures and what they used to come up with their own math. Reviewing these figures is the critical next step, and it is one you should take your time with.
3. Pull a copy of the tax return in question. The communication you received from the IRS will tell you which year's tax return is in question, so pulling a copy of that return should be your next step. Once you have the document in hand you can start to review the figures and see where the discrepancies came from.
4. Find your supporting documents. In many cases these kinds of discrepancies are caused by simple errors like transposed numbers, so compare the figures on the supporting documents to what ended up on your return. You may find, for instance, that you reported interest of $2,150 as $1,250, and the solution could be as simple as ponying up the extra tax.
5. Contact the best tax resolution firm. If you used a professional tax preparer, you might be tempted to talk to them first. That might be ok, but if you owe a large amount of back taxes, they might not be able to help. That’s where a good tax relief or tax resolution firm can help. The best tax relief firms can actually negotiate on your behalf with the IRS and find the best resolution for your tax situation, sometimes settling for less than what you owe in taxes!
6. Review the response form. If you did make a mistake on your tax return, you can simply agree to the figures the IRS reported and pay the additional tax, along with any applicable penalties and interest. If you disagree, you can respond with the supporting documents that prove your case. Either way, you will need to use the response form included with the letter, so review and complete that form carefully. We don’t suggest you do this yourself, instead, call our tax relief firm and make sure you investigate the issue in its entirety. Otherwise, you could land yourself in more trouble.
7. Follow up. It can take some time for these kinds of discrepancies to be resolved, so you will need to bring a healthy dose of patience. If you agree with the notice and choose to pay the extra tax, you can see when your check is cashed or the money is taken out of your account, documenting the situation and keeping careful records. If you disagree, you will need to wait for the IRS to respond, but make sure you don’t assume the issue is resolved unless you have documentation stating that.
If you do need to contact the IRS, keep in mind that their phone lines are extremely busy. Many people who have been through this trauma recommend calling early in the morning, right after the phone lines open, so you can get in line and get your questions answered before the lines fill up.
We NEVER suggest our clients try to contact the IRS on their own. It would be like going to court without a lawyer. The IRS is not your friend, they’re sole responsibility in these cases is to collect taxes they think they’re owed.
Hopefully, you will never be on the receiving end of a nasty letter from the IRS but it is still important to be prepared. If you do find a letter from the IRS in your mailbox, following the seven critical steps listed above could save you from further trouble.
Reach out to our tax resolution firm and we’ll schedule a free, no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options in full to permanently resolve your tax problem.
Which Tax Records to Keep and For How Long. Do This And Avoid Tax Problems Later.
Whether you are expecting a nice tax refund or preparing to write a big scary check, you know that April 15 is the annual tax filing deadline. What you may not know, however, is that tax day is every day at the IRS, and the tax agency is always reviewing the information taxpayers and business owners have provided.
That means that keeping tax records is about more than just smart bookkeeping - it is an integral form of self-protection. You see, millions of Americans get letters from the IRS stating they owe back taxes or requesting more information about their tax returns.
It may be disconcerting, but the IRS has the right to request additional information months, or even years, after the return you filed has supposedly been processed and accepted. In fact, the much-feared tax agency can request additional documentation for up to three years after the annual tax deadline has come and gone.
We help people resolve their back tax problems and often settle with the IRS for less than the amount they owe, but in order to do this, we need to provide the right records. That's where having your tax records saved can be the difference between settling your tax debt or not.
As a result, it is important to retain your tax records and keep certain tax documents on hand, just in case the IRS asks for them. Here are the most common tax records and how long you should keep them around.
If you owe back taxes, our firm can help negotiate with the IRS and potentially settle your tax debt. Call us today. Our tax resolution specialists can navigate the IRS maze so that you have nothing to worry about.
Save The Tax Returns Themselves
In most cases the IRS will have up to three years to question the figures you reported on your tax return, or otherwise challenge the information you provided. You may think the tax year is over, but for the IRS the final curtain does not fall for a full 36 months.
For this reason, it is generally a good idea to keep your old tax returns for a minimum of three years. You do not necessarily have to print and retain hard copies of your tax returns - electronic documents are fine as long as you will be able to access them quickly should you need them.
If you fail to keep copies of your tax returns, you can still access them by asking the IRS for transcripts. It is best to keep your own records, and doing so will make your life a lot easier.
Pay Stubs and W2 Forms
As with the tax returns themselves, it is generally a good idea to keep your W2 forms for a minimum of three years. This will provide you with the documentation you need should the IRS find a discrepancy between the amount of income you reported to the agency and the figures your employer-provided.
It is also a good idea to retain at least your year-end pay stubs, not only to help reconcile them with the W2 forms but also for other forms of income documentation. If you are applying for a mortgage, for instance, the lender may ask to see several years worth of tax returns, pay stubs, and other income documents, and having them on hand will make the application process faster and easier.
Income and Dividend Forms
The IRS looks at all of the income you report when you complete and submit your tax returns, but the agency does not just take your word for the accuracy of those figures. Instead, the IRS uses sophisticated matching programs to compare the amount of income you reported from various sources with what they receive from third-party sources.
Those third-party sources could include your bank and credit union, your brokerage firms and mutual fund companies, and any other places that provide you with income. It is therefore a good idea to hold onto any income-related forms you receive for at least three years, and possibly longer if you run your own business or earn income from gig work or freelancing.
Once again, these income documents can do double duty, serving as a backup if the IRS questions the numbers on your tax return but also giving you the information lenders and others might need down the road. If you store these documents electronically you will not even need to worry about buying a file cabinet, so there is really no reason to not keep them around.
Filing taxes can be a stressful experience, but the difficulty does not end when you click send on your e-filed tax return. Even after that return has been filed and accepted, the IRS could still question or challenge your numbers, and that is why it is so important to retain the backup documentation until the challenge window has passed. Now that you know what to retain and for how long, you can rest a little easier when tax time rolls around.
If you do run into tax trouble or the IRS states you owe back taxes, reach out to our tax resolution firm and we’ll schedule a free, no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options in full to permanently resolve your tax problem.
Key Things to Look for in a Tax Relief Firm
No one wants to be on the bad side of the IRS, yet that is where millions of taxpayers find themselves each and every year. As enforcement efforts ramp up at the IRS, the number of letters and communications landing in mailboxes is continuing to increase and one of them could land in your mailbox.
If you do receive a notice from the IRS, it is important to act fast, especially if you cannot afford to pay what the IRS says you owe. You may be tempted to do nothing or ignore the situation, but every day you wait will just make an already bad situation that much worse.
The good news is you may not have to pay what the IRS says you owe! There are a number of programs designed to give taxpayers relief, in many cases allowing them to settle their tax debts for much less. But before you can enjoy that financial relief, you need to find the right partner, and here are some key things to look for.
The Right Tax Relief and IRS Negotiation Experience.
When you hire a tax relief firm, you will be hiring a team of experts, and it is important that the person who works on your case will be up to the task. It is important to look for specific areas of expertise, including former IRS agents, attorneys and others who can help you negotiate with the IRS on your behalf.
The best tax relief agencies are not necessarily huge firms; some of the best are small operators with extensive experience. But no matter what the size of the firm, the tax resolution expertise of the person working on your case is what matters the most.
Compassion and Understanding
Dealing with the IRS is not just a financial problem; it is an emotional one as well. Getting a letter from the IRS is bound to be an upsetting and unsettling experience, and working with a compassionate and caring tax relief firm can help a lot.
You should not, of course, sacrifice expertise and capability for compassion, but there is no reason you cannot have the best of both worlds. Look for someone who cares about you and your situation as you interview tax relief firms and choose the one you feel best about working with.
Recent IRS Negotiation Success Stories
The IRS is a huge agency, and the tax code is endlessly complex. That enormous complexity and ever-growing structure mean that past experience may no longer be relevant, so look for recent experience with the IRS in the form of testimonials and case studies.
Chances are if they have good “wins” under their belt, they know what they’re doing and they can get you a favorable outcome. Working with these experts can give you peace of mind and make it easier for you to resolve your tax problem.
Getting a letter from the IRS can be a scary experience, but it does not have to be the end of the world. You do not have to suffer financial devastation or go bankrupt to settle the debt you owe. Now that you know how to find a great tax relief partner, you no longer have to live in fear of your next trip to the mailbox.
Do You Owe Back Taxes? Take These Steps to Protect Yourself and Your Finances
Few things are as frightening as opening the mailbox and finding a letter from the IRS, especially when you know you owe them money. The much-feared tax agency does not contact taxpayers just to say hello and receiving communication from them is not likely to be good news.
When your heart stops pounding and you get the courage to open the letter, you get another shock - in the form of a large amount due, one you cannot possibly afford. So what do you do, and how do you react?
The steps you take next could make all the difference, and here are some immediate actions you need to complete right away.
Step #1 - Stop Panicking, Take Action
If you owe back taxes, our firm can help negotiate with the IRS and potentially settle your tax debt. Call us today. Our tax resolution specialists can navigate the IRS maze so that you have nothing to worry about.
If you think you don’t know, then you need to make a case for why you think the assessed taxes are wrong and back it up with proper documentation and proof. Sometimes, the letter you received from the IRS can be a result of a discrepancy, meaning there is a mismatch between what was reported on your return and the figures the tax agency received through other means. There could be many reasons for this discrepancy, and there could be an innocent and inexpensive explanation and resolution.
Getting a letter from the IRS is not fun, but it is not the end of the world either. Even if you owe the taxes the IRS says you do, you may be able to negotiate a lower settlement, sometimes a much lower one.
Step #2 - Find the Tax Return in Question
The communication you received from the IRS will reference a specific tax year, so it is important to find and review that return as quickly as possible. Hopefully you have retained records that include your recent tax returns, either in paper or electronic form. If not you can request a copy from the IRS or contact your tax preparer.
Once you have your tax return in hand, you can review it carefully, looking for the discrepancies in question and seeking out your own backup information. The problem could be something like a capital gain you forgot to report or a mistransposed number as you were entering your income information. Gather all the information and have it ready to bring to your appointment with the tax relief specialist.
Step #3 - Do Your Own Calculations
Now that you have your tax return and your backup documentation available, it is time to do some number crunching. This can be a long and frustrating process, so we guide our clients through this process when they work with us. The clock is ticking, and interest and penalties may continue to accumulate if you wait too long to respond.
There should be a deadline listed on the form you received from the IRS, so check it and make sure you can respond by the due date. Do not forget to allow time for mailing and delivery, even if you plan to send the documents overnight.
Step #4 - Don’t Contact The IRS Directly, Contact Our Tax Relief Firm And Get The Protection You Need
The IRS is not on your side and their primary goal is to collect the taxes they believe you owe. The IRS has a number of programs in place to lower the amount owed, but for obvious reasons, they do not like to talk about them.
By seeking the services of a qualified tax relief firm like ours, you will gain access to a world of knowledge, including insider information about programs that could save you thousands of dollars and get you back on the good side of the IRS. The sooner you call our tax relief firm the better off you will be.
Dealing with the IRS is rarely a pleasant thing to do, but ignoring a tax due notice will not make it go away. Delaying will just make a bad situation even worse, so it is important to act quickly. The good news is that tax relief firms exist for this very purpose, so you can settle your debt without sacrificing the rest of your financial life.
How to Turn Your Side Hustle Into a Massive Tax Deduction
If you took on a side hustle last year to make ends meet and earn some extra cash, you may have found an unexpected surprise when you filed your taxes. If you did not prepare carefully, you probably ended up with a big tax bill for your troubles, possibly with penalties and interest added on.
Given the unpleasant surprises of the past, you may be resigned to a life of higher taxes, all courtesy of the very side hustle you thought would help you gain financial freedom. But before you put away your driving gloves and give up on ride-sharing and grocery delivery, you might want to take a second look at your situation.
With the right planning and preparation, your side hustle could actually lower your tax bill, giving you an even bigger reason to keep driving, door dashing, and doing whatever it takes to make ends meet. Here are some key ways to make your side hustle pay off come tax time.
Note: If you fall behind on filing your taxes or owe back taxes to the IRS, you’re not alone and we can help. Reach out to our tax resolution firm and we’ll help you file late tax returns and negotiate with the IRS if you owe back taxes.
Start By Estimating What You Expect to Earn
It can be difficult to estimate how much you might earn from your side hustle, especially if the time you devote to it and the amount you make varies week to week. Even so, it is important to estimate your income, not only to plan for your deductions but to make advance tax payments as well.
If you expect to earn more than $1,000 from your side hustle, you should strongly consider making quarterly tax payments to the IRS. If you fail to pay ahead, you could end up with a tax penalty when you file, and possibly interest and other charges as well. If you end up overpaying what you owe, you will receive a refund when you file your taxes.
You can start estimating your earnings by looking at how much you made last year. To fine-tune the figure, even more, you can look at your monthly earnings to date and annualize that figure to determine how much you could earn for the entire year.
Consider a Health Savings Account
If you have a health savings account, either through your employer or purchased on your own, you may be eligible for a health savings account, and opening one could significantly reduce your taxable income, so you can keep more of your side hustle money.
In addition to the tax savings, a health savings account can help you pay for medical expenses, both expected ones, and costs that would otherwise have drained your emergency fund. Since the money, you put into an HSA is fully tax-deductible, this simple step can lower your tax bill quite a bit.
Open a Self-Employed Retirement Plan
If you have a side hustle, even on a part-time basis, you are considered self-employed, and that means you can open a retirement plan designed for self-employed individuals. The type of account you can open, and the amount you can contribute, will be dictated by the type of business structure and your earnings, but many of these retirement plans are quite generous in their contribution limits.
If your side hustle is truly a sideline and you have a full-time job with a traditional 401(k) plan, you may be eligible for a SEP-IRA, a unique form of account designed specifically for small business owners and the self-employed. If your side hustle has gone full time, you may want to look at a solo 401(k), a retirement plan that offers high contribution limits and an enormous potential for tax savings. You will need to apply for an employer identification number (EIN) to open this type of 401(k), but you can get that number free from the IRS.
Take Advantage of Your Deductions
Having a side hustle gives you a chance to tax advantage of certain deductions, and using those deductions could significantly reduce your taxable income and boost the size of your refund.
If you run a business out of your home, for instance, you may be eligible for the home office deduction, and that will entitle you to write off part of your mortgage, utilities, and other costs. You can also take a standard home-office deduction based on the square footage of your dedicated workspace and the size of your home.
In addition to those deductions, you may be able to write off things like office supplies, the cost of internet access and phone service, and automotive expenses if you use your car as part of your side hustle or full-time business. You should always check with a tax expert before claiming these deductions, as every individual situation is unique.
Side hustles are becoming more common, and that is good news for many wallets. But when tax time rolls around, those partially self-employed individuals will need to do some serious planning to keep their bills in check, including following the steps outlined above.
Life as a freelancer or gig worker can be wonderful, but it’s not uncommon to see self-employed taxpayers land in trouble with the IRS and owing back taxes.
If you do run into tax trouble, reach out to our tax resolution firm and we’ll schedule a free, no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options in full to permanently resolve your tax problem.
5 Things That Can Unexpectedly Raise Your Taxes
Proper tax planning is a year-round proposition. You cannot afford to wait until April to start planning your taxes and assessing your tax liability.
Knowing which factors can raise your taxes is one of the best ways to keep more money in your pocket. These five factors can unexpectedly raise your taxes owed at the end of the year.
Note: If you owe back taxes, our firm can help negotiate with the IRS and potentially settle your tax debt. Call us today. Our tax resolution specialists can navigate the IRS maze so that you have nothing to worry about.
#1 - Cashing in Your Retirement Plan
There are many reasons not to cash in your retirement plan early, but the tax penalty is one of the biggest ones. If you take the proceeds from your 401(k) plan in cash instead of rolling it over into an IRA, you will have to pay taxes on the money you withdraw. Even worse, you will be subject to a 10 percent penalty. By the time you are done, you could lose up to half your hard-earned retirement plan to taxes and penalties.
#2 - Working as a Freelancer
Working for yourself is great, but it can trigger a tax nightmare. Freelancers and other self-employed workers are subject to the self-employment tax, which represents the combined employer and employee share of the Medicare and Social Security tax. That tax hit can be substantial, especially if you plan to fail for it and set money aside.
#3 - Failing to Take Your RMD
You cannot keep retirement funds in your account indefinitely. You are required to start pulling money from your IRA and workplace retirement plans when you turn 70. If you fail to make that required minimum distribution (RMD), you could face a hefty tax penalty. The penalty for failing to take the RMD can be substantial.
#4 - Skipping Your IRA Contribution
If you are used to making an annual IRA contribution, skipping that contribution could cost you money. Before you skip your IRA contribution, take the time to run the numbers and see how the decision will affect your tax bill.
#5 - Paying Off the Mortgage
Paying off the house can be very freeing, but it can also raise your taxes. Mortgage interest is deductible if you itemize your deductions, and losing that deduction could leave you owing more to the IRS. That may not be a reason to keep a mortgage, but it can be an important consideration.
Owe Back Taxes?
If you know you’ll have outstanding tax debt and owe more than $10k to the IRS or state but can’t pay in full, contact our firm today. We help people find tax relief and sometimes settle their tax debt for a fraction of what’s owed.
