Income tax tricks from services

Tax office best companies in Houston, TX? If you expect a tax refund, you have several options for how it’s handled. You can apply some or all of the refund toward next year’s taxes. If you normally pay estimated taxes throughout the year, that can help cover the first quarterly installment. The government can send you a check or deposit the refund directly into your checking or savings account. You can contribute some or all of your refund to certain types of accounts (IRAs, health savings accounts, education savings accounts) or buy U.S. Savings bonds through Treasury Direct.

When you earn a high income, you tend to pay a higher percentage of taxes than average earners. There are exceptions, of course, but in general, people who earn more pay more. And, if you’re a high earner, you might think you have no choice — that you must resign yourself to bearing a high tax burden. But is that really the case? The short answer is no. We spend a lot of time talking about tax planning with our clients, including those who have sizable incomes. In fact, one of the most common questions we hear is this: What’s the best way to reduce taxable income?

Pick Up Capital Gains if You’re in a Low Tax Bracket: The end of the year is also a good time for some people to sell stocks that have appreciated significantly in value. This can be a particularly good strategy for those who are in the 10% and 12% tax brackets since their capital gains tax may be zero. The stocks can then be repurchased, which resets the basis and minimizes the amount of tax to be paid on future gains. Even if you’re not in the lowest tax brackets, you may want to sell winning stocks to reset the basis if you’re also harvesting losses. “What you want to do is balance (gains) with stocks that have losses,” Barlin says.

Tax credits are the federal government’s way of encouraging businesses and individuals to do things—or not do things—that affect the greater good. For example, you can take tax credits for hiring employees, going green, providing access to disabled employees and the public, and providing health coverage for employees. Most are part of the General Business Credit, which is quite extensive so it’s quite possible that you qualify under some of its terms. Check with your accountant. Discover more details at this site.

Don’t Assume Anything. When making your initial debt collection call, quickly make sure that the debt has in fact not been paid. Don’t alienate the customer. Remember there may be potential future business with the customer. The debt in question could be a mistake and not a collection problem at all. Be careful with your tone and your words at this point. Wait and listen to what the customer has to say, and be sure to document the interaction carefully and accurately.

When you offer a 401(k) or other qualified retirement plan, employer contributions and some administrative fees are tax-deductible if they meet certain criteria. And qualified employers can receive a $500 per year tax credit for the first three years of the plan. Plus, as an employee of your practice, you will be able to take advantage of tax-deferred savings with your company 401(k) as well. To make sure the plan seamlessly integrates with your current back-office systems and payroll deductions, contact your payroll services provider to see what retirement savings plans they offer.