Changes For Tax Filing

Tax season is upon us and even though the filing deadline is months away we all need to be prepared ahead of time. The required documents for each of us will arrive in the mail in the month of January so everyone who plans to file taxes needs to start preparing files and documents that have tax implications.

New for 2012 is the fact that the The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) gave taxpayers an extra two days to file taxes this year. April 15th falls on a Sunday and the 16th is Emancipation Day (an observed District of Colombia holiday) so April 17 is the last day that regular tax forms will be received as “on time”. Individuls who are unable or unwilling to file by April 17th may file for an extension and in that case the deadline is October 15th. This extension date is for filing purposes ONLY and is not applicable for individuals who must PAY taxes. If one does not meet the respective deadline then penalties and interest may result as a consequence.

Some people elect to pay their taxes quarterly and in this case the next payment is due on January 16th. The remaining dates for quarterly payments are April 17, June 15 and September 17.

Brokerage firms are now required to report proceeds from the sale of stocks and mutual funds as well as the complete cost basis of investments that have been sold. Individuals and businesses who need to report capital gains should use the new Form 8949 to file such reports.

The rates for calculating business mileage has also changed due to gas prices and inflation. Use a rate of 51 cents per mile up to June 30, 2011 and change to a rate of 55.5 cents per mile from July 1 through December 31. This is the business rate alone; moving and medical mileage is 23 cents per mile and charities can deduct 14 cents per mile.

Individuals making a 2011 tax filing should be aware that the tax credit for first-time home buyers has expired for everyone except those who serve in the military or Foreign Service. The Making Work Pay credit has been eliminated as well, so the $400 single/$800 joint credit against liabilities is no longer valid. For a full list of changes visit irs.gov.

Keeping track of your business mileage

The guidelines that are in place from the IRS enable workers and business owners to claim for mileage as a business deduction if you are using your vehicle for business purposes. Some people who are employed are able to deduct business mileage if it is not reimbursed by employers or is only partially reimbursed at a rate that is lower than the official business mileage rate.

Owners of small businesses also often use their vehicles for business related purposes and in this event they too can claim their mileage as a business expense. However, it is important that no matter why or how you are claiming for your business mileage you are able to differentiate between business and personal use mileage and that you do not end up claiming for mileage clocked up when using your vehicle for personal use, as this could be classed as a fraudulent claim. On the other hand you don’t want to miss out and end up claiming for less mileage than you have actually done for business. For these reasons it is vital to ensure that you keep track of your business mileage.

The easiest way to keep track of your business mileage is to use your odometer, which will enable you to see how many miles you do from the start of your journey until the end, each time you go out for business purposes in your vehicle. You simply need to record the number of miles that you do either on a spreadsheet or even in a notebook that you use specifically for logging mileage. It is also advisable to make a note on your spreadsheet or notebook about why you had to make this trip, as this is information that the IRS may ask for. Write or log down where you traveled from and where you traveled to, detailing any detours that you may have made en-route for business purposes.

Of course, many people forget to check their odometer before they head out and therefore, unless they have made the same trip many times and already have a record of the number of miles done, it can become difficult to estimate your business mileage for that particular trip. However, you can simply use an online map and enter details of where you travelled from and to in order to get a good idea of the number of miles that you have done.

Andrew writes frequently about personal finance as well as issues effecting both consumers and small businesses, covering everything from savings to mortgages to
Auto insurance car insurance.

Akron Ohio Cheap Taxes

Finding A Tax Preparer in Akron, Ohio

Although Akron, Ohio is home to the National Inventors’ Hall of Fame, You do not have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to finding a good tax preparer in Akron.

You can start your search with the local yellow pages. Akron is friendly to small business and entrepreneurs. So, you should find a few local businesses that offer affordable tax preparation services through certified public accountants and enrolled agents. Both CPAs and Agents should be certified by the IRS. Make sure they charge per page or by the hour not a percentage of your return. Unless you want to be like Sinbad and host a reality show about how the IRS took your house, you should ask for references as well. The tax preparer should be able to refer you to at least two people that can vouch for their services.

If you are a small business owner call Mayor Donald Plusquellic’s office of Economic Development. Ask for the financial services department. They should be able to refer you a CPA or tax lawyer who can handle the needs of a small business.

Using private tax preparers in Akron not only supports the local economy it can also put money in your pocket. You want to choose a CPA that pays attention the changing tax laws. They can educate you one on one and prepare you for the next tax season.

If you are a real Akronite, a pioneer at heart, and want e-file you can still enlist the help of an affordable tax preparer. They can guide you through the process and minimize mistakes. University of Akron may offer a listing of recent accounting alumni who are certified and cost efficient.

Whether you choose a CPA, Enrolled Agent or tax lawyer to handle your taxes you should have no problem finding them in Akron, Ohio. A Simple phone call can put you in touch with a tax prepare who is affordable, professional and certified by the IRS.

Best Places To Live In The US – Deciding Before Retirement

At a party last week there started a discussion about the best places to live in the US. It quickly turned to matters of living in a pleasant climate with low cost of living as the group was primarily of the age about to reach retirement.

These friends were vigorously debating the virtues of living in a warm climate mostly to avoid the drudgery are dealing with winter temperatures and precipitation. Places like the Southwest and southern states dominated the conversation throughout.

If you are in the same age category as my friends and myself, there is a good chance you have considered this yourself. Statistics show that as the population ages and baby boomers reach retirement age more and more of them are choosing to move to the southern and southwestern United States.

It’s just too attractive an option when one no longer has the obligation of the job to be drawn to living in a place where the climate is primarily pleasant. Who wants to deal with snow and ice when another sunny day is a possibility?

If the move to a warmer climate is in your future, there are some tips that may help you decide which one is best. First set down in a quiet place with a pad and pen and begin by listing all your priorities. After you have listed them, place them in order of importance. This seems like a rather rudimentary task but one that is vitally important in any decision, especially when you are about to uproot your life and move to another part of the country.

The best places to live for you is not necessarily the best place for someone else but you can determine which place is preferred by using the exercise just described. Of course there are other considerations and you will no doubt want to visit each of the top choices that you come up with but finding your ideal location is not nearly as much of a challenge as it may first appear.