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Get ready for taxes: Easy steps taxpayers can take now to make tax filing easier in 2022
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers, including those who received stimulus payments or advance Child Tax Credit payments, to take important steps this fall to help them file their federal tax returns in 2022.
Planning ahead can help people file an accurate return and avoid processing delays that can slow tax refunds.
This is the first in a series of reminders to help taxpayers get ready for the upcoming tax filing season. A special page, updated and available on IRS.gov, outlines steps taxpayers can take now to prepare to file a 2021 tax return next year.
Gather and organize tax records
Organized tax records make preparing a complete and accurate tax return easier. It helps avoid errors that lead to processing and refund delays. Individuals should have all their tax information available before filing to ensure the return is complete and accurate. They should notify the IRS if their address changes and notify the Social Security Administration of a legal name change.
Remember, most income is taxable. Recordkeeping for individuals includes:
Forms W-2 from employer(s)
Forms 1099 from banks, issuing agencies and other payers including unemployment compensation, dividends, distributions from a pension, annuity or retirement plan
Form 1099-K, 1099-MISC, W-2 or other income statement for workers in the gig economy
Form 1099-INT for interest received
Other income documents and records of virtual currency transactions
Income documents can help individuals determine if they're eligible for deductions or credits. Additionally, people who need to reconcile their advance payments of the Child Tax Credit and Premium Tax Credit will need their related 2021 information. Those who received third Economic Impact Payments and think they qualify for an additional amount will need their stimulus payment and plus-up amounts to figure and claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit.
Taxpayers should also keep end of year documents including:
Letter 6419, 2021 Total Advance Child Tax Credit Payments, to reconcile advance Child Tax Credit payments
Letter 6475, Your 2021 Economic Impact Payment, to determine eligibility to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit
Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement, to reconcile advance Premium Tax Credits for Marketplace coverage
Online Account securely provides tax account information on IRS.gov; helps provide important filing information
Taxpayers who access Online Account can securely gain entry to the Child Tax Credit Update Portal to see their payment dates and amounts. Taxpayers will need this information to reconcile their advance Child Tax Credit payments with the Child Tax Credit they can claim when they file their 2021 tax returns.
Eligible individuals claiming a 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit can log in to their online account to see their Economic Impact Payment amounts so they can accurately claim the credit when they file.
Individuals who have not set up an Online Account yet should act soon to create an account. People who have already set up an Online Account should make sure they can still log in successfully.
Taxpayers who have an Online Account may:
View the amounts of their Economic Impact Payments
Access Child Tax Credit Update Portal for information about their advance Child Tax Credit payments
View key data from your most recent tax return and access additional records and transcripts
View details of your payment plan if you have one
View 5 years of payment history and any pending or scheduled payments
Taxpayers should make sure they've withheld enough tax
Individuals may want to consider adjusting their withholding if they owed taxes or received a large refund the previous year. Changing withholding can help avoid a tax bill or let individuals keep more money each payday. Life changes – getting married or divorced, welcoming a child or taking on a second job – may also be reasons to change withholding. Taxpayers might think about completing a new Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Certificate, each year and when personal or financial situations change.
People also need to consider estimated tax payments. Individuals who receive a substantial amount of non-wage income like self-employment income, investment income, taxable Social Security benefits and in some instances, pension and annuity income should make quarterly estimated tax payments. The last payment for 2021 is due on Jan. 18, 2022.
Individuals can log in to their Online Account to make a payment online or go to IRS.gov/payments.
ITINs need to be renewed only if expired and if needed on a U.S. federal tax return
If an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) was not included on a U.S. federal tax return at least once for tax years 2018, 2019 and 2020, the ITIN will expire on Dec. 31, 2021.
As a reminder, ITINs with middle digits 70 through 88 have expired. In addition, ITINs with middle digits 90 through 99, IF assigned before 2013, have expired. Individuals who previously submitted a renewal application that was approved, do not need to renew again.
Want a faster refund? Getting banked speeds tax refunds with direct deposit
Direct deposit gives individuals access to their refund faster than a paper check. Those without a bank account can learn how to open an account at an FDIC-Insured bank or through the National Credit Union Locator Tool.
Veterans should see the Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP) for access to financial services at participating banks.
Volunteer to help eligible taxpayers file their returns
The IRS and its community partners are preparing for the upcoming filing season and are looking for people around the country to become IRS-certified volunteers. Join the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. VITA/TCE volunteers provide free tax return preparation for eligible taxpayers. With many people experiencing financial changes this year, additional volunteers are needed to assist them.
Visit IRS.gov/volunteers to learn more and sign up. After signing up, more information about attending a virtual orientation will be provided.
Source : https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/get-ready-for-taxes-easy-steps-taxpayers-can-take-now-to-make-tax-filing-easier-in-2022
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Taxpayers can find answers to questions about payments and penalties on IRS.gov
Taxpayers can find answers to most questions about tax payments and penalties on IRS.gov. The Let Us Help You page, features links to information and resources on a wide range of topics related to penalties and payments.
Payments
Payment options
This page lays out the different ways taxpayers can pay what they owe, from having the payment taken directly from their bank account to using a credit card.
Payment plan
Taxpayers who cannot pay what they owe in full can learn their options on this page.
View balance and payment history
Individual taxpayers can use this tool to check their account and see things like the total amount they owe and their payment history.
Liens and levies
These links explain what a lien and a levy are, and the effect of each legal action.
Understanding a federal tax lien
Understanding a levy
Resolve a dispute
The Office of Appeals is an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers resolve their tax disputes. This page has links to information that will help taxpayers who received a notice saying their case qualifies to be reviewed by Appeals.
Office of Appeals
Prevent future tax bill
Taxpayers who owed more than expected when they filed this year have a couple options to help them avoid that when they file next year. These pages have more info about the options.
Tax Withholding Estimator
Estimated payments
Penalties
These links take the user to information where they can find out more about topics related to penalties and penalty relief.
Penalties
Penalty relief/abatement
Penalty relief for under withholding
Help for struggling taxpayers
Source :
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/taxpayers-can-find-answers-to-questions-about-payments-and-penalties-on-irsgov
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All taxpayers have the right to challenge the IRS’s position and be heard
Taxpayers have the right to challenge the IRS's position and be heard. This is part of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which clearly outlines the fundamental rights every taxpayer has when working with the IRS.
Taxpayers have the right to:
Raise objections.
Provide additional documentation in response to formal or proposed IRS actions.
Expect the IRS to consider their timely objections.
Have the IRS consider any supporting documentation promptly and fairly.
Receive a response if the IRS does not agree with their position.
Here are some specific things this right affords taxpayers.
In some cases, the IRS will notify a taxpayer that their tax return has a math or clerical error. If this happens, the taxpayer:
Has 60 days to tell the IRS that they disagree.
Should provide copies of any records that may help correct the error.
May call the number listed on the letter or bill for assistance.
Can expect the agency to make the necessary adjustment to their account and send a correction if the IRS upholds the taxpayer's position.
Here's what will happen if the IRS does not agree with the taxpayer's position:
The agency will issue a notice proposing a tax adjustment. This is a letter that comes in the mail.
This notice provides the taxpayer with a right to challenge the proposed adjustment.
The taxpayer makes this challenge by filing a petition in U.S. Tax Court. The taxpayer must generally file the petition within 90 days of the date of the notice, or 150 days if it is addressed outside the United States.
Taxpayers can submit documentation and raise objections during an audit. If the IRS does not agree with the taxpayer's position, the agency issues a notice explaining why it is increasing the tax. Prior to paying the tax, the taxpayer has the right to petition the U.S. Tax Court and challenge the agency's decision.
In some circumstances, the IRS must provide a taxpayer with an opportunity for a hearing before an independent Office of Appeals. The agency must do this:
Before taking enforcement actions to collect a tax debt. These actions include levying the taxpayer's bank account. Immediately after filing a notice of federal tax lien in the appropriate state filing location. If the taxpayer disagrees with the decision of the Appeals Office, they can petition the U.S. Tax Court.
Source :
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/all-taxpayers-have-the-right-to-challenge-the-irss-position-and-be-heard
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SOI Tax Stats - Filing Season Statistics
Our filing season statistics present data from all Forms 1040 processed by the IRS at three critical points during the year: late May, mid-July, and mid-November.
The late-May filing season statistics by adjusted gross income (AGI) summarize the data from all individual income tax returns filed with the IRS by late May. These tables primarily reflect income earned in the year preceding the filing year, and reported to the IRS by the April 15 filing deadline. These data exclude taxpayers who requested a 6-month filing extension by filing Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. The data represent approximately 90 percent of all returns that will be processed by the IRS in the calendar year. Because taxpayers who request an extension generally have more complex finances, on average, the data reflect 84 percent of the total AGI and 80 percent of the total tax liability that will be reported for all individual income tax returns filed during the year.
Statistics from returns processed by mid-July update the data from the late-May filing season statistics. These statistics represent approximately 95 percent of all individual filers, 87 percent of total AGI, and 82 percent of total tax liability.
Data in the last set of tables, the mid-November filing season statistics by AGI, reflect nearly all individual income tax returns that will be received and processed in the calendar year, including any returns filed by the April 15 deadline and granted a 6-month extension.
These filing season statistics are presented in two sections.
First section: Expanded tables present data for selected sources of income, deductions, credits, and taxes for returns filed for the prior tax year.
Second section: Includes distributional data for AGI, income tax after credits, and the share of income from the sale of capital assets for returns filed for the prior tax year and some late-filed returns for earlier tax years.
Filing Season Statistics
The statistics present data from the population of all Forms 1040 processed in Calendar Year 2018 for Tax Year 2017. Data are presented for select sources of income, deductions, credits, and individual income taxes. The tables are classified by AGI classifications. Data represent the three critical points in the annual filing season and form a baseline for comparison of year to year trends.
Late-May Filing Season Statistics by AGI
These tables present data from the population of all Forms 1040 processed by the IRS on or before week 21 of the calendar year. Returns filed reflect income earned in the year preceding the filing year, but exclude taxpayers who requested a 6-month filing extension by filing Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
2018 2019 2020 2021*
* Due to the new filing deadline for 2021 and delays in return processing caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, for 2021 data are presented for returns filed on or before week 26 (end of June) instead of week 21.
Mid-July Filing Season Statistics by AGI
These tables present data from the population of all Forms 1040 processed by the IRS on or before week 30 of the calendar year. Returns filed reflect income earned in the year preceding the filing year, but exclude taxpayers who requested a 6-month filing extension by filing Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
2018 2019 2020 2021
Mid-November Filing Season Statistics by AGI
These tables present data from the population of all Forms 1040 processed by the IRS on or before week 47 of the calendar year. Returns filed reflect income earned in the year preceding the filing year.
2018 2019 2020*
* Due to delays in return processing caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, for 2020 data are presented for returns filed on or before week 53 (late-December) instead of week 47.
Distributional Data Presented for Adjusted Gross Income, Income Tax After Credits, and Share of Income From Sales of Capital Assets
These data have been developed as part of a research program to provide authoritative data for use by researchers that would avoid the inaccuracies that may occur by using incomplete data. The statistics primarily represent income earned in the prior year, but will include some late-filed returns for earlier tax years.
The final column in each table indicates the share of income from the sale of capital assets represented in the income presented. By comparing the data presented in these tables over time, they can be used to develop early estimates of changes in the economy or to update forecasts of economic activity that were developed using older data.
Late-May Statistics by AGI
These tables present information from the population of all Forms 1040 processed by the IRS on or before week 21 of the calendar year. Returns filed primarily reflect income earned in the year preceding the Filing Year, but exclude taxpayers who requested a 6-month filing extension by filing Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Mid-July Statistics by AGI
These tables present information from the population of all Forms 1040 processed by the IRS on or before week 30 of the calendar year. Returns filed primarily reflect income earned in the year preceding the Filing Year, but exclude taxpayers who requested a 6-month filing extension by filing Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Mid-November Statistics by AGI
These tables present information from the population of all Forms 1040 processed by the IRS on or before week 47 of the calendar year. Returns filed primarily reflect income earned in the year preceding the Filing Year.
Source :
https://www.irs.gov/statistics/filing-season-statistics
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Taxpayers can protect themselves from scammers by knowing how the IRS communicates
If the IRS does call a taxpayer, it should not be a surprise because the agency will generally send a notice or letter first. Understanding how the IRS communicates can help taxpayers protect themselves from scammers who pretend to be from the IRS with the goal of stealing personal information.
Here are some facts about how the IRS communicates with taxpayers:
The IRS doesn't normally initiate contact with taxpayers by email. Do not reply to an email from someone who claims to be from the IRS because the IRS email address could be spoofed or fake. Emails from IRS employees will end in IRS.gov.
The agency does not send text messages or contact people through social media. Fraudsters will impersonate legitimate government agents and agencies on social media and try to initiate contact with taxpayers.
When the IRS needs to contact a taxpayer, the first contact is normally by letter delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Debt relief firms send unsolicited tax debt relief offers through the mail. Fraudsters will often claim they already notified the taxpayer by U.S. Mail.
Depending on the situation, IRS employees may first call or visit with a taxpayer. In some instances, the IRS sends a letter or written notice to a taxpayer in advance, but not always. Taxpayers can search IRS notices by visiting Understanding Your IRS Notice or Letter. However, not all IRS notices are searchable on that site and just because someone references an IRS notice in email, phone call, text, or social media, does not mean the request is legitimate.
IRS revenue agents or tax compliance officers may call a taxpayer or tax professional after mailing a notice to confirm an appointment or to discuss items for a scheduled audit. The IRS encourages taxpayers to review, How to Know it's Really the IRS Calling or Knocking on Your Door: Collection.
Private debt collectors can call taxpayers for the collection of certain outstanding inactive tax liabilities, but only after the taxpayer and their representative have received written notice. Private debt collection should not be confused with debt relief firms who will call, send lien notices via U.S. Mail, or email taxpayers with debt relief offers. Taxpayers should contact the IRS regarding filing back taxes properly.
IRS revenue officers and agents routinely make unannounced visits to a taxpayer's home or place of business to discuss taxes owed, delinquent tax returns or a business falling behind on payroll tax deposits. IRS revenue officers will request payment of taxes owed by the taxpayer. However, taxpayers should remember that payment will never be requested to a source other than the U.S. Treasury.
When visited by someone from the IRS, the taxpayers should always ask for credentials. IRS representatives can always provide two forms of official credentials: a pocket commission and a Personal Identity Verification Credential.
Source :
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/taxpayers-can-protect-themselves-from-scammers-by-knowing-how-the-irs-communicates
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Retirement and taxes: Understanding IRAs
Individual Retirement Arrangements, or IRAs, provide tax incentives for people to make investments that can provide financial security for their retirement. These accounts can be set up with a bank or other financial institution, a life insurance company, mutual fund or stockbroker.
Here's a basic overview to help people better understand this type of retirement savings account.
Contribution. The money that someone puts into their IRA. There are annual limits to contributions depending on their age and the type of IRA. Generally, a taxpayer or their spouse must have earned income to contribute to an IRA.
Distribution. The amount that someone withdraws from their IRA.
Withdraws. Taxpayers may face a 10% penalty and a tax bill if they withdraw money before age 59 ½, unless they qualify for an exception.
Required distribution. There are requirements for withdrawing from an IRA:
Someone generally must start taking withdrawals from their IRA when they reach age 70½.
Per the 2019 SECURE Act, if a person's 70th birthday is on or after July 1, 2019, they do not have to take withdrawals until age 72.
Special distribution rules apply for IRA beneficiaries.
Traditional IRA. An IRA where contributions may be tax-deductible. Generally, the amounts in a traditional IRA are not taxed until they are withdrawn.
Roth IRA. This type of IRA that is subject to the same rules as a traditional IRA but with certain exceptions:
A taxpayer cannot deduct contributions to a Roth IRA.
Qualified distributions are tax-free.
Roth IRAs do not require withdrawals until after the death of the owner.
Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees. This is commonly known as a SIMPLE IRA. Employees and employers may contribute to traditional IRAs set up for employees. It may work well as a start-up retirement savings plan for small employers.
Simplified Employee Pension. This is known as a SEP-IRA. An employer can make contributions toward their own retirement and their employees' retirement. The employee owns and controls a SEP.
Rollover IRA. This is when the IRA owner receives a payment from their retirement plan and deposits it into a different IRA within 60 days.
Source :
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/retirement-and-taxes-understanding-iras
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What people should and should not do if they get mail from the IRS
Every year the IRS mails letters or notices to taxpayers for many different reasons. Typically, it's about a specific issue with a taxpayer's federal tax return or tax account. A notice may tell them about changes to their account or ask for more information. It could also tell them they need to make a payment. This year, people might have also received correspondence about Economic Impact Payments or an advance child tax credit outreach letter.
Here are some do's and don'ts for anyone who receives mail from the IRS:
Don't ignore it. Most IRS letters and notices are about federal tax returns or tax accounts. Each notice deals with a specific issue and includes specific instructions on what to do
Don't throw it away. Taxpayers should keep notices or letters they receive from the IRS. These include adjustment notices when an action is taken on the taxpayer's account, Economic Impact Payment notices, and letters about advance payments of the 2021 child tax credit. They may need to refer to these when filing their 2021 tax return in 2022. In general, the IRS suggests that taxpayers keep records for three years from the date they filed the tax return.
Don't panic. The IRS and its authorized private collection agencies do send letters by mail. Most of the time, all the taxpayer needs to do is read the letter carefully and take the appropriate action.
Don't reply unless instructed to do so. There is usually no need for a taxpayer to reply to a notice unless specifically instructed to do so. On the other hand, taxpayers who owe should reply with a payment. IRS.gov has information about payment options.
Do take timely action. A notice may reference changes to a taxpayer's account, taxes owed, a payment request or a specific issue on a tax return. Acting timely could minimize additional interest and penalty charges.
Do review the information. If a letter is about a changed or corrected tax return, the taxpayer should review the information and compare it with the original return. If the taxpayer agrees, they should make notes about the corrections on their personal copy of the tax return and keep it for their records.
Do respond to a disputed notice. If a taxpayer doesn't agree with the IRS, they should mail a letter explaining why they dispute the notice. They should mail it to the address on the contact stub included with the notice. The taxpayer should include information and documents for the IRS to review when considering the dispute.
Do remember there is usually no need to call the IRS. If a taxpayer must contact the IRS by phone, they should use the number in the upper right-hand corner of the notice. The taxpayer should have a copy of their tax return and letter when calling the agency.
Do avoid scams. The IRS will never contact a taxpayer using social media or text message. The first contact from the IRS usually comes in the mail. Taxpayers who are unsure if they owe money to the IRS can view their tax account information on IRS.gov.
Source :
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/what-people-should-and-should-not-do-if-they-get-mail-from-the-irs
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Common questions about the advance Child Tax Credit payments
The advance Child Tax Credit allows qualifying families to receive early payments of the tax credit many people may claim on their 2021 tax return during the 2022 tax filing season. The IRS will disburse these advance payments monthly through December 2021. Here some details to help people better understand these payments.
Who is a qualifying child for the purposes of the advance Child Tax Credit payment?
For tax year 2021, a qualifying child is an individual who does not turn 18 before January 1, 2022, and meets these requirements:
The individual is the taxpayer's son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister or a descendant such as a grandchild, niece, or nephew.
The individual does not provide more than one-half of his or her own support during 2021.
The individual lives with the taxpayer for more than one-half of tax year 2021. For exceptions to this requirement, see Publication 972, Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents PDF.
The individual is properly claimed as the taxpayer's dependent. For more information about how to do this, see Publication 501, Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information PDF.
The individual does not file a joint return with the individual's spouse for tax year 2021 or files it only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax paid.
The individual was a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. resident alien. For more information on this condition, see Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens PDF.
What should someone do if they don't want to receive advance Child Tax Credit payments?
Anyone who does not want to receive monthly advance Child Tax Credit payments because they would rather claim the full credit when they file their 2021 tax return, or because they know they will not be eligible for the credit in 2021 can unenroll through the Child Tax Credit Update Portal. People can unenroll at any time, but deadlines apply each month for the update to take effect for the next payment.
For people married and filing jointly, they and their spouse must unenroll using the Child Tax Credit Update Portal. If only one person unenrolls, they will still receive half the normal payment. Similarly, if you are changing bank account information, both of you must make the update so both halves of your payment go to the new account.
Will receiving advance Child Tax Credit payments affect other government benefits?
No. Advance child tax credit payments cannot be counted as income when determining if someone is eligible for benefits or assistance, or how much they can receive, under any federal, state or local program financed in whole or in part with federal funds. These programs cannot count advance child tax credit payments as a resource when determining eligibility for at least 12 months after payments are received.
Are advance Child Tax Credit payments taxable?
No. These payments are not income and will not be reported as income on a taxpayer's 2021 tax return. These payments are advance payments of a person's tax year 2021 child tax credit.
However, the total amount of advance Child Tax Credit payments someone receives is based on the IRS's estimate of their 2021 Child Tax Credit. Generally, the IRS uses information from previous tax returns to calculate a person's estimate. If the total is greater than the child tax credit amount, they can claim on their 2021 tax return, they may have to repay the excess amount on their 2021 tax return. For example, if someone receives advance Child Tax Credit payments for two qualifying children claimed on their 2020 tax return, but they no longer have qualifying children in 2021, the advance payments they received are added to their 2021 income tax unless they qualify for repayment protection.
Source :
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/common-questions-about-the-advance-child-tax-credit-payments
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Treasury, IRS provide additional guidance to employers claiming the employee retention credit, including for the third and fourth quarters of 2021
The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today issued further guidance on the employee retention credit, including guidance for employers who pay qualified wages after June 30, 2021, and before January 1, 2022, and additional guidance on miscellaneous issues that apply to the employee retention credit in both 2020 and 2021. Notice 2021-49 PDF amplifies prior guidance regarding the employee retention credit provided in Notice 2021-20 PDF and Notice 2021-23 PDF.
Notice 2021-49 addresses changes made by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) to the employee retention credit that are applicable to the third and fourth quarters of 2021.
Those changes include, among other things:
making the credit available to eligible employers that pay qualified wages after June 30, 2021, and before January 1, 2022,
expanding the definition of eligible employer to include "recovery startup businesses,"
modifying the definition of qualified wages for "severely financially distressed employers," and
providing that the employee retention credit does not apply to qualified wages taken into account as payroll costs in connection with a shuttered venue grant under section 324 of the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act, or a restaurant revitalization grant under section 5003 of the ARP.
Notice 2021-49 also provides guidance on several miscellaneous issues with respect to the employee retention credit for both 2020 and 2021. This guidance responds to various questions that the Treasury Department and the IRS have been asked about the employee retention credit, including:
The definition of full-time employee and whether that definition includes full-time equivalents,
The treatment of tips as qualified wages and the interaction with the section 45B credit,
The timing of the qualified wages deduction disallowance and whether taxpayers that already filed an income tax return must amend that return after claiming the credit on an adjusted employment tax return, and
Whether wages paid to majority owners and their spouses may be treated as qualified wages.
Reporting
Eligible employers will report their total qualified wages and the related health insurance costs for each quarter on their employment tax returns (generally, Form 941) for the applicable period. If a reduction in the employer's employment tax deposits is not sufficient to cover the credit, certain employers may receive an advance payment from the IRS by submitting Form 7200, Advance Payment of Employer Credits Due to COVID-19.
Where can I find more information on the employee retention credit and other COVID-19 economic relief efforts?
Treasury and the IRS continue to closely monitor pending legislation related to the employee retention credit and will provide additional information as needed.
Updates on the implementation of this employee retention credit, Frequently Asked Questions on Tax Credits for Required Paid Leave and other information can be found on the Coronavirus page of IRS.gov.
Source :
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-provide-additional-guidance-to-employers-claiming-the-employee-retention-credit-including-for-the-third-and-fourth-quarters-of-2021
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IRS cautions taxpayers about fake charities and scammers targeting immigrants
The IRS continues to observe criminals using a variety of scams that target honest taxpayers. In some cases, these scams will trick taxpayers into doing something illegal or that ultimately causes them financial harm. These scammers may cause otherwise honest people to do things they don't realize are illegal or prey on their good will to steal their money.
Here are a couple of this year's Dirty Dozen scams.
Fake charities
Taxpayers should be on the lookout for scammers who set up fake organizations to take advantage of the public's generosity. Scammers take advantage of tragedies and disasters.
Scams requesting donations for disaster relief efforts are especially common over the phone. Taxpayers should always check out a charity before they donate, and they should not feel pressured to give immediately.
Taxpayers who give money or goods to a charity may be able to claim a deduction on their federal tax return by reducing the amount of their taxable income. However, to receive a deduction, taxpayers must donate to a qualified charity. To check the status of a charity, they can use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool. It's also important for taxpayers to remember that they can't deduct gifts to individuals or to political organizations and candidates.
Here are some tips to help taxpayer avoid fake charity scams:
Individuals should never let any caller pressure them. A legitimate charity will be happy to get a donation at any time, so there's no rush. Donors are encouraged to take time to do their own research.
Confirm the charity is real. Potential donors should ask the fundraiser for the charity's exact name, website and mailing address, so they can confirm it later. Some dishonest telemarketers use names that sound like well-known charities to confuse people.
Be careful about how a donation is made. Taxpayers shouldn't work with charities that ask for donations by giving numbers from a gift card or by wiring money. That's a scam. It's safest to pay by credit card or check — and only after researching the charity.
For more information about fake charities see the Federal Trade Commission website.
Immigrant fraud
IRS impersonators and other scammers often use threats and intimidation to target groups with limited English proficiency.
The IRS phone impersonation scam remains a common scam. This is where a taxpayer receives a phone call threatening jail time, deportation or revocation of a driver's license from someone claiming to be with the IRS. Recent immigrants often are the most vulnerable. People need to ignore these threats and not engage the scammers.
A taxpayer's first contact with the IRS will usually be through mail, not over the phone. Legitimate IRS employees will not threaten to revoke licenses or have a person deported. These are scare tactics.
New multilingual resources available
The IRS has added new features to help those who are more comfortable in a language other than English. The Schedule LEP PDF allows a taxpayer to select in which language they wish to communicate. Once they complete and submit the schedule, they will receive future communications in that selected language preference.
The IRS is providing tax information, forms and publications in many languages other than English. IRS Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax, is now available in Spanish, Chinese simplified and traditional, Vietnamese, Korean and Russian.
Source :
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-cautions-taxpayers-about-fake-charities-and-scammers-targeting-immigrants
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