Tax Carnival Ecstasy – February 16, 2012

taxes
taxes (Photo credit: 401K)

Welcome to the February 16, 2012 edition of Tax Carnival Ecstasy. In this edition we have an article by Bill Smith on Discharging Your Tax Debts In Bankruptcy Court. Pat Huddleston wants you to protext yourself from fraud in Accountants; A Love Story. And finally we have 8 Tips to Prepare for Retirement including a tax perspective. Hope you enjoy the articles, bookmark, share, tweet, like on Facebook and come back soon.

filing

Frank Goley presents Bond Analysis posted at Easy Forex News.

tax law

Bill Smith presents Can You Discharge Your Tax Debts In Bankruptcy Court posted at 2008 Taxes, saying, “There are many debts that you can discharge through bankruptcy. Is tax debt eligible for discharge through bankruptcy?”

taxes

Jessica Bird presents How CO2 Affects The Cost Of Your Car Tax posted at CarTaxBands.org, saying, “The amount of pollution that your car emits can have an affect on how much tax you pay. This article shows you how to find out what the CO2 emissions are on a car.”

Ranjita patra presents Top 4 Supply Management Trends Impacting Finance | Business Finance posted at Businesss Finance.

Bill Smith presents 8 Tips to Prepare for Retirement posted at 2008 Taxes, saying, “Whether you’re just starting to plan for retirement, or you’re retiring in the next year or two, there’s never a bad time to learn how to prepare yourself for the wonderful world of retirement.”

tips

Amy Gardner presents Average Interest Rates for Payday Loans posted at Payday Loans Online Resource.

Pat Huddleston presents Accountants; A Love Story | Investor’s Watchblog posted at Investor’s Watchblog, saying, “Tips on how to protect yourself from fraud”

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of tax carnival ecstasy using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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5 Tips for Preparing to File Your Tax Return

So, tax season is here. Yipee! No, really, tax season is here – bring on the headaches. It’s probably safe to say that no one actually enjoys filing taxes. Even if you are expecting a considerable refund, it can be a real chore gathering all of the necessary paperwork and wracking your brain to document any and every deductible item you can think of. Fortunately, there are ways to make the process go a little more smoothly, and to ensure you get the most favorable results possible. Here are five tips for preparing to file your 2011 tax returns:

Scheduling time. Filing your tax returns is not a task to take lightly. It requires your undivided attention. Don’t attempt to prepare your taxes over dinner, while watching television, or in the office break room. Instead, pencil in a specific time to work on your taxes at home, when you know the house will be quiet and you can get your mind in full-on tax mode. That’s the only way to avoid unnecessary mistakes that could end up costing you a lot of money.

Recordkeeping. The best time to begin preparing to file your 2011 tax returns is in January of 2011. Ok, it’s obviously too late for that, but keep this in mind for 2012.  Make it a point to get into good recordkeeping habits, so that you have complete, accurate, and thorough records when it comes time to actually sit down and file your returns.

Organization. Create a filing system specifically for your tax return records. What should go in your filing system? Receipts for all of your write-offs, paperwork from income sources (W-2s or 1099s), investment account statements, social security statements, interest-earned bank statements, college financial aid statements, and/or anything else that you may need a record of when it comes time to shell out the backup.

Learn the codes. You don’t have to have a thorough knowledge of every tax code out there, but make it a point to bone-up on the latest tax codes that may affect your tax return status. If you are not all that tax-savvy, there are some simple, easy to understand tax code narratives on websites designed for people just like you.

Choose filing method. How complicated are your taxes? Are you comfortable doing them yourself? If so, there are some really great programs that you can use to do your own tax work. However, if you find that you aren’t sure about your tax preparation acumen, it’s best to hire a professional. Decide now how you want to handle this issue so you can start shopping around for the best software, tax preparation office, or accountant for you.

You don’t have to like filing your taxes, but you still have to file them. Ease some of your tax season frustrations by thinking ahead and following these simple tips.

About the Author: Carrol Petruska, NAC, NHA, CHA currently works in business administration and helps phlebotomy schools prepare for tax filing season. She started her career as a phlebotomist and then moved into the administrative side of the healthcare field. Visit http://www.associationphlebotomytraining.com/ for more information about phlebotomy associations and schools.

Find Out Everything You Need To Know About TaxACT

TaxACT(R) Offers Taxpayers Affordable and Easy Tax Filing Solutions With Fast Refunds

 

TaxACT 2011 Enables Users to Maximize Their Tax Savings Within a Short Time

The latest version of TaxACT 2011 which is also the Final Version has just been released by 2nd Story Sofware(R).

Lance Dunn, the CEO of the company claims that the new version makes is easy for taxpayers to file their returns and get refunds. Using software to file returns is much cheaper than opting for storefront operations.

With the Deluxe, State and Federal editions of the TaxACT software for iPads, taxpayers can now e-file state and federal 1040 returns.

The program also allows users to transfer key data from last year’s returns regardless of how they filed last year’s 1040 returns. For instance, taxpayers who are using the Deluxe can import the TaxACT returns from last year while other users who are using any of the other 11 solutions can import last year’s returns in form of PDF.

The software has tools that allow users to do their taxes confidently. The program has robust search capabilities as well as free personalized help. In case of any problem, users can contact customer support for technical assistance.

The website www.taxact.com allows taxpayers who file their returns online to check the status of their state and federal returns 24 hours a day. Users can also check their returns using their mobile phones at m.taxact.com.

Taxpayers who are using the program have several refund options. Users can get refunds from their federal returns in as little as seven days.

The Free Federal Edition of the program has no restrictions and can be used to file complex returns. This tool is the best solution when it comes to filing both complex and simple returns.

The Federal Edition makes tax filing very easy as it has e-filable forms. It has schedules and forms for rental property income, self employment investment and business income.

All the products from TaxACT are affordable, risk free and come with price and money-back guarantees. Furthermore, State and Deluxe users are not required to pay unless they view PDFs, print or e-file their returns.

Should I File A Tax Return This Year?

The law requires you to complete a tax return when you have income above a designated amount.  The amount varies according to your age, filing status and income type.  However, even if you are not required to file, you might benefit as you could get a refund if taxes were withheld or you qualify of certain refundable credits.

The IRS website is a helpful resource to see if you should file.  The Interactive Tax Assistant on the site can lead you through a several questions to see if you should file.  Other information is found on printed tax forms.

Six reasons to file a Federal Income Tax Return in 2011 even though you are not required:

Taxes withheld – If any employer withheld taxes, you paid in estimated taxes or had a refund from a previous year credited to this year’s taxes, file for a refund.

EITC – EITC is for those who worked but had limited income.  This credit means you might get a refund even if you did not pay any taxes.  You must complete the return claiming the credit to qualify.

ACTC – A refundable tax credit for those with one or more children who qualifies that did not get the total amount of the  Credit for Child Tax .

AOCS – During the first 4 years of education past high school qualify for this credit of up to $2,500.  Even if there is no tax due 40% of the money ($1000) can be refunded to the filer.

Adoption Credit – This credit is available for expenses paid in adopting a child.

HCTC – This credit is available to some individuals receiving assistance in the back to work programs that were established as a part of economic recovery and those receiving pension benefits from a Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. for tax year 2011.  Eligible individual can include a large portion of the payments for health insurance they made when they file a tax return this year.

When is borrowing from your 401K account a good idea?

Your 401K retirement account is something that is very important to your future retirement. However, like many other people you may be considering borrowing money from your 401K account to fund something that is important to you such as starting up a business. It goes without saying that you should never make a rash decision with regards to borrowing from your 401K account, as you could potentially be risking a comfortable retirement by doing this. However, there is sometimes occasions when it can be fine or even advisable to borrow from your 401K account as opposed to looking at other options.

Of course, it is important to always consider what other options are available to you when you are in need of funds, as you may find that there is something that is more suited to your needs and financially viable than using your 401K account. You should bear in mind that, other than under certain circumstances, you may end up paying hefty withdrawal fees/penalties for taking money from your 401K fund early. However, if you repay what you borrow within sixty days you can avoid these charges.

With this is mind, borrowing from your 401K retirement account on a temporary short term basis is often a good idea, as you will not be hit with the penalty fees. This is an ideal solution if you have a short term cash flow problem and know that you can repay the money within sixty days.

If you have a lot of high interest debt that is financially crippling you then you may also find that tapping into your 401K for a loan could be a good idea, as you can ease the financial strain. You will also find that borrowing from your 401K at a really low interest rate to repay a debt such as a credit card debt with a really high interest rate makes financial sense. However, you need to make sure that you do not get carried away and borrow only the amount that you actually need rather than being tempted to take a little extra – after all, it is your retirement money that you will be taking!

Essentially, borrowing from your 401K is something that would be considered ok if it is for a necessity such as medical expenses or something that is going to ultimately save you or make you more money, such as paying off high interest debt or investing in your own business. What you should never do is risk your future by taking money from your 401K simply to splash out on luxuries such as holidays.

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

Home Energy Tax Credits: Save Money With Energy Efficient Appliances

Home Energy Tax Credits: Save Money With Energy Efficient Appliances

Homeowners know that energy bills comprise a hefty chunk of monthly bills, and have recently been getting even higher. Add to that the responsibility many Americans feel toward being more environmentally conscious, and making more green choices becomes a clear choice. The federal government has made this an even easier option by offering a number of home energy tax credits, given to homeowners that choose to save money with energy efficient appliances.

How You’ll Save Money Using More Efficient Appliances

The biggest benefit to using high efficiency appliances in your house is that greenhouse emissions are reduced significantly. However, from a financial perspective, utilizing Energy Star or similar appliances can save you up to 30% on your monthly utility bills, even with the same usage. Your house will be more comfortable, and with replacing windows and insulation, the units that provide heating and cooling for your home will not have to work nearly as hard. You won’t have to sacrifice style or features on these greener items, as most manufacturers are making environmentally-conscious versions of the majority of their products.

What Tax Credits Are Available?

For the past several years, the government has been offering incentives to taxpayers for switching over to environmentally conscious devices. Not only will this mean money in your pocket, but will hopefully extend the lifecycle of our planet. The tax credits are available to those who own their own home, and it must be an existing house (as opposed to a new build). There may be more credits available dependent upon which state you reside in, so be sure to check your particular local government website for more details.

The amount of credit received depends on what type of appliance you’re installing in your house. The general rule is 10% of the cost of your purchase, up to $500. However, there are a number of appliances with a set dollar figure for their tax credits. Once you’ve determined what rebates or credits you qualify for, complete IRS form 5695 and submit it with your taxes. Save your receipts in the event you need to show proof of purchase.

So how much can you get for purchasing a “green” appliance? For replacing your insulation, roof, or doors, you will receive 10% of the cost, up to $500. This is often an ideal area to prioritize, as a better insulated home is a more efficient one. The home energy tax credit on windows is capped at $200, and to replace a furnace or boiler, the cap is at $150. Installing an advanced main air circulating fan, you’ll receive a $50 credit. Lastly, for any central air conditioners, air source heat pumps, water heaters, or biomass stoves, you will receive a $300 credit.

While the home energy tax credits can seem quite beneficial, it’s always best to remember to maintain low usage in the interest of reducing greenhouse gasses. Excessive usage of any utility will increase the bills, no matter how efficient.

Steve Tlapnek is a real estate investor who buys and sells homes throughout the St. Louis, MO area. For more information about Steve visit We Buy Ugly Houses Saint Louis.