Taxes Information |
How To Get An Instant Pay Raise
As a gentleman was leaving my class recently, he wanted me to clarify something I had said. He was making sure that he should take his four or five thousand dollar tax refund and pay off debt. I was stunned. This money represented $400-$500 that could have been in his pocket every month. A survey of my friends this week revealed one who was getting back $2800 and one getting $3300 back this year. Getting a large tax refund (over $500) means you are having too much money withheld from your check every pay period. Many people use this as a forced saving plan and it does not make any sense. You are loaning the government YOUR money, interest free. Every $1200 in refund is an extra $100 per month you could have used to eliminate debt or invest for your future. I 'd venture to say that most people who do get large refunds could use this money every month to ease their debt burden. This burden frequently leads to late charges and higher interest rates. Instead, they like the feeling of getting that big check in the mail and figuring out how to spend that chunk of money. The ideal situation is to either owe or get back $100. If you get a big tax refund then you should adjust your allowances. The more allowances you claim, the less money is withheld from your check for taxes. It generally does not matter how many allowances you claim. If the government gets it's money they really don't care how many allowances you claim. Here is how to get it right. Take the time to complete the appropriate worksheets included on Form W-4. The worksheets will help you determine your withholding allowances based on your income, adjustments, deductions, exemptions and tax credits. The worksheets can help you figure the right amount so you don't have too little withheld. The IRS now has a calculator on their website which you can now access anytime at: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96196,00.html If you need help ask your payroll administrator at work or an accountant. Keep your money working for YOU! Leo J. Quinn, Jr. owner of http://www.LeoQuinn.com is a financial educator from the Albany, NY area. For over eight years he has been helping thousands of people get control of their finances and get out of debt in a fraction of the normal time. He has a special offer for readers of this newsletter at http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=132551
MORE RESOURCES: Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting |
RELATED ARTICLES
Are You Overpaying Taxes If You Use Tax Preparation Software? For many business owners the answer to this quandary is tax preparation software. Fill out a fairly simple interview, click "print" and out comes a completed return that will pass muster with the IRS. Electronic Commerce Taxation and Pakistan Assume a buyer in Pakistan downloads software from the Internet for a 30-day trial. If he likes the software, he submits his credit card information and receives an authorization code that allows him unrestricted use of the software. The Annual Gift Tax Exclusion: Getting The Edge Whether helping the kids with a down payment on their first home, paying the premiums on a life insurance policy in an irrevocable trust, or moving appreciated assets to a younger generation, annual gifting will touch the lives of millions of Americans. But before the transfer is made, an investor should spend some time looking at the investment and the tax ramifications of the property to be passed. Donating Cars To Charity - New Tax Rules On June 3, 2005, the IRS released guidance on charitable deductions for donated vehicles. The American Jobs Creation Act (AJCA) radically changed the amount of the deduction taxpayers can claim for their donated car. Small Business Tax Issues for Self-Employed Individuals The United States is a nation of entrepreneurs. There are literally tens of millions of self-employed individuals that enjoy pursuing their dream business. Euro Tax Haven Threat Media reporting of a new EU savings tax directive has left many people wondering whether European tax havens could soon become obselete.The July directive requires banks throughout Europe, including low and no tax areas such as Gibraltar, Monaco, Malta and Andorra, to disclose bank account owner information to their home country's tax authority. Take Control of Your Taxes As everyone in the U.S. Corporations Failing To Claim AMT Exemption Overpay Taxes By $11,000 Does your incorporated business pay alternative minimum tax ["AMT]? If so, there is a 93% chance you have been overpaying your taxes by an average of $11,000 a year according to the Treasury Inspector General.The Office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration was created in 1999 to oversee the IRS. History Of The Federal Income Tax The powers of Congress, and the limitations set upon those powers, are set forth in Article I of the United States Constitution. Section 8 specifies both the power to collect, "Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises," and the requirement that, "Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States. Military Reservists, Enlistees May Get Deferral of Back Taxes Reservists called to active duty and enlistees in the armed forces may qualify for a deferral of taxes owed if they can show that their ability to pay taxes was affected by their military service.The deferral covers active duty members of the military services - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard - and commissioned officers of the uniformed services - Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. State Tax Information All states also have their own tax system. Typically there is a tax on real estate, and there may be additional income taxes, sales taxes, and excise taxes. Back To School - Educators Deduct School Expenses As teachers and students head back to school following a glorious summer, it's time to remind teachers to organize 2004 school expenses. Under a temporary tax code change, teachers can deduct certain school-related expenses from adjusted gross income. The Seven Deadly Tax Sins: Commonly Missed Deductions It's that time again, the April 15 tax deadline is looming large. If youre like most people, you havent gathered all of your tax records, let alone filled your return. Taxing Overseas Firms for SOX Compliance The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, also called the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act of 2002 was signed into law on July 30, 2002 by President Bush. In the aftermath of Enron, Arthur Andersen, Global Crossing, and WorldCom, SOX promises greater corporate accountability and transparency. IRS Reports Tax Gap of $300 Billion The Internal Revenue Service is reporting that the difference between what U.S. IRS Obtains More Than 100 Injunctions Against Tax Scheme Promoters The IRS has obtained civil injunctions against more than 100 promoters of illegal tax avoidance schemes and fraudulent return preparers in an ongoing crackdown that began in 2001. Many of the injunctions, obtained in cooperation with the Department of Justice, also order the promoters to turn over client lists and to cease preparing federal income tax returns for others. About Income Taxes; Tidbits 1812The first attempt to impose an income tax on America occurred during the War of 1812. After more than two years of war, the federal government owed an unbelievable $100 million of debt. Business Tax Loophole: Leasing Assets To Your Corporation While there are many equally valid reasons to incorporate, saving money on taxes is a consideration that can yield relatively immediate results. Leasing assets to your corporation is a tax strategy you should absolutely consider if you already have a corporation or are thinking about forming one. A Taxing Investment April 15 - The most dreaded day of the year is right around the corner. Are you ready? Some of the most neglected (and misunderstood) tax issues are those related to your investments. Small Business Tax Deduction - Write-Off Bad Debts Practically every small business has receivables that it cannot obtain from clients. If your small business doesn't have any such receivables, consider yourself lucky. |
home | site map | contact us |