Category Archives: Tax Basics

Changes and Improvements to Free Tax Filing

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If you make $66,000 annually or less, you can take advantage of a unique partnership between the Internal Revenue Service and the tax preparation industry that, each year, provides about a dozen tax preparation software options at no charge for filing your tax return. In the 16 years the Free File system has been in place, over 53 million returns have been filed for free. In November 2018, the IRS announced updates to the Free File program that make the … Read more →

Tax Basics

IRS Tax Assessment Process Defined – Paul Gaulkin CPA

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Area Directors have the authority to immediately assess tax due on a properly filed tax return without issuing a Notice of Deficiency. However, the mere act of the taxpayer filing or the IRS receiving the tax return does not constitute an assessment of tax. The IRS must follow the appropriate assessment procedures before the tax will be considered to be assessed against the taxpayer. Common Assessment Procedure For most taxpayer, the assessment process begins when a tax return is filed … Read more →

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Health Savings Account Rules & Benefits – Paul Gaulkin CPA

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The health savings account was created in 2003 and shares many characteristics of the Archer MSA program. Like MSAs, HSAs are trusts created solely to pay the qualified medical expenses of an account beneficiary and call for an individual to: 1. Buy a high deductible health insurance policy, and 2. Make tax deductible contributions to the trust Contributions made to the trust and any earnings are tax deferred for as long as they remain in the trust. HSA account holders … Read more →

Tax Basics

Dependent Care Credit Rules & Guidelines – Paul Gaulkin CPA

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A tax credit is available for taxpayers who have incurred employment related expenses for the care of a qualifying individual. The amount of credit available is equal to an applicable percentage of the expenses paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year. Credit Filing Requirements In order to qualify for the dependent care credit, a taxpayer must have incurred employment related expenses for the care of a qualifying individual who resides in the taxpayer’s household for more than one half … Read more →

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Statutory Requirements Regarding Alimony – Paul Gaulkin CPA

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alimony judgment money

There are basically five statutory requirements for a taxpayer to claim money transferred to them as alimony payments. If divorce or separate instrument characterizes a payment as “alimony” but fails to satisfy the five requirements under Code Section 71, the payment will not be treated as alimony for federal income tax purposes, regardless of what it is considered under state law. These fix requirements include: 1. Payment must be made in cash 2. Paid to or on behalf of spouse … Read more →

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Separately Reportable Items on Partnership Return – Paul Gaulkin CPA

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Any item that may have to be treated differently by each partner must be separately stated. For example, some partners may be able to deduct charitable contributions that flow through from the partnership, but those that have already met the 50 percent AGI limit for contributions will have to carry over those contributions. Each partner’s share of these items is identified on the partner’s separate Schedule K-1 tax return. The following items should be separately stated: 1. Short term capital … Read more →

Tax Basics

Assignment of Income Doctrine Definition & Guide – Paul Gaulkin CPA

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The assignment of income doctrine basically is defined as income that is taxed to the individual who earned it, even if the right to the income has been transferred to another individual prior to recognition. This means that compensation, interest, rents, dividends, and other forms of income usually must be included in the gross income of the recipient even if the income was transferred to another individual. Assignment of Income Doctrine A tax problem arises when an individual attempts to … Read more →

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Amount Realized for Gain or Loss Determination – Paul Gaulkin CPA

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The amount realized from the sale or disposition of property is the sum of any money received plus the fair market value of other property received in the transaction. This does not include any amount received from the purchaser as reimbursement for real property taxes which are treated as imposed on the purchaser. However, it does include amounts representing real property taxes which are treated as imposed on the seller, if they are paid by the purchaser. The amount realized … Read more →

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IRS Material Participation Rules – Paul Gaulkin CPA

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A passive activity is defined as “any activity which involves the conduct of a trade or business, and in which the taxpayer does not materially participate” according to Code Section 469(c)(1). Also included in the definition are rental activities, without regard to the extent of taxpayer participation. This basically excludes trade or business activities in which a taxpayer does materially participate are not passive activities. In terms of real estate activities, these are generally considered to be passive no matter … Read more →

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Determine Passive Activity Loss Rental Property – Paul Gaulkin CPA

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house with for rent sign

An activity is a rental activity is during the year: 1. Tangible property held in connection with the activity is used by customers or is held for use by customers; and 2. Gross income attributable to the conduct of the activity represents amounts paid principally for the use of the property. Generally speaking, any rental activity is a passive activity, without regard to material participation. This means that no matter the amount of hours you put into a rental activity, … Read more →

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