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The Difference Between Standard and Itemized Deductions

Individuals have a choice of either taking a standard deduction or itemizing their deductions. Taxpayers can use the method that gives them the lower tax. Due to tax law changes in the last couple years, people who itemized in the past might not want to continue to do so, so it’s important for all taxpayers to look into which deduction to take.

Many taxpayers can choose standard or itemized deductions

Standard deduction
The standard deduction amount adjusts every year and can vary by filing status. The standard deduction amount depends on the taxpayer’s filing status, whether they are 65 or older or blind, and whether another taxpayer can claim them as a dependent. Taxpayers who are age 65 or older on the last day of the year and don’t itemize deductions are entitled to a higher standard deduction.

Most filers who use Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return for Seniors, can find their standard deduction on the first page of the form.

Taxpayers who can’t use the standard deduction include:

  • A married individual filing as married filing separately whose spouse itemizes deductions.
  • An individual who files a tax return for a period of less than 12 months. This could be due to a change in their annual accounting period.
  • An individual who was a nonresident alien or a dual-status alien during the year. However, nonresident aliens who are married to a U.S. citizen or resident alien can take the standard deduction in certain situations.

Itemized deductions
Taxpayers may need to itemize deductions because they can’t use the standard deduction. They may also itemize deductions when this amount is greater than their standard deduction.

Taxpayers who itemize file Schedule A, Form 1040, Itemized Deductions or Form 1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return for Seniors.

A taxpayer may benefit by itemizing deductions for things that include:

  • State and local income or sales taxes
  • Real estate and personal property taxes
  • Mortgage interest
  • Mortgage insurance premiums
  • Personal casualty and theft losses from a federally declared disaster
  • Donations to a qualified charity
  • Unreimbursed medical and dental expenses that exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income

How taxpayers can make sure their donations are tax deductible

Taxable Dedcutions

It’s that time of year when taxpayers are thinking about how they want to give back, and many taxpayers will want to donate to a charity that means something to them. The IRS has a tool that may help them make sure their donations are as beneficial as possible.

Tax Exempt Organization Search on IRS.gov is a tool that allows users to search for tax-exempt charities. Taxpayers can use this tool to determine if donations they make to an organization are tax-deductible charitable contributions. 

Here are some things to know about the TEOS tool:

  • It provides information about an organization’s federal tax status and filings.
  • It’s mobile device friendly.
  • Donors can use it to confirm that an organization is tax-exempt and eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions.
  • Users can find out if an organization had its tax-exempt status revoked.
  • Organizations are listed under the legal name or a “doing business as” name on file with the IRS.
  • The search results are sortable by name, Employee Identification Number, state, and country.
  • Users may also download entire lists of organizations eligible to receive deductible contributions, auto-revoked organizations and e-Postcard filers.


Taxpayers can also use the Interactive Tax Assistant, Can I Deduct my Charitable Contributions? to help determine if a charitable contribution is deductible.

Small business owners should find out if they can benefit from claiming this deduction

Small Business

The home office deduction can help small business owners save money on their taxes. Taxpayers can take this deduction when they file their taxes if they use a portion of their home exclusively, and on a regular basis, for any of the following:

  • As the taxpayer’s main place of business.
  • As a place of business where the taxpayer meets patients, clients or customers. The taxpayer must meet these people in the normal course of business.
  • If it is a separate structure that is not attached to the taxpayer’s home. The taxpayer must use this structure in connection with their business
  • A place where the taxpayer stores inventory or samples. This place must be the sole, fixed location of their business.
  • Under certain circumstances, the structure where the taxpayer provides day care services.

Deductible expenses for business use of a home include:

  • Real estate taxes
  • Mortgage interest
  • Rent
  • Casualty losses
  • Utilities
  • Insurance
  • Depreciation
  • Repairs and Maintenance

Certain expenses are limited to the net income of the business. These are known as allocable expenses. They include things such as utilities, insurance, and depreciation.  While allocable expenses cannot create a business loss, they can be carried forward to the next year. If the taxpayer carries them forward, the expenses are subject to the same limitation rules.

There are two options for figuring and claiming the home office deduction.

  • Regular method: This method requires dividing the above expenses of operating the home between personal and business use. Self-employed taxpayers file Form 1040, Schedule C, and compute this deduction on Form 8829.
  • Simplified method: The simplified method reduces the paperwork and recordkeeping for small businesses. The simplified method has a set rate that is capped at $1,500 per year, based on $5 a square foot for up to 300 square feet.

There are special rules for certain business owners:

  • Daycare providers complete a special worksheet, which is found in Publication 587.
  • Self-employed individuals use Form 1040, Schedule C, Line 30 to claim deduction.
  • Farmers claim the home office deduction on Schedule F, Line 32.

Taxpayers who donate to charity should check out these resources

Donations and Charities

Taxpayers who donate to a charity may be able to claim a deduction on their tax return. These deductions basically reduce the amount of their taxable income. Taxpayers can only deduct charitable contributions if they itemize deductions.

Here are some resources for people making donations:

Tax Exempt Organization Search
Taxpayers must give to qualified organizations to deduct their donations on their tax return. They can use this tool to find out if a specific charity qualifies as a charitable organization for income tax purposes.

Publication 526, Charitable Contributions
This pub explains how taxpayers claim a deduction for charitable contributions. It goes over:

  • How much taxpayers can deduct.
  • What records they must keep.
  • How to report contributions.

Publication 561, Determining the Value of Donated Property
Taxpayers generally can deduct the fair market value of property they donate. This publication helps determine the value of donated property.

Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions
Taxpayers must file form 8283 to report noncash charitable contributions if the amount of this deduction is more than $500. The instructions for this form walk taxpayers through how to complete it.

Schedule A, Itemized Dedications
Taxpayers deducting donations do so on Schedule A. The instructions for this form include line-by-line directions for completing it.

Frequently asked questions: Qualified charitable distributions
Taxpayers age 70 ½ or older can make a qualified charitable distribution from their IRA – up to $100,000 – directly to an eligible charity. It’s generally a nontaxable distribution made by the IRA trustee to a charitable organization. A QCD counts toward their minimum distribution requirement for the year.


More information:
Tax Topic 506 – Charitable Contributions
Deducting Charitable Contribution at a Glance

Year-round tax planning includes reviewing eligibility for credits and deductions

Tax Deductions

Tax credits and deductions can mean more money in a taxpayer’s pocket. Most people only think about this when they file their tax return. However, thinking about it now can help make filing easier next year.

This tip is one in a series about tax planning. These tips focus on steps taxpayers can take now to help them down the road.

Taxpayers should be prepared to claim tax credits and deductions. So, here are a few facts about credits and deductions that can help a taxpayer with their year-round tax planning:

  • Taxable income is what’s left over after someone subtracts any eligible deductions from their adjusted gross income. This includes the standard deduction. In fact, most individual taxpayers take the standard deduction. On the other hand, some taxpayers may choose to itemize their deductions because it could lower their AGI even more.
  • The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made changes to itemized deductions. Many individuals who formerly itemized may find it more beneficial to take the standard deduction.
  • As a general rule, if a taxpayer’s itemized deductions are larger than their standard deduction, they should itemize. Also, in some cases, taxpayers may even be required to itemize.
  • Taxpayers can use the Interactive Tax Assistant to see what expenses they may be able to itemize.
  • Taxpayers can subtract tax credits from the total amount of tax they owe. To claim a credit, taxpayers should keep records that show their eligibility for it.
  • Here are a few examples of taxpayers who can benefit from certain credits:
    • Parents may qualify for credits like the child tax credit and child and dependent care credit.
    • Families with students may qualify for the American opportunity credit or lifetime learning credit.
    • Low to moderate income taxpayers may qualify for the earned income tax credit.
  • Properly claiming these tax credits can reduce taxes owed and boost refunds. Taxpayers can check now see if they qualify to claim it next year on their tax return. Some tax credits, like the EITC, are even refundable, which means a taxpayer can get money refunded to them even if they don’t owe any taxes.

Year-End Tax Tips for Small Business

Year-End Tax Tips for Small Business

The holidays are upon us, and that means tax season is just around the corner. What records should you be gathering, and are there any tools on the market that can make organizing your finances easier? How will the new tax law changes affect the way you file? Should you expect to owe more in taxes this year, or will Uncle Sam be cutting you a bigger check?

  • What records you should be gathering to prepare for filing your 2018 taxes
  • When important deadlines are for filing business taxes
  • Highlights of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and how it affects your taxes
  • What some commonly missed tax deductions are
  • What your options are in terms of tax preparation services
  • Plus more!

Contact us today for more information: (Phone) 1-888-987-NEST; ext. 108, (Fax)  1-866-902-0435, (Email)  accounting@nesteggg.com

 

 

 

Mid Year Business Tax Planning & Review

As an entrepreneur needing to ensure your business is on track for progress, it is vital to direct a mid-year review of your funds. Indeed, a decent warm-climate excursion far from work might be more enticing than assessing money related spreadsheets, however it’s imperative to check your advance part of the way through so you can maintain a strategic distance from potential inconvenience not far off. A “registration” part of the way through the year, particularly as it identifies with your assessments, can guarantee your business is on focus to meet its year-true objectives. As you lead your money related registration, think about the accompanying guidance.

Do

Consider your general decision of business elements

For those simply beginning a business at the mid-year point, you should set aside opportunity to survey the most fitting element write, particularly from an obligation or duty viewpoint. There are many alternatives, including sole proprietorship, association, C organization, Subchapter S company and LLC. Each kind of business has their points of interest and disservices. In spite of the fact that it is best to pick the correct element from the begin, make sure to evaluate the prizes and weaknesses, regardless of whether you as of now work a business. On the off chance that there is an alternate element compose that will square with better monetary outcomes for your business, roll out the important improvement.

Evaluate your health coverage plans

Medical coverage has turned into a hotly debated issue of discussion among private ventures—and in light of current circumstances. In the event that you are an entrepreneur, survey your organization’s well being scope designs and analyze costs. It might be valuable and financially savvy to purchase medical coverage under an independent company design, instead of exclusively. Contrast diverse medical coverage designs with reveal better premium rates for your business. Likewise, in the event that you are an entrepreneur that has less than 25 representatives, and you offer medical coverage to your workers, you may fit the bill for the private venture human services charge credit.

Get everything sorted out

A half year worth of costs of doing business, derivations, and other duty data is less demanding to sort out two times per year, than a year worth of that toward the finish of the year—just before charges are expected. Getting everything all together part of the way through the year won’t just make charge arrangements twice as simple, yet will likewise help you monetarily get ready for the following a half year with regards to benefit projections, business buys to augment impose reasoning’s, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

Evaluate possible tax deductions for capital investments and expenditures

Investigate the gear you have bought for business purposes, and in addition the enhancements you have made to your office. You might disregard key tax reductions accessible through devaluation derivations.

Don’t

Disregard you and your families personal financial goals

In the event that you are an entrepreneur, don’t simply consider your business objectives—keep your very own monetary objectives at the cutting edge. Talk about these objectives with your money related counselor, as they are the best asset to enable you to accomplish them. Make certain you are augmenting individually sparing openings, which should be possible through retirement arranging, benefit sharing designs, streamlined representative annuity designs and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Sparing presently will help anchor an agreeable retirement.

Put off your tax filing responsibilities

In the event that your business required more opportunity to document its duties, and you filed for an extension, don’t wait. Despite the fact that organizations and associations have up until the point that September 15 to document, use the late spring to precisely and appropriately set up your arrival. You would prefer not to hold up until Labor Day and hurry through the documenting procedure. The additional time you spend on your arrival, the better your arrival will be. Furthermore, once your business records, set aside the opportunity to survey your arrival. Are there alterations that should be made? Provided that this is true, make the modifications currently to boost the advantages of one year from now’s arrival.

Postpone meeting with a tax preparer

In spite of the fact that tax season may appear to be far away, plan a gathering with your tax preparer. He or she can help audit your present expense announcing and suggest any vital changes. Furthermore, your tax preparer can distinguish and perceive fitting chances to concede pay acknowledgment and quicken reasonings to help diminish charges through legitimate expense arranging.

Neglect a check-up even if you miss the mid-year mark

A check-up at six months is best, but depending on how things go and who you have to help you, it’s easy to miss the mid-year mark and skip the check-up. Even if you miss it and you are finally able to check in on everything at eight months, still do it. Work with a financial advisor and make sure everything is in order. It will make your life far easier than if you wait to finally check in only when taxes are about due.

________________________________________

Summary

A mid-year audit of your business’ funds won’t just help your feelings of anxiety at year end, it might likewise build your organization’s income. Consider it. Who doesn’t care for getting a check via the post office from the IRS? Set aside the opportunity to take a gander at those reports and make vital changes in accordance with enable your business to meet its objectives. One thing is for sure—you will love it.

 

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