tax withholding | Nesteggg Accounting

Improved Tax Withholding Estimator

Though the Tax Withholding Estimator has been around a while the Internal Revenue Service has launched a new and improved Tax Withholding Estimator, in response to the changes to the news Form W-4 for this year.

New withholding method brings new Tax Estimations

The IRS urges everyone to see if they need to adjust their withholding by using the Tax Withholding Estimator to perform a Paycheck Checkup. If an adjustment is needed, the Tax Withholding Estimator gives specific recommendations on how to fill out their employer’s online Form W-4 or provides the PDF form with key parts filled out.

To help workers more effectively adjust their withholding, the improved Tax Withholding Estimator features a customized refund slider that allows users to choose the refund amount they prefer from a range of different refund amounts. The exact refund range shown is customized based on the tax information entered by that user.

Based on the refund amount selected, the Tax Withholding Estimator will give the worker specific recommendations on how to fill out their W-4. This new feature allows users who seek either larger refunds at the end of the year or more money on their paychecks throughout the year to have just the right amount withheld to meet their preference.

The new Tax Withholding Estimator also features several other enhancements, including one allowing anyone who expects to receive a bonus to indicate whether tax will be withheld. In addition, improvements added last summer continue to be available, including mobile-friendly design, handling of pension income, Social Security benefits and self-employment tax.

Starting in 2020, income tax withholding is no longer based on an employee’s marital status and withholding allowances, tied to the value of the personal exemption. Instead, income tax withholding is generally based on the worker’s expected filing status and standard deduction for the year. In addition, workers can choose to have itemized deductions, the Child Tax Credit and other tax benefits reflected in their withholding for the year.

It is important for people with more than one job at a time (including families in which both spouses work) to adjust their withholding to avoid having too little withheld. Using the Tax Withholding Estimator is the most accurate way to do this. As in the past, employees can also choose to have an employer withhold an additional flat-dollar amount each pay period to cover, for example, income they receive from the gig economy, self-employment, or other sources that is not subject to withholding.

Get ready for taxes: Here’s what to know about the amount of a tax refund

After filing their tax return, a taxpayer will know whether they are receiving a refund. Sometimes, however, a taxpayer’s refund will be for a different amount than they expect.

Here are some reasons a taxpayer’s refund might be less than they thought it would be:

Financial transactions happening late in the year can have an unexpected tax impact if a taxpayer’s 2019 federal income tax withholding unexpectedly falls short of their tax liability for the year. Certain transactions can affect 2019 tax withholding and influence the taxpayer’s anticipated refund next year. This includes things like:

   o Year-end and holiday bonuses.
   o Stock dividends.
   o Capital gain distributions from mutual funds and
      stocks.
   o Real estate or other property sold at a profit.

If this happens, taxpayers can still make a quarterly estimated tax payment directly to the IRS for tax year 2019. The deadline for making a payment for the fourth quarter of 2019 is Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020. Form 1040-ES includes a worksheet to help taxpayers figure the right amount of estimated taxes to pay.
A taxpayer’s refund can be used to pay other debts a taxpayer owes. All or part of a refund can go to pay a taxpayer’s:

   o Past-due federal tax.
   o State income tax.
   o State unemployment compensation debts.
   o Child and spousal support.
   o Other federal nontax debts, such as student loans.

A taxpayer receives a notice if their debt meets the criteria for an offset. The IRS issues any remaining refund in a check or direct deposit as the taxpayer originally requested on the return.

More Information:

Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax

Get ready to take the guesswork out of paycheck withholding

The tax filing season is quickly approaching. With that in mind, taxpayers should remember there’s still time to make an estimated or additional tax payment to ensure their tax withholding is still accurate.

Those who need to make an estimated tax payment for 2019 should remember that the fourth quarter payment is due Wednesday, January 15, 2020.

These taxpayers will want to check to see if their 2019 federal income tax withholding will unexpectedly fall short of their tax liability for the year. They can check this by using the Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov.

All taxpayers can use the results from the Tax Withholding Estimator to determine if they should:

Complete a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, and submit it to their employer.
Complete a new Form W-4P, Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments, and submit it to their payer.
Make an additional or estimated tax payment to the IRS before the end of the year.

This tool helps employees avoid having too much or too little tax withheld from their wages. It also helps those working for themselves make accurate estimated tax payments. Having too little withheld can result in an unexpected tax bill or even a penalty at tax time in 2020. Having too much withheld results in less money in their pocket.

The Tax Withholding Estimator asks taxpayers to estimate:

Their 2019 income.
The number of children to be claimed for the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit.
Other items that will affect their 2019 taxes.

The IRS Withholding Estimator does not ask for personally-identifiable information, such as a name, Social Security number, address and bank account numbers. The IRS doesn’t save or record the information entered in the Estimator.

Before using the Tax Withholding Estimator, taxpayers should gather their most recent pay stubs and income documents from all sources. They should gather documents related to pensions, annuities, Social Security benefits and self-employment income. They should also have a copy of their 2018 federal tax return. This will help estimate 2019 income and answer other questions asked during the process.

If a taxpayer follows the recommendations at the end of the Tax Withholding Estimator and changes their withholding for 2019, they should recheck their withholding at the start of 2020. A withholding change made in 2019 may have a different full-year impact in 2020. So, if a taxpayer does not file a new Form W-4 for 2020, their withholding might be higher or lower than they intend.

Taxpayers should remember that the Tax Withholding Estimator’s results will only be as accurate as the information provided. People with more complex tax situations should use the instructions in Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax . This includes taxpayers who owe alternative minimum tax or certain other taxes, and people with long-term capital gains or qualified dividends.

Tax Withholding Estimator helps retirees; figures tax on Social Security benefits

WASHINGTON — The new Tax Withholding Estimator, launched last month on IRS.gov, includes user-friendly features designed to help retirees quickly and easily figure the right amount of tax to be taken out of their pension payments.

The mobile-friendly estimator replaces the Withholding Calculator. The estimator has features specially tailored to the unique needs of retirees receiving pension payments and Social Security benefits.

The new tool offers retirees, as well as employees and self-employed individuals, a more user-friendly way to check their withholding. Whether they receive wages or pension payments, it helps taxpayers estimate if the right amount is being withheld from their income to cover their tax liability. The estimator uses a simple, six-step question-and-answer format using information like marital or filing status, income, withholding, adjustments, deductions and credits.

To help people use the tool most effectively, the IRS is holding a free two-hour webinar on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. Eastern time. Among other things, the webinar will feature step-by-step instructions on how to use the new estimator and a live question-and-answer session. To sign up, visit the webinar page on IRS.gov.

Special help for retirees
A retiree can use the estimator to enter any pension income or Social Security benefits they or their spouse receive. The tool then automatically calculates the taxable portion and incorporates it into an overall estimate of their projected tax liability and withholding for the year. If a withholding change is needed, the retiree can choose a tax due of close to zero or a refund amount. The estimator will then link to Form W-4P, Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments, and give the retiree a specific withholding recommendation based on the option chosen. It also gives instructions on how to fill in each line of the form.

Enhancements for everyone
The enhancements for retirees are just a few of the many new features offered by the Tax Withholding Estimator. Others include:

Plain language to improve taxpayer understanding.
Mobile-friendly design.
A new progress tracker to help taxpayers know how much more information they need to enter.
The ability to go back and forth through the steps, correct previous entries and skip questions that don’t apply.
Tips and links to help users quickly determine if they qualify for various tax credits and deductions.
Automatic calculation of taxes on self-employment income.

The IRS urges both pension recipients and wage-earners to do a Paycheck Checkup now and review their withholding for 2019. This is especially important for anyone who faced an unexpected tax bill or penalty when they filed earlier this year. It’s also a critical step for those who made withholding adjustments in 2018 or had a major life change, such as marriage, the birth of a child, adoption or buying a home.

People most at risk of having too little tax withheld include those who itemized in the past, but now take the increased standard deduction. They also include households with two wage earners, employees with non-wage sources of income and those with complex tax situations.

Also, anyone who changes their withholding in the middle or latter part of this year should do another Paycheck Checkup in January. That will help ensure that they have the right amount of tax withheld for all of 2020.

Here’s what taxpayers should know about the new IRS Tax Withholding Estimator

Taxpayers who haven’t yet checked their withholding this year should do so ASAP. All taxpayers can do this by using the new mobile-friendly Tax Withholding Estimator. This new tool can be used by workers, as well as retirees, self-employed individuals and other taxpayers. It’s a user-friendly step-by-step tool to help taxpayers effectively adjust the amount of income tax they have withheld from wages and pension payments. This helps them make sure that they are paying the right amount of tax as they earn it throughout the year.

Here are some things people should know about the new tool:

Using the tool to do a Paycheck Checkup can help taxpayers avoid an unexpected year-end tax bill and possibly a penalty when they file their 2019 tax return next year.
The new tool allows taxpayers to separately enter pensions and other sources of income. Taxpayers who receive pension income can use the results from the estimator to complete a Form W-4P. They then give this form to their payer.
It’s important for anyone who had an unexpected tax bill or a penalty when they filed this year to do a checkup.
It’s also an important step for those who made withholding adjustments in 2018 or had a major life change.
The new Tax Withholding Estimator makes it easier to enter wages and withholding for each job held by the taxpayer and their spouse.
At the end of the process, the tool makes specific withholding recommendations for each job and spouse. It also clearly explains what the taxpayer should do next.
Those most likely to owe tax because they’ve had too little tax withheld include:
- Those who itemized in the past but now take the increased standard deduction.
- Two-wage-earner households.
- Employees with nonwage sources of income.
- Those with complex tax situations.

Here’s what taxpayers should know about making 2019 estimated tax payments

Small business owners, self-employed people, and some wage earners should look into whether they should make estimated tax payments this year. Doing so can help them avoid an unexpected tax bill and possibly a penalty when they file next year.

Everyone must pay tax as they earn income. Taxpayers who earn a paycheck usually have their employer withhold tax from their checks. This helps cover taxes the employee owes. On the other hand, some taxpayers earn income not subject to withholding. For small business owners and self-employed people, that usually means making quarterly estimated tax payments.

Here’s some information about estimated tax payments:

Taxpayers generally must make estimated tax payments if they expect to owe $1,000 or more when they file their 2019 tax return.
Whether or not they expect to owe next year, taxpayers may have to pay estimated tax for 2019 if their tax was more than zero in 2018.
Wage earners who also have business income can often avoid having to pay estimated tax. They can do so by asking their employer to withhold more tax from their paychecks. The IRS urges anyone in this situation to do a Paycheck Checkup using the Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov. If the estimator suggests a change, the taxpayer can submit a new Form W-4 to their employer.
Aside from business owners and self-employed individuals, people who need to make estimated payments also includes sole proprietors, partners and S corporation shareholders. It also often includes people involved in the sharing economy.
Estimated tax requirements are different for farmers and fishermen.
Corporations generally must make these payments if they expect to owe $500 or more on their 2019 tax return.
Aside from income tax, taxpayers can pay other taxes through estimated tax payments. This includes self-employment tax and the alternative minimum tax.
The final two deadlines for paying 2019 estimated payments are Sept. 16, 2019 and Jan. 15, 2020.
Taxpayers can check out these forms for details on how to figure their payments:
- Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals.
- Form 1120-W, Estimated Tax for Corporations.
Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov to find options for paying estimated taxes. These include:
- Direct Pay from a bank account.
- Paying by credit or debit card or the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System.
- Mailing a check or money order to the IRS.
- Paying cash at a retail partner.
Anyone who pays too little tax through withholding, estimated tax payments, or a combination of the two may owe a penalty. In some cases, the penalty may apply if their estimated tax payments are late. The penalty may apply even if the taxpayer is due a refund.
For tax year 2019, the penalty generally applies to anyone who pays less than 90 percent of the tax reported on their 2019 tax return.

More information:
Form 1040 Instructions
Form 1120 Instructions

Taxpayers can follow these three steps to use new Tax Withholding Estimator

All taxpayers should use the new Tax Withholding Estimator to do a Paycheck Checkup. This tool helps people make sure their employers are taking out the right amount of tax from the employee’s paychecks. The money withheld from an employee’s paychecks throughout the year should cover the amount of tax they owe.

Taxpayers who haven’t yet checked their withholding can follow these simple steps for using the estimator. Results will include a recommendation of whether the taxpayer should consider submitting a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, to any of their employers.

Step 1: Gather documents.
Before beginning, taxpayers should have a copy of their most recent pay stub and tax return. Taxpayers should go to the main Tax Withholding Estimator page on IRS.gov. Once there, they should carefully read all information and click the blue Tax Withholding Estimator button.

Step 2: Answer the questions.
Users will answer a series of questions about their specific tax situation. When they complete each section, they click the blue “Next” button that takes them to the next section.

Step 3: Review the results.
Taxpayers use the estimator’s results to determine if they need to complete a new Form W-4, which they submit to their employer, not to the IRS. The tool helps the user target a tax due amount close to zero or a refund amount.

Now’s the time to adjust 2019 withholding

Let your clients, employees and partners know, it’s a great time to use their 2018 tax returns for adjusting their tax withholding.

Checking and adjusting their tax withholding can help make sure they don’t owe more tax than they are expecting for 2019. At the same time, with the average refund more than $2,700, some of them may choose to reduce their withholding to have a larger paycheck and smaller refund.

Also let them know, they can use their 2018 returns and the IRS Withholding Calculator to do a paycheck checkup and adjust their withholding.

IRS expands penalty waiver for those whose tax withholding and estimated tax payments fell short in 2018; key threshold lowered to 80 percent

IRS expands penalty waiver for those whose tax withholding and estimated tax payments fell short in 2018; key threshold lowered to 80 percent

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today provided additional expanded penalty relief to taxpayers whose 2018 federal income tax withholding and estimated tax payments fell short of their total tax liability for the year.

The IRS is lowering to 80 percent the threshold required to qualify for this relief. Under the relief originally announced Jan. 16, the threshold was 85 percent. The usual percentage threshold is 90 percent to avoid a penalty.

“We heard the concerns from taxpayers and others in the tax community, and we made this adjustment in an effort to be responsive to a unique scenario this year,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “The expanded penalty waiver will help many taxpayers who didn’t have enough tax withheld. We continue to urge people to check their withholding again this year to make sure they are having the right amount of tax withheld for 2019.”

This means that the IRS is now waiving the estimated tax penalty for any taxpayer who paid at least 80 percent of their total tax liability during the year through federal income tax withholding, quarterly estimated tax payments or a combination of the two.

Today’s revised waiver computation will be integrated into commercially-available tax software and reflected in the forthcoming revision of the instructions for Form 2210, Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals, Estates, and Trusts.

Taxpayers who have already filed for tax year 2018 but qualify for this expanded relief may claim a refund by filing Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement and include the statement “80% Waiver of estimated tax penalty” on Line 7. This form cannot be filed electronically.

Today’s expanded relief will help many taxpayers who owe tax when they file, including taxpayers who did not properly adjust their withholding and estimated tax payments to reflect an array of changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the far-reaching tax reform law enacted in December 2017.

The IRS and partner groups conducted an extensive outreach and education campaign throughout 2018 to encourage taxpayers to do a “Paycheck Checkup” to avoid a situation where some might have had too much or too little tax withheld when they file their tax returns. If a taxpayer did not submit a revised W-4 withholding form to their employer or increase their estimated tax payments, they may have not had enough tax withheld during the tax year.

Additional information

Because the U.S. tax system is pay-as-you-go, taxpayers are required, by law, to pay most of their tax obligation during the year, rather than at the end of the year. This can be done by either having tax withheld from paychecks or pension payments, or by making estimated tax payments.

Usually, a penalty applies at tax filing if too little is paid during the year. This penalty is an interest based amount approximately equivalent to the federal interest on the amount not paid in a timely manner. Normally, the penalty would not apply for 2018 if tax payments during the year met one of the following tests:

The person’s tax payments were at least 90 percent of the tax liability for 2018 or
The person’s tax payments were at least 100 percent of the prior year’s tax liability, in this case from 2017. However, the 100 percent threshold is increased to 110 percent if a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income is more than $150,000, or $75,000 if married and filing a separate return.

For waiver purposes only, today’s relief lowers the 90 percent threshold to 80 percent. This means that a taxpayer will not owe a penalty if they paid at least 80 percent of their total 2018 tax liability. If the taxpayer paid less than 80 percent, then they are not eligible for the waiver and the penalty will be calculated as it normally would be, using the 90 percent threshold. For further details, see Notice 2019-25, posted today on IRS.gov.

Like last year, the IRS urges everyone to take a Paycheck Checkup and review their withholding for 2019. This is especially important for anyone now facing an unexpected tax bill when they file. This is also an important step for those who made withholding adjustments in 2018 or had a major life change to ensure the right tax is still being withheld. Those most at risk of having too little tax withheld from their pay include taxpayers who itemized in the past but now take the increased standard deduction, as well as two-wage-earner households, employees with nonwage sources of income and those with complex tax situations.

To help taxpayers get their withholding right in 2019, the updated Withholding Calculator is now available on IRS.gov.

THE simple DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHO ARE EMPLOYEES AND WHO ARE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

THE simple DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHO ARE EMPLOYEES AND WHO ARE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

It has been declared that with a recent court decision with a popular transportation company the differences between employment and contractor designations and their classifications are important because it determines if an employer must withhold income taxes, pay Social Security, Medicare and unemployment taxes on wages paid to an employee. Businesses “normally” do not have tax withholding on payments to “independent contractors”. This is because the 1099 recipients of 1099’s known as independent contractors are subject to self-employment taxes and are filed with their individual income taxes at year end. Classification errors can cause penalties and additional expense for business owners that had no basis to report as such and can create higher employer liabilities and accounting expenses for the mistake.

The rule is that an individual is an independent contractor if the payer can tell them what to do as a result of the work performed, not what will be done and how it will be done. Small businesses should look up online who is an employee as there are many free tools at our disposal Whether a worker is an independent contractor or employee depends on the facts with each situation. State law can sometime be different but is suggested to follow federal rule, as federal “Trump’s” state, as federal laws allows for the degree of control the employer controls over its workers, and the type of work performed.

In particular,

The organizations appropriate to direct and control the work performed by the specialist
Ideal to direct or control the budgetary and business parts of the laborer’s activity; and
Regardless of whether the work performed is a key part of the business.