Taxpayers who owed additional tax when they filed their 2017 federal tax return earlier this year can avoid another unexpected tax bill next year by doing a “paycheck checkup” as soon as possible, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the tax reform legislation passed in December, made major changes to the tax law, including increasing the standard deduction, removing personal exemptions, increasing the Child Tax Credit, limiting or discontinuing certain deductions and changing tax rates and brackets.

These far-reaching changes could have a big impact on the tax refund or balance due on the tax return people file next year. The IRS encourages every employee to do a “paycheck checkup” soon to ensure they have the correct amount of tax taken out of their pay.

Checking and adjusting withholding now can prevent an unexpected tax bill and penalties next year at tax time. The IRS Withholding Calculator and Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax, can help.
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The IRS encourages taxpayers to be proactive:

2018 brings DRAMATIC changes to federal tax law, so we are providing a review of these changes well in advance of tax return time.  As always, please be in touch with any questions about this, or any other tax matters.
 
Income tax brackets have changed. The old 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35%, and 39.6% brackets have been restructured to 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. These new percentages are slated to apply through 2025.
​Read on to discover the taxable income thresholds for these brackets in 2018:

IRS Options If You Cannot Pay Your Taxes
Although the IRS always prefers that you find a way to pay your taxes in full, circumstances can sometimes prevent that from happening. If you find yourself in this predicament, the IRS does have options available to help you resolve your tax debt. Depending on your situation, you may be able to request an installment agreement, an offer in compromise, a temporary delay of collection, or an extension of time to pay.

​Obviously, the best solution for past due taxes is to pay the entire debt as quickly as possible. Remember that penalties and interest will continue to accrue until your balance is fully paid – the IRS does not necessarily waive these late fees, even if you set up an approved payment arrangement.

In some cases, it is actually more affordable to pay your tax debt using a personal loan or credit card(s), which often charge lower fees than the IRS.

The Federal income tax is based on a “pay-as-you-go” system. There are 2 ways to pay as you go: withholding tax or estimated tax. This article discusses withholding tax (also referred to as “tax withholding”).

​If you work at a job, your employer most likely withholds income tax from your paychecks. (Tax may also be withheld from other types of income – such as commissions, bonuses, and pensions.) The tax withheld is sent to the IRS on your behalf, and the funds are applied to your Social Security, Medicare, and income taxes for the year. The amount withheld in each category is reported on your Form W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement), which you receive from your employer.

Sometimes we all feel like the IRS has their own set of rules and that we must always comply. But did you know that the IRS has a Bill of Rights that they must follow as well for our protection? 
​America’s taxpayers have specific rights when they interact with the IRS. These ten rights are known collectively as the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. These rights cover a wide range of topics and issues, and lay out what taxpayers can expect in the event they need to work with the IRS on a personal tax matter. This includes when a taxpayer is filing a return, paying taxes, responding to a letter, going through an audit or appealing an IRS decision.

​Now that school’s out, many students will be starting summer jobs…from working at a summer camp to being an office intern. The IRS reminds students that not all the money they earn may make it to their pocket. That’s because employers must withhold taxes from the employee’s paycheck. Here are a few things these workers need to know when starting a summer job:

During the busy months of summer, the last thing on your mind is your income taxes. However, reducing your tax liability is a year-round occupation and now is the time to consider some pertinent tax breaks and obligations.

Have you moved this summer or are you preparing for new education expenses this fall? These may offer some tax breaks that you can use to reduce your tax payments and even garner you a larger refund when tax time does arrive.
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Here are five summertime tax tips to keep in mind: