Sometimes Claiming All Your Legal Deductions Can Cost You More #Tax

Most of us are awed by the complexity of even our own seemingly simple tax situations ... Yahoo Finance has an article that has some comfort along with good advice for you:  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/6-tax-terrors-and-how-to-overcome-them-170130521.html

An additional thought:  Try calculating it different ways before deciding on one.  You can often save money, even on the simplest returns.

Here's a recent example I helped with:

Sequestration: A Letter to Congress

Dear Congressman Matheson:

Thank you for the opportunity to give you input for the federal budget process as we reach the sequestration deadline.  I especially appreciate that you continue to reach out to those of us in the 2nd District that you represented for many years before beginning to serve the new 4th District beginning this year.  You never know how district boundaries or other opportunities will change, you are wise to continue to be interested in those of us you might once again have reason to work with.

I have been very interested in this topic for a long time, for example, I wrote the following blog post on February 18, 2011 when Congress was considering the budget for what was then the upcoming year.  (You can find it at http://dougbeecherstaxandmoneyblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/11892-item-in-your-budget-you-think-you.html if you would like to see it in its original context.)

It is given that there are a lot of hard choices here.  Anything that is decided tends to put the interests of one person or group of people in preference to those of another, always a difficult decision to make.

Please particularly note the part of my blog post where I present the major budget categories as then proposed by the President in dollars per person.  For me it helps put things in perspective.

It is also given there will be an impact to the overall economy if any cuts agreed to are too large.  Because of that I especially appreciate your strong desire to reach across the aisle and work to get the leaders on both sides to make some carefully considered movement.

Specific (Simple) Recommendations:

1.  Overall, I believe sequestration is a reasonable idea.  Let's assume for the moment that each and every federal government program is essential.  There is still efficiencies that could be realized in each program.  I would hope that the labor portion of those efficiencies could be achieved through attrition rather than furloughs, and believe they can.  It is sad that we could not agree on how to do this without sequestration, but believe that overall this is a way we can get started on what needs to be done year by year, in baby steps, for the next decade and beyond.

2.  There are individual programs that should be completely eliminated, in addition to implementing efficiencies in all programs.  How about trying for one a year, and starting with the Energy Department.  At $74.67 per person (at February 2011 proposed levels) this isn't huge, but that's what we need.  A little at a time.  It is fair to say that the Energy Department has not met the objectives it was set up to accomplish when it was established over 30 years ago.  Please work to cut that department by 50% by eliminating it as a separate department along with many of its agencies.  The surviving 50% of its budget could be added to the budget of the Interior Department, which would likely absorb the programs that most need to remain.

Thank you for seriously considering my input.  I know I am one voice out of many, and each of us do count.  I know you personally recognize that and thank you for your service.

Kind regards,

Doug Beecher

La Verkin, Utah

 

#Tax Deductions for Meals/Incidentals on #Business #Travel ... Simplified!

The IRS allows you to claim tax deductions for meals & incidental expenses on overnight business travel.  To qualify you will be required to keep records that show:

• That your trip required "substantial sleep" (usually overnight) before returning.
• The trip's business purpose.
• That over half of the working time of a majority of the days of the trip was used for business.

Please continue reading to get a quick summary of your options to calculate the amount of the deduction you can claim for 2011-12 if your travel meets these requirements ...

#HealthCare #Tax Credit for #SmallBusiness and Non-Profits

The IRS is asking,

 "Are you a Small employer? Get the credit you deserve.

      If you are a small employer. . .

              With fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees?

              That pays an average wage of less than $50,000 a year?

               And pays at least half of employee health insurance premiums?

                               . . .then there is a tax credit that may put money in your pocket."


More information is available at: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=223666,00.html 


It is useful to note that even if the lingering slow economy still has your business operating at a loss, this credit can be
 carried back 1 year or forward up to 20 years.  Go ahead and file Forms 8941 and 3800 to establish your claim to
this credit now so that it will be available when you need it in the future.

Also, if you have more than 25 employees, but some work part-time, you may still qualify for this credit.

In general, this credit is available for health insurance the business pays for employees who are not an owner of the business.
There are exceptions, so read the instructions for Form 8941 carefully.

What Donald Duck and a 2% Income #Tax Have in Common

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From Abe Lincoln To Donald Duck: History Of The Income Tax : NPRhttp://n.pr/GOCv3v

The story of how the U.S. wound up with the income tax is the story of two wars, a Supreme Court justice on his death bed, and Donald Duck.

This story posted yesterday by National Public Radio is interesting on several levels. The government needed everyone to pay income taxes to finance World War II, and used Donald Duck paying $13 tax on income of $2,501 as an example for all. I'm curious,

Join Doug Beecher,MBA,CPA for Live #QuickBooks #Training 'Setting Up #Inventory' Mar 15 @4 pm in Hurricane

Topics for this training include:

• Setting preferences so your QuickBooks file can handle inventory
• How to enter your individual products into inventory in QuickBooks
• Using purchase orders in QuickBooks to monitor inventory
• How to record inventory when it is received, whether or not you have been billed for it yet
• Making manual inventory adjustments for shrinkage, damage, obsolescence, etc.
• Choices for using QuickBooks to track finished goods you produce ... comparing the use of group items with inventory assemblies, and much more

Potential Trap If You're Deciding Between Working With A Company As An Independent Contractor Or An Employee

Many people are faced with an important decision when contemplating an opportunity to do services for a company.  Should I accept the company's request to work as an independent contractor or should I insist on being an employee ... at the risk of losing the opportunity.