The Internal Revenue Service wants individuals to consider taking the home office deduction if they qualify. The benefit may allow taxpayers working from home to deduct certain expenses on their tax return.

The home office deduction is available to qualifying self-employed taxpayers, independent contractors and those working in the gig economy. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act suspended the business use of home deduction from 2018 through 2025 for employees. Employees who receive a paycheck or a W-2 exclusively from an employer are not eligible for the deduction, even if they are currently working from home.

Whether it’s something they’ve been doing for years or something they just started to make extra money, taxpayers must report income earned from hobbies in 2020 on next year’s tax return.

What the difference between a hobby and a business? A business operates to make a profit. People engage in a hobby for sport or recreation, not to make a profit.

Using a reputable firm or group can protect employers from fraud; options include PSPs, RAs and CPEOs

WASHINGTON — The IRS reminded employers today to carefully choose their payroll service providers following continuing concerns that some disreputable organizations can fail to deposit employment taxes, leaving businesses vulnerable to unpaid bills.

Many employers outsource their payroll and related tax duties to third parties. This streamlines business operations by collecting and timely depositing payroll taxes on the employer’s behalf and filing required payroll tax returns with state and federal authorities.

“A business doing everything else right can suddenly find its future in doubt if it falls victim to an unscrupulous third party that fails to make the required payroll and withholding deposits,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “We want to encourage all employers to understand their obligations and choose wisely when it comes to selecting a trusted payroll service to carry out this critical function. This is especially important right now as businesses face unique challenges because of the pandemic.”

Now is a good time for people to begin thinking about next year’s tax return. While it may seem early to be preparing for 2021, reviewing your recordkeeping now will pay off when it comes time to file again.

Here are some suggestions to help taxpayers keep good records.

Taxpayers should develop a system that keeps all their important information together. They can use a software program for electronic recordkeeping. They could also store paper documents in labeled folders.

First and foremost call Jerry Jones, The Self-Storage CPA right away so he can walk you through all of your options and rights!

Every year the IRS mails letters or notices to taxpayers for many different reasons.
Here are some do’s and don’ts for taxpayers who receive one:

Taxpayers can use the Where’s My Refund? tool to start checking on the status of refund 24 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of the taxpayer’s e-filed tax return. Currently, the IRS is experiencing delays in processing paper tax returns due to limited staffing as a result of COVID-19.

The IRS is processing tax returns, issuing refunds and accepting payments. Taxpayers who filed a paper tax return and expect a refund may experience a significant delay beyond the normal time frame of four to six weeks from the time they mailed the return. The IRS will process these returns in the order received and there is no need to file a second tax return or call the IRS.

Incoming!

"Fun tax facts" may seem like an oxymoron, but sometimes taxes can be amusing. From a tax on beards in czarist Russia to an American astronaut who forgot to pay his taxes before heading into space, here are 50 unusual, funny, interesting — and sometimes practical — tax-related tidbits.

Taxes Go Way Back

Governments have imposed taxes for thousands of years. There are recordings of tax payments made in ancient Mesopotamia circa 2500 B.C. At the time, people who didn't have money to pay taxes often had to pay with livestock, food, or labor.

We Tried a Flat Tax

America’s tax laws have been in flux for generations and remain so to this day. The first income tax in the United States came about with the Revenue Act of 1861. A flat 3% tax on income above $800 was used to fund the Civil War and repealed 11 years later. In 1894, a new flat federal income tax was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. It was not until the 16th Amendment was ratified in 1913 that the federal income tax finally stuck for good.

People who receive an Economic Impact Payment this year should keep Notice 1444, Your Economic Impact Payment, with their tax records. This notice provides information about the amount of their payment, how the payment was made and how to report any payment that wasn’t received.

For security reasons, the IRS mails this notice to each recipient’s last known address within 15 days after the payment goes out. It’s especially important for people to keep this notice if they think their payment amount is wrong. When they file their 2020 tax return, they can refer to Notice 1444 and claim additional credits, if they are eligible for them.

Taxpayers should keep this notice filed with all their other important tax records. These include, W-2s from employers,1099s from banks and other payers, other income documents and virtual currency transaction records.

Every year brings some changes to the tax code, but 2020 has brought more than most as the COVID-19 pandemic upended life in ways we could never have anticipated. Some of these changes have opened up new tax deductions, while others have eliminated some common tax penalties -- at least for this year.

Staying abreast of these changes is crucial for minimizing your tax liability, so I've outlined three of the most important tax-saving opportunities for 2020 below. They may not all apply to you, but take advantage of the ones that do to help you hold on to more of your money this year.

IRS.gov has answers to many questions people may have about their Economic Impact Payment. Here are answers to some of the top questions people are asking about these payments. 

Is this payment considered taxable income?

No, the payment is not income and taxpayers will not owe tax on it. The payment will not reduce a taxpayer’s refund or increase the amount they owe when they file their 2020 tax return next year. A payment also will not affect income for purposes of determining eligibility for federal government assistance or benefit programs.