Coral Springs, Florida bookkeeping specialist: The controller increases the company’s overall financial accountability and checks and balances. A controller reviews the bookkeeper’s ledger for accuracy while also maintaining the integrity of the accounting data file in the future so that adjustments can’t be made without approval. Lastly, a controller issues monthly financial reports highlighting any critical issues that you need to understand and possibly address.
Personal Expenses (Deductions). You will receive Form 5498 for IRA and health savings accounts contributions from vendors and Form 1098 for home mortgage interest deductions. But you’ll have to collect most of the information documenting allowable deductions, such as business expenses, from other financial documents, such as check registers, canceled checks, bank statements, and credit card statements. Download and print summaries of the prior year’s transactions for each credit card, and review each transaction to determine whether it may be deductible. I use a marker to highlight the transactions that may affect my filing for easy identification later. You can use a similar culling process for canceled checks.
Avoid Taxes on an RMD with a Charitable Donation: Seniors who have a traditional 401(k) or IRA must take a required minimum distribution each year once they reach age 70 1/2. Those who don’t need this money for living expenses may want to consider having it sent directly to a charity as a qualified charitable distribution. “It’s basically a check issued from the IRA and made out to the charity,” Zollars says. This prevents the money from becoming taxable income and could help reduce the amount of Social Security retirement benefits that are deemed taxable, too.
Look back to last year’s return? Hopefully by now you’ve filed your tax return for last year, or filed for an extension. If you’ve already filed your taxes for the current tax year, look back and think about areas that were problematic or extra stressful. Then think about how you can alleviate that stress for next year. For example, if you did your own taxes and had trouble with the math, consider using a free online tax-preparation service like Mtptaxes next year. If you had trouble verifying contributions you made to charity, plan how you’ll keep better records so it’s easier to claim a charitable deduction. See more info on North Lauderdale bookkeepers.
For most garnishments including child support, creditor garnishments, and student loans, Title III of the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) requires that the amount of pay garnished should be based on an employee’s “disposable earnings,” meaning the amount remaining after legally mandated deductions. Broadly speaking, disposable income is the employee’s total compensation, less mandatory deductions including federal, state, and local taxes; state unemployment insurance contributions; and Social Security taxes. This includes salaries, bonuses, and sales commissions, as well as earnings derived from retirement plans and pensions. Tips aren’t usually regarded as earnings for garnishment, but service charges are considered earnings.
Moving expense to take first job: Here’s an interesting dichotomy: Job-hunting expenses incurred while looking for your first job are not deductible, but moving expenses to get to that first job are. And you get this write-off even if you don’t itemize. If you moved more than 50 miles, you can deduct 23 cents per mile of the cost of getting yourself and your household goods to the new area, (plus parking fees and tolls) for driving your own vehicle. However, beginning in 2018, moving expenses are no longer deductible for federal taxes unless you are in the military and the move is due to military orders. Some states such as California continue to provide this tax benefit.
Business Bookkeeping Help, a Coral Springs bookkeeping and accounting firm, has a team of bookkeepers, accountants and small business experts who specialize in bookkeeping and a full range of accounting services for corporations and small businesses. Our bookkeepers are also accountants. Our accountants are here to help you understand and help educate you about the tax laws and help you find tax deductions to lower your taxes. Just give our accountants a call and we will try to answer your tax questions for free. This will help you be aware of the tax deductions to save you money on your taxes. Read extra info at Bookkeeping Help.