Use it or lose it - deadline approaching

If your flex plan at work allows a 2½ month grace period for using the pre-tax dollars you set aside for 2011, be aware that a final deadline is approaching. You have until March 15, 2012, to use the funds you set aside for 2011 or you forfeit any leftover dollars.

Payroll tax cut extended again

Congress passed an extension of the 2% payroll tax cut that had been scheduled to expire at the end of February. The extension means 160 million working Americans will continue to pay social security tax on their wages at a 4.2% rate for the rest of 2012, rather than at a 6.2% rate.

Because Republicans and Democrats were unable to agree on how to pay for the extended tax cut, the law included no spending cuts to offset the estimated $93 billion cost of this provision.

The law also provides for long-term federal unemployment benefits, setting the maximum at 73 weeks in states with the worst unemployment and 63 weeks for other states.

Another provision in the law includes the so-called "doc fix" that prevents a scheduled 27% reduction in Medicare payments to doctors.

The unemployment benefits and doctor payments will be paid for by government sales of broadband spectrum, requiring federal workers hired after this year to contribute more to their pensions, and cuts in certain health programs.

President Obama signed the bill into law on February 22.

IRS has $1 billion of unclaimed refunds

 

The IRS has just announced that more than $1 billion in tax refunds for the year 2008 remain unclaimed by a  million  taxpayers who failed to file a return for that year. The tax law provides a three-year period for claiming a refund when no return is filed. That means these individuals must file a tax return for 2008 no later than Tuesday, April 17, 2012, or their refunds will be lost.

March 2012 Tax Deadlines

March 15 - 2011 calendar-year corporation income tax returns (Forms 1120 & 1120-S) are due. Extensions may be filed to give until September 17, 2012, to file.

March 15 - Deadline for calendar-year corporations to elect S corporation status for 2012. See Reasons for a S-Corp switch

April 2 - Deadline for payers who file electronically to send copies of 2011 W-2s to the Social Security Administration.

April 2 - Deadline for payers who file electronically to file 2011 information returns (such as 1099s) with the IRS.

Corporate tax returns are due THURSDAY March 15th!

Form 1120/1120S are due THURSDAY March 15th

If you have a corporation or file a Form 1120 or 1120S with a December 31st year end and you have not filed a 2011 tax return, it is due on March 15th. If you have not yet filed your 2011 tax return call or email us to immediately to ensure we file an extension for your company.

Be diligent about saving your tax records

You're probably getting ready to sort out last year's financial records and prepare for this year's recordkeeping. But what should you keep and what can you throw away? Here are some suggestions.

* Keep records that directly support income or expense items on your tax return. For income, this includes W-2s, 1099s, and Form K-1s. Also keep records of any other income you might have received from other sources. It's also a good idea to save your bank statements and investment statements from brokers.

For expense items, keep documentation that supports any itemized deductions you claim. This includes acknowledgments from charitable organizations and backup for taxes paid, mortgage interest, medical deductions, work expenses, and miscellaneous deductions. Even if you don't itemize, keep records of expenses for child care, medical insurance if you're self-employed, and any other expenses that appear on your return.

The IRS can audit you routinely for three years after you file your return. But in cases where income is underreported, they can audit for up to six years. To be safe, keep your tax records for seven years.

Keep certain other records even longer. These include records relating to your house purchase and any improvements you make. Also keep records of investment purchases, dividends reinvested, and any major gifts you make or receive. And finally, keep copies of all your tax returns and W-2s in case you ever need to prove your earnings for social security purposes.

Please call our office if you have questions about specific items.

Some deductions are available even if you don’t itemize

If you’ve given up itemizing deductions, you’re not alone. These days over half of all taxpayers find they’re better off using the standard deduction. But even if you take the standard deduction, you can also deduct some individual expenses on your 2011 tax return, including the following:

* IRA and HSA contributions

On your 2011 tax return you may qualify to deduct up to $5,000 in contributions to a traditional IRA. That increases to $6,000 if you’re age 50 or older. Income limitations may apply in some cases. You can’t deduct contributions to Roth IRAs.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are IRA-like accounts set up in conjunction with a high-deductible health insurance policy. The annual contributions you make to your HSA are deductible. Contributions are invested and grow tax-free, and you’re allowed to withdraw money in the account tax-free to pay for your unreimbursed medical expenses. The HSA contribution limit for 2011 is $3,050 for singles and $6,150 for couples. An additional $1,000 may be contributed by those 55 and older.

* Student loan interest and tuition fees

Deduct up to $2,500 interest on student loans for yourself, your spouse, and your dependents. For 2011, you can also deduct up to $4,000 of tuition and fees for qualified higher education courses. Income limitations apply, and you must coordinate these deductions with other education tax breaks.

* Self-employment deductions

If you’re self employed, you can generally deduct the cost of health insurance premiums, retirement plan contributions, and one-half of self-employment taxes.

* Other deductions

Don’t overlook deductions for alimony you pay, certain moving expenses, and early savings withdrawal penalties. Teachers can deduct up to $250 for classroom supplies that they purchased with their own money in 2011.

Email me at Vince@MyTexasCPA.com for more information on these and other deductions you may be entitled to take on your 2011 tax return.