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SUMMER TIME IS A GOOD TIME TO START PLANNING AND ORGANIZING YOUR TAXES
You may be tempted to forget all about your taxes once you've filed your tax return, but it is a good idea to plan now for next year.
You may be tempted to forget all about your taxes once you’ve filed your tax return, but that’s not a good idea. If you start tax planning now, you may avoid a tax surprise when you file next year. Also, now is a good time to set up a system so you can keep yopur tax records safe and easy to find. Here are some tips to give you a leg up on next year’s taxes:
· Take Action When Life Changes Occur. Some life events (such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child) can change the amount of tax you pay. When they happen, you may need to change the amount of tax withheld from your pay. To do that, file a new form W-4 (Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate) with your employer. If you make estimated payments. Those may need to be changed as well.
· Stay Organized. Make tax time easier. Have your family put tax records in the same place during the year. That way you won’t have to search for misplaced records when you file next year.
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If you are self-employed, here are a couple additional tax tips to consider:
· Employ Your Child. Doing so shifts income (which is not subject to the Kiddie tax) from you to your child, who normally is in a lower tax bracket or may avoid tax entirely due to the standard deduction. There can also be payroll tax savings, plus the earnings can enable the child to contribute to an IRA. However, the wages paid must be reasonable given the child’s age and work skills. Also, if the child is in college, or is entering soon, having too much earned income can have a detrimental impact on the student’s need-based financial aid eligibility.
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· Avoid the Hobby Loss Rules. A lot of businesses that are just starting out or have hit a bump in the road may wind up showing a loss for the year. The last thing the business owner wants in this situation is for the IRS to come knocking on the door arguing the business’s losses aren’t deductible because the activity is just a hobby for the owner. If your business is expecting a loss this year, we should talk as soon as possible to maximize the tax benefit of the loss and minimize its economic impact.
Gentile Stephen T CPA 109 Airport Rd Warwick, RI 02889 (401) 739-6110
