Many professionals, whether lawyers, accountants or physicians, experience and endure difficult economic times before finally earning their graduate degree. On one hand, the high cost of tuition must be paid, which requires either a significant student loan or form of employment. Yet, graduate school leaves little or no time for anything other than study. After such an economically, physically, and mentally draining ordeal, is there a way to recoup some of the blood, sweat and cash exchanged for a graduate degree? Is tuition for law or graduate school a deductible educational expense?
Proving Education Tax Break Eligibility In 2016
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extended the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) through December 31, 2017. This tax credit assists with the cost of higher education expenses such as tuition, course materials and other certain eligible fees for four years, which differs from the Hope scholarship credit because the credit may be claimed for four years instead of the two allowed under the Hope credit.
NEW AND OLD TAX SCAMS AND TRICKS
Taxpayers must always be vigilant regarding the legality of an action related to the filing of their taxes. This includes whether they are filing an IRS form, calculating income, claiming a deduction, characterizing assets, preparing a tax return, or communicating with a third party claiming to be a tax advisor or employee or agent of the IRS. Taxpayers must not knowingly or unknowingly participate in any scams that involve the calculation, filing, and payment of their taxes or the results may be devastating. Here are some new and old tax scams of which all taxpayers must be aware:
- Phishing
YOU HAVE A FOREIGN ACCOUNT? MEET THE FBAR
If you have a financial interest in or signature authority over a foreign financial account, the Bank Secrecy Act may require you to report the account yearly. The Act requires that each qualifying taxpayer file a FBAR or Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. The types of foreign financial accounts to which the Bank Secrecy Act applies this requirement includes a bank account, brokerage account, mutual fund, trust, or other type of foreign financial account, exceeding certain thresholds.
TAX CONSEQUENCES OF RENTING YOUR HOME ON AIRBnB
A profitable way to convert your home into a means of producing income is the rental of it completely, or just in part (a room), even for a short period of time. Taxpayers may avail themselves of rental services like Airbnb, HomeAway, or VRBO to accomplish this. Of course all income is “all income from whatever source derived” under the Internal Revenue Code. Income earned through the rental of your home, or a room in your home, is taxable “income” and must be reported to the IRS on your tax return.
Is Your Income Taxable
Is Your Income Taxable?
Generally, under IRS rules, all incomes are taxable, except if they are specifically excluded from income. Taxable income includes money earned, like wages and tips. It also includes bartering, an exchange of property or services
Certain incomes are usually excluded from income, such as
• Gifts and inheritances
• Child support payments
• Welfare benefits
• Damage awards for physical injury or sickness
• Cash rebates from a dealer or manufacturer for an item you buy
• Reimbursements for qualified adoption expenses
Under certain conditions, the following income may not be taxable::
• Life insurance. Proceeds paid to you because of the death of the insured person are usually not taxable. However, if you redeem a life insurance policy for cash, any amount that you get that is more than the cost of the policy is taxable.
• Qualified scholarship. In most cases, income from this type of scholarship is not taxable. This means that amounts you use for certain costs, such as tuition and required books, are not taxable. On the other hand, amounts you use for room and board are taxable.
• State income tax refund. If you got a state or local income tax refund, the amount may be taxable. You should have received a 2014 Form 1099-G from the agency that made the payment to you. If you didn’t get it by mail, the agency may have provided the form electronically. Contact them to find out how to get the form. Report any taxable refund you got even if you did not receive Form 1099-G.
How to Locate the NYC Tax Attorney
When you have identified the need to see a NYC tax attorney, the second step is to find him. If you have never used the services of any such lawyer, you might be at a loss on how to actually get access to one. There are several avenues from which you just might get the professional that you seeking.
Ordinarily, you may have been in contact or heard of someone who had taxation problems. When you get direction from one who has had an experience with a particular lawyer, you are better placed to know the strong and weak points he has. This will help you make an informed choice. The one on one account of the way the client was handled is an indicator of the kind of treatment you can expect as well.
The importance of a New York City Tax Attorney
A lot of the people I have met never really understood the roles that a New York City Tax Attorney could play in their lives till they had a need for one. Taxation problems are usually complex and an ordinary citizen might need to be helped to understand them by a professional. Thus, a competent New York tax attorney definitely has sound knowledge of what the laws say about paying taxes. This will enable him to effectively guide his clients on problems they have with revenue agencies.
The Benefits of Hiring A New York City Tax Attorney
Facing taxation problems is not at all uncommon for the American population. It is not at all surprising, given the complexity of the economic system of the United States, which is a leading superpower in the whole world. Economic opportunities abound and one such opportunity is the availability of multiple jobs for its citizens. This, of course, is by itself good. Except that for many individuals, holding multiple jobs and thereby having a multiple source of income can get to be a headache when it comes to taxation. Some barely have enough time for fulfilling their work obligations, and it is such a real trouble when the IRS runs after them for unintentional tax miscalculations.
How Can A New York Tax Lawyer Help You?
Just recently, an entertainment company in New York that is in the business of distributing TV shows throughout the state and the country was involved in a tax case before the state’s highest court. This stemmed from the said company’s charging of sales tax from its customers who lease their satellite dish, which is needed to receive signals for TV shows, for a monthly fee. After four years of operating the business, state auditors found out that the company have committed violations of the state’s tax laws. State auditors argued that the company’s parent company should have paid sales tax for acquiring the satellite dishes, but it did not and instead passed the sales tax payment to its customers. The case is still pending with the state’s Court of Appeals.