Tax Alerts and Tips

New Law "Cures" Small Employer Health Insurance Dilemma -- The 21st Century Cure Act has passed Congress which the President has just approved and signed. The legislation provides for an exception from group health plan requirements for qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangements. Beginning in 2017, a small employer may again reimburse employees for individual health insurance premiums without fear of the onerous $100 per day per employee penalty assessed for violation of health care reform. Click here for more information.
Direct Pay -- The IRS has launched a new way for taxpayers to pay their tax liability online. The IRS Direct Pay website allows taxpayers to pay their Form 1040 tax bill or make estimated tax payments directly from their checking or savings account at no cost. The taxpayer receives instant confirmation that a tax payment has been submitted. Bank account information is not retained in the IRS systems after payments are made. Read More...
How to Pay Federal Taxes by Credit Card.
When is Tax Day next year?
Health Savings Accounts Limitations

The Basics on How the U.S. Income Tax System Works -- A simplified explanation of our tax system.
Understanding Your IRS Notice or Letter: This helpful page, on the IRS website, gives valuable information about the different notices and letters that the IRS may send to taxpayers regarding a federal return that they filed with the IRS. The information includes a list of eight things every taxpayer should know, a list of individual filer notices and of business filer notices.
Delaying RMDs While You Are Still Working: When you work beyond age 70 ½, you can delay the Required Minimum Distributions from your retirement plan until you retire from that company. The “still working" rule applies only to the plan under which you are covered by your current employer and it cannot be an IRA plan i.e. a SEP or SIMPLE plan does not qualify. Also, you cannot be a greater than 5% owner of the company your work for. If you have other plans, IRAs etc., at age 70 ½ you must take RMDs from them, even if you do not take a RMD from your employer's plan. However, if your employer plan allows it, you may rollover monies from other plans into your employer's plan to delay RMDs on those plans. There is no minimum hours that have to be worked, unless the company's plan document stipulates a minimum hours worked requirement, so as long as you are covered by the plan, you can delay RMDs until April 1 of the year after you retire, as long as you are getting a W-2 from the company.

What if…? The IRS answers questions about many financial difficulties taxpayers may experience during these tough economic times.
At your wits end in dealing with the IRS? If you are having problems with the IRS and:

-Your problem is causing financial difficulties for you, your family, or your business.

-You face (or your business is facing) an immediate threat of adverse action.

-You've tried repeatedly to contact the IRS but no one has responded to you, or the IRS hasn't responded by the date promised.

--- Click here to get the contact info for your Taxpayer's Advocate who can help with these types of issues.

General and Commentary:

Click on this map to get your state's local IRS offices contact information.
Want to tell Congress how you really feel about taxes? To get the contact info for your senators and representatives click here and then click your state on the map.