Income Tax

With more than one million tax payments already processed this year through IRS Direct Pay, the Internal Revenue Service is encouraging taxpayers with upcoming tax payment deadlines to consider choosing this free online system to quickly and easily pay what they owe.

The Internal Revenue Service has released several new YouTube videos to help taxpayers get important information about the Affordable Care Act and tax return filing.

A pair of Certified Public Accountants has filed suit against the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department in an effort to stop the government from imposing fees on tax preparers (Preparer Tax Identification Number) and to recover fees, plus interest, that they and other preparers have paid in past years.

Thomson Reuters has released a new white paper for tax professionals, Unlocking the Limits of the Keyword: 5 Ways to be a Better Tax Researcher. The paper addresses key challenges practitioners face when answering complex tax questions — exploring the evolution of the tax research process from print to digital and examining the viability of the keyword search.

The IRS strictly limits deductions for vehicles used for business driving under the so-called luxury car rules. But that’s not the most upsetting part to many taxpayers. It’s the notion that the “luxury car” limits apply to vehicles costing well under $20,000. This is hardly what the average person considers to be a luxury car.

The latest charitable giving trends report from Blackbaud shows that overall charitable giving to nonprofits increased 3.1% and online giving increased 8.0% for the three months ending July 2014 as compared to the same period in 2013.

What often sets business taxpayers apart from individuals is the potential for deducting expenses relating to business driving. For virtually everyone else, the cost associated with operating a car or other vehicle is a nondeductible personal expense. However, if you use your own vehicle for business trips, you’re usually entitled to deductions on your federal tax return.

Recent legislation in thirteen states to raise the minimum wage, various increases in some cities across the country, and news that an executive order may soon mandate an increase on federal contracts, means small business owners will face yet another challenge to build, sustain and grow their business in a difficult economic environment.