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Tax Filing Tips

Taxes on gambling winnings

Asked Friday, February 02, 2024 by Michael B.

How you heard about me?

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Tax Filing Tips

Filing cash income

Asked Tuesday, June 22, 2021 by Avery C.

Without knowing anything about the type of work involved, it’s a little more difficult to give an answer.

First, presumably, you’re working and being paid as an individual and not working through a company. Second, I assume you’re not going to receive a Form W-2 at year-end from the individual who is paying you. If both of those assumptions are correct, then, you would be considered self-employed. I am not getting into the issue of whether you should be properly classified as an employee or as an independent contractor, as that issue has its own intricacies. By nature of the fact that the person paying you says he/she will not claim any write-off on his/her taxes, it sounds like you’re not being treated as an employee (as treating you as an employee would involve its own paperwork). In that case, you would report any money you received (and any corresponding expenses you pay in order to generate that income) on Schedule C on your individual income tax return, subject to income tax. Also, you should expect any money you receive to be subject to self-employment tax, unless your net earnings from self-employment for the year were less than $400. You do not have to say who paid you. I wish you the best in your endeavors!

Answer Provided by: Adam Dickreiter Adam Dickreiter

Five Last Minute Refund Tips

Don't Overlook the value of the IRA deduction

Asked Tuesday, April 10, 2012 by an anonymous user
An IRA deduction can save you from $650 to $2,574 depending on your filing status and tax bracket on your federal tax return.
If you are under 50 you can put up to $5,500, Over 50 you can put up to $6,500.
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Five Last Minute Refund Tips

If you are self-employed, take advantage of an SEP plan

Asked Tuesday, April 10, 2012 by an anonymous user
Employers can contribute up to a quarter of the salaries that each employee earns (25%)up to an annual maximum limit. For 2017, that maximum will be $54,000, up $1,000 from its 2016 level. That's the first rise in the SEP IRA limit since 2015,
For self-employed. the 25% refers to the self-employed worker's "net earnings" from the business. The net result of the math is that the 25% limitation on "net earnings" works out to 20% of your adjusted profit after the self-employment tax adjustment in a Simplified Employee's Pension Plan. Self- employed individuals can even take the deduction on their 2016 tax return and fund the pension plan as late as six months from April 18, 2016 if they file for an extension to file their return.
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Five Last Minute Refund Tips

Take the American Opportunity Credit if you have children in undergraduate college.

Asked Tuesday, April 10, 2012 by an anonymous user
The American Opportunity Credit can save taxpayers as much as $2,500 per student with $1,000 of the credit being a refundable credit above and beyond the money paid.
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Five Last Minute Refund Tips

If you itemize, don't forget the non-cash contribution deductions.

Asked Tuesday, April 10, 2012 by an anonymous user
Be sure to itemize any donations of clothing and household items that you made to charities throughout the year, as non- cash donations over $500 require you to file form 8283 with your return. Non-cash donations up to $500 do not need special documentation with the filing of your return.
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Tip Income Reporting

Tip Reporting - to your Employer

Asked Thursday, March 01, 2012 by an anonymous user
If your total tips for any 1 month from any one job are less than $20, do not report the tips for that month to that employer.
Report to your employer only cash, check, and debit and credit card tips you receive.
If you participate in a tip-splitting or tip-pooling arrangement, report only the tips you receive and retain. Do not report to your employer any portion of the tips you receive that you pass on to other employees. You must report tips you receive from other employees.
If your employer does not give you any other way to report your tips, you can use Form 4070, Employee's Report of Tips to Employer. Fill in the information asked for on the form, sign and date the form, and give it to your employer.
If you do not use Form 4070, give your employer a statement with Your name, address, and social security number.
Your employer's name, address, and business name (if it is different from your employer's name).
The month (or the dates of any shorter period) in which you received tips.
The total tips required to be reported for that period.
You must sign and date the statement. Be sure to keep a copy with your tax or other personal records.
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Tip Income Reporting

Tip Income - Employee Penalty for not reporting

Asked Thursday, March 01, 2012 by an anonymous user
If you do not report tips to your employer as required, you may be subject to a penalty equal to 50% of the social security and Medicare taxes or railroad retirement tax you owe on the unreported tips.
The penalty amount is in addition to the taxes you owe.
You can avoid this penalty if you can show reasonable cause for not reporting the tips to your employer.
To do so, attach a statement to your return explaining why you did not report them.
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Tip Income Reporting

Tips of less than $20 a month

Asked Thursday, March 01, 2012 by an anonymous user
If you're total tips for any 1 month from any one job are less than $20, do not report the tips for that month to that employer.
Tips of less than $20 are not reportable to the employer and not subject to FICA tax But are subject to income tax.
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