Tax Tips

A phishing scam occurs when someone pretends to be a trusted source, such as a bank, tax preparer, or credit card company, to access your personal information.

If you believe you may be part of a phishing scam, here are some recommendations from the IRS:

• Never open an email from a sender that you don’t recognize.
• Never disclose personal information to anyone online, including your passwords, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, or Social Security number. The IRS will never ask for this information via email.
• When possible, use two-factor authentication to protect your accounts. Two-factor authentication requires a secondary form of identification (such as a phone number) to access your account.

This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS⁹

Footnotes and Sources

9. ^{IRS.gov, July 29, 2024}

There are a few tax considerations to consider when you work for yourself. Generally, you’re required to file and pay estimated taxes during the year.

• Make quarterly payments if you’ve determined you need to use Form 11040-ES.
• Filing annually: If you’re filing annually, you must use Schedule C to report income or loss. To file your Social Security and Medicare taxes, you should file Schedule SE Form 1040.
• Deductions: If you’re using part of your home for business, you may be able to make certain deductions, such as for your office or a portion of your home’s square footage used for business purposes.

This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS¹⁰

Footnotes and Sources

10. ^{IRS.gov, September 30, 2024}

When you file your tax return, the first step is to prepare your records. Good recordkeeping throughout the year can make filing your taxes easier.

Here are some recordkeeping tips:

• Identify all sources of income.
• Keep track of expenses.
• Add tax records to your files as you receive them to make filing easier.
• Organize support items that you may need to clarify your tax return.

This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS⁸

Footnotes and Sources

8. ^{IRS.gov, October 2, 2024}

 

Whether you picked up embroidering, dog grooming, or making jewelry, a side hobby may or may not require paying taxes.

Does your kids’ lemonade stand need to pay taxes? Probably not but if you’re doing something like selling cookies out of your kitchen, you might need to check out the rules.

Here are some things to consider when determining whether your activity is a hobby or business:

• Is your hobby carried out in a businesslike manner?
• Do you maintain complete and accurate books and records for your hobby?
• Is the effort you put into your hobby intended to make a profit?
• Do you depend on the income from your hobby for your livelihood?
• Do you know how to carry out your hobby as a successful business?
• Have you made a profit from your hobby?

If you receive income from your hobby with no intention of making a profit, you may have to report the income to the IRS.

This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS⁷

Footnotes And Sources

7. ^{IRS.gov, March 18, 2024}

The Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) is a tax credit for qualified tuition and related expenses. It can help pay for undergraduate or graduate studies and courses to acquire or improve job skills. The credit is worth up to $2,000 per tax return.

Another thing about this tax credit is that it’s available for unlimited tax years, unlike the American opportunity tax credit which is only for the first four years at an eligible institution.

To claim the LLC, you must pay qualified education expenses for higher education and enroll at an eligible educational institution. Check out the IRS guidelines for more details and to see whether you may qualify.

This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS⁹

Footnotes and Sources

9. ^{IRS.gov, January 10, 2024}

The IRS makes it easy to create an online account where you can view all kinds of account information, such as:

• Your payoff amount
• The balance if you owe taxes
• Your payment history
• Key information from your most current tax return
• Payment plan details if you have one
• Select IRS notices
• Economic payments (if you have any)
• Your address on file with the IRS

You can even pay online and receive a digital copy of your most recent tax return transcript.

This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS⁹

Footnotes and Sources

9. ^{IRS.gov, August 1, 2024}

There are so many scams out there. One of the most heartless is taking advantage of people who want to give money to a legitimate charity, especially after a tragedy or disaster. Scammers can set up fake organizations to take advantage of people’s generosity.

These scams are usually over the phone, and while the organization may sound legitimate, the person on the other end might demand a donation immediately. Remember, a charity will happily receive a donation anytime, so you shouldn’t feel pressured.

You can research charity organizations using the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool—this will help you narrow down a list of legitimate charities. You may even be able to claim a deduction on your tax return.

This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS¹⁰

Footnotes and Sources

10. ^{IRS.gov, April 4, 2024}

When calling the IRS, you can expect them to verify your identity before delving into personal information. Here’s what you’ll need to verify your identity:

• Social Security number
• Birthdate
• An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number if you have one instead of your SSN
• Your filing status
• Your prior tax return. You may need information from your prior year’s return to answer certain questions.
• A copy of the tax return you’re calling about
• Any letters or notices you’ve received from the IRS

Important note: the IRS will only ask for this in documents or online. Never offer this info to someone who calls you and says they are from the IRS.

Having all this information handy before you call the IRS will make the process faster because IRS phone operators will only speak with the taxpayer or a legally designated representative.

This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS⁸

Footnotes and Sources

8. ^{IRS.gov, October 23, 2023}

As a taxpayer, you can challenge the IRS’ position; this is part of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which outlines your fundamental rights when working with the IRS.

With this right, you can:

• Raise objections to an IRS decision
• Provide additional documentation in response to proposed or formal IRS actions
• Expect the IRS to deliver a timely objection
• Have the IRS consider any supporting documentation promptly and fairly
• Receive a response from the IRS if they disagree with your position

In some circumstances, you may have a hearing before an independent Office of Appeals.

This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS⁸

Footnotes and Sources

8. ^{IRS.gov, July 5, 2024}

The IRS sends letters and notices for many different reasons. Some letters need a response or action item, while some are to keep you informed.

Here’s what to do if you receive mail from the IRS:

• Don’t throw it away
• Don’t panic
• Don’t reply unless directed to do so
• If a response is needed, respond promptly
• Review the information to make sure it’s correct
• Respond to a disputed notice
• If you need to call the IRS, use the phone number printed on the notice
• Avoid scams through email, social media, or text messages

This information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. Please discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS⁷

Footnotes and Sources

7. ^{IRS.gov, May 6, 2024}