Tax Tips

Tax credits help with the cost of higher education by managing the income tax you may need to pay. The two tax credits available are the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit.

Some education savings plans offer tax benefits if the individual qualifies. Also, you may be able to deduct higher education costs – such as tuition, student loan interest, and qualified education expenses – from your tax return.

Knowing your potential tax benefits may save you money if you’ve always dreamed about returning to school, whether to further your career or just learn something new.

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, July 3, 2024}

Did you know that the IRS can revoke your passport if you owe the Internal Revenue Service $62,000 or more? That’s right; the IRS can revoke the passports of any taxpayer owing $62,000 or more, including penalties and interest.

Notably, if you’re currently paying off the debt or are contesting a tax bill in court, you should not be affected. However, anyone under an IRS tax lien could find their ability to travel hampered.

Contact a qualified attorney or tax specialist with questions about tax debts or other complex tax issues.

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, June 12, 2024}

No matter where you live, you should be aware of possible natural disasters in your area and plan accordingly by considering the following tax tips:

• Update your emergency plan.
• Create electronic copies of all important documents.
• Document your valuables. Documenting ahead of time makes it easier to claim insurance and tax benefits if a disaster strikes.
• You can call the IRS at 866-562-5227 with any natural disaster-related questions. The agency can provide copies of previous tax returns, order transcripts showing most line items, and more.
• Net personal, casualty, and theft losses may be deductible if attributable to a federally declared disaster.

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, July 24, 2024}

If you’re selling your car for less than what you paid, you likely won’t need to pay any sales tax because the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers selling a used car for less than what you paid a capital loss. However, if you’re selling your car for more than what you paid (like if it’s a classic car you’ve restored and it’s increased in value), you may need to pay sales tax.

If you’re buying a car from a private seller, you may need to pay sales tax, but this sales tax doesn’t go to the seller – it goes to the Department of Motor Vehicles and is part of your car’s registration.

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

Tip adapted from CarGurus⁹

Footnotes and Sources

9.  ^{cargurus.com, May 8. 2024}

Taxpayers who earn money from their hobbies might have to report the income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Here are some tips to help:

1. The IRS taxes income differently depending on whether it comes from a true hobby or a for-profit business.
2. Your hobby may entail expenses required to do it well. For example, you may need to buy yarn to knit scarves. You might be able to deduct expenses associated with your hobby or business.
3. In some instances, you can deduct approvable expenses only up to the amount you brought in for income.

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

Tip adapted from IRS.gov¹⁰

Footnotes and Sources

10. ^{IRS.gov, May 8. 2024}

The Withholding Calculator can help you determine whether you should submit a new W-4 to your employer, and you also can use the results to adjust your income tax withholding. If you have a more complex tax situation, you may need to use Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax form. This form can help you determine your self-employment tax, alternative minimum tax, or tax on unearned income by dependents. Publication 505 also can help if you receive non-wage income, including capital gains, royalties, dividends, and more.

Checking your withholding is essential to deducting the right amount of taxes; these handy tools can help.

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

Tip adapted from IRS.gov⁸

Footnotes and Sources

8. ^{IRS.gov, May 8. 2024}

Here are a few things that may help you against identity thieves:

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) never will contact you via email or phone to request personal information. If you receive a scam email or call that claims to be from the IRS, report it to phishing@irs.gov.

People can steal your identity by stealing your wallet or purse, receiving the information they need over the phone or email, finding your personal information in the trash, or accessing information you provide to an unsecured website (only enter credit card information on websites that start with “https://”).

If you receive a letter from the IRS indicating that more than one tax return was filed in your name, your identity may have been stolen.

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

Tip adapted from IRS.gov⁸

Footnotes and Sources

8. ^{IRS.gov, May 8. 2024}

Individuals, companies, corporations, partnerships, associations, trusts, and estates must report cash transactions of more than $10,000. These cash payments can include jewelry sales, a gift from a family member, an overseas purchase, or any other cash transaction. You also need to report cash payments received in one lump sum, in two or more related payments within 24 hours, or as part of a single transaction or two or more transactions in the previous year.

All you need to do is file Form 8300, Report of Cash Payments Over $10,000 Received in a Trade or Business. The form requires information about the giver and receiver of the cash, a description of the transaction, and information about any other parties involved.

*This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific, individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS.gov⁶

Footnotes and Sources

6. ^{IRS.gov, May 8. 2024}

There are some essential tips to remember if you work as a gig worker, someone who takes temporary work through one or more employers:

• All income from these sources is taxable, regardless of whether you receive information returns; this includes both full-time and part-time work and if you’re paid in cash.
• As a gig worker, you must be correctly classified as an employee or an independent contractor; this can depend on where you live, even for the same services.

Lastly, it’s important to remember to pay the correct amount of taxes on this income throughout the years to avoid owing when you file. Because gig employees don’t have an employer withholding taxes from their paychecks, they can either submit a new W-4 and have their employer withhold more from their paycheck (if they have another job as an employee) or make quarterly estimated tax payments throughout the year.

*This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific, individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS.gov⁹

Footnotes and Sources

9. ^{IRS.gov, May 8. 2024}

Let’s outline who the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) defines as a qualifying person under this care credit:

• A taxpayer’s dependent who is under the age of 13 when the care is provided.
• A taxpayer’s spouse who is physically or mentally unable to care for themselves and lived with the taxpayer for more than half the year.

In addition to spouses and dependents, the credit may also cover someone who is mentally or physically unable to care for themselves and lived with the taxpayer for six months; this is the case if that person was the taxpayer’s dependent or if they would have been the taxpayer’s dependent except for one of the following:

• The qualifying person received a gross income of $4,700 or more.
• The qualifying person filed a joint return.

If filing jointly, the taxpayer or spouse could be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return.

*This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific, individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS.gov⁹

Footnotes and Sources

9. ^{IRS.gov, May 8. 2024}