Receive a Faster Refund with Direct Deposit

Posted by Bruce Mc on Feb 8, 2011 in e file, Information | 0 comments

. . . it’s tax time!

This year, do you want your refund faster? Have it deposited directly into your bank account. More taxpayers are choosing direct deposit as the way to receive their federal tax refunds. More than 61 million people had their tax refunds deposited directly into their bank accounts last year. It’s the secure and convenient way to get money in your wallet faster.

• Security. The payment is secure – there is no check to get lost. Each year thousands of refund checks are returned by the US Post Office to the IRS as undeliverable mail. Direct deposit eliminates undeliverable mail and is also the best way to guard against having a tax refund stolen.
• Convenience. There’s no special trip to the bank to deposit a check!

You can also electronically direct your refund to multiple accounts. With the new “split refund” option, taxpayers can divide their refunds among as many as three checking or savings accounts and three different U.S. financial institutions. The split refund option, using Form 8888, is also available for paper returns.

Caution: Some financial institutions do not allow a joint refund to be deposited into an individual account. Check with your bank or other financial institution to make sure your direct deposit will be accepted. Also, make sure you have the correct nine-digit routing number and your account number when selecting direct deposit.

Don’t have a checking account? L & R Tax Preparation ( or your tax Professional) can Still give you the speed and Security of Direct Deposit.

To request direct deposit, ask us at L & R Tax Preparation for information..

Do I have to File a Tax Return?

Posted by Bruce Mc on Feb 17, 2010 in Form 1040 Information, Information, Tax Preparation | 0 comments

IRS Tax Tip 2010-17

Do I have to File a Tax Return? 

You must file a tax return if your income is above a certain level. The amount varies depending on filing status, age and the type of income you receive.

Check the Individuals section of IRS.gov or consult the instructions for Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ for specific details that may affect your need to file a tax return with the IRS this year.

Even if you don’t have to file, here are eight reasons why you may want to file:

1. Federal Income Tax Withheld If you are not required to file, you should file to get money back if Federal Income Tax was withheld from your pay, you made estimated tax payments, or had a prior year overpayment applied to this year’s tax.
2. Making Work Pay Credit You may be able to take this credit if you have earned income from work. The maximum credit for a married couple filing a joint return is $800 and $400 for other taxpayers.
3. Government Retiree Credit You may be eligible for this credit if you received a government pension or annuity payment in 2009. However, the amount of this credit reduces any making work pay credit you receive.
4. Earned Income Tax Credit You may qualify for EITC if you worked, but did not earn a lot of money. EITC is a refundable tax credit; which means you could qualify for a tax refund.
5. Additional Child Tax Credit This credit may be available to you if you have at least one qualifying child and you did not get the full amount of the Child Tax Credit.
6. Refundable American Opportunity Credit This education tax credit is available for 2009 and 2010. The maximum credit per student is $2,500 and the first four years of postsecondary education qualify.
7. First-Time Homebuyer Credit The credit is a maximum of $8,000 or $4,000 if your filing status is married filing separately. The credit applies to homes bought anytime in 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, you have until on or before June 30, 2010, if you entered into a written binding contract before May 1, 2010. If you bought a home after November 6, 2009, you may be able to qualify and claim the credit even if you already owned a home. In this case, the maximum credit for long-time residents is $6,500, or $3,250 if your filing status is married filing separately.
8. Health Coverage Tax Credit Certain individuals, who are receiving Trade Adjustment Assistance, Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance, or pension benefit payments from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, may be eligible for a Health Coverage Tax Credit worth 80 percent of monthly health insurance premiums when you file your 2009 tax return.

For more information about filing requirements and your eligibility to receive tax credits, visit IRS.gov.

Links:

• Forms and Publications
• Earned Income Tax Credit
• First-Time Homebuyer Credit Information Center
• Health Coverage Tax Credit
• 1040 Central

Failure to Pay. . .

Posted by Bruce Mc on Sep 5, 2008 in Form 1040 Information, Opinions, Taxes, Things forgotten | 0 comments

A Failure to Pay Child Support, Federal Non–Tax and State Income Tax Obligations could go to The Department of Treasury’s Financial Management Service (FMS), which issues IRS tax refunds first. They have been authorized by Congress to conduct the Treasury Offset Program. Through this program, your refund or overpayment could be reduced by FMS to pay any past–due child support, Federal agency non–tax debts, or state income tax obligations.

You can contact the agency with which you have a debt, to determine if your debt was submitted for a tax refund offset. The IRS won’t be able to tell you this until after FMS has taken your refund. If your debt was submitted for “offset”, FMS will take as much of your refund as is needed to pay off the debt and send it to the agency owed. Any portion of your refund remaining after offset will be issued in a check.

You will get a letter if an offset occurs. This notice will reveal the original refund amount, your offset amount, who they are paying, and their address and telephone number. FMS will notify the IRS of the amount taken from your refund. Contact the agency shown on the notice if you believe you do not owe the debt or you are disputing the amount taken from your refund. Contact the IRS only if your original refund amount shown on the FMS offset notice differs from the refund amount shown on your tax return.

If you filed a joint return and you’re not responsible for the debt, but you are entitled to a portion of the refund you may request your portion of the refund by filing Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation. Attach Form 8379 to your original Form 1040, Form 1040A, or Form 1040EZ or file it by itself after you are notified of an offset. If you file a Form 8379 with your return, write “INJURED SPOUSE” at the top left corner of the Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ. The IRS will process your allocation request before an offset occurs. If you file Form 8379 with your original return, it possibly will take 11 to 14 weeks from the date of filing to process your return.

Follow the instructions on Form 8379 carefully and be sure to attach the required forms to avoid delays. Do not attach the previously filed Form 1040 to the Form 8379. Send Form 8379 to the Service Center where you filed your original tax return. Allow at least 10 weeks for IRS to process your allocation request. They will compute the injured spouse’s share of the joint return for you. If you lived in a community property state during the tax year, they will divide the joint refund based upon state law.

For additional information, FMS can be reached at 1-800-304-3107.