Saturday, March 29, 2014

IRS Warns of New Email Phishing Scheme!!

Better Refund
03.29.2014







IRS Warns of New Email Phishing Scheme Falsely Claiming to be from the Taxpayer Advocate Service




WASHINGTON —The Internal Revenue Service today warned consumers to be on the lookout for a new email phishing scam. The emails appear to be from the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service and include a bogus case number.

‪The fake emails may include the following message: “Your reported 2013 income is flagged for review due to a document processing error. Your case has been forwarded to the Taxpayer Advocate Service for resolution assistance. To avoid delays processing your 2013 filing contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service for resolution assistance.”

‪Recipients are directed to click on links that supposedly provide information about the "advocate" assigned to their case or that let them "review reported income." The links lead to web pages that solicit personal information.

‪Taxpayers who get these messages should not respond to the email or click on the links. Instead, they should forward the scam emails to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. For more information, visit the IRS's Report Phishing web page.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service is a legitimate IRS organization that helps taxpayers resolve federal tax issues that have not been resolved through the normal IRS channels. The IRS, including TAS, does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, texting or any social media.


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Source information at IRS.gov

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Friday, March 28, 2014

Military Tax Tips!

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03.28.2014











Tax Video Tip on Military benefits for your income taxes! 











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Source information at IRS.gov



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Wednesday, March 26, 2014

March 31 is an Important Deadline!!

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03.26.2014





Time May be Running Out -- March 31 is an Important Deadline



For most people, the Affordable Care Act has no effect on the 2013 income tax return they are filing in 2014. However, some people may need to make important decisions by the March 31, 2014 deadline for open enrollment.

Below are five things about the health care law you may need to consider soon.
Currently Insured – No Change: If you already insured, you do not need to do anything more than continue your insurance.

Uninsured – Enroll by March 31: The open enrollment period to purchase health care coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace for 2014 runs through March 31, 2014. When you get health insurance through the marketplace, you may be able to get advance payments of the premium tax credit that will immediately help lower your monthly premium. Learn more at HealthCare.gov.

Premium Tax Credit To Lower Your Monthly Premium: If you get insurance through the Marketplace, you may be eligible to claim the premium tax credit. You can elect to have advance payments of the tax credit sent directly to your insurer during 2014 so that the monthly premium you pay is lower, or wait to claim the credit when you file your tax return in 2015. If you choose to have advance payments sent to your insurer, you will have to reconcile the payments on your 2014 tax return, which will be filed in 2015. If you’re already receiving advance payments of the credit, you need to do nothing at this time unless you have a change in circumstance like a change in income or family size. 

Change in Circumstances: If you're receiving advance payments of the premium tax credit to help pay for your insurance coverage, you should report life changes, such as income, marital status or family size changes, to the Marketplace. Reporting changes will help to make sure you have the right coverage and are getting the proper amount of advance payments of the premium tax credit.

Individual Shared Responsibility Payment: Starting January 2014, you and your family have been required to have health care coverage or have an exemption from coverage. Most people already have qualifying health care coverage. These individuals will not need to do anything more than maintain that coverage throughout 2014. If you can afford coverage but decide not to buy it and remain uninsured, you may have to make an individual shared responsibility payment when you file your 2014 tax return in 2015.

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Source information at IRS.gov

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Monday, March 24, 2014

Miscellaneous Income!!!

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03.24.2014











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Source video from IRS.gov



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Thursday, March 20, 2014

IRS ANNOUNCEMENT!

Better Refund
03.20.2014



IRS News!


IRS Has $760 Million for People Who Have Not Filed a 2010 Income Tax Return




WASHINGTON — Refunds totaling almost $760 million may be waiting for an estimated 918,600 taxpayers who did not file a federal income tax return for 2010, the Internal Revenue Service announced today. However, to collect the money, a return for 2010 must be filed with the IRS no later than Tuesday, April 15, 2014.

"The window is quickly closing for people who are owed refunds from 2010 who haven't filed a tax return," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. "We encourage students, part-time workers and others who haven't filed for 2010 to look into this before time runs out on April 15."

The IRS estimates that half the potential refunds for 2010 are more than $571.

Some people may not have filed because they had too little income to require filing a tax return even though they had taxes withheld from their wages or made quarterly estimated payments. In cases where a return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity for claiming a refund. If no return is filed to claim a refund within three years, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury.

For 2010 returns, the window closes on April 15, 2014. The law requires that the return be properly addressed, mailed and postmarked by that date. There is no penalty for filing a late return qualifying for a refund.

The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2010 refund that their checks may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2011 and 2012. In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the IRS or their state tax agency, and may be used to offset unpaid child support or past due federal debts such as student loans.

By failing to file a return, people stand to lose more than just their refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2010. In addition, many low-and-moderate income workers may not have claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). For 2010, the credit is worth as much as $5,666. The EITC helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain thresholds. The thresholds for 2010 were:
$43,352 ($48,362 if married filing jointly) for those with three or more qualifying children,
$40,363 ($45,373 if married filing jointly) for people with two qualifying children,
$35,535 ($40,545 if married filing jointly) for those with one qualifying child, and
$13,460 ($18,470 if married filing jointly) for people without qualifying children.

Current and prior year tax forms and instructions are available on the Forms and Publications page of IRS.gov or by calling toll-free 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for 2010, 2011 or 2012 should request copies from their employer, bank or other payer.

If these efforts are unsuccessful, taxpayers can get a free transcript showing information from these year-end documents by going to IRS.gov. Taxpayers can also file Form 4506-T to request a transcript of their tax return.

Individuals who did not file a 2010 return with a potential refund:
State or District
Estimated
Number of
Individuals
Median
Potential
Refund
Total
Potential
Refunds*

Alabama
15,700
$574
$12,473,000
Alaska
4,700
$649
$4,810,000
Arizona
23,800
$508
$17,517,000
Arkansas
8,400
$562
$6,667,000
California
86,500
$519
$69,752,000
Colorado
17,100
$567
$14,061,000
Connecticut
11,700
$620
$10,304,000
Delaware
3,800
$573
$3,126,000
District of Columbia
3,500
$604
$3,080,000
Florida
56,800
$593
$48,407,000
Georgia
28,400
$539
$22,504,000
Hawaii
6,200
$586
$5,413,000
Idaho
3,500
$490
$2,604,000
Illinois
37,900
$626
$32,696,000
Indiana
19,600
$570
$15,478,000
Iowa
9,200
$576
$7,050,000
Kansas
9,300
$522
$6,986,000
Kentucky
11,500
$576
$8,975,000
Louisiana
17,500
$603
$15,579,000
Maine
3,500
$502
$2,373,000
Maryland
20,700
$575
$18,002,000
Massachusetts
21,000
$560
$17,856,000
Michigan
29,200
$597
$24,259,000
Minnesota
12,700
$516
$9,582,000
Mississippi
8,500
$556
$6,769,000
Missouri
17,900
$514
$13,153,000
Montana
2,900
$534
$2,338,000
Nebraska
4,500
$528
$3,368,000
Nevada
11,400
$570
$9,156,000
New Hampshire
3,800
$602
$3,245,000
New Jersey
29,500
$639
$26,712,000
New Mexico
7,200
$572
$5,915,000
New York
57,400
$623
$50,543,000
North Carolina
24,300
$494
$17,538,000
North Dakota
1,900
$600
$1,551,000
Ohio
32,100
$560
$24,508,000
Oklahoma
15,100
$585
$12,246,000
Oregon
14,300
$519
$10,359,000
Pennsylvania
37,400
$614
$31,009,000
Rhode Island
3,000
$598
$2,472,000
South Carolina
10,200
$532
$7,756,000
South Dakota
2,100
$558
$1,605,000
Tennessee
16,300
$559
$12,839,000
Texas
80,600
$588
$71,998,000
Utah
6,100
$518
$4,705,000
Vermont
1,600
$519
$1,136,000
Virginia
26,300
$568
$22,376,000
Washington
24,800
$640
$23,033,000
West Virginia
4,100
$626
$3,534,000
Wisconsin
10,900
$516
$8,423,000
Wyoming
2,200
$648
$2,045,000
Totals
918,600
$571
$759,889,000


* Excluding the Earned Income Tax Credit and other credits.


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Source information from IRS.gov

For more on the latest in income tax updates, follow us on Facebook/Twitter/Blogger or visit our website at BetterRefundIncomeTax.com

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