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Construction Industry Tax Problems

July 14, 2009 | Mike Habib, EA

Construction Industry Tax Issues

Accumulated Earnings Tax

Closely held C corporations are more likely to accumulate earnings and profits beyond the reasonable needs of the business in order to avoid income taxes on its shareholders than are large C corporations. Each accumulated earnings case is unique. No pro forma guide for calculating a taxpayer’s reasonable needs can be prepared. Reasonable needs that would usually be considered in any accumulated earnings case are the need for sufficient net liquid assets to pay reasonably anticipated, normal operating costs through one business cycle and sufficient net liquid assets to pay reasonably anticipated, extraordinary expenses and capital improvement financing.

In addition, the following represents a non-exclusive list of specific items that should be considered for construction contractors:

Avoid Tax Fraud

June 27, 2009 | Mike Habib, EA

Abusive Tax Evasion Schemes

Resolve your tax problem and get tax relief today!

Examples of Abusive Tax Scheme Investigations – Fiscal Year 2009

Special Tax Break

June 11, 2009 | Mike Habib, EA

Special Tax Break on New Car Purchases Available in States With No Sales Tax

The Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department today announced that a tax break for the purchase of new motor vehicles is available in states that do not have a state sales tax. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, taxpayers who buy a new motor vehicle this year are entitled to deduct state or local sales or excise taxes paid on the purchase.

The IRS and Treasury have determined that purchases made in states without a sales tax — such as Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon — can also qualify for the deduction.

Getting to Grips with Wage Garnishment

June 8, 2009 | Mike Habib, EA

Getting to Grips with Wage Garnishment

Have you ever heard of a wage garnishment? If you haven’t, and you are responsible for paying the IRS what you owe them, then you should read on! If you’re in a position where you owe the IRS money already, then you shouldn’t just read on, but take note because wage garnishment is something that could very easily be in your future!

Every taxpayer knows that Uncle Sam needs his pound of flesh (or at least roll of dollars), regardless how many mouths you have to feed, and how high your mortgage payments are now that the financial world is in crisis, or how your income has changed. Uncle Sam doesn’t care if you’ve lost your job, or had to take unpaid leave because of health reasons. If you owe Uncle Sam money, he wants it; and in the form of wage garnishments, he’s going to make sure that he gets it.

There are strict procedural guidelines that the IRS must adhere to before they can attach a wage garnishment to your salary, and the first of these is to warn you that it’s about to happen. If you haven’t defaulted on your tax payments, then you need to immediately contact them because they need you in default in order to proceed! If you’re not in default, then they can’t put a wage garnishment onto your salary. You should get about 30 days warning of the wage garnishment going into effect so check the date that it is due to begin and use your time wisely.

IRS seeks more regulation

June 5, 2009 | Mike Habib, EA

IRS to seek more regulation of tax preparers

The IRS reported that it is working on new rules that will require paid tax preparers to be licensed. This will improve tax compliance and reduce tax preparer fraud; IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman announced that on June 4, 2009.

A whopping eighty percent of taxpayers get help with their returns, either from paid tax preparers or tax software programs, Shulman told a congressional subcommittee. Surprisingly, tax preparers currently don’t have to be licensed, unless they represent clients in proceedings before the Internal Revenue Service.

Florida Tax Relief

May 24, 2009 | Mike Habib, EA

IRS Disaster Tax Relief

Added Leon, Levy and Wakulla counties, 5/12/09

Added Dixie and Gilchrist counties, 5/4/09

IRS has a check for you

March 3, 2009 | Mike Habib, EA

IRS has a check for you

Mike Habib, EA Tax Relief & Tax Problem Resolution

IR-2009-16, March 3, 2009

Enhanced first-time homebuyer credit

February 25, 2009 | Mike Habib, EA

Enhanced first-time homebuyer credit in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Mike Habib, EA Tax Relief & Tax Problem Resolution In hopes of spurring the housing industry, the recently enacted “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” (the 2009 economic stimulus act) includes an enhanced tax credit for first-time homebuyers. Here are the details.

You may remember that last year’s Housing Act included a tax credit giving first-time homebuyers up to a $7,500 (actually, 10% of the purchase price or $7,500, whichever is less) credit for buying a home between April 8, 2008, and July 1, 2009, with single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualifying for the full tax credit. However, despite high hopes that the credit would be effective in getting people to buy homes and thereby reduce the excessive inventory on the market, the credit is widely acknowledged to have failed in its objective. The problem, according to realtors and industry officials, was that buyers were turned off by the odd way the credit worked. While the credit functioned initially like other tax credits, reducing a person’s tax liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis, it was unusual in that, unlike other federal tax credits (for example, the child credit), the credit for first-time homebuyers had to be paid back to the government ratably over a period of 15 years (or earlier if the house is sold).

Tax changes affecting individuals and families

February 25, 2009 | Mike Habib, EA

Tax changes affecting individuals and families in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Mike Habib, EA Tax Relief & Tax Problem Resolution

The recently enacted “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” (the 2009 economic stimulus act) contains a wide-ranging tax package that includes tax relief for low and moderate-income wage earners, individuals and families with college expenses, and home and car purchasers. I’m writing to give you an overview of the more widely applicable tax changes affecting individuals and families in the new law. Please call our offices for details of how the new changes may affect you and your family.

Independent contractor tax relief

February 24, 2009 | Mike Habib, EA

Seventh Circuit classifies computer programmer as an independent contractor

Suskovich v. Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc., (CA 7 1/22/2009) 103 AFTR 2d ¶2009-385

The Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, affirming a district court, has concluded that a computer programmer was an independent contractor and not an employee.