Starting in January 2021, the IRS Identity Protection PIN Opt-In Program expanded to include all taxpayers who can properly verify their identity. Previously, IP PINs were only available to identity theft victims.
Reminder: Deferred Payroll Taxes Due in December
If you’re a household employer or self-employed and chose to defer paying some Social Security taxes under the CARES Act the deferred Social Security taxes are due by December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2022. If you also deferred the employee share of Social Security taxes the balance is included in the installment amount due by December 31, 2021.
Highlights of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
While the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act primarily addresses infrastructure-related issues, it includes several tax provisions affecting individuals and small business taxpayers. Let’s take a look:
IRS Charges Fee for Estate Closing Letters
Starting October 28, a new $67 user fee will apply to any estate that requests an estate tax closing letter for its federal estate tax return. This closing letter is formally referred to as IRS Letter 627.
Shared Custody and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments
Parents who share custody of their children may be confused about how the advance child tax credit payments are distributed. As such, the first step is to remember that these are advance payments of a tax credit that taxpayers expect to claim on their 2021 tax return. Understanding how the payments work will allow parents to unenroll, if they choose, and possibly avoid a possible tax bill when they file next year.
Deferred Tax on Gains From Forced Sales of Livestock
Farmers and ranchers forced to sell livestock due to drought may have an additional year to replace the livestock and defer tax on any gains from the forced sales. Here are some important facts to help farmers understand how the deferral works and their eligibility.
Tax Benefits of Health Savings Accounts
While similar to FSAs (Flexible Savings Plans) in that both allow pretax contributions, Health Savings Accounts or HSAs offer taxpayers several additional tax benefits. Let’s take a look:
Per Diem Rates Updated for FY 2021-22
Per diem rates have been updated for FY 2021-22 and are effective October 1, 2021. These allowances substantiate the amount of ordinary and necessary business expenses paid or incurred while traveling away from home and include lodging, meal, and incidental expenses, as well as meal and incidental expenses only.
IRAs: Terms to Know
IRAs, or Individual Retirement Arrangements, provide tax incentives for people to make investments that can provide financial security for their retirement. To help people better understand this type of retirement savings account, here’s a basic overview of terms to know:
E-Signatures Extended for Many Tax Forms
To help reduce the burden to taxpayers brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, the use of electronic or digital signatures on certain paper forms they normally cannot file electronically have been extended through December 31, 2021. Let’s take a look at what this means for taxpayers: