Blog Archives - Page 11 of 14 - Merrimack Tax Associates

How to Prepare for an IRS Audit

Written by Paul Belfiore on August 14, 2020. Posted in Blog, Taxes.

Hudson, NH Resident Seeks Advice

While the number of individuals audited is small in comparison to returns, it does not necessarily imply a suspicion of criminal activity. Tax returns that have any unusual deduction, conflicting calculations or are missing paperwork may be flagged for an audit. After you receive a letter from the IRS indicating that you are being audited you will have thirty days to respond. In the letter, the IRS will indicate the paperwork that is needed and these 30 days should be used gathering this information and supplying it to the IRS.

How Will My Inheritance Be Taxed?

Written by Paul Belfiore on July 24, 2020. Posted in Blog, Taxes.

Amherst, NH Resident Seeks Advice

An inheritance can be taxed through an inheritance tax and an estate tax. The estate tax will come directly out of the estate before it is divided and distributed, leaving recipients only responsible for the inheritance tax. There is no federal inheritance tax and only some states, New Hampshire not being one of them, collect an inheritance tax. In most cases, taxes will already be taken out of the estate before it is given to the benefactors.

Who Needs to Pay Estimated Taxes?

Written by Paul Belfiore on July 10, 2020. Posted in Blog.

Bedford, NH Resident Has Questions

Anyone who owns a business or works as a freelancer, earning non-wage income, is required to make estimated tax payments. This self-employed income has no automatic tax withholdings. Salaried employees who have completed a W2, have taxes withheld directly from their paycheck. However, if you are not a W2 employee these deductions will not be made and you will instead need to pay estimated taxes.

Are Health Insurance Premiums Tax-Deductible?

Written by Paul Belfiore on June 26, 2020. Posted in Blog, Taxes.

Self-Employed Milford, NH Resident Has Questions

Self-employed individuals are able to deduct all premiums paid for health insurance. This deduction is not available if the individual is eligible to participate in an employer’s health care plan but chooses to decline. If you qualify for coverage under a spouse’s healthcare plan but decline this also, the tax deduction is ineligible. Keep in mind that self-employed individuals are not able to deduct more than their generated income in a single calendar year.

How Will Working from Home Affect My Taxes?

Written by Paul Belfiore on June 12, 2020. Posted in Blog, Taxes.

Can a Home Office Be Considered a Business Expense

Windham, NH Resident Seeks Advice

Employees working from home are no longer able to deduct business expenses, as this deduction was eliminated in 2018. Only self-employed individuals can qualify for home office deductions. Self-employed workers can claim either $5 per square foot of home office space up to 300 square feet, or a percentage of the home and costs to maintain it as a deduction.

What are the Best Ways to Protect Your Inheritance from Taxes?

Written by Paul Belfiore on May 29, 2020. Posted in Blog, Taxes.

Nashua, NH Resident Needs Help

If the property and other inheritance is below a certain dollar threshold, this will not be taxed. The estate tax can be up to 40% of the value of the inheritance, depending on how much the inheritance totals. In the United States this threshold is just over $11.5 million. One way to avoid having your loved ones pay exorbitant taxes on their inheritance is by giving away your assets prior to your death. $15,000 can be gifted each year to an individual without paying tax.

What Are the CARES Tax Breaks for Businesses?

Written by Paul Belfiore on May 15, 2020. Posted in Blog, Taxes.

Amherst, NH Business Owner Seeks Advice

There are several tax breaks for businesses under the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act. Charitable contributions are adjusted from a maximum 10% of the company’s taxable income, to 25% of cash donations. Payment on the employer share of Social Security tax on payroll can be deferred until the end of the year and a tax credit is available of up to $5,000 per employee. The cap on a business loss has also been suspended.

How Will I Be Taxed in Retirement?

Written by Paul Belfiore on May 1, 2020. Posted in Blog, Taxes.

A traditional IRA and a 401(k) are tax-deferred retirement accounts. The money is left in these types of accounts to grow and collect dividends. However, when you start taking withdrawals you will pay taxes. Roth IRAs differ in that contributions are not tax-deductible, but when you begin taking withdrawals this will be tax-free. A portion of your social security benefits may be taxed if your provisional income exceeds $25,000.

How Will the COVID-19 Pandemic Affect My Taxes?

Written by Paul Belfiore on April 17, 2020. Posted in Blog, Taxes.

Bedford, NH Resident Seeks Clarification

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed back the tax filing deadline to July 15^th. This will offer individuals and businesses more time to make payments, without risk of interest or penalties. This delay is applicable to individuals owing $1 million or less and corporations owing less than $10 million.

How are Lottery Winnings Taxed?

Written by Paul Belfiore on April 3, 2020. Posted in Blog, Taxes.

Lucky Nashua, NH Resident Seeks Advice

Lottery, and other winnings throughout the year, that are $600 or more are taxed by the IRS. If the money is received as a lump sum, you will pay the full tax amount. If it is drawn out over several years, you will be taxed by what you receive for each calendar year. The federal tax on winnings is 24% when and the local government will also take their own portion for taxes. You can expect to pay between 30-35% of taxes on your winnings.