There are many disruptions that can slow down your tax refund, creating a significant delay in the time that it takes to receive your money from the IRS. Filing your tax return as son as possible will get you toward the front of the line as refunds are processed in the order that returns are received. E-filing will reduce the time that it takes the IRS to receive and process your tax return, eliminating delays caused by the mail.
The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) allows a maximum $2,500 per child per year for those paying for an undergraduate tuition. This credit can only be used for qualifying expenses that are not being paid with a 529 distribution. The Lifetime Learning Credit offers a maximum credit of up to $2,000. The Lifetime Learning Credit is not restricted to undergraduate study and can be used in graduate programs as well.
A rental property can offer a steady income for the landlord. In addition to the monthly rent, these types of properties come with many tax deductions that can save you money. Mortgage interest, property taxes and any repairs are all tax deductible. There are plenty of less obvious deductions including milage associated with the rental, insurance, utilities and loss of income when the rental is vacant.
Filing before you have all your tax documentation is a common mistake. Without this necessary paperwork finalized, some of the numbers in your tax return may not be accurate. The 2021 Child Tax Credit statements were mailed at the beginning of the year to families that received this money. If the money on this statement and that reported on your tax return are not in sync, this will require a manual review by the IRS. Math errors in your tax return can be a red flag for an audit. It is important to make sure that your calculations and figures are correct prior to filing.
Contributing a portion of your income into a tax-deferred retirement savings account, like an IRA, can reduce your total income. This may be able to put you into a lower tax bracket, saving money while still putting aside money for retirement. A 401(k) works much the same way, allowing contributors to defer paying income taxes on contributions. This can make a big difference for those that are in a high tax bracket, since when the income is withdrawn you will likely be at a much lower tax bracket.
An HSA (Health Savings Account) allows you to invest pre-tax money into an account that can be used to pay for qualified health care related expenses. The tax-free contributions deposited into the HSA will reduce your overall taxable income. The money in the account can be rolled over from year to year while earning interest, depending on the type of account.
Employers and financial institutions have until January 31st to send your end of year tax documents. Knowing that this will be coming soon, it is a good idea to keep an eye out for these critical items. This includes a W2 from employers, 1099-INT and 1099-DIV from financial institutions documenting interest and dividends earned throughout the year, Form 1098 outlining any mortgage interest paid, and additional 1099 forms for other income earned.
Stock shares sold from a regular brokerage account will be subjected to capital gains tax. If the assets were owned for less than a year, this is short-term capital gains. For assets that you have had longer, you will need to pay long-term capital gains on the profit. Short-term capital gains are typically the same tax rate as your current tax bracket, while long-term capital gains can be anywhere from 0% to 20% depending on your taxable income and filing status.
If you cannot pay your tax bill when it is due, the outstanding amount owed will begin to accrue interest and penalties. If time goes on without any payment to the IRS, they may put liens on your property or garnish your wages. In extreme cases of tax evasion, violators may be subjected to jail time.
Living and working in different states can pose an interesting challenge when filing taxes. In most cases you will need to file multiple tax returns, a resident tax return for that state that you live in and a non-resident return for the state where you work. Filing two separate tax returns does not mean that you will have to pay two separate tax bills. On your resident state tax return you will report your tax liability from your non-resident tax return. All states allow filers to claim a tax credit based on taxes paid to other states.