CHECKLISTS: Use the links above to navigate to checklists that will help you figure out what information you need to bring your preparer in order to get your taxes done. These are a good tool to help you jog your brain. However, they are very generic and may not include everything that pertains to you. If you think something might be deductible that we haven't listed, or have a question about something that's not on the list, right it down or bring it in anyway. It never hurts to ask!
USEFUL WEBSITES
IRS WEBSITESGet the status of your tax refund! Get Refund Status
Figure out what to claim on your W4! Withholding Calculator Get IRS forms and publications! Forms & Publications STATE WEBSITESDepartment of Revenue WSDOR Labor & Industries WSLNI Employment Security WSDES Report your New Hires online! Report New Hires STARTING OR CHANGING YOUR BUSINESSRegister to become a corporation or LLC.Corporations & LLC Registrations License your business. WSDOL
Apply for an employer identification number online.EIN Online OTHER SITES YOU MAY NEEDSales Tax Rates Sales Tax Rates Figure out loan payments. Amortization Calculator Look up or pay your property taxes online.Pierce Co. Assessor Kitsap Co. Assessor
We have links to other assessor web sites as well. Email us with your county and we'll send you the link if we have it or can obtain it.Find a zip code or look up postage rates. USPS
NEWS AND TIPS
TAX SHACK SMALL BUSINESS CLIENTS Extensions for partnerships AND corporations are due September 15th!!!!! IRS NEWS THAT MAY AFFECT YOU Beginning in 2011 the IRS has mandated that any tax professional preparing more than 100 returns will have to efile those returns. Therefore in 2011 I will have to efile ALL of my clients. Beginning in 2011, tax professionals will be required to be registered with the IRS and will be subject to new licensing, registration, and continuing education requirements. TIPS FOR THE TAXPAYER Getting audited? Many people are falling victim to the lottery audit (random IRS audits). Many are also falling victim to audits because of these reasons: *First Time Homebuyer Credit *Sales Tax Deduction *Schedule C - Self-employment *Schedule F - Farming *Charitable Donations *Mileage and vehicle expenses *And more! The best advice I can give you is to be as organized as possible! This goes for state audits as well. The more documentation you can provide to back up your claim, the better off you will be. And don't just give the auditor a box full of receipts. 1. Make a spreadsheet2. Group your information so that it is easy to match up the receipt, invoice, or paystub with a bank statement and/or a cancelled check.3. If you find a mistake, be the first one to point it out! Maybe it costs you a little money, but it shows the auditor good faith when you find the error and say Oops! rather than trying to hide it.4. Make sure you keep accurate mileage logs and travel calendars. If you don't, make sure you can recreate one fairly easily by using your receipts.5. If you are being audited on mileage, make sure you have your vehicle service records! If you are prepared, the auditor will be much happier to work with you and will be more likely to overlook small things. They will also be less likely to open up any other years for audit!
TAX SHACK SMALL BUSINESS CLIENTS Extensions for partnerships AND corporations are due September 15th!!!!! IRS NEWS THAT MAY AFFECT YOU Beginning in 2011 the IRS has mandated that any tax professional preparing more than 100 returns will have to efile those returns. Therefore in 2011 I will have to efile ALL of my clients. Beginning in 2011, tax professionals will be required to be registered with the IRS and will be subject to new licensing, registration, and continuing education requirements. TIPS FOR THE TAXPAYER
TAX SHACK SMALL BUSINESS CLIENTS
Extensions for partnerships AND corporations are due September 15th!!!!! IRS NEWS THAT MAY AFFECT YOU Beginning in 2011 the IRS has mandated that any tax professional preparing more than 100 returns will have to efile those returns. Therefore in 2011 I will have to efile ALL of my clients. Beginning in 2011, tax professionals will be required to be registered with the IRS and will be subject to new licensing, registration, and continuing education requirements. TIPS FOR THE TAXPAYER
Extensions for partnerships AND corporations are due September 15th!!!!!
IRS NEWS THAT MAY AFFECT YOU Beginning in 2011 the IRS has mandated that any tax professional preparing more than 100 returns will have to efile those returns. Therefore in 2011 I will have to efile ALL of my clients. Beginning in 2011, tax professionals will be required to be registered with the IRS and will be subject to new licensing, registration, and continuing education requirements. TIPS FOR THE TAXPAYER
Beginning in 2011 the IRS has mandated that any tax professional preparing more than 100 returns will have to efile those returns. Therefore in 2011 I will have to efile ALL of my clients.
Beginning in 2011, tax professionals will be required to be registered with the IRS and will be subject to new licensing, registration, and continuing education requirements.
TIPS FOR THE TAXPAYER
Getting audited?
Many people are falling victim to the lottery audit (random IRS audits). Many are also falling victim to audits because of these reasons:
*First Time Homebuyer Credit
*Sales Tax Deduction
*Schedule C - Self-employment
*Schedule F - Farming
*Charitable Donations
*Mileage and vehicle expenses
*And more!
The best advice I can give you is to be as organized as possible! This goes for state audits as well. The more documentation you can provide to back up your claim, the better off you will be. And don't just give the auditor a box full of receipts.
1. Make a spreadsheet
2. Group your information so that it is easy to match up the receipt, invoice, or paystub with a bank statement and/or a cancelled check.
3. If you find a mistake, be the first one to point it out! Maybe it costs you a little money, but it shows the auditor good faith when you find the error and say Oops! rather than trying to hide it.
4. Make sure you keep accurate mileage logs and travel calendars. If you don't, make sure you can recreate one fairly easily by using your receipts.
5. If you are being audited on mileage, make sure you have your vehicle service records!
If you are prepared, the auditor will be much happier to work with you and will be more likely to overlook small things. They will also be less likely to open up any other years for audit!
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