NOV 14, 2016 @ 09:06 AM
Robert W. Wood , CONTRIBUTOR I focus on taxes and litigation.
With Republican control of the House and Senate, President-elect Trump and Congress might tell the tax code, “you’re fired!” And as bigas the coming tax changes might be, it’s worth noting what is highly unlikely to change. Keeping track of these 13 key tax rules could put dollars in your pocket and ease your interactions with the tax system.
- Everything is income. The IRS taxes all income from any source, whether in cash or in kind. Lottery? Taxed. Gambling? Taxed. You name it, it’s taxed. If you find a diamond ring, you pay tax on its fair market value even if you don’t sell it.
- Pay taxes later. Most tax planning involves timing. You want to accelerate tax deductions and defer tax payments, subject to constraints such as the constructive receipt doctrine. If you have a legal right to money but say “pay me later,” it’s taxed now. But you can conditionpayment, such as refusing to sell your house or settle a lawsuit unless you are paid next year.
- Forms 1099 really count. Those little tax forms you get in January are keyed to your Social Security number. The IRS alwaysgets a copy. Pay attention to them—the IRS sure does. These IRS Forms 1099 are critical, and due soon.
- Beware foreign accounts. Foreign bank accounts may generate income, but you won’t receive a Form 1099. Still, reporting them is key. If balances exceed $10,000 in the aggregate any time during the year, you also must file an FBAR. With FATCA, IRS scrutiny is high, and how you transition from failures to report in the past to present compliance can be delicate. Beware, so far, the IRS has collected $10billion from offshore compliance.
- Pay small tax bills. If you get a small tax bill, pay it even if the IRS is wrong. What’s “small” varies, but don’t risk an audit or dispute escalating by fighting over small dollars.
- Reply to every IRS letter, unless it says not to. This is common sense. Often, fighting the IRS is about attrition.
- Don’t talk to the IRS if they visit, and never lie. If the IRS comes to your home or business, decline to speak and tell them your lawyer will call. Take their card and be polite but firm. If you say anything to the IRS, don’t lie.
- The IRS can audit 3 years, but keep records for 7, and tax returns forever. The usual IRS statute of limitations is 3 years after you file your return. If you understate your income by 25% or more, the IRS gets 6 years. To be safe, keep tax records for 7 years. And keep copies of your tax returns themselves forever.
- Avoid amending returns, but if you do amend, don’t cherry-pick. Don’t take amending tax returns lightly. Amended returns have a high audit rate, especially if they request a refund. The IRS says you “should” amend your return if you discover a mistake after it’s filed. But there’s no legal obligation. The only time you really mustamend is if you knew at the time you filed the original return that it was false. If you decide to amend, you can’t cherry-pick which items to fix. The amended return must correct everything, not just the items in your favor.
- File returns even if you can’t pay. Many taxpayers don’t file on time because they don’t have the tax money. They would be much better off if they filed on time. Payment can come later, and might be the subject of an IRS installment agreement. Penalties too will likely be smaller if you file on time.
- Don’t explain or attach too much. Tax returns should be concise. If an explanation or disclosure is needed, keep it succinct. Attachments to tax returns should be limited to tax forms and, where required, plain sheets of paper listing additional deductions, income, etc. Don’t attach other documents. If the IRS wants documents, it will ask.
- Be careful with big refunds. Getting a refund? Consider applying it to next year’s tax payments rather than asking for the cash, especially if it is large. If you are getting a tax refund,not asking for the money back can lower your profile with an initial or amended return.
- Get professional advice. Handling a tax case by yourself is usually a mistake. You can prepare your own returns with software if you like, but if you have an audit or dispute, hire an accountant or lawyer to handle it. Even simple audits can come off the rails or extend into other areas if you aren’t careful. Whether you need practical procedural advice or technical help on particular issues, find someone with experience in your issue. And don’t wait until the last minute.
For alerts to future tax articles, email me at Wood@WoodLLP.com. This discussion is not legal advice.
Robert W. Wood , CONTRIBUTOR I focus on taxes and litigation.
I’m a tax lawyer based in San Francisco (www.WoodLLP.com), but I handle tax matters everywhere. I enjoy untangling a tax mess from the past, disputing taxes with the government or planning taxes for the future. One of my specialties is advising about lawsuit payments. Whether you’re receiving or paying a legal settlement, you can probably improve your tax position. I write frequently about taxes, from expatriation to sales tax, from selling your company to restitution. I’ve written over 30 tax books, but my best seller is still Taxation of Damage Awards and Settlement Payments. Contact me at wood@WoodLLP.com.
The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.
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Phoenix Commercial Real Estate and Investment Real Estate: investors and Owner / Users need to really know the market today before making a move in Commercial Properties or Investment Properties in Phoenix / Tucson / Arizona, as the market has a lot of moving parts today. What is going on socio-economically, what is going on demographically, what is going on with location, with competing businesses, with public policy in general — all of these things affect the quality of selling or purchasing your Commercial Properties, Commercial Investment Properties and Commercial and large tracts of Residential Land in Phoenix / Tucson / Arizona. Therefore, you need a broker, a CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) who is a recognized expert in the commercial and investment real estate industry and who understands Commercial Properties and Investment Properties.
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Walter Unger CCIM
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Disclaimer of Liability
The information in this blog-newsletter is for general guidance only, and does not constitute the provision of legal advice, tax advice, accounting services, investment advice, or professional consulting of any kind. The information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional tax, accounting, legal, or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action, you should consult a professional adviser who has been provided with all pertinent facts relevant to your particular situation. Tax articles in this e-newsletter are not intended to be used, and cannot be used by any taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding accuracy-related penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. The information is provided “as is,” with no assurance or guarantee of completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose.