Tag Archives: Internal Revenue Service

Ask TaxMama Issue 527 – Scary Tax Breaks

Dear Family, Don’t forget to change your clocks Saturday night. Yup, I could tell you stories of times when I didn’t. You probably have stories, too, don’t you? Anyway… I have great news – and bad news. First the great news. It’s VERY exciting! Not only will Congress be extending the $8,000 first time homebuyers […]

529 Contributions

Today TaxMama hears from Rick in New Jersey with this stroke of genius. “I am a salaried employee for ABC company and will be doing a separate consulting engagement for another company in my spare time. I’d like to take the entire $55,000 I will earn and put it directly into a 529 college plan […]

Cashing Out Retirement

Today TaxMama hears from Jessie in California, who’s broke. “ I am 22 years old and unemployed. I recently hit a financial snag and am really considering cashing out my 401(k) plans. In total it would amount to $4,995.85. Because of state and federal taxes as well as the fee for cashing out early, how […]

First Time Homebuyers Credit Audit Documentation

If you have filed for the First Time Homebuyers Credit and your refund has been delayed, it’s because IRS will, sooner or later contact you for proof of the purchase of your home. [Source: IRS National Phone Forum Presentation Oct 2009] Required Documentation for Audits • Copy of closing contract (HUD-1 Settlement Statement) • Most […]

TIGTA Audits IRS’s Administration of First-Time Homebuyer Credit

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may have allowed thousands of taxpayers to claim millions of dollars in First-Time Homebuyer Credits (the Credit) to which they were not entitled, according to a new report publicly released today by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). TIGTA found that some taxpayers claimed the Credit for homes […]

Ask TaxMama Issue 526 – Big Foul Ups

Dear Family, Did you hear the one about the pilots who forgot to land? No? Well it goes like this. Yesterday, Northwest Airlines Flight 188 from San Diego to Minneapolis was lost for an hour , sparking hijack fears. Air traffic control lost contact with the pilots, so the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contacted the […]

New Form Aids Processing of Mortgage Applications, Makes Ordering Tax Transcripts Simpler

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued a new form to aid the processing of mortgage applications under the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) as part of the Making Home Affordable Program. The new form will make it simpler for people, especially homeowners trying to modify or refinance their mortgages, to order copies of […]

2009 Home Purchase

Today TaxMama hears from Ray in Kansas who tells us. “My wife and I were first time home buyers on 08/20/09. We have been informed that if we amend our 2008 taxes, the first time home buyers credit will be treated as an interest-free loan that will have to be paid back. But if we […]

IPO profits

Today TaxMama hears from Sam in New Jersey with this question. “My company did an IPO this year and I will quadruple my income based on my sale of stocks. These were options I exercised years ago, before the IPO. The exercise price was 1/20th of the sales price. How do I minimize my taxes […]

Video Rentals

Today TaxMama hears from A.H. in California who is frustrated. “How does one classify video rental inventory in accounting software? This is inventory that depreciates very quickly – the cost of a DVD from a distributor is $17 on average, to have it the day it comes out; but after just 3 months they are […]

Ask TaxMama Issue 525 – Lots of Hot Air

Dear Family, Hooray! Tax season is over. For those of us making a living doing tax returns, it’s quite a relief. Just as it is for those of you who agonized until the very last minute before finally filing and paying those final balances due. At least it’s over – for a while. Remember, though, […]

New Video Series Helps Exempt Organizations

[TaxMama note: IRS is doing their best to demysify the entire process for non-profits/exempt organizations. Use the tools!] WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service has launched a new case study and video program to help exempt organizations and their tax preparers better understand the newly revised Form 990 series which must be filed for the […]