Vickie L. Jones, CPA

06/04/2026

05/30/2026

Here is a video tax tip from the IRS:

Here's What to Do if You Owe Taxes, but Can't Pay Here’s What To Do if You Owe Taxes, but Can’t Pay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7f4Hye-9g0

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

05/27/2026

How to Pay Your Taxes

Here is a video tax tip from the IRS: How to Pay Your Taxes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZjTIHPyY94

There are several ways you can pay your IRS tax bill. For more information, go to https://www.irs.gov/payments Follow us:Twitter – https:/...

05/23/2026

Where’s My Refund??

Did you know that you can look up the status of your tax return online? The Where's My Refund? Tool is available 24/7. Taxpayers who filed a return and are waiting for their refund can use “Where's My Refund?” tool to check the status of a refund payment. Updates are available within 24 hours after the IRS receives an e-filed return or four weeks after the agency receives a mailed paper return. https://www.irs.gov/refunds

Check your refund status 24 hours after you e-file or 4 weeks after you mail a paper return. Check in your account or use the refund tracker, IRS2Go or the refund hotline.

05/19/2026

Standard Mileage Rate for 2026 – Will There Be Changes??

Many times when there are fluctuations in gas prices, the IRS will adjust the Standard Mileage Rate mid-year. Right now it is 72 cents for 2026. I would not be surprised if it is increased mid-year and then maybe even lowered later in the year.

Since the Standard Mileage Rate could be adjusted mid-year, taxpayers should track their mileage MONTHLY so they don’t have to spend time dividing it up during tax time in early 2027.

It would be best to plan ahead.

05/15/2026

It’s not too early to start planning for next year: Check withholding now

Even though the tax filing deadline for tax year 2025 passed a few weeks ago, it’s not too early to start planning for next filing season. Planning now can help taxpayers avoid surprises next year. One action that can be taken is checking for proper tax withholding.

What is withholding?
Taxpayers need to pay their tax as they receive their income, and they do this through withholding. For employees, “withholding” refers to the federal income tax portion of each paycheck that an employer takes out for tax purposes. It can also be the amount from earnings self-employed people and others voluntarily set aside to pay their estimated taxes.

How taxpayers can check their withholding
The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator is a free, easy-to-use tool that helps workers and retirees estimate the amount of federal income tax to withhold from their paychecks now for the taxes they will owe next year.

The estimator reflects the changes to credits and deductions under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill. This includes the deductions for tips, overtime, car loan interest and enhanced deduction for seniors. It also accounts for updates tied to family-related credits, homeownership, and charitable giving.

What are the benefits of using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator?
By using the estimator, taxpayers can manage their estimates based on any personal life change, such as buying a home, changing jobs, having a child or changing their marital status.
For people who recently completed their 2025 tax return, the IRS advises using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator to consider all income sources such as full-time wages, side jobs and any sale of services or goods.

By adjusting tax withholding, taxpayers can:
• Prevent owing money and potential penalties at tax time
• Adjust withholding to increase take-home pay instead of waiting for a refund

What else taxpayers need
For an effective tax withholding estimate, taxpayers will need certain documents including:
• All income statements, including their spouse’s if filing jointly
• Data from other sources of earnings
• Their most recent income tax return

05/11/2026

WHEN AND HOW TO AMEND A TAX RETURN

Taxpayers who discover an error after filing a federal tax return may need to file an amended return. There are some instances where an amended return isn’t required such as when the IRS corrects errors during processing or requests missing forms or schedules separately.

Reasons to file an amended return
If there are changes to key items on the original return, including: Filing status, Income, Deductions, Credits, Dependents, Tax liability

Taxpayers can use the Should I file an amended return? tool within the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant to help decide if they should file an amended return to correct an error or make other changes if they already filed.

Time limits
To claim a refund, an amended return must generally be filed within:
• Three years from the date the original return was filed, or
• Two years from the date the tax was paid, whichever is later

If the original return was filed early, the three-year period begins from the April tax deadline. Special rules apply when there are net operating losses, foreign tax credits, bad debts or other issues. Additionally, taxpayers in disaster relief situations, combat zone service, have bad debts, foreign tax credits, or loss or credit carrybacks, may have more time to file an amended return.

How to file an amended return
Taxpayers must file Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. When filing, they should:
• Submit a corrected Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR for the applicable tax year
• Attach any supporting documents and updated forms or schedules

Refunds and payments
For tax years 2021 and later, taxpayers may request direct deposit of refunds when filing electronically. If additional tax is owed, payment should be submitted with the amended return. The amended return replaces the original return, and the IRS will calculate any applicable penalties or interest if filed after the due date.

Status of amended return
Taxpayers can check the status of an amended return approximately three weeks after it’s submitted. It generally takes 8 to 12 weeks for it to be processed. However, in some cases, processing could take up to 16 weeks.

State tax considerations
Changes to a federal return may affect a taxpayer’s state tax liability. Taxpayers should contact their state tax agency for guidance and should not attach state returns to the federal amended return.

05/11/2026

Mother’s Day is a beautiful moment to celebrate everyone who fills our lives with a mother’s heart. From their steady guidance to their endless love, moms truly make the world brighter. Today is all about making sure they know just how much we treasure their wisdom and care. To those who protect and inspire us: you are loved every single day. And for those holding onto memories of a special person today, I hope those moments bring you peace and joy. Wishing you a wonderful Mother’s Day.

Vickie L Jones CPA LLC

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