J&S Associates

11/10/2023

11/17/2021

IRS Adds Income Changes to CTC Update Portal and Announces Signup Deadline

Families who are currently receiving advance payments of the 2021 Child Tax Credit (CTC) may now use the online CTC Update Portal (link below) to report changes in their incomes. Reporting an income change may qualify taxpayers for a higher monthly payment amount, or ensure that they do not need to repay advance CTC payments next spring.

The maximum monthly payment is $300 per child qualified under age 6, and $250 per qualifying child of age 6 through 17. Generally, a small change in income will not affect a household's payment amount. However, if you have not been receiving the maximum amount and had a significant income drop in 2021, you may qualify for a substantially larger December payment.

Similarly, if your income greatly increased in 2021 compared to 2020, you should report this change to avoid potentially facing an advance CTC repayment requirement. You must use the portal to report your income changes by November 29 in order for the IRS to make any necessary adjustments to your December payment. The IRS expects to launch a Spanish version of the portal by that time.

Eligible families who have not been receiving advance CTC payments because the IRS does not have their information may still register for the program. The IRS especially urges lower-income taxpayers who are not required to file tax returns to use the online signup portal (link below) by the November 15 deadline. Those who sign up in November will receive a single advance payment in December, of up to $1,800 per qualifying child under 6, and $1,500 per qualifying child age 6-17.

IRS CTC UPDATE PORTAL: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-update-portal

IRS CTC SIGNUP PORTAL: https://www.whitehouse.gov/child-tax-credit/sign-up/

11/17/2021

Year-End 2021 Retirement Plan RMD Planning – Did You Know?

Many taxpayers who hold traditional IRAs or other retirement accounts must make annual withdrawals called Required Minimum Distributions, or RMDs. The CARES Act waived most RMDs for tax year 2020, and also created special tax rules for 2020 RMDs that were reclassified as "coronavirus-related distributions." Those special provisions have now expired, so standard IRS rules apply for 2021 RMDs.

In general, taxpayers with traditional IRAs or certain other retirement plans must take a 2021 RMD if they either (a) reached age 70 1/2 in 2019 or before, or (b) reach age 72 in 2021. As a rule, RMDs are taxable income, usually at the person's ordinary income tax rate.

In addition, someone who inherited an IRA from a person who died before 2020 generally must take a 2021 RMD, regardless of their age. If you inherited a retirement plan from someone who died on or after January 1, 2020, you may either need to take annual RMDs or withdraw all funds from the account within 10 years, depending on your circumstances. These rules apply to both traditional and Roth inherited IRAs, although RMDs from Roth IRAs may not be taxed.

For most people, the deadline to take 2021 RMDs is December 31, 2021. However, those who turn 72 this year generally have until April 1, 2022 to take their first RMD. If this exception applies to you, keep in mind that you will need to take your second RMD by December 31, 2022. Therefore, you may end up owing tax on both your first and second RMDs in 2022. Taking your first RMD in 2021 will prevent this issue.

RMD amounts depend on the recipient's age and other factors. A tax professional can help you determine whether you must take a 2021 RMD or other IRA withdrawal, how to calculate the amount, and how to report the withdrawal to the IRS.

11/17/2021

IRS announces changes to retirement plans for 2022
Next year taxpayers can put an extra $1,000 into their 401(k) plans. The IRS recently announced that the 2022 contribution limit for 401(k) plans will increase to $20,500. The agency also announced cost of living adjustments that may affect pension plan and other retirement-related savings next year.
Highlights of changes for 2022
The contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government's Thrift Savings Plan is increased to $20,500. Limits on contributions to traditional and Roth IRAs remains unchanged at $6,000.
Taxpayers can deduct contributions to a traditional IRA if they meet certain conditions. If neither the taxpayer nor their spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work, their full contribution to a traditional IRA is deductible. If the taxpayer or their spouse was covered by a retirement plan at work, the deduction may be reduced or phased out until it is eliminated. The amount of the deduction depends on the taxpayer's filing status and their income.
Traditional IRA income phase-out ranges for 2022 are:
• $68,000 to $78,000 - Single taxpayers covered by a workplace retirement plan
• $109,000 to $129,000 - Married couples filing jointly. This applies when the spouse making the IRA contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan.
• $204,000 to $214,000 - A taxpayer not covered by a workplace retirement plan married to someone who's covered.
• $0 to $10,000 – Married filing a separate return. This applies to taxpayers covered by a workplace retirement plan
Roth IRA contributions income phase-out ranges for 2022 are:
• $129,000 to $144,000 - Single taxpayers and heads of household
• $204,000 to $214,000 - Married, filing jointly
• $0 to $10,000 - Married, filing separately
Saver’s Credit income phase-out ranges for 2022 are:
• $41,000 to $68,000 – Married, filing jointly.
• $30,750 to $51,000 – Head of household.
• $20,500 to $34,000 – Singles and married individuals filing separately.
The amount individuals can contribute to SIMPLE retirement accounts also increases to $14,000 in 2022.
More information:
Notice 2021-61
Roth IRAs
Traditional IRAs
Traditional and Roth IRAs — A comparison chart
Publication 590-A, Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements
COLA Increases for Dollar Limitations on Benefits and Contributions

08/04/2021

Like many small business owners, you probably find yourself very busy in the wake of the COVID slowdown and are getting back up to speed. But don’t forget about your future.

07/29/2021

The SBA issued new guidance intended to speed up and simplify the forgiveness process for Paycheck Protection Program loans of $150,000 or less, which represent 93% of the outstanding loans in the $800 billion program.

07/26/2021

Here’s why taxpayers should have an IRS online account

An IRS online account is an safe an easy way for individual taxpayers to view specific details about their federal tax account. Here are some of the benefits and features of this online system.

Taxpayers can view:

Their payoff amount, which is updated for the current day.
The balance for each tax year for which they owe taxes.
Their payment history.
Key information from the their most current tax return as originally filed.
Payment plan details if they have one.
Digital copies of select IRS notices.
Economic Impact Payments if they received any.
Their address on file.
After viewing their information, a taxpayer can:

Select an electronic payment option.
Set up an online payment agreement.
Go directly to Get Transcript.
New authorization feature

The new the “authorization” option in Online Account allows taxpayers to control who can represent them before the IRS or view their tax records. They can also approve and electronically sign Power of Attorney and Tax Information Authorization requests from their tax professional.

Taxpayer’s balance will update no more than once every 24 hours, usually overnight. Taxpayers should also allow 1 to 3 weeks for payments to show up in the payment history.

To access their information online, taxpayers must register through Secure Access. This is the agency’s two-factor authentication process that protects personal info. Taxpayers can review the Secure Access page process prior to starting registration.

07/14/2021

https://www.facebook.com/jnsassociate/photos/a.101690232152882/121275140194391/?type=3

100% Business Deduction for Restaurant Food & Beverage in 2021 – Did You Know?

A special tax rule may enable many businesses, including sole proprietors and independent contractors, to take larger meal expense deductions in 2021 than the IRS usually allows. Ordinarily, deductions for food and beverage costs cannot exceed 50% of the actual expense. However, the 2021 rule enables businesses to deduct 100% of the cost of food and beverages from restaurants in certain cases beginning January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022.

The provision defines a restaurant as a business that prepares food or beverages for retail customers to consume on-site, pick up, or receive by delivery. This definition excludes most grocery and convenience stores, unless the store contains a separate restaurant or cafe area. In addition, facilities overseen or owned by the employer claiming the deduction, such as a workplace cafeteria, generally do not qualify as restaurants under this rule.

In order for meal expenses to qualify for this special deduction, the following conditions must be met:

- The business owner or an authorized employee is present when the food and/or beverages are provided.
- The expense is paid to a restaurant, based on the definition above.
- The food and beverage costs are not lavish or extravagant for the circumstances.

The activity must also meet all the standard criteria for business meal deductions. A business tax advisor can help you determine whether your food and beverage expenses comply with IRS rules, and whether they qualify for a 100% deduction in 2021.

07/12/2021

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06/24/2021

Pay your taxes. Get your refund status. Find IRS forms and answers to tax questions. We help you understand and meet your federal tax responsibilities.