Does it make sense to file your taxes early?

Does it make sense to file your taxes early?

by | Jan 20, 2020 | income tax, tax filing, Tax Planning, Tax Preparation, Tax Refund, taxes

Does it make sense to file your taxes early?

Filing taxes can be a bit boring and overwhelming. Apart from your life and work, you need to devote some time and energy to file your taxes early. A lot of taxpayers barely are able to file their taxes on time, let alone before time.

What if there are some strong reasons and benefits for filing your taxes early? Would that pull you into the idea of filing your taxes early? If yes, here are some of the most prominent reasons why you must seriously consider filing your taxes early.

1.To Avoid Missing Out On Tax Benefits

Usually filing your taxes at the end means, that you are running against the clock. In such cases, the chances of missing out on some information are quite possible. A common mistake made by taxpayers filing their taxes in the end if using a wrong SSN or forgetting to mention their SSN, or their dependent children’s SSN or spouse’s SSN. Missing out on SSN is a sure way of missing out on certain tax deductions and tax credits.

2.A quicker Tax Refund

When you consider data from the previous years, you will find out that about 72% of taxpayers receive tax refunds up to $3,000. That is a decent chunk of money that you can use as rainy-day savings or paying off some debt. Filing your taxes earlier allows for a quicker tax refund.

3.Possibly Bigger Refunds

When you file your taxes early, you can benefit from certain life changing milestones. Milestones such as marriage, or the birth of your child, starting your own business, etc. can translate into better tax refunds or deductions. Which ultimately will help you save money. Thus, filing your taxes early can be beneficial.

4.Debt Management

In the event that you are struggling with some of the debts, opting for an early tax filing can save the day for you. The IRS expects to issue tax refunds within 21 days of your filing tax returns. The earlier you file your taxes, you boost the chances of an early refund and thus, it can help you manage some of your debts as well.

5.Leverage Your Time and Money

When you file your taxes early, you are firstly not under any pressure of filing them before the deadline. It enables a smoother filing. Secondly, the chances of mistakes are also minimal, thereby allowing you to spend less time on tax filing. And more importantly, you can expect an earlier refund as well. You can then use these funds either for a quick trip while your friends and colleagues are busy filing their taxes or use them for other purposes.

6.File Taxes Online

Once you have made up your mind to file your taxes early, you can visit online portals to help you file your taxes. There are a lot of trusted portals, which can help you file your taxes within a few minutes. All you need to do is provide some basic information and answer simple questions. The portals can help you extract the most out of your refunds as well. And the best part is, you can do this from the comfort of your home or office or even while you are vacationing. If you need additional help in the form of an Enrolled Agent or a CPA, the portals would be able to help you with that as well.

Apart from the most obvious benefit of peace of mind and no stress during the tax filing season, the above are some of the other benefits of filing your taxes early. If you have never filed your taxes early, now might be the best time to give it a shot and reap its benefits.

Reference

https://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/tax-refunds/6-reasons-it-pays-to-file-your-taxes-early-19100/

Who is considered to be an individual investor in the US?

Who is considered to be an individual investor in the US?

by | Jan 15, 2020 | 401(k), global income tax, IRA, tax filing, Tax Planning, Tax Refund, tax savings, taxes

Who is considered to be an individual investor in the US?

In the US, the direct impact of investment falls on the taxes of individuals. If you are investing, it would have a different implication on your taxes. Nowadays, with the various taxes, related software filing up for tax as an investor is not too tedious and difficult in the US.

Let us find out the various ways by which an individual would be considered as an individual investor in the US.

Buying or selling of a security

One of the simplest methods by which it can be determined that you are an individual investor or not is either you have bought or sold any security throughout the year. Here security can mean stocks, bonds, index funds, cryptocurrencies or even mutual funds.

However, by simply buying some stocks the way you fill your taxes for the year is not going to change. The company whose stocks or bonds you have purchased must give you a dividend and you must be able to sell them, otherwise, there would be no impact on the way you fill your taxes. In case, the company whose stocks or bonds you have purchased gives you a dividend you need to report it as income. Now, again if you sell that particular stock either for a gain or a loss you will have to report about this particular transaction on your taxes.

By investing in mutual funds or index funds, you will obtain 1099-DIV and 1099-B which will cover all the activities they have generated. In case, you have made any investments with the help of a retirement plan such as 401(k) or a Roth IRA it is going to have a separate impact on the way you will fill your taxes.

Savings App           

On the purchase of stocks, you may not find it too relevant to consider yourself as an investor but there is numerous savings app available nowadays which help in saving more and turn you to be an investor. There is some savings app which will help in rounding up your purchases and thus save your money.

For instance, when you are purchasing by using the debit card of a particular company they will round up your transaction into the next dollar and your extra money would be invested on your behalf. Suppose, you have purchased food and beverages for a particular amount, it is rounded up and the extra amount is invested in a portfolio of exchange-traded funds. So, even if you are investing using these petty amounts you are an investor.

Type of investor

The type or category of investors you belong to is important when it comes to filing your tax for that particular year. A day trader or a pattern day trader is someone who can trade four times or even five times during a five-day period. The number of day trade is usually higher than 6% of the total trading activity taking place during that period. Moreover, a person can also be termed as a day trader if he is classified as a day trader by the broker and this happens in the case of distinct capital and margin requirements.

However, filing of taxes is going to be challenging even if you are a casual investor or a day trader. This is due to the heavy paperwork that is involved in the process of tax filing. But, if you have maintained your records then with electronic methods; tax filing should not pose as a threat for you.

Category of transactions                              

This is another simple method by which you can determine whether you are an individual investor or not. This is to think about the type of transactions you have done during the entire year.

For instance, you have sold some shares of stock and that will generate some gain or loss. This gain or loss will have to be reflected while filing the taxes. So, this clearly states you are an individual investor.

Hence, when you answer a few simple questions and analyze them it is easy for you to determine if you are an individual investor or not. While filing your taxes, you report about your transactions in Form 8949 whereas Schedule D covers the profits and losses.

What to do if you haven’t filed your taxes in the US?

What to do if you haven’t filed your taxes in the US?

by | Jan 11, 2020 | global income tax, Tax Exception, tax filing, Tax Liabilities, Tax Payers, Tax Planning, Tax Refund, tax return, tax savings, taxes

What to do if you haven’t filed your taxes in the US?

There can be an array of reasons for taxpayers not to file their taxes in the US. For starters, an individual might not have filed their taxes because they cannot pay their taxes. Or the more common reason is that individuals get consumed with life and work and cannot get things aligned to be able to file their taxes on time.

Irrespective of what your reason maybe, it is essential that you file your taxes at the earliest. Simply because non-filing of taxes is a serious issue for the IRS. There are three straightforward outcomes when it comes to filing your taxes. Firstly, you do not owe any taxes to the government. Secondly, the government owes you tax refunds and thirdly, you owe taxes to the government.

While the first and second scenarios are still easy to live by, the third one can take a hefty toll on you. In the event that you owe taxes to the government, you are liable to pay fines and penalties on the top of the taxes that you are liable to pay. And things can get ugly, quite fast.

File your Tax Returns

For individuals who have not yet filed their taxes, they must start immediately. The first question that will come to your mind is, for how many years should I file my taxes. As per the IRS guidelines, you must file your taxes for at least 6 years to establish a good understanding with the IRS.

If there are any changes to the same, the IRS management will have to approve of the same. Depending on the situation, the IRS management can ask you for tax returns exceeding 6 years as well. Here are some of the common reasons for the same.

  • If there are relatively larger tax bills on your past filings. The absence of any withholdings for large wages, property taxes or Form 1099-Misc is red flags for the same.
  • The IRS would most probably do additional scrutiny if any businesses are involved since the possibility of non-compliance is higher.

Tips For Filing your Taxes

Citizens who have not filed their taxes and wish to do so, here are some tips that will help you get through.

  • It is essential to get a confirmation whether the IRS needs 6 years of taxes or beyond. You can either call the IRS to find out the same or reach out to a tax consultant for the same.
  • One more reason to file your taxes at the earliest is that the IRS will not pay older tax refunds. As per the IRS guidelines, it will pay refunds up to a maximum of 3 years from the date of filing. Thus, you might lose any refunds even if they are valid.
  • There is a good possibility that you might have to pay hefty fines on your taxes. The failure to pay and failure to file penalties can accrue up to 47.5% of your liable taxes.
  • The IRS usually starts a process called the substitute for return, if the due date exceeds three years. When you file your taxes, the IRS will compare your returns with the SFR (substitute for return). And this can be time consuming, sometimes these cases might take up to four months.
  • In the event you cannot pay your liable taxes, it is recommended that you reach out to the IRS and ask for an agreement. Depending on your needs, there are several typesof agreements that you can opt for.

Irrespective of your reasons, if you haven’t filed your returns, you must initiate the same at the earliest to minimize its impacts.

Reference:

https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/irs/audits-and-tax-notices/get-back-track-irs-havent-filed-one-returns/

https://twocents.lifehacker.com/what-to-do-if-you-havent-filed-your-taxes-in-years-1803756859

https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc153

How to create your investment portfolio with your tax refunds in the US?

How to create your investment portfolio with your tax refunds in the US?

by | Jan 6, 2020 | income tax, Investment & Income, IRA, NRI, Tax Refund

How to create your investment portfolio with your tax refunds in the US?

Investing has become quite an easy task today and with so many options available it is easy for common people to utilize their savings for achieving the dreams and accomplishing long term goals. How to become an investor if there are no savings? This is a thought which can creep into your mind when you think about investing. Without a considerable amount of savings, the investment portfolio seems to be a distant dream. But, in the US you have a simple way out. You can use your tax refund as an option to initiate investing in the stock market.

Stock market scenario

During the year 2012, according to the reports generated by IRS the average tax refund in the US was 2,803 and this amount is enough to start investing with the help of a brokerage account. Investment can be done by a very little less amount itself. Today the market condition is quite good and it is being addressed as a “bull market” which means a market in which the prices of the stocks of companies are rising and people are interested in buying shares. Investments into shares can be a good decision right now as the performance of the stock market is quite good now. In the last 4 years, there has been an average annual return of 17% in the stock market which makes investing a good decision for common people.

This performance of the stock market is much better as compared to that of other investment options such as money market funds, bonds, real estate, certificates of deposit, etc. But, along with the high returns, there is a huge risk associated with the stock market even. The major risk which is associated with the stock market is the fluctuation in the returns. The returns obtained keep on changing rapidly from one day to another or even from one month to another. However, in the long run, if you are interested in achieving long term goals the best investment option is the stock market. With proper risk assessment and risk analysis, the stock market can turn out to be a great investment option.

Use of tax refund for making investment

  1. When you receive your tax refund for a year, you can open an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) with the help of your investment brokerage firm or your bank itself. With the help of the IRA, you can invest and obtain tax benefits. When you are putting money into your IRA, your taxable income reduces and you pay less tax.
  2. When you have opened your own IRA, you can pick mutual funds for making investments. A mutual fund is known as a collection or assortment of bonds, stocks, and cash alternatives. Mutual Fund helps in managing money from different investors and even the small investors can manage their funds with the help of professionals.
  3. There are numerous funds with different objectives that are available and you can easily pick a fund of your choice according to your long term goals. You can select funds for stocks or funds for bonds or even funds for a mixture of both stocks and bonds.
  4. The fund which you wish to select for investment depends on the amount of risk you are willing to take when it comes to your money. We can illustrate this with the help of an example such as stocks involve a higher amount of risk but bonds are less risky than that of stocks. But, stocks provide higher returns as compared to bonds and you will need higher returns for accomplishing your long term financial goals. So, it is your choice to take up the risk with stocks for higher returns or to play safe with bonds.
  5. The amount of risk you can take depends on how much time you have for the accomplishment of your financial goal. If you have a long time left for retirement then you can go ahead and take certain risks.
  6. Using your tax refund as an investment is the beginning; after opening up your IRA account you can opt for investments to be made automatically for making contributions to the IRA account every month.

Hence, with these investment avenues, your finances will change and you would become an investor with long term financial goals. So, you should file your taxes on time and utilize your tax returns as an investment option.

 

 

 

Can You File Your Taxes In The US Without A Social Security Number?

Can You File Your Taxes In The US Without A Social Security Number?

by | Dec 30, 2019 | EITC, global income tax, IRS, ITIN, SSN, Tax Payers, Tax Planning, Tax Refund, taxes, W-7 Form

Can You File Your Taxes In The US Without A Social Security Number?

Citizens of the US use their Social Security Number as identification when it comes to doing their taxes. However, there are a lot of citizens from other places who do not qualify for SSN, yet earn in the country and are liable to pay taxes. If you are one such citizen, you can use the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or ITIN to file your taxes instead of SSN.

ITIN’s Capabilities

The ITIN is designed only to help citizens without an SSN the capability to file taxes and nothing else. The IRS clarifies that the ITIN cannot be used as:

  • An authorization to work in the US
  • Qualification for SSN or other tax credits such as Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
  • A stimulus to impact your immigration status

Who Needs an ITIN?

Anyone who needs to file their taxes and does not have an SSN can apply for ITIN. If you have a dependent and want to claim them in your tax returns and they do not have an SSN, you would need to get an ITIN for them as well.

As per the IRS, resident and non-resident aliens can get ITIN irrespective of what their immigration status is. An easy way to understand is that you would need an ITIN if you need to file your taxes. This is applicable even if you stay in another country.

How To Apply For ITIN?

Getting your ITIN isn’t all that complicated. To apply for ITIN, you need to submit Form W-7 to the IRS. You can either submit the form by mailing it to the IRS or schedule an appointment if you need any helpwith the forms.

To fill the application form, you would need certain basic details such as name, birthdate and mailing address. You would have to mention your US visa number should you have. Also, the form requires you to mention the reason why you want to apply for ITIN.

Expiry of ITIN

An issued ITIN can expire if it has not been used. If you obtain an ITIN and do not use the same for a period of three years, the ITIN will expire on the 31st of December 2019. ITIN that were issued before the year 2013 would also expire on the 31st of December 2019. The middle digits for the ITIN in such cases would be 83 and 84. For example, you ITIN could look like (9XX-83-XXXX).

Renewal of ITIN

In the event your ITIN expires, you do not have to worry about filing your taxes. You can always renew the ITIN using the following measures. You must fill up Form W-7 along with an application form for ITIN. While you are required to submit the required documents, you do not have to submit a tax return in the case of renewal. Unless there is a filing requirement, you do not have to submit your tax returns. If your family members were issued ITINs, you must submit their W-7 forms at the same time.

The renewal process of ITIN is a bit similar to getting a new one. You can use any of the following methods.

  • Mail the forms to the IRS at:

Internal Revenue Service

Austin Service Center

ITIN Operation

P.O. Box 149342

Austin, TX 78714-9342

  • Schedule an appointment with the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center.
  • Apply for an ITIN in person at any Certifying Acceptance Agent that is authorized by the IRS.

You can file your taxes in the US even if you do not have a Social Security Number. You can apply for ITIN using the methods mentioned above and file your taxes.

Reference:

https://www.taxslayer.com/blog/how-to-file-taxes-without-a-social-security-number/

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/how-do-i-renew-my-itin

How Much To Save Up For Your Retirement In The US?

How Much To Save Up For Your Retirement In The US?

by | Dec 27, 2019 | income tax, NRI, tax deductions, Tax Extension, tax filing, Tax Planning, Tax Preparation, Tax Refund, tax savings, Taxation

How Much To Save Up For Your Retirement In The US?

A lot of us look up to retirement so that we can hang our boots and finally relax or take a break from all the running around. However, how well your retirement goes depends on a few important factors. The quintessential one being how much you save for your retirement.

Should you plan your retirement well in advance and align your savings and investments accordingly, the chances are high you will have a stress-free retirement phase. To aid you in the entire process of making your retirement a much happier place, here are some tips.

The amount that you need to put away for your retirement depends on the following factors.

  • Your age when you start investing for your retirement.
  • Your paycheck when you decide to save for your retirement.
  • The age at which you wish to retire.
  • The returns that you are expecting on your investments.

There is a simple correlation when it comes to saving for your retirement. When you start saving for your retirement early, you will end up setting aside a smaller chunk of the salary. And the reserve also holds good. The later you start, you must invest a larger chunk of your paycheck towards your retirement.

How Much Is Enough For Retirement?

Your lifestyle plays a crucial role in deciding the amount of money you would need for your retirement. If you wish to retire at 60 years and expect to live for another 30 years, you will need enough money to support you through that entire duration. You should consider the needs along with wants as well. A simple monthly budget will help you understand the amount. But unexpected medical expenses are something that you must also consider.

Estimating Your Requirements

There are several online calculators that you can use to estimate the amount you must set aside for retirement. As a general rule of thumb, when you are 35 years old, you would need to save about 1 to 4 times your annual income for your retirement. Similarly, when you are 50, the savings must be at 5 to 10 times your annual income. You can reach out to a trusted financial advisor if you need details on specifics.

Optimize Your Income Taxes

There are different ways to fund your retirement. Once you start optimizing your income taxes, you will find additional room for savings for retirement. Here are a couple of ways to do the same.

  • Withholdings

A lot of taxpayers withhold a lower amount from their taxes while declaring their W-4 Form. Eventually, the IRS refunds the amount at the end of the tax season. Should you opt to withhold exactly as much taxes as you owe, you will end up with some savings. You can then invest this additional amount into a tax-deferred retirement plan. Thus, do not forget to update your W-4 if there is any change in your filing status, income, employment, etc.

  • Refunds

And should you decide not to alter your withholdings, you can expect a refund from the IRS at the end of the tax season. You can use this refunded amount to fund your retirement. Depending on the amount that you receive, you can either put the entire amount into a tax-deferred investment account or a portion of it. If the refund is a considerable amount, you can opt to use only a portion of it.

Start saving for your retirement at the earliest and you will have to put away a smaller amount every month. This will give you a head start and the possibility of saving a higher amount as well.

Reference:

https://www.taxslayer.com/blog/how-much-do-i-need-to-save-to-retire/