Tax Tips Archives - Page 2 of 2

Don’t Forget This Essential Step if You Are Starting a New Business

September 24, 2020

Starting a new business is a process that involves many steps, and one of the most important is getting an Employer Identification Number, or EIN.

Read on to learn more about this important step and to discover how to apply for an EIN.

What Is An Employer Identification Number?

An Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as Federal Tax Identification Number, is used to identify employers for tax purposes, and most businesses need one. EINs have nine digits and are assigned by the Internal Revenue Service. If you already have an EIN and the organization or ownership of your business changes, then you may need a new number.

How to Know if I Need an EIN?

Finding out whether you need an EIN is a very simple process. Ask yourself the following six questions. If you answer “Yes” to any of them, then you need an EIN.

Does your company has employees?
Do you file any of these tax returns: Employment, Excise, or Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms?
Does your business operate as a corporation or partnership?
Do you withhold taxes on income, other than wages, paid to a non-resident alien?
Do you have a Keogh plan?
Are you involved with any of the following types of organizations?

Trusts, except certain grantor-owned revocable trusts, IRAs, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Returns
Estates
Real estate mortgage investment conduits
Non-profit organizations
Farmers’ cooperatives
Plan administrators

How to Apply for an EIN?

You can apply for an EIN in a variety of ways, including by fax, mail, telephone (for international applicants), and online. The IRS offers this service for free and issues only one EIN per responsible party per day.

Keep This in Mind About EINs

Above all, an important fact to keep in mind about EINs is that you must make sure to keep your business mailing address, location, and responsible party up to date. EIN holders must report changes in the responsible party within 60 days. Therefore you must be diligent when any of these modifications take place.

Contact the Experts at JT Tax Services

If you are starting a new business and need help choosing the right structure, contact the experts at JT Tax Services today. We have the experience, the knowledge, and the drive to assist you. With our advice, you can file your taxes with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are limiting your liability while staying compliant with federal and state tax regulations.

We are located in Oxnard, California. Contact us by email, telephone, or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to learn more about our services.

Does Your ITIN Expire This Year? Renew It to Avoid Refund Delays

By: UNIKO Media Group

September 5, 2020

If your ITIN expires this year, or if it already expired, you should renew it as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary refund delays when you file your tax return next year.

Read on to discover what ITIN stands for, what ITINs expire this year, and how to renew this important identification number.

What Is an ITIN?

It’s worth remembering that ITIN stands for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. This is a 9-digit number that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) assigns to those taxpayers who don’t qualify for a Social Security Number (SSN) but need an identification number for tax purposes.

What ITINs Expire in 2020?

The following ITINs expire on December 31, 2020. They must be renewed to avoid delays in your tax refund next year:

ITINs with middle digits 88
Those with middle digits 90, 91, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99, if assigned before 2013 and if not already renewed

How to Renew an ITIN

To renew your ITIN, fill out Form W-7 and submit all required documentation. When you submit the form you are not required to attach a tax return, but you must indicate the reason why you need an ITIN.

Later this summer the IRS will send notices to people whose ITIN expires this year. The notices include instructions about how to renew the ITIN. If your ITIN expired already and you expect to file a tax return in 2021, you can renew your ITIN any time.

If you receive a renewal letter, you have the option of renewing ITINs for your entire family at the same time. This includes the tax filer, spouse, and any dependents claimed on the tax return.

Avoid These Common Mistakes When Renewing Your ITIN

These are some common mistakes people make when they renew their ITIN. Avoid them to ensure that the process is as agile and fast as possible.

Mailing identification documentation without a Form W-7
Missing information on the Form W-7
Insufficient supporting documentation, such as proof of U.S. residency or documents that support name changes.

Contact the Experts at JT Tax Services

Looking for expert, dependable advice on taxes? At JT Tax Services we have the experience, the knowledge, and the drive to assist you. With our advice, you can file your taxes with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are limiting your liability while staying compliant with federal and state tax regulations.

We are located in Oxnard, California. Contact us today by email, telephone, or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to learn more about our services.

3 Tools You Need After Filing Your Taxes

By: UNIKO Media Group

July 23, 2020

The deadline to file and pay your taxes was July 15. If you filed on time, well done! You’ve taken care of what’s arguably the hardest part. However, there is still some work to do. Read on to discover three tools you may find useful after filing your taxes.

Check the Status of Your Refund After Filing Your Taxes

Checking on your refund is easy with the online resources provided by the IRS. The online tool Where’s My Refund is available both on the IRS website and in the mobile app IRS2GO. The information on the website and the app is updated once a day, usually overnight, so there’s no need to check more often than that. To get the status of your refund, you’ll need the following:

The first Social Security Number on your tax return.
Tax filing status (single, married, head of household).
Expected refund amount.

If you don’t have access to a computer or a mobile phone, you can contact the IRS by phone at 800-829-1954.

How to Do a Paycheck Checkup

Doing a paycheck checkup will help you ensure that your employer is withholding the right amount of taxes from your paycheck. This precaution is a smart way to avoid unexpected year-end tax bills or a penalty. To do your paycheck checkup, use the Tax Withholding Estimator provided by the IRS itself.

How to Determine if You Need to Amend a Tax Return

If after filing your taxes you realize that there’s a mistake or information you forgot to include, you can use the interactive assistant Should I File an Amendment Return? to determine whether you should correct and error or make other changes to the tax return you already filed.

As a rule of thumb, the errors that you have to correct are those related to filing status, income, deductions, and credits. Usually, you don’t need to file an amendment return for math errors or if you forgot to attach a form or schedule. In those cases, the IRS will either correct the math error and notify you by mail or request any missing schedule or form, also by mail.

More Tax Resources

Do you want to get more useful information to file your taxes? We’ve got you covered! These are some previous posts you may find useful:

And if you still haven’t filed your taxes, don’t worry! You still have alternatives. Contact our experts at JT Tax Services; they will help you determine what’s the best course of action.

Get Help From the Experts at JT Tax Services

The world of taxes is besieged by myths and other outdated or otherwise unreliable advice. That’s why is important to get help from a tax expert who can guide you with professionalism providing trustworthy information.

At JT Tax Services we have the experience, the knowledge, and the drive to assist you. With our advice, you can file your taxes with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are limiting your liability while staying compliant with federal and state tax regulations.

We are located in Oxnard, California. Contact us by email, telephone, or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to learn more about our services.

4 Ideas to Keep in Mind When You File Your Taxes

By: UNIKO Media Group

July 8, 2020

Remember: the deadline to pay and file your taxes is July 15. Although filing your tax return can be a complex process, there’s no reason to feel overwhelmed. Below you will find four tips that will help you take the stress out of Tax Day.

File Your Taxes Electronically

Filing your taxes electronically is your best option. The process is simple, fast, and secure. Furthermore, filing electronically reduces the risk of mistakes, since all calculations are verified by a tax program. Combining electronic filing with direct deposit is the best way to ensure that you get your tax refund as soon as possible (find more about tax refunds below).

If you don’t know how to file your taxes electronically yourself, or if you need assistance to make sure you stay compliant with all applicable regulations, contact the experts at JT Tax Services. They will be happy to help you take advantage of filing your taxes electronically.

How to Easily Check the Status of Your Refund

Checking the status of your refund is really easy. You have two main options to do this. You can use the online tool Where’s My Refund? provided by the IRS or you can download the IRS2GO mobile app in order to have the same information readily available on your smartphone. These are the most efficient ways to get information about the status of your refund. You can also contact the automated refund hotline at 800-829-1954, but as the IRS points out, there’s no need to call unless the online tool indicates you to do so.

Your Options if You Can’t File or Pay Your Taxes by July 15

Not everybody is ready to file and pay their taxes just yet. These are your options if you need more time in each case.

Request an extension to file: If you can’t file your tax return by July 15, you can request an extension to file that will give you time until October 15, 2020, to file your return. You can request an extension by making a payment using IRS Free File and selecting extension as the reason for the payment. Alternatively, you may also mail a Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension for Time to File, by the July 15 filing deadline.
Set up an Installment Agreement: On the other hand, if you can’t pay by July 15, you may qualify for an Installment Agreement to spread out your payment over a set period of time. If you are interested in requesting an Installment Agreement, you can do so online, or by downloading and mailing Form 9465 (Installment Agreement Request) to the IRS along with a tax return, IRS bill or notice.

Depending on your specific situation, you may have more options available to you if you can’t file or pay your taxes by July 15. You can check some of these additional options here. Contact a tax expert to learn more about the alternatives that best fit your personal situation.

Get Advice From the Experts at JT Tax Services

Equipped with these tips, you will be able to file your taxes easily and with no stress. However, it’s always important to get personalized advice. Our knowledgeable experts at JT Tax Services will help you so you can take advantage of all the relief initiatives you are eligible for while staying compliant with all regulations that apply.

At JT Tax Services we have the experience, the knowledge and the drive to assist you. With our advice, you can file your taxes with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are limiting your liability while staying compliant with federal and state tax regulations.

We are located in Oxnard, California. Contact us by email, telephone (805-984-8890) or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to learn more about our services.