keep tax returns

5 Reasons You’ll Want to Keep Your Tax Returns (And How to Keep Them)

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Suppose you get a letter from the IRS, asking for information about your taxable income from two years ago? Would you know where to find your tax documents, including your tax returns, W-2 forms, 1099 forms, and business-related receipts? Unfortunately, many people throw these valuable documents away too early, complicating their tax audit strategies.

In this article, the experienced tax professionals at S.H. Block Tax Services explain why you need to hang onto your records, where you should store them to keep them secure, and when to keep them longer. Read more

How to Contact the IRS

Can I Call the IRS? How to Contact the Internal Revenue Service

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If you’ve ever had questions or concerns regarding your tax returns or tax payments, you’ve likely experienced the pain of trying to get an IRS representative on the line. Sometimes this annoyance is avoidable. For general tax questions, the IRS provides answers via online FAQs and other resources. There are also several methods of contacting the IRS directly, which we’ll discuss in more detail below.

However, sometimes you don’t need to speak with an IRS agent at all. In many cases, the smartest option is to contact a skilled and experienced tax attorney to help you navigate the complicated world of tax planning liability resolution.

In this article, we’ll discuss various methods for contacting the IRS, tips for improving your IRS experience, and what to do if the IRS can’t (or won’t) help you. Read more

I’m Facing a Sales and Use Tax Audit

I’m Facing a Sales and Use Tax Audit — Help!

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Sales and use tax audits that result in large sums of uncollected or under-accrued taxes can crush a business, especially a small business. These assessments can decimate your existing cash flow, pressure you to extend your credit, and even force you to close your business.

If your small business is currently undergoing a sales and use tax audit from your state government or you think you might soon, there could be serious consequences, which is why it’s important to start preparing now. Keep reading and learn how S.H. Block Tax Services can help you avoid, prepare for, and navigate your upcoming audit successfully. Read more

IRS Collections Dispute

Dispute IRS Tax Debt: Here’s How

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If you have received a Notice of Intent to Levy or a Notice of Federal Tax Lien letter and feel the IRS erred in calculating your tax debt, you may be able to dispute their findings at a Collection Due Process hearing.

Keep reading to learn more about Collection Due Process, whether you qualify for a hearing, and how to file your request. Read more

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Understanding Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Debts, and Liability

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Business owners struggling to pay their monthly bills can easily become overwhelmed by debt. Running a business is hard enough, but when you add crippling credit card and loan debt into the mix, owners can find themselves in impossible situations.
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innocent spouse relief

Understanding the Similarities and Differences Between Innocent and Injured Spouse Relief 

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While there are many benefits to checking “married filing jointly” on your tax return, there could also be serious consequences if your spouse incurs significant tax debt or has encountered legal issues. An experienced tax lawyer can help you navigate these complicated matters and potentially avoid penalization for your spouse’s mistakes or misconduct.

Read this article to learn more about innocent and injured spouse tax relief and how these programs could work in your favor if your spouse has gotten into hot water with Uncle Sam. Read more

Claiming dependents

Who Qualifies as a Dependent on My Tax Returns?

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As much as you love receiving that tax return check in the mail, filing your returns can be a very complicated, headache-producing process. This is especially true if you have a unique dependent situation and aren’t quite sure who you can claim. An experienced tax lawyer can help you determine who can be a dependent and the best way to claim them on your taxes. Read on for information regarding who to claim as a child or adult dependent and what to do if you have a unique family situation.

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Tax Identity Theft

Protect Yourself from Tax Identity Theft in 2019 with These Helpful Tips

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Tax season is over, and some taxpayers have already been alerted to a serious issue regarding their returns: identity theft. Along with opening new accounts and credit cards in your name, tax identity theft is one of the main uses for stolen Social Security numbers.

Below, the tax professionals at SH Block Tax Services explain the essentials of tax identity theft and the findings of the IRS’ 2019 “Taxes. Security. Together.” awareness campaign. Read more

Tax Season

Tax Season Is Right Around the Corner — Start Preparing Today! 

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Tax season is back, and for most people, it comes with plenty of anxiety and frustration. But tax time doesn’t have to be this way. There are some simple actions you can take to streamline the process and get ahead of the game.

Now is the time to begin preparing for tax season, and if you follow the tips in this article, this could be the year you start making sound financial decisions that will pay major dividends for you and your family. Read more

Things Not To Do on Taxes

4 Things You Should Never Do During Tax Season (and 4 Tips on What to Do Instead)

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Here at S.H. Block Tax Services, we look forward all year to National Tax Day on April 15. However, we recognize that most people’s stress levels steadily rise in the weeks leading up to tax-filing time and peak on April 15. In fact, a 2012 study analyzed 30 years of data and found that auto accidents spike 6% on Tax Day.

We’re not here to pass judgment, but we can say from decades of experience that many people’s tax-time stress is self-inflicted. Often, easing the pain of tax season is a matter of getting rid of bad habits and replacing them with healthy and constructive ones.

To help you cut down on unnecessary tax-time headaches, we’ve created a list of four things you should never do on Tax Day. For each entry on the list, we’ve provided a good habit you can use to replace the bad one. If you use this list to reshape your tax preparation and filing habits, you’ll never have to dread the calendar march toward April 15 again. Read more