CPA Blog (Nerd Talk)Crunching Numbers. Nurturing Finances. Tax Talk.

IRS Child Tax Credit Letter May Be Inaccurate

For millions of families, one bright spot in this year’s tax season is that they can expect to get the rest of their child tax credit payments for 2021. Last year, most families received half of this, via monthly payments, with the remaining half slated for when families receive their 2021 refunds. To help things …

What Is the Michigan SALT Deduction Cap Workaround?

The Michigan Legislature joined several other states last year in helping eligible taxpayers offset the SALT Deduction Cap with the passage of H.B. 5376. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the bill into law in December. So, what does this mean for Michigan businesses? If you have a flow-through entity and you paid more than $10,000 in …

New Online Identity Verification Process for IRS Online

User-friendly access to IRS online tools enables fuss-free management for your accounting needs, minimizing the risks of errors and delays. Conventionally, accessing online IRS services required a manual log-in with IRS usernames and credentials.  The IRS recently launched a mobile-friendly verification process with the ID.me online identity network, which allows you to log into your …

Gamblers Rejoice!

Offset Those Winnings! Michigan gambling taxes are getting clarifications. If you hit it big at a Michigan casino (or while playing blackjack from your phone) in 2021, here’s some good news. Historically, the IRS has allowed gambling losses to offset gambling winnings so that taxpayers are not paying tax on the money they don’t have. …

Standardized Versus Itemized Deductions and Tax Brackets

Tax season can send terror through the hearts of the bravest citizens. You want your tax return to follow the law, but you also want to keep as much money as possible away from the IRS, that unpopular entity with so much power over your finances. This process can be like walking a tightrope between …

Year-End Tax To-Do’s

Year-End Tax Tips for a Successful Tax Season There are always changes going on in the tax world, legislation always making things interesting for us. Here are some things you can do NOW that will make your tax return go smoother. Record Keeping There are many different aspects of a tax return that depend on …

FICA Taxes That Are Withheld: Social Security & Medicare

There are two components of FICA tax that are withheld from your payroll check, Social Security and Medicare. You’ll want to know how to calculate the withholdings on your payroll taxes. Both employees and employers equally split this mandatory payroll tax. FICA taxes differs from the federal and state income tax by taking a percentage …

Get Ready for the Advance Child Tax Credit

Learn More About the Advance Child Tax Credit Heya folks! This summer, the IRS will help families by sending out advance payments of the Advance Child Tax Credit. We’re here to share the news and let you know how to claim your payments. If you are still reading this, then you probably have a qualifying …

COVID Stimulus Round 3

Don’t give the IRS more money than you’re supposed to Key Provisions of Biden’s COVID Stimulus Bill Labeled as the “American Rescue Plan Act”, this bill will affect a lot of individuals and businesses. Unemployment Compensation, retroactive to 2020 tax year. The first $10,200 of unemployment benefits will be nontaxable per taxpayer, assuming their adjusted …