Business or Hobby? Tax Tips for Reporting Side Income
Millions of people enjoy hobbies that are also a source of income. Some examples include stamp and coin collecting, craft making, and horsemanship. You must report on your tax return the income you earn from a hobby. The rules for how you report the income and expenses depend on whether the activity is a hobby […]
Tax Deductions by Donating Household Items
It’s a common practice during the summer: After a spring cleaning, many people try to sell the household items they no longer need or want in a “garage sale” (known as a “lawn sale, “tag sale” or some other name in parts of the country). But what to do with those items that are left […]
Texas Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday
Earlier this year, the Texas state legislature voted to create a sales tax holiday that will coincide with the back-to-school time frame. The state has had a back-to-school sales tax holiday, commonly called “Tax Free Weekend”, each year since 1999. The Texas State Comptroller announced earlier this month that the sales tax holiday will last from August 8 […]
Top Ten Tax Facts if You Sell Your Home
Do you know that if you sell your home and make a profit, the gain may not be taxable? That’s just one key tax rule that you should know. Here are ten facts to keep in mind if you sell your home this year. 1. If you have a capital gain on the sale of your […]
IRS Fast Track Settlement Program- Help for Small Businesses & the Self-Employed
Fast Track Settlement offers Small Business/Self-Employed taxpayers an opportunity to resolve tax disputes at the earliest possible stage in the examination process. Once your application is accepted, the goal is resolution within 60 days. With FTS, a trained mediator from the IRS Office of Appeals is assigned to help you and the IRS reach an […]
Don’t Gamble with the IRS – Reporting Winnings & Losses
Going on a fun trip this summer where you’re planning to do some gambling? Whether you like to play the ponies, roll the dice or pull the slots, your gambling winnings are taxable. You must report all your gambling income on your tax return. If you’re a casual gambler, odds are good that these basic […]
Summer Weddings Mean Tax Changes
Taxes may not be high on your summer wedding plan checklist. But you should be aware of the tax issues that come along with marriage. Here are some basic tips that can help keep those issues to a minimum: Name change. The names and Social Security numbers on your tax return must match your Social […]
Moving and Your Taxes
Summer is a time where many families decide to move, since the kids are out of school and it may be easier to get vacation time from work. Below, we detail the many ways moving can affect your taxes. Moving Out of State Texas is one of seven states that does not collect a state income […]
Avoiding the Top Tax Mistakes that Small Businesses Make
As we are half way through the year, now is the best time to take action and avoid most common tax mistakes that small businesses make. Following are some of the best practices to help your business avoid tax trouble. Maintain Good Records Mid-year is an ideal time to examine your recordkeeping habits. Good recordkeeping […]
Alert of New Email Phishing Scam
The IRS has been alerted to a new email phishing scam. The emails appear to be from the IRS and include a link to a bogus web site intended to mirror the official IRS web site. These emails contain the direction “you are to update your IRS e-file immediately.” The emails mention USA.gov and IRSgov, […]
Supreme Court Rules Inherited IRAs are Not Protected in Bankruptcy
A unanimous Supreme Court has held that the funds in an inherited IRA do not qualify for exemption in bankruptcy because they do not share the same characteristics as “retirement funds” that traditional IRAs have. In 2000, Ruth Heffron established a traditional IRA and named her daughter, Heidi Heffron-Clark, as the sole beneficiary. When Ms. […]
Reclassify Your Independent Contractors to Employees and Save
Having to add to payroll can be a momentous step for budding small businesses, but the tax implications can be burdensome. By hiring employees, a small business owner is subject to payroll processing fees, extra paperwork with quarterly and annual filings, payment of payroll tax deposits, as well as the added cost of matching Social […]
Are You Exempt from Affordable Care Act Penalties?
Are you unsure if you need to sign up for health insurance? Don’t worry, we can help you understand who is exempt from having insurance under the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act requires that all Americans have health insurance starting in 2014. Those who choose to not have insurance will have to pay […]
Tax Information for Students Who Take a Summer Job
Many students take a job in the summer after school lets out. If it’s your first job it gives you a chance to learn about the working world. That includes taxes we pay to support the place where we live, our state and our nation. Here are eight things that students who take a summer […]
Why Many Restaurants Fail in the First Year of Operation
Opening a restaurant can seem like a failsafe venture. After all, everyone has to eat. The reality, however, is that eateries are notoriously risky enterprises, with most studies suggesting that somewhere around 60% of them will fold within the first year. At Dorian CPA Firm, we are experienced accountants with expertise working for local restaurant […]
Myths About IRS Audits
There’s plenty of misinformation circling around out there about IRS audits. It’s time to clear the air and get the facts. A Different Kind of One Percent-er Research and hard facts tell us everything we need to know – less than 1% of the tax-paying population whose annual earned income falls between $15,000 and $100,000 […]
Tax Relief for Small Businesses in 2014
It’s not too early for small business owners to begin planning to take advantage of various tax-saving opportunities when they file their 2014 federal income tax returns. In addition, substantial relief from past payroll tax obligations is available to eligible employers who agree to reclassify their workers as employees in the future. Here are further […]
3 Ways You Can Use Technology to Simplify Your Payroll
To save money and time, it’s critical that you simplify your company’s payroll processes and modern technological advances let you do this with minimal hassle. If you haven’t started using powerful accounting software or cloud services to help you streamline your payroll processes, our Dallas CPA is here to help you with three ways you […]
IRS Penalties for Filing and Paying Late
April 15 is the tax day deadline for most people. If you’re due a refund there’s no penalty if you file a late tax return. But if you owe taxes and you fail to file and pay on time, you’ll usually owe interest and penalties on the taxes you pay late. Here are eight facts […]
Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Hire a CPA for Your Restaurant Accounting Tasks
Owners of new restaurants don’t always make hiring a Certified Public Accountant a priority, but putting a CPA on your payroll can make a huge difference in whether your eatery succeeds. The Dallas financial team at Dorian CPA Firm encourages restaurant owners to consider these main reasons why an accounting professional is so essential to […]
