The IRS is stepping up its creativity by utilizing resources that stem beyond the basic IRS database. Recently, the IRS announced that it plans to expand a program that cross-references between the IRS database and mortgage payment databases to catch any inconsistencies.
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration announced that the IRS will use the mortgage-interest payment databases to inspect and find non-filers as well as people who reported less
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For self-employed taxpayers whose taxes are not automatically deducted by their employer, it is especially important that they stay on top of their tax returns to avoid IRS penalties. Income from interest and proceeds due to real estate and stock sales are considered taxable income. If you receive money from your real estate or stock sales and do not report these revenues as taxable income, you are inviting yourself
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As the economy grows gloomier, identity thieves are getting more desperate and creative to trick people into paying up. The latest IRS warning urges  people to be cautious of identity theft scams that involve using the IRS name, logo, and web address to fool people into believing the IRS is contacting them to request personal information.
Protect your finances and personal information from identity thieves by staying alert and cautious around
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With the recent surge in IRS enforcement, small businesses have become a major target for the government. The staggering annual $345 billion tax gap can be largely attributed to small business tax evasion; much of this has been because small businesses are difficult to enforce and many can manage to slip through the tax cracks by underreporting actual income.
Therefore, the IRS has shifted into high gears to catch and penalize
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If you are currently dealing with tax problems, now is a good time to get tax help before the new tax hikes kick in. The Obama Administration is continuing with its steadfast endeavor to collect back taxes as well as to collect more taxes from the wealthy and powerful.
Currently planned for 2011, Obama’s biggest tax hike will affect married filers making over $250,000 and singles making more than $200,000. In
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Whether or not you are legally obligated to report tip as income has been somewhat of a fuzzy area (especially cash tips!). Skimping on reporting your full tip (100% of your tip retained) is considered deliberately underreporting income and may be subject to severe IRS audits and penalties.
If you made more than $20 in tips in any one month, you will have to report the full amount of the tip
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It can happen to any of us–you go through all the paperwork, fill in all the necessary information to the best of your abilities, and you drop the tax return in the mail. No sooner had you sent out your tax return did you remember that you forgot to add something from another W-2 or 1099. Now you have to file an amended tax return…
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Question: How do I go about
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UBS has just struck a deal with the US Government to give up 52,000 names of Americans who have Swiss bank accounts. In the upcoming weeks, we can expect to see many guilty tax evaders being charged with heavy IRS penalties as well as innocent account holders who will need to defend themselves. (Read more about the latest UBS settlement.)
It is not uncommon for American businesspeople to hold foreign bank
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Check out our latest TRS IRS tax help newsletter for tax tips, IRS insider news, and income tax relief advice.
Many taxpayers who are in IRS trouble have found it difficult to be approved for IRS settlements such as the Offer in Compromise program. Historically, OIC application approval rates have remained under 25%. Recently, the IRS has updated the OIC application forms so that it is easier for applicants to understand.
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As a part of recent IRS efforts to find wealthy Americans who have been deliberately evading taxes by using offshore bank accounts, a deal has been reached today with UBS. The US Government and Switzerland have come to an agreement today that will force the Swiss bank, UBS, to turn over 52,000 names of suspected tax evaders.
According to the New York Times (www.nytimes.com), “UBS and the Swiss government have been
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Recently I spoke with Russ and Sully on the Big Biz Show to discuss how the more aggressive IRS tax collection effort is affecting tax cheaters as well as innocent law-abiding taxpayers.
Unfortunately, during this tense climate of increasing IRS enforcements, even some innocent people are going to get weaved into the mix and may find themselves in IRS trouble. Many of these innocent taxpayers will be able to explain and
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This year, Tax Resolution Services has been busier than the last few years. We have seen 30% more clients that are small businesses, sole proprietorship, and independent contractors who all gross less than $2 million; some with payroll problems and delinquent business tax problems. Payroll tax problems such as delinquent payroll tax deposits can result in severe IRS penalties, so it is important to stay informed and seek help when
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In the current economy, tax problems can confound anyone–especially if your spouse suddenly lost his/her job or if you default on a loan.  I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Drew on the Money, Riches, and Wealth Radio Show to answer tax problem questions from regular taxpayers who may not be able to afford tax lawyers. Read on for information regarding paying the government taxes you owe and
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Small business owners and sole proprietors have been identified as the largest group that is contributing to the increasing tax gap of $350 billion/year. It is extremely difficult for the IRS to investigate each small business owner to uncover tax evasion acts such as under-reporting income.
In the current economy, the astonishing yearly tax gap is alarming to policymakers who are desperately short of funds. They find that they cannot fulfill
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In the current environment of increasing IRS enforcement efforts, it is unwise for taxpayers to evade taxes and think that they can get away with it.
While it may be true that a small percentage of tax evaders could enjoy a few years of “freedom” from the IRS, the ones who do get caught could be served with debilitating bank levies and heavy wage garnishments for life. (And you never know
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