Author: K Hoyng
Source: articledashboard.com
April 15th - "The Day of Reckoning"! Every year, millions of Americans get ready to pay taxes to Uncle Sam, or get ready to collect a tax refund from Uncle Sam; when did this become the great day that it is for taxpayers, and when are we actually required to file a income tax return? Let's take a look at the beginnings of the income tax date of April 15 and why it was chosen?
The first known income tax that Americans were legally required to pay was enacted during the early 1860s, and the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln. The Civil War was proving very costly to finance, and the President and Congress created the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and enacted a law requiring citizens to pay federal income tax. This could be considered the start of our modern day income tax. This income tax was based on principles of graduated or progressive taxation and of withholding income at the source. The commissioner was given authority to assess, levy and collect federal income taxes. The authority to enforce tax laws by seizure of property and income and by prosecution.
Originally, the deadline for completing and filing your individual income tax was not April 15th. In the beginning, it was first set for March 1st. Then, during 1918, Congress pushed the date out to March 15th. Then, in the great overhaul of 1954, the date was once again moved forward to April 15th, and this is where it remains today. Why April 15th? The main thought from most scholars say the reasoning is that the date gives the IRS more time to handle the work load and more time to hang on to your money before offering a tax refund. This date has only been set this way for a little over 50 years. That's not very long, in historical terms, and it could possibly be changed again.
If you are an individual taxpayer, you are required to file either a return or an extension of time to file (Form 4868) by April 15th. Corporate and other legal entities are required to file their federal income tax return by March 15th, and if not, they also must file an extension of time to file. What this extension does not do, is to extend the amount of time you have to pay any taxes due the government. So, if you are unable to ready your personal or business financial information in a timely manner, and have no reasonable estimate as to the amount of tax you may owe, you can expect to pay some form of penalty.
In the years following WWII, the burden of tax responsibility was shared fairly equally by the corporate world and the individual taxpayer. Today, however, the shift has been toward more responsibility on the part of the individual, and less on the business backs. To demonstrate how special interests have begun to overtake American politics, during 1867, public opinion was so strong, and the outcry of the general public so loud, that the President and Congress abolished the income tax law in 1872, and from 1872 until 1913 almost all of the revenue for government operation came from the sale of liquor, beer, wine, and tobacco. Although the income tax did make a small come back in 1894, it was found unconstitutional in 1895 by the U.S. Supreme Court because it was not apportioned among the states in conformity with the Constitution.
An interesting time during the formation and eventual taxation of America occurred during 1918. Until that point in time, the vast majority of tax revenue for government funding came from alcoholic beverage sales and high tariffs. In 1919, Congress passed an amendment to the Constitution that made it illegal to manufacture or sell alcohol; what would replace the revenue? American federal income tax was the proposed solution, and we've been paying since. Although during the great years known as Prohibition, many "revenue agents" spent their days tracking down "moon shiners" not tax evaders, the American citizen, the individual taxpayer took on the heavy burden of supporting government revenue, and it has become heavier with each passing year. On a side note, although "moon shining" was illegal, the "moon shiners" still had to pay taxes on the moon shine so they were incarcerated for tax evasion and not "moon shining". Taxes seem to always come into play when looking for a way to prosecute someone.
Then, during 1942, the Revenue Act of 1942 was passed and the "New Deal" era was begun. Since that point in time, government control, power, and expenditures has continued to increase at a phenomenal rate, and today the American taxpayer supports a trillion dollar giant known as the United States government. This ravenous beast consumes more than 10% of our earned income each year, and if the Social Security Administration has their way, will continue to consume even more of our weekly earnings. We can foresee no other relief in sight.
Currently, all the tax regulations for this country are the responsibility of the Internal Revenue Service, and there are four major divisions of this government office: the Wage and Investment, Small/Business Self-Employed, the Large and Midsize Business and the Tax Exempt and Government Entities. Each division has responsibilities as they pertain to their individual specialty.
There continues to be talk on the hill to change the way taxes are calculated and collected. The most common themes are the flat tax and the national sales tax. Until Congress actually has the courage to step up to the plate and change it, taxes will remain as cumbersome as always.
Showing posts with label income taxes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label income taxes. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Tax Tips for IT Consultants and Contractors
Author: Stephen Nelson
Source: articleage.com
I live and work, quite literally, down the road from the main Microsoft campus. No surprise, then, that I'm commonly asked by freelance consultants for the best ways that these self-employed independent contractors can minimize their income taxes.
If I can, I try to weasel my way out of the discussion, offering up such basic tidbits as, "Well, be sure to look at the home office deduction." And "make sure you're taking advantage of deductions for health insurance and pension funds."
Usually, those simplistic answers work. Everyone once in a while, though, I encounter some guy who's really motivated to save on taxes. Usually, someone now making good money consulting or contracting… When I can't deflect their questions in some other way, I tell them about the three best ways that independent contractors have to save on taxes.
Technique #1: Smooth Your Income
Whatever you think of the US Internal Revenue Code, you need to know that it's quite progressive. That progressivity means the more you make, the more you pay. The progressivity also means that if your income fluctuates, your income taxes go up even if you make the same money on average as someone else makes.
To give you an example of this, suppose that you compare two consultants, John and Jane. If John makes a steady $60,000 a year and has a mortgage, a spouse and couple of kids, he might pay about $1000 over four years (net of tax credits for these like his children.)
In comparison, suppose that Jane averages $60,000 a year, but sees her income fluctuate between $30,000 a year and $90,000 a year. If she also has a spouse, two kids and a mortgage, she'll probably pay $8,000 to $10,000 over those same four years.
Please note that over the same four years, the two consultants make the same amount of money: $240,000. But what they pay in taxes differs radically. Jane pays eight to ten times what John pays. Bummer.
What can Jane do? Well, let's bring this back to the example of working consultants. Jane can probably smooth her income. She can make sure that she's not stacking two big retainers or performance bonuses in the same year. She can spread out year-end payments over the ending and beginning year in ways that smooth her income out. She can even try to stuff more of her expenses into the good years. In the good years, for example, she can buy new computers, take those graduate classes, or top off her pension.
Technique #2: Setup an LLC and Elect S Corporation Status
I've written and talked much about how S corporations save taxpayers money and how the right way to set up an S corporation is first create a limited liability company and then ask the IRS to treat the LLC as an S corporation for tax purposes.
Let me review the basics here again, however. Suppose that you're making $90,000 a year as a consultant or contractor. If you just treat your business as a sole proprietorship, you might pay $12,000 in income taxes on the $90,000 and then another 15.3% self-employment tax, or roughly $13,500 on the $90,000.
If you set up an LLC and have the LLC treated as an S corporation, you'll still pay the same $12,000 in income taxes. But you'll only pay the 15.3% self-employment tax on that portion of the profit that you categorize as wages. If you categorize, say, $50,000 of the profits as wages, you'll pay $7,500 in self-employment taxes. (The other $40,000 in remaining profits, by the way, gets paid out as a dividend-like "distribution.")
Note, then, that the S corporation saves you roughly $6,000 every year. Sweet, right?
Two quick points about S corporations: First, S corporations require some extra tax and accounting so you don't get to spend all of your savings. Some of the savings go to the lawyer, the accountant, and the bank. Second, you absolutely must set your salary to a reasonable level.
Technique #3: Relocate Your Residency
One final, easy planning gambit if you telecommute. Remember that there are states like Alaska, Florida, Nevada, Texas and Washington that don't charge residents state income taxes. Accordingly, if you relocate to one of these states, you'll automatically drop your overall tax bill because you won't have state income taxes.
Sometimes, one of the benefits of independent contracting and freelance consulting is that is that you do get to live wherever you want. Why not choose a place that doesn't tax your income?
But a caution: Do be careful that you don't get blindsided by the other taxes a state levies. For example, Washington state where I live charges a one and half percent excise tax on service revenue. This is probably still less than the income taxes that many other states charge. But it highlights an important caveat: Before you move to some other state, you definitely want to run the numbers and compare your current state to the possible new state.
Florida LLC formation expert Stephen L. Nelson CPA has written more than 150 books. Formerly an adjunct tax professor at Golden Gate University, Nelson is also the author of Quicken for Dummies. Copyright ฉ by 2006 by Stephen L. Nelson.
Source: articleage.com
I live and work, quite literally, down the road from the main Microsoft campus. No surprise, then, that I'm commonly asked by freelance consultants for the best ways that these self-employed independent contractors can minimize their income taxes.
If I can, I try to weasel my way out of the discussion, offering up such basic tidbits as, "Well, be sure to look at the home office deduction." And "make sure you're taking advantage of deductions for health insurance and pension funds."
Usually, those simplistic answers work. Everyone once in a while, though, I encounter some guy who's really motivated to save on taxes. Usually, someone now making good money consulting or contracting… When I can't deflect their questions in some other way, I tell them about the three best ways that independent contractors have to save on taxes.
Technique #1: Smooth Your Income
Whatever you think of the US Internal Revenue Code, you need to know that it's quite progressive. That progressivity means the more you make, the more you pay. The progressivity also means that if your income fluctuates, your income taxes go up even if you make the same money on average as someone else makes.
To give you an example of this, suppose that you compare two consultants, John and Jane. If John makes a steady $60,000 a year and has a mortgage, a spouse and couple of kids, he might pay about $1000 over four years (net of tax credits for these like his children.)
In comparison, suppose that Jane averages $60,000 a year, but sees her income fluctuate between $30,000 a year and $90,000 a year. If she also has a spouse, two kids and a mortgage, she'll probably pay $8,000 to $10,000 over those same four years.
Please note that over the same four years, the two consultants make the same amount of money: $240,000. But what they pay in taxes differs radically. Jane pays eight to ten times what John pays. Bummer.
What can Jane do? Well, let's bring this back to the example of working consultants. Jane can probably smooth her income. She can make sure that she's not stacking two big retainers or performance bonuses in the same year. She can spread out year-end payments over the ending and beginning year in ways that smooth her income out. She can even try to stuff more of her expenses into the good years. In the good years, for example, she can buy new computers, take those graduate classes, or top off her pension.
Technique #2: Setup an LLC and Elect S Corporation Status
I've written and talked much about how S corporations save taxpayers money and how the right way to set up an S corporation is first create a limited liability company and then ask the IRS to treat the LLC as an S corporation for tax purposes.
Let me review the basics here again, however. Suppose that you're making $90,000 a year as a consultant or contractor. If you just treat your business as a sole proprietorship, you might pay $12,000 in income taxes on the $90,000 and then another 15.3% self-employment tax, or roughly $13,500 on the $90,000.
If you set up an LLC and have the LLC treated as an S corporation, you'll still pay the same $12,000 in income taxes. But you'll only pay the 15.3% self-employment tax on that portion of the profit that you categorize as wages. If you categorize, say, $50,000 of the profits as wages, you'll pay $7,500 in self-employment taxes. (The other $40,000 in remaining profits, by the way, gets paid out as a dividend-like "distribution.")
Note, then, that the S corporation saves you roughly $6,000 every year. Sweet, right?
Two quick points about S corporations: First, S corporations require some extra tax and accounting so you don't get to spend all of your savings. Some of the savings go to the lawyer, the accountant, and the bank. Second, you absolutely must set your salary to a reasonable level.
Technique #3: Relocate Your Residency
One final, easy planning gambit if you telecommute. Remember that there are states like Alaska, Florida, Nevada, Texas and Washington that don't charge residents state income taxes. Accordingly, if you relocate to one of these states, you'll automatically drop your overall tax bill because you won't have state income taxes.
Sometimes, one of the benefits of independent contracting and freelance consulting is that is that you do get to live wherever you want. Why not choose a place that doesn't tax your income?
But a caution: Do be careful that you don't get blindsided by the other taxes a state levies. For example, Washington state where I live charges a one and half percent excise tax on service revenue. This is probably still less than the income taxes that many other states charge. But it highlights an important caveat: Before you move to some other state, you definitely want to run the numbers and compare your current state to the possible new state.
Florida LLC formation expert Stephen L. Nelson CPA has written more than 150 books. Formerly an adjunct tax professor at Golden Gate University, Nelson is also the author of Quicken for Dummies. Copyright ฉ by 2006 by Stephen L. Nelson.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
The History of US Income Tax Increases
Author: Roni Deutch
Source: articlesbase.com
The Revenue Act of 1916Nearly a hundred years ago, one of the earliest major tax increases in America was under the Revenue Act of 1916. Prior to the act, only 2% of citizens paid income taxes, and those who did have to pay only paid a mere 1-5%. In order to pay for war expenses, and stabilize the U.S. economy, the new act raised the lowest tax rates by 1%, and the top tax rate by a staggering 15%. However, these increases were not exclusive to income taxes, as rates levied on businesses and estates were also raised. Although experts at the time predicted these taxes would be enough, the First World War quickly became more costly than expected.The War Revenue ActJust one year later, in 1917 the properly named War Revenue Act increased taxes yet again. As part of the act, the cutoff for the U.S.s highest income tax rate went from $1.5 million to only $40,000. Keep in mind that this was 1917 dollars, and citizens making $40,000 per year would be considered wealthy by todays standards. Only a few months after the War Revenue Act passed, another act was passed to collect additional revenue from taxpayers. All in all, personal income taxes reportedly paid for over a third of all the Word War I related expenses the U.S. incurred.The Great DepressionAs we all know, the 1920s were a great time in America. The economy was great, tax rates were low, and Federal revenue was flowing. That is until the stock market crash of 1929, which triggered the start of the great depression. Between 1932 and 1936, taxes were increased several times to support economic recovery. By 1937 the lowest income tax rate in the country was 4% and the highest was an astounding 79%. Comparatively, the highest 2009 tax Federal income tax rate is only 35%.The "Victory" TaxOften referred to as the biggest tax increase in more than 20 years, the US Revenue Act of 1942 " also known as the "victory" tax " was more than just one little tax increase. Although it's name may lead you to think the act was meant to bump the economy, the money was actually used to prepare for World War II.Another reason this particular act was so upsetting to many was because up until it passed, only about 5% of Americans had to pay Federal income taxes. However after it was enacted, the act raised the percent of Americans paying income taxes to 75%. In addition to raising income taxes, the act also increased corporate tax rates by nearly 10%, decreased personal exemptions from $1,500 to $1,200, and decreased dependent exemptions from $400 to $350.The Revenue Act of 1951Only 9 years after the last large tax increase bill, the Revenue Act of 1951 was introduced to generate even more Federal revenue. However, although both personal and corporate tax rates were raised by as much as 5%, the governments total tax revenue actually dropped in the years following the Revenue Act of 1951.The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982In 1981, the Economy Recovery Act became law and contained some of the biggest tax cuts of modern American history. However, just a year later, Congress passed the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which raised the federal unemployment base wage and the FUTA tax rate. The act also setup new excise taxes on airports, airways, telephones and cigarettes. Finally, the act also reduced the limit on tax-free contributions to defined-contribution pension plans by $15,475, and reduced limits on benefits from a defined-benefit plan from $136,425 to $90,000.The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993Signed in to law under President Bill Clinton, the highly controversial Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 drastically increased personal income tax rates. Just three years prior, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 had increased the top U.S. income tax rate to 31%, but under the new act it was further increased to 39.6%. Corporate tax rates also increased to 35%.
Source: articlesbase.com
The Revenue Act of 1916Nearly a hundred years ago, one of the earliest major tax increases in America was under the Revenue Act of 1916. Prior to the act, only 2% of citizens paid income taxes, and those who did have to pay only paid a mere 1-5%. In order to pay for war expenses, and stabilize the U.S. economy, the new act raised the lowest tax rates by 1%, and the top tax rate by a staggering 15%. However, these increases were not exclusive to income taxes, as rates levied on businesses and estates were also raised. Although experts at the time predicted these taxes would be enough, the First World War quickly became more costly than expected.The War Revenue ActJust one year later, in 1917 the properly named War Revenue Act increased taxes yet again. As part of the act, the cutoff for the U.S.s highest income tax rate went from $1.5 million to only $40,000. Keep in mind that this was 1917 dollars, and citizens making $40,000 per year would be considered wealthy by todays standards. Only a few months after the War Revenue Act passed, another act was passed to collect additional revenue from taxpayers. All in all, personal income taxes reportedly paid for over a third of all the Word War I related expenses the U.S. incurred.The Great DepressionAs we all know, the 1920s were a great time in America. The economy was great, tax rates were low, and Federal revenue was flowing. That is until the stock market crash of 1929, which triggered the start of the great depression. Between 1932 and 1936, taxes were increased several times to support economic recovery. By 1937 the lowest income tax rate in the country was 4% and the highest was an astounding 79%. Comparatively, the highest 2009 tax Federal income tax rate is only 35%.The "Victory" TaxOften referred to as the biggest tax increase in more than 20 years, the US Revenue Act of 1942 " also known as the "victory" tax " was more than just one little tax increase. Although it's name may lead you to think the act was meant to bump the economy, the money was actually used to prepare for World War II.Another reason this particular act was so upsetting to many was because up until it passed, only about 5% of Americans had to pay Federal income taxes. However after it was enacted, the act raised the percent of Americans paying income taxes to 75%. In addition to raising income taxes, the act also increased corporate tax rates by nearly 10%, decreased personal exemptions from $1,500 to $1,200, and decreased dependent exemptions from $400 to $350.The Revenue Act of 1951Only 9 years after the last large tax increase bill, the Revenue Act of 1951 was introduced to generate even more Federal revenue. However, although both personal and corporate tax rates were raised by as much as 5%, the governments total tax revenue actually dropped in the years following the Revenue Act of 1951.The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982In 1981, the Economy Recovery Act became law and contained some of the biggest tax cuts of modern American history. However, just a year later, Congress passed the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which raised the federal unemployment base wage and the FUTA tax rate. The act also setup new excise taxes on airports, airways, telephones and cigarettes. Finally, the act also reduced the limit on tax-free contributions to defined-contribution pension plans by $15,475, and reduced limits on benefits from a defined-benefit plan from $136,425 to $90,000.The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993Signed in to law under President Bill Clinton, the highly controversial Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 drastically increased personal income tax rates. Just three years prior, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 had increased the top U.S. income tax rate to 31%, but under the new act it was further increased to 39.6%. Corporate tax rates also increased to 35%.
The Roni Deutch Tax Center is one of the nation's hottest income tax franchise. Income tax preparation is a recession resistant industry. Learn more about this new tax franchise opportunity today.
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