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Federal and Louisiana Taxes

Tag Archives: Federal Income Tax

Home Energy -Efficient Credit

1 Comment Posted by on April 10, 2013

IRS 2013-48

If you made your home more energy efficient last year, you may qualify for a tax credit on your 2012 federal income tax return. Here is some basic information about home energy credits that you should know.

Non-Business Energy Property Credit
•You may claim a credit of 10 percent of the cost of certain energy saving property that you added to your main home. This includes the cost of qualified insulation, windows, doors and roofs.

•In some cases, you may be able to claim the actual cost of certain qualified energy-efficient property. Each type of property has a different dollar limit. Examples include the cost of qualified water heaters and qualified heating and air conditioning systems.

•This credit has a maximum lifetime limit of $500. You may only use $200 of this limit for windows.

•Your main home must be located in the U.S. to qualify for the credit.

•Not all energy-efficient improvements qualify, so be sure you have the manufacturer’s credit certification statement. It is usually available on the manufacturer’s website or with the product’s packaging.

•The credit was to expire at the end of 2011. A recent law extended it for two years through the end of 2013.energy-efficient-house-medium

Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit
•This tax credit is 30 percent of the cost of alternative energy equipment that you installed on or in your home.

•Qualified equipment includes solar hot water heaters, solar electric equipment and wind turbines.

•There is no limit on the amount of credit available for most types of property. If your credit is more than the tax you owe, you can carry forward the unused portion of this credit to next year’s tax return.

•You must install qualifying equipment in connection with your home located in the United States. It does not have to be your main home.

•The credit is available through 2016.

Use Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits, to claim these credits. You can get Form 5695 at IRS.gov or order it by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

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Obama, Boehner, Reid Pass Budget Blame While Taxpayers Wonder: Who’s On First?

Leave a comment Posted by on December 28, 2012

Kelly Phillips Erb – Taxgirl – Forbes.

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More Flexible Offer-in-Compromise Terms Help Taxpayers Make a Fresh Start

Leave a comment Posted by on July 25, 2012

More Flexible Offer-in-Compromise Terms Help Taxpayers Make a Fresh Start.

More Flexible Offer-in-Compromise Terms Help Taxpayers Make a Fresh Start
IRS Summertime Tax Tip 2012-02

The IRS has expanded its “Fresh Start” initiative by offering more flexible terms to its Offer-in-Compromise Program. These newest rules enable some financially distressed taxpayers to clear up their tax problems even quicker.

An offer-in-compromise (OIC) is an agreement between a taxpayer and the IRS that settles the taxpayer’s tax liabilities for less than the full amount owed. An OIC is generally not accepted if the IRS believes the liability can be paid in full as a lump sum or through a payment agreement. The IRS looks at the taxpayer’s income and assets to determine the reasonable collection potential.

This expansion of the “Fresh Start” initiative focuses on the financial analysis used to determine which taxpayers qualify for an OIC.

Here are the OIC changes:

  • Revising the calculation for a taxpayer’s future income The IRS will now look at only one year (instead of four years) of future income for offers paid in five or fewer months; and two years (instead of five years) of future income for offers paid in six to 24 months. All OICs must be paid in full within 24 months of the date the offer is accepted.
  • Allowing taxpayers to repay their student loans Minimum payments on student loans guaranteed by the federal government will be allowed for the taxpayer’s post-high school education. Proof of payment must be provided.
  • Allowing taxpayers to pay state and local delinquent taxes When a taxpayer owes delinquent federal and state or local taxes, and does not have the ability to fully pay the liabilities, monthly payments to state taxing authorities may be allowed in certain circumstances.
  • Expanding the Allowable Living Expense allowance Standard allowances incorporate average expenses for basic necessities for citizens in similar geographic areas. These standards are used when evaluating installment agreement and offer-in-compromise requests. The National Standard miscellaneous allowance has been expanded. Taxpayers can use the allowance to cover expenses such as credit card payments and bank fees and charges.

More information on the “Fresh Start” initiative can be found at IRS.gov.

Form 656-B, Offer in Compromise Booklet, and Form 656, Offer in Compromise, can be found at IRS.gov or ordered by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

 

 

Links:

  • Form 656, Offer in Compromise (PDF)
  • Form 656-B, Offer in Compromise Booket (PDF)

 

 

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Renting Your Vacation Home

Leave a comment Posted by on July 25, 2012

Renting Your Vacation Home.

More Flexible Offer-in-Compromise Terms Help Taxpayers Make a Fresh Start
IRS Summertime Tax Tip 2012-02The IRS has expanded its “Fresh Start” initiative by offering more flexible terms to its Offer-in-Compromise Program. These newest rules enable some financially distressed taxpayers to clear up their tax problems even quicker.

An offer-in-compromise (OIC) is an agreement between a taxpayer and the IRS that settles the taxpayer’s tax liabilities for less than the full amount owed. An OIC is generally not accepted if the IRS believes the liability can be paid in full as a lump sum or through a payment agreement. The IRS looks at the taxpayer’s income and assets to determine the reasonable collection potential.

This expansion of the “Fresh Start” initiative focuses on the financial analysis used to determine which taxpayers qualify for an OIC.

Here are the OIC changes:

  • Revising the calculation for a taxpayer’s future income The IRS will now look at only one year (instead of four years) of future income for offers paid in five or fewer months; and two years (instead of five years) of future income for offers paid in six to 24 months. All OICs must be paid in full within 24 months of the date the offer is accepted.
  • Allowing taxpayers to repay their student loans Minimum payments on student loans guaranteed by the federal government will be allowed for the taxpayer’s post-high school education. Proof of payment must be provided.
  • Allowing taxpayers to pay state and local delinquent taxes When a taxpayer owes delinquent federal and state or local taxes, and does not have the ability to fully pay the liabilities, monthly payments to state taxing authorities may be allowed in certain circumstances.
  • Expanding the Allowable Living Expense allowance Standard allowances incorporate average expenses for basic necessities for citizens in similar geographic areas. These standards are used when evaluating installment agreement and offer-in-compromise requests. The National Standard miscellaneous allowance has been expanded. Taxpayers can use the allowance to cover expenses such as credit card payments and bank fees and charges.

More information on the “Fresh Start” initiative can be found at IRS.gov.

Form 656-B, Offer in Compromise Booklet, and Form 656, Offer in Compromise, can be found at IRS.gov or ordered by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

Links:

  • Form 656, Offer in Compromise (PDF)
  • Form 656-B, Offer in Compromise Booket (PDF)

YouTube Videos:

Podcasts:
Federal Tax ,

Renting Your Vacation Home

Leave a comment Posted by on July 25, 2012

Renting Your Vacation Home.

More Flexible Offer-in-Compromise Terms Help Taxpayers Make a Fresh Start
IRS Summertime Tax Tip 2012-02The IRS has expanded its “Fresh Start” initiative by offering more flexible terms to its Offer-in-Compromise Program. These newest rules enable some financially distressed taxpayers to clear up their tax problems even quicker.

An offer-in-compromise (OIC) is an agreement between a taxpayer and the IRS that settles the taxpayer’s tax liabilities for less than the full amount owed. An OIC is generally not accepted if the IRS believes the liability can be paid in full as a lump sum or through a payment agreement. The IRS looks at the taxpayer’s income and assets to determine the reasonable collection potential.

This expansion of the “Fresh Start” initiative focuses on the financial analysis used to determine which taxpayers qualify for an OIC.

Here are the OIC changes:

  • Revising the calculation for a taxpayer’s future income The IRS will now look at only one year (instead of four years) of future income for offers paid in five or fewer months; and two years (instead of five years) of future income for offers paid in six to 24 months. All OICs must be paid in full within 24 months of the date the offer is accepted.
  • Allowing taxpayers to repay their student loans Minimum payments on student loans guaranteed by the federal government will be allowed for the taxpayer’s post-high school education. Proof of payment must be provided.
  • Allowing taxpayers to pay state and local delinquent taxes When a taxpayer owes delinquent federal and state or local taxes, and does not have the ability to fully pay the liabilities, monthly payments to state taxing authorities may be allowed in certain circumstances.
  • Expanding the Allowable Living Expense allowance Standard allowances incorporate average expenses for basic necessities for citizens in similar geographic areas. These standards are used when evaluating installment agreement and offer-in-compromise requests. The National Standard miscellaneous allowance has been expanded. Taxpayers can use the allowance to cover expenses such as credit card payments and bank fees and charges.

More information on the “Fresh Start” initiative can be found at IRS.gov.

Form 656-B, Offer in Compromise Booklet, and Form 656, Offer in Compromise, can be found at IRS.gov or ordered by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

Links:

  • Form 656, Offer in Compromise (PDF)
  • Form 656-B, Offer in Compromise Booket (PDF)

YouTube Videos:

Podcasts:
Federal Tax ,