Appointments must be made at least 48 hours in advance. Appointments are made in two hour intervals. 

Your mortgage company should send you Form 1098 which reports the mortgage interest you paid.

The forms to prove employment may vary depending on individual situations. For most, an employer will provide a W-2 form. The self-employed (i.e. independent contractors, product sales representatives such as Mary Kay, etc.) should receive a 1099-MISC from the company.

If you received unemployment benefits from your state over the past year, you must claim that as income and, therefore, pay taxes on those benefits. The unemployment agency should provide you with a 1099-G form, which explains the amount of benefits you drew during the past year. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) receives a copy as well and will tax you at the appropriate rate in your tax bracket. Not everyone owes. If you worked a portion of the past year, chances are you paid payroll taxes and may earn a refund if those deductions were overpaid.

You will need to file a Schedule C using IRS Form 1040. Depending on your type of business and where you conduct business, there may be other forms you will need. You may also need to make quarterly estimated payments by filing Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals.

Taking necessary steps before tax time will make things easier once you file your taxes for the first time after a divorce. Change your W-4 through your employer so taxes will be withheld at the correct rates. Also, if you (or a family member) changed your name, file Form SS-5 with the Social Security Administration to ensure there aren’t any complications with the IRS.

The standing deadline for personal taxes is April 15. However, sometimes that date falls on a weekend or after Emancipation Day (a holiday in DC) and pushes the deadline to as late as April 18.

When you get your W-2, you can have your taxes prepared right away, but the IRS will not accept them before a pre-defined date.

Yes, you can opt to pay your tax liability through an installment plan. In addition to paying taxes through an installment payment plan, there may be other options such as the Offer in Compromise (OIC). Under an OIC agreement, the IRS may agree to settle the taxpayer’s liability for less than the full amount of taxes owed. The IRS is not likely to approve an OIC if there’s evidence that the taxpayer could pay the full amount through an installment payment plan or another method. A taxpayer can request consideration for an OIC by filling out Form 656, Offer in Compromise, or Form 656L, Offer in Compromise (Doubt as to Liability), and mail the application package to the IRS.

Below is a list of documents to bring with you to your tax interview. A copy of this list, along with what to expect during your interview, can be viewed here

PERSONAL INFORMATION FOR EACH FAMILY MEMBER:

• Name
• Date of Birth
• Social Security Card /ITIN/ATIN
• Last Year’s Tax Return
• Valid Driver’s License

INCOME AND TAX INFORMATION:

•  W-2’s
• Interest (1099-INT or substitute)
• Dividend Slips (1099-DIV or substitute)
• Stock Sales (1099-B or Broker Statement)
• Self-Employment Income and Expenses
• Sale of a Personal Residence
• Rental Income and Expenses
• Sale of any Business Assets
• Gambling or Lottery Winnings (W-2G for some winnings)
• State Income Tax Refund (1099-G)
• Pension Income (1099-R)
• Estimated Taxes Paid
• Social Security or Railroad Retirement (SSA-1099 or RRB-1099)
• IRA or 401(k) Distribution (1099-R)
• Unemployment Compensation (1099-G)
• Miscellaneous Income (1099-MISC)

DEDUCTIONS/ADJUSTMENTS:

• Medical Expenses
• Real Estate or Personal Property Taxes
• Mortgage Interest
• Charitable Contributions (cash and non-cash)
• Employee Business Expenses
• Gambling Losses
• Moving Expenses
• Traditional IRA Contributions
• Higher Education Expenses
• Educator Expenses
• Student Loan Interest

TAX CREDITS:

• Child Care Provider/Address and Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number (SSN)
• Adoption Expenses
• Retirement Savings Contributions Credit

Yes, you can as long as you keep good records in case you are ever audited by the IRS. Be sure to record the name of the organization, the date and location, as well as a detailed description of what you donated. Keep notes on the amount you claimed as a deduction and how you figured the fair market value on the items you donated. In the case of a monetary donation, as long as it’s less than $250, a canceled check or even a payroll deduction can suffice for proof of the donation.

Since it is not a small change (missing form or math miscalculation), missed income probably requires that you file an amendment. You’ll need to file Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, on paper; no e-filing here. Additionally, if any changes you are making need forms or schedules attached, make sure you do so.

No. The federal tax laws do not consider gifted money to be earned income therefore it is not taxable to you. No state has a tax law on gifted money either.

Generally, property received as an inheritance is not included in your income. However, if property you receive this way later produces income such as interest, dividends, or rents, the income is taxable to you.

Yes, any money which you received as a result of work is taxable income and must be reported on your tax return. Attach your W-2 showing your earnings and your taxes withheld to your tax return.

The main reason for filing taxes electronically (e-filing) is to get your refund faster. Twenty-four hours after sending your tax return, the IRS will send you a confirmation of receipt or a rejection notice. Generally, e-filing is safer and faster than filing on paper.

The ‘Where’s My Refund’ tool on the IRS website provides the most up-to-date information regarding the status of your refund. This tool is updated every 24 hours.

Many factors can contribute to why your refund is less than you expected. You have to consider the three elements that define a refund: your taxable income, the amount withheld from your paycheck for federal and state taxes, and your tax rate. If you aren’t getting as much money back try to look on the bright side – you didn’t give the IRS a zero-interest loan.

Both tax credits and tax deductions can reduce the amount of tax you must pay. Deductions reduce the amount of income you pay taxes on, which in turn can reduce your tax. Credits are a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the amount of tax you owe.