Step by Step Michigan Unemployment Tax Form 2022

On January 1, 2023   /   Michigan Taxes  
Step by Step Michigan Unemployment Tax Form 2022
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LEO Dec.2022 – Michigan Unemployment Tax Form 2022

Claimants have until Jan. 2 2023, to select electronic delivery option

As tax season approaches, the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) reminds those who were paid jobless benefits this year to choose one of two options for getting a copy of their 1099-G tax form. You can receive an electronic copy accessible online or a paper copy sent by mail to the address on file with UIA.

Unemployment benefits are taxable, so payments received in 2022 must be reported on state and federal tax returns. Anyone who received jobless benefits this year will receive Form 1099-G Certain Government Payments as proof of income and how much income tax was withheld this year.

Claimants have until Jan. 2, 2023, to request to that an electronic version of their 1099-G be posted to their Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) account. To change your preference:

  • Log into your MiWAM account at MiLogin.Michigan.gov.
  • Under the Account Alerts tab, click on “Request a delivery preference for Form 1099-G.”
  • If your Account Alerts tab doesn’t have a 1099-G link, click on the Claimant Services tab; then select “Delivery Preference for Form 1099-G.”

Statements will be available to view or download by the end of January 2023. Here’s how to access it online:

  • Go to the “I Want To” heading in MiWAM.
  • Click on the “1099-G” link.
  • Click on the 1099-G letter for the 2022 tax year.

Those who do not request an electronic 1099-G form will have a paper copy sent to them at the end of January through the U.S. postal mail to the address listed on their MiWAM account. If you moved in the past year, be sure to update your mailing address in MiWAM to receive your tax form at the correct address.

UIA’s Your 1099-G Tax Form webpage answers key questions claimants may have.

If the 1099-G that you receive lists an incorrect amount in “total payment” or “tax withheld,” you can request a revised form by downloading and completing Form UIA 1920, Request to Correct Form 1099-G. Then, mail the form to:

Unemployment Insurance Agency, 1099-G

P.O. Box 169

Grand Rapids, MI 49501-0169.

Or Fax it to 1-517-636-0427.

Timely access to tax forms is a tenet of UIA Director Julia Dale’s wide-ranging reform of the agency, including providing exemplary customer service, fighting fraud, and instilling a human-centered approach to interactions with workers and employers. Since Dale was named director in October 2021, she has:

  • Announced a replacement for the agency’s decade-old computer system with a user-friendly, state-of-the-art interface for claimants and businesses. A new system will allow for quick analysis of data that is currently not possible and timely program adjustments as economic conditions change.
  • Approved more than 76,000 overpayment waivers this year of state and federal benefits paid out during the pandemic to Michigan workers and totaling more than $555 million.
  • Obtained two federal approvals for a pause on certain collections for those facing overpayments.
  • Secured a $6.8 million equity grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to make it easier for workers in underserved communities to access jobless benefits.
  • Reassigned staff and resources to address the largest categories of claims that are contributing to the agency’s case backlog.
  • Implemented new ethics and security clearance policies for employees and contractors.
  • Redesigned the agency’s public website at Michigan.gov/UIA for easier use on mobile phones and tablets.
  • Rebuilt to nearly $1.8 billion (and growing) the UI Trust Fund from which weekly benefits are paid to workers who lose their job through no fault of their own.
  • Worked to simplify its correspondence using a human-centered approach to make letters easier to understand for claimants and employers.

Questions? Contact ATS Advisors

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EITC 2022 Qualifications

On December 19, 2022   /   IRS  
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EITC 2022 Qualifications

Low- to moderate-income workers with qualifying children may be eligible to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) if certain qualifying rules apply to them.

You may qualify for the EITC even if you can’t claim children on your tax return. Find out how to claim the EITC without a qualifying child.

Basic Qualifying Rules

To qualify for the EITC, you must:

Special Qualifying Rules

The EITC has special qualifying rules for:

If you’re unsure if you qualify for the EITC, use our Qualification Assistant.

Valid Social Security Number

To qualify for the EITC, everyone you claim on your taxes must have a valid Social Security number (SSN). To be valid, the SSN must be:

  • Valid for employment
  • Issued before the due date of the tax return you plan to claim (including extensions)

For the EITC, we accept a Social Security number on a Social Security card that has the words, “Valid for work with DHS authorization,” on it.

For the EITC, we don’t accept:

  • Individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITIN)
  • Adoption taxpayer identification numbers (ATIN)
  • Social Security numbers on Social Security cards that have the words, “Not Valid for Employment,” on them

For more information about the Social Security number rules for the EITC, see Rule 2 in Publication 596, Earned Income Credit.

Filing Status

In 2021, to qualify for the EITC, you can  use one of the following statuses:

You can claim the EIC if you are married, not filing a joint return, had a qualifying child who lived with you for more than half of 2021, and either of the following apply.

  • You lived apart from your spouse for the last 6 months of 2021, or
  • You are legally separated according to your state law under a written separation agreement or a decree of separate maintenance and you didn’t live in the same household as your spouse at the end of 2021.

If you’re unsure about your filing status, use our EITC Qualification Assistant or the Interactive Tax Assistant.

There are special rules if you or your spouse are a nonresident alien.

Head of Household

You may claim the Head of Household filing status if you’re not married and pay more than half the costs of keeping up your home where you live with your qualifying child.

Related: About Publication 501, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information.

Qualifying Widow or Widower

To file as a qualifying widow or widower, all the following must apply to you:

  • You could have filed a joint return with your spouse for the tax year they died. It does not matter if you filed a joint return.
  • Your spouse died less than 2 years before the tax year you’re claiming the EITC and you did not remarry before the end of that year
  • You paid more than half the cost of keeping up a home for the year
  • You have a child or stepchild you can claim as a relative. This does not include a foster child.
  • This child lived in your home all year, except for temporary absences. Note: There are exceptions for a child who was born or died during the year and for a kidnapped child. For more information, see Qualifying Child Rules, Residency.

Related:

Keeping up a Home

If you paid more than half the total cost to keep up a home during the tax year you file your taxes, you meet the requirement of paying more than half the cost of keeping up the home.

Costs include:

  • Rent, mortgage interest, real estate taxes and home insurance
  • Repairs and utilities
  • Food eaten in the home
  • Some costs paid with public assistance

Costs don’t include:

  • Money you got from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or other public assistance programs
  • Clothing, education and vacations expenses
  • Medical treatment, medical insurance payments and prescription drugs
  • Life insurance
  • Transportation costs like insurance, lease payments or public transportation
  • Rental value of a home you own
  • Value of your services or those of a member of your household

U.S. Citizen or Resident Alien

To claim the EITC, you and your spouse (if filing jointly) must be U.S. citizens or resident aliens.

If you or your spouse were a nonresident alien for any part of the tax year, you can only claim the EITC if your filing status is married filing jointly and you or your spouse is a:

  • U.S. Citizen with a valid Social Security number or
  • Resident alien who was in the U.S. at least 6 months of the year you’re filing for and has a valid Social Security number

Claim the EITC Without a Qualifying Child

You are eligible to claim the EITC without a qualifying child if you meet all the following rules. You (and your spouse if you file a joint tax return) must:

  • Meet the EITC basic qualifying rules
  • Have your main home in the United States for more than half the tax year
    • The United States includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. military bases. It does not include U.S. possessions such as Guam, the Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico
  • Not be claimed as a qualifying child on anyone else’s tax return
  • Be at least age 18 at the end of the tax year (usually Dec. 31)
    • The minimum age to claim the EIC is generally age 19; however, if you are a qualified former foster youth or a qualified homeless youth, you need to be at least age 18.
    • If you are a specified student (other than a qualified former foster youth or a qualified homeless youth), you need to be at least age 24.

When You Will Get Your Refund

The IRS expects most EITC/Additional CTC related refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit cards by March 1, if they chose direct deposit and there are no other issues with their tax return. However, some taxpayers may see their refunds a few days earlier. Check  Where’s My Refund? or the IRS2Go mobile app to check your refund status.

Other Credits You May Qualify For

If you qualify for the EITC, you may also qualify for other tax credits.

Questions? Contact ATS Advisors

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2022 Taxes For Venmo & Other Third Party Networks

On December 13, 2022   /   IRS  
2022 Taxes For Venmo & Other Third Party Networks
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2022 Taxes For Venmo & Other Third Party Networks. – DEC 10. – CNBC

KEY POINTS

  • If you’ve accepted payments via apps such as Venmo or PayPal in 2022, you may receive Form 1099-K in early 2023, which reports income from third-party networks.
  • For 2022, you may receive the form for even a single transaction over the $600 threshold, but the change doesn’t apply to personal transfers.
  • Experts say it’s possible to reduce your tax liability through business deductions and retirement plan contributions.

If you’ve accepted payments via apps such as Venmo or PayPal in 2022, you may receive Form 1099-K, which reports income from third-party networks, in early 2023. But there’s still time to reduce your tax liability, according to financial experts.

“There’s no change to the taxability of income,” the IRS noted in a release Tuesday about preparing for the upcoming tax season. “All income, including from part-time work, side jobs or the sale of goods is still taxable,” the agency added.

Before 2022, you may have received a 1099-K if you had more than 200 transactions worth an aggregate above $20,000. But the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 slashed the threshold to just $600, and even a single transaction can trigger the form.

More from Personal Finance:
IRS warns about new $600 threshold for third-party payment reporting
Tax ‘refunds may be smaller in 2023,’ warns IRS. Here’s why
3 lesser-known ways to trim tax bills, boost refunds before year-end

While the change targets business transactions, not personal transfers, experts say it’s possible some taxpayers will receive 1099-Ks by mistake. If this happens, the IRS says to contact the issuer or make adjustments to your tax return.

Either way, the IRS urges “early filers” to make sure they have all tax forms, including 1099-Ks, before submitting their return.

Whether you work with a professional or self-prepare taxes, you need to be ready, said Albert Campo, a certified public accountant and president of AJC Accounting Services in Manalapan, New Jersey.

Here’s what to know about reporting 1099-K payments on your return and how to reduce your tax liability.

How to report 1099-K payments and claim deductions

You can report 1099-K payments as income on Schedule C of your tax return, which covers profits and losses for sole proprietor businesses.

You’ll have the chance to subtract expenses, known as business deductions, on Part II of Schedule C, including things like the costs of your products, the portion of your internet and phone bills used for business, travel, possibly your home office and other expenses.

You can report 1099-K payments as income on Schedule C of your tax return, which covers profits and losses for sole proprietor businesses.

You’ll have the chance to subtract expenses, known as business deductions, on Part II of Schedule C, including things like the costs of your products, the portion of your internet and phone bills used for business, travel, possibly your home office and other expenses.

Jim Guarino, a certified financial planner, CPA and managing director at Baker Newman Noyes in Woburn, Massachusetts, said it’s good to begin reviewing possible business deductions now — including gathering your receipts for each one — to get organized before tax season kicks off.

If you’re paying for your own health insurance, there’s also a chance to deduct the cost of your premiums on Schedule 1, which reduces your adjusted gross income, Guarino said. This won’t apply if an employer provides your health coverage.

Consider a retirement account for your business

Another way to reduce your tax liability is by opening and contributing to a self-employed retirement plan, which is also reported as an “adjustment to income” on Schedule 1.

One option is a Solo 401(k), which covers one participant and their spouse, and allows employee deferrals, which are due by Dec. 31, and employer contributions, which are due by the tax deadline.

“The key piece is making sure that the paperwork or documents are established by the end of the year,” Guarino said. If you’re confused about setting up the plan or how to calculate the employer contribution, it may be smart to speak with a tax professional, he said.

Of course, if you haven’t maxed out your workplace 401(k), it’s possible there’s still time to boost contributions for your last one or two paychecks for 2022, but “time is of the essence,” Guarino said.

Plus, you have until the tax deadline for pretax individual retirement account contributions, which may also qualify for a deduction.

Keep personal and business transactions separate

When starting a business, tax professionals say to avoid “commingling” personal and business income and expenses by keeping them separate — and 1099-K earnings are no exception.

Campo suggests opening another bank account and credit card and using separate third-party payment network accounts for business transactions “to make your life a lot easier.”

Here’s why: If you receive a 1099-K for $10,000, and only $5,000 applies to your business, you’ll need to show the other $5,000 was for personal transfers through recordkeeping, he said.

“It creates more onus on the taxpayer,” Campo said, noting that it’s better to keep personal and business accounts separate because “it’s really cut and dried.”

It’s critical to save receipts for any business expenses you plan to deduct on Schedule C. In the case of an audit, the IRS won’t accept credit card statements as support, Campo warned. The agency wants to see copies of your receipts covering each business expense.

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3 Things To Know About Michigan Estate Tax

On December 6, 2022   /   Michigan Taxes  
3 Things To Know About Michigan Estate Tax
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Is There a Michigan Estate Tax?

There is no estate tax in Michigan. Michigan is one of 38 states that have no estate tax. No matter the size of your estate, you won’t owe money to the Wolverine State. You might owe taxes to the federal government through the federal estate tax, depending on the size of your estate.

Even though there is no Michigan estate tax, you might still owe the federal estate tax. The exemption for that tax is $11.70 million in 2021 and $12.06 million in 2022. This tax is portable for married couples, meaning that with the right legal moves a married couple can protect up to $24.12 million when both spouses have died.

What Is The Estate Tax?

The estate tax is applied to the estate of a recently deceased person after they die but before the money is passed on to their heirs. It is sometimes referred to as the “death tax.”

The estate tax is not to be confused with the inheritance tax. That tax is applied to a person’s heirs after they have already received their inheritance.

Does Michigan Have an Inheritance Tax and Gift Tax?

Like the majority of states, Michigan does not have an inheritance tax. If you stand to inherit money in Michigan, you should still make sure to check the laws in the state where the person you are inheriting from lives. In Pennsylvania, for example, the inheritance tax can apply to heirs who live out of state if the descendant lives in the state.

Michigan also has no gift tax. The federal gift tax exemption is $15,000 per recipient per year in 2021 and $16,000 in 2022

 

TIPS:

  • Estate planning, in Michigan or elsewhere, takes time and knowledge. If you need some help, you should consider reaching out to ATS Advisors. We are professionals in this matter and are here to help!
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Tax Brackets 2023

On December 2, 2022   /   IRS  
Tax Brackets 2023
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Michigan Tax Brackets 2023 –

The IRS announced its annual adjustments to the standard deduction and tax brackets for the 2023 tax year. They are a considerable increase over 2022. This is a response to ongoing inflation, which has the effect of eroding spending power even as it increases some workers’ take home pay.

As with all things taxes, this can raise some questions. Below, we’ll provide answers.

For more info on how these changes will affect your personal tax bill, consider reaching out to ATS Advisors Today!

What Is The New Standard Deduction For 2023?

The new standard deductions for personal income taxes apply as follows:

  • Individuals: $13,850 in 2023, a $900 increase
  • Head of Household: $20,800, a $1,400 increase
  • Married Filing Jointly: $27,700, an $1,800 increase

What Are The New Tax Brackets For 2023?

The new tax brackets for personal income taxes apply as follows:

  • 10%: All income below $11,000 Individual / $22,000 Married
  • 12%: $11,000 Individual / $22,000 Married, an increase of $725/$1,450
  • 22%: $44,725 Individual / $89,450 Married, an increase of $2,950/$5,900
  • 24%: $95,375 Individual / $190,750 Married, an increase of $6,300/$12,600
  • 32%: $182,100 Individual / $364,200 Married, an increase of $12,050/$24,100
  • 35%: $231,250 Individual / $462,500 Married, an increase of $15,300/$30,600
  • 37%: All income above $578,125 Individual / $693,750 Married, an increase of $38,225/$45,900

Capital gains taxes have also been adjusted. The 2023 capital gains brackets are:

  • 0%: All earnings below $44,625 Individual/$89,250 Married
  • 15%: $44,625 Individual/$89,250 Married, an increase of $2,950/$5,900
  • 20%: $492,300 Individual/$553,850 Married, an increase of $32,550/$36,650

Does The IRS Ordinarily Do This?

Yes.

The IRS automatically adjusts income tax brackets and the standard deduction every year in response to annual inflation. If it didn’t, Americans would pay 30% on every dollar over $6,000. Adjusted for inflation, this would come to a 30% tax bracket on all income over $75,800, indicating how little Americans pay in taxes compared with past decades.

What is noteworthy in 2023 is the scale of these adjustments. Since the 1980’s, U.S. inflation has stayed around the Federal Reserve’s target 2% rate, fluctuating between 0% and 4% most years. This has led to relatively minor annual tax adjustments.

The high inflation of 2022 caused outsized results in this otherwise routine practice, with most adjustments between 6.5% and 8%. For example, between 2021 and 2022 the IRS adjusted the 12% individual bracket by $325, an increase of roughly 3.2%. For tax year 2023 the IRS adjusted that same 12% bracket by $725, an increase of 6.5%.

What Is The Impact of the New Brackets?

Any upward adjustment to the standard deduction or tax brackets is an effective income tax cut. It means that taxes apply to less of your income and that you pay less on the income that is taxed.

The question is whether any given taxpayer ends up with more spending power. The IRS doesn’t adjust its rates to give people tax relief, but rather to reflect the new value of money based on inflation/deflation cycles. If prices have gone up by 10%, but you keep 7% more from your taxes, then as a consumer you’re still effectively a little bit less wealthy than when you started.

What makes this more confusing is the degree to which sector-specific and region-specific inflation have muddled the economic picture as, contrary to general reporting, prices have stabilized in many areas but are skyrocketing in a few others. The result is that some taxpayers will, in fact, end up wealthier from these rate changes based on their spending patterns.

For example, if you already own your own home you’re largely insulated from the housing costs that are driving a lot of current inflation. With gas prices back to normal, and inflation currently flat for food and consumer goods, you may end up wealthier from these bracket changes. By contrast, median rents have increased between 12.5% and 16% since 2021. If you rent an apartment, particularly in a city, these tax changes won’t even cover half of your cost of living increase.

Who Does This Tax Change Apply To?

This applies to all U.S. income tax payers. If you file and pay income taxes to the IRS in 2023, you will do so using the new brackets.

What Income Does This Affect?

The new tax brackets will apply to all earnings starting on January 1, 2023. It does not apply retroactively, meaning that you can’t apply the new standard deduction or tax rates to income on or before December 31, 2022.

Can I Apply This to Current Earnings?

As above, you cannot apply the new tax brackets to any income that you earn on or before December 31, 2022. In IRS-speak, this means that if you trigger a tax event in 2022 the current tax brackets apply, not the new ones.

But you might apply the new tax brackets if you can defer earnings until 2023. The key is in that term “tax event.” This is a technical term for the IRS which means any event that causes you to owe taxes on income, earnings or other wealth. It means different things under different circumstances, but for individuals a tax event usually occurs when you take possession of new wealth. For example, when you receive your paycheck this is considered a tax event. The same goes for when you collect the earnings on a stock sale or when you receive payment after billing a client.

  • Business Earnings – It’s important to note that businesses can us two different methods of bookkeeping. One considers it a tax event when you are owed money. The other considers it a tax event when you collect that money. Make sure you understand which method you use and apply it consistently.

The common theme is that, in most cases, you trigger a tax event when the new wealth is received, not when it’s owed. In other words, you pay 2022 tax rates on all money that you collected in 2022. You will pay 2023 tax rates on all money that you collect in 2023.

So, if you can defer income or earnings until 2023 you might be able to take advantage of the new rates. For example, some employers will allow you to defer your paycheck. Employees who do this can push their earnings to the new tax year. Self-employed individuals may be able to hold off on invoicing clients until January 1, 2023, collecting under the new brackets rather than the old. Selling investments assets is a little more complicated, since price changes may obviate any tax gains, but the same rules would apply to selling in 2022 vs. 2023.

It’s important to note that all of this is theoretical and absolutely should not be taken as individual tax planning advice. The rules for your personal situation may vary, as tax laws are highly situation-specific and can depend on your employer’s method of bookkeeping.

Do I Have To Do Anything?

No. While outsized, this is a standard change. It does not affect your rights or responsibilities differently than any other tax year. You will pay your taxes as normal, simply applying the new numbers as appropriate.

Bottom Line

The IRS has announced its new tax brackets for 2023, and they’re a considerable change over previous years.

SmartAsset – Eric Reed

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Plymouth Township Summer Taxes & Winter Taxes

On November 22, 2022   /   Michigan Taxes  
Plymouth Township Summer Taxes & Winter Taxes
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Plymouth Township Summer Taxes & Winter Taxes

Any Questions? Contact ATS Advisors Plymouth

Your summer tax bill includes the tax levies for:

  • City of Plymouth
  • Plymouth-Canton Schools
  • State Education Tax (SET)
  • Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency(RESA)
  • Enhanced Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency (ENH RESA)
  • Schoolcraft College
  • Wayne County Operating

Summer tax bills are due August 10 annually.

Summer Tax Bills are payable through August 10 without penalty. They may be paid at the City Hall counter, placed in the drop box next to the book return at the library,  or deposited in the drop box in the City Hall lobby if the counter is closed.

 

Winter Taxes

Your winter tax bill includes the tax levies for:

  • Wayne County Voted Millage
  • Wayne County Jail
  • Wayne County Parks
  • Plymouth District Library
  • Huron Clinton Metro Authority
  • Detroit Regional Zoo
  • Detroit Institute of Arts Museum

Winter tax bills are due February 28 each year.

Winter Tax Bills are payable through February 28 without penalty. They may be paid at the City Hall counter, placed in the drop box next to the book return at the library,  or deposited in the drop box in the City Hall lobby if the counter is closed. All tax payments placed in the drop boxes by December 31 will be receipted as paid in the current year.

Additional information is provided on the back of your bill. Please review your tax bill to check the correctness of the information appearing on it. If you receive a bill in error, please return the tax bill to the City Treasurer’s Office. If you are the owner or agent of the property but the name or address information is incorrect, please correct it on the bill and mail it back with your payment. If you need additional information, please call the City Treasurer’s Office at 734- 453-1234, during regular business hours.

Here are the current millage rates.

In addition to paying your tax bill in person on via mail, there are several other options.

Online Payments

You can  pay your taxes online via a credit/debit card through the online property information site. There is a convenience fee associated with using this service.

Direct Payment
You may request that your payment be made automatically by completing Direct Payment Enrollment form.


Special Payment Deferments

The State of Michigan has a program that allows certain property owners to defer their tax payments.  Information on this program is available on the state’s website. The Step Forward Michigan program also provides property tax assistance.

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403(b) retirement plan changes

On November 15, 2022   /   IRS  
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IR-2022-196, November 7, 2022 – 403(b) retirement plan changes

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service today announced the expansion of one of their programs for approving retirement plans. The IRS will now allow 403(b) retirement plans, which are used by certain public schools, churches and charities, to use the same individually designed retirement plan determination letter program currently used by qualified retirement plans.

Revenue Procedure 2022-40PDF details this expansion and includes other changes affecting individually designed retirement plans.

Highlights of these changes:

Revenue Procedure 2022-40 contains the following notable additions for 403(b) retirement plans:

  • Expansion for initial plan determination – Beginning June 1, 2023, 403(b) retirement plan sponsors may submit determination letter applications for all initial individually designed retirement plans based on the sponsor’s Employer Identification Numbers. (For further details, see section 12 of Revenue Procedure 2022-40PDF.)
  • Terminations – Beginning June 1, 2023, 403(b) retirement plan sponsors may also request a determination letter upon plan termination on a Form 5310, Application for Determination for Terminating Plan, or at any time thereafter without regard to their EIN.

Notable changes to procedures for submitting and processing individually designed retirement plans include:

  • Prior letter issued to a Pre-approved Plan adopter not treated as an initial plan determination – A determination letter issued to an adopter of a pre-approved retirement plan as a result of filing a Form 5307, Application for Determination for Adopters of Modified Volume Submitter Plans, is no longer considered in determining whether a plan sponsor is eligible to submit that plan for a determination letter for an initial plan determination on a Form 5300, Application for Determination for Employee Benefit Plan.
  • Scope of review – IRS generally will consider in its review qualification requirements and section 403(b) requirements that are in effect, or that have been included on a Required Amendments List, on or before the last day of the second calendar year preceding the year in which the determination letter application is submitted, subject to any specified modifications on the annual Employee Plans revenue procedure that provides the administrative and procedural rules for submitting determination letter applications, currently Revenue Procedure 2022-4.

These rules will apply to submissions of all individually designed retirement plans.

Revenue Procedure 2023-4, currently in development, will be released in the near future and will contain additional changes to procedural requirements for plan submissions, such as phasing-in mandatory e-submission of determination letter requests. Forms 5300 and 5310 will also be updated to reflect these changes.

 

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Tax Credits For Veterans & Other IRS News

On November 9, 2022   /   IRS  
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Tax Credits For Veterans & Other IRS News

TAX PLANNING ALL YEAR 

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS? 

  • The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a Federal tax credit available to employers of all sizes for hiring and employing a qualified veteran who have faced significant barriers to employment. This includes both taxable and certain tax-exempt employers located in the United States and in certain U.S. territories. While taxable employers claim the WOTC against income taxes, eligible tax-exempt employers can claim the WOTC only against payroll taxes. 
  • Up to $24,000 in wages may be taken into account in determining the WOTC for certain qualified veterans. 
  • A “qualified veteran” is a veteran who is any of the following:
    • A member of a family receiving assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (food stamps) for at least a 3-month period during the 15-month period ending on the hiring date 
    • Unemployed for periods of time totaling at least 4 weeks (whether or not consecutive) but less than 6 months in the 1-year period ending on the hiring date 
    • Unemployed for periods of time totaling at least 6 months (whether or not consecutive) in the 1-year period ending on the hiring date 
    • Entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability and hired not more than 1 year after being discharged or released from active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or 
    • Entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability and unemployed for periods of time totaling at least 6 months (whether or not consecutive) in the 1-year period ending on the hiring date 
  • See our September Tax Tip for information when hiring veterans: Help wanted? Businesses that are hiring should know about the work opportunity tax credit 

DID YOU KNOW? 

 

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IRS tax gap estimates

On October 30, 2022   /   IRS  
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IR-2022-192, October 28, 2022 – IRS tax gap estimates

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today released a new set of tax gap estimates on tax years 2014 through 2016 showing the estimated gross tax gap increased to $496 billion, a rise of over $58 billion from the prior estimate.

The gross tax gap is the difference between estimated ‘true’ tax liability for a given period and the amount of tax that is paid on time. As discussed below, it is important to note that the tax gap estimates cannot fully account for all types of evasion.

“These findings underscore the importance of ensuring fairness in our nation’s tax system,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “The increase in the tax gap estimates reflects that the IRS needs to do more, both in improving taxpayer service as well as working to improve tax compliance. The IRS remains committed to ensuring fairness and helping taxpayers while also working to better identify emerging compliance issues that contribute to the tax gap. The recent funding addition will help the IRS in many ways, increasing taxpayer education, significantly improving service to all taxpayers and focusing on high-income/high-wealth non-compliance in a fair and impartial manner supporting compliant taxpayers.”

After late payments and IRS efforts collected an additional $68 billion, the IRS estimated the net tax gap was $428 billion. This increase in the tax gap can be attributed to economic growth.

Between the two periods, 2011-2013 and 2014-2016, the estimated tax liability increased by more than 23 percent.

The tax gap estimates translate to about 85% of taxes paid voluntarily and on time, which is in line with recent levels. The new estimate is a slight improvement from 83.7 percent in a revised Tax Year 2011-2013 estimate, which dipped slightly from the original estimate released earlier. After IRS compliance efforts are taken into account, the estimated share of taxes eventually paid is 87% for 2014-2016.

The gross tax gap comprises three components:

  • Nonfiling (tax not paid on time by those who do not file on time, $39 billion),
  • Underreporting (tax understated on timely filed returns, $398 billion), and
  • Underpayment (tax that was reported on time, but not paid on time, $59 billion).

A particular challenge for tax gap estimation is the time it takes to collect compliance data, especially data on underreporting that come from completed examinations (audits). To address this issue, the current release includes estimated tax gap projections for Tax Years 2017-2019.

Based on the projections for 2017-2019, the estimated average gross tax gap is projected to be $540 billion per year. The associated voluntary compliance rate is projected to be 85.1 percent. The projection of enforced and other late payments is $70 billion, which yields a net tax gap projection of $470 billion. The associated non-compliance rate projection is 87.0 percent.

The gross tax gap nonfiling, underreporting, and underpayment component projections for Tax Years 2017-2019 timeframe are $41 billion, $433 billion, and $66 billion respectively.

As part of the larger effort to reduce the actual tax gap, the IRS will continue to fairly enforce the tax laws. In 2021, the latest year for which data is available, the IRS currently collected more than $4 trillion in taxes, penalties, interest and user fees.

Tax gap studies through the years have consistently demonstrated that third-party reporting of income significantly raises voluntary compliance with the tax laws. And voluntary compliance rises even higher when income payments are also subject to withholding. The IRS also has an array of other taxpayer service programs aimed at supporting accurate tax filing and helping address the tax gap. These range from working with businesses and partner groups to a variety of education and outreach efforts.

The voluntary compliance rate of the U.S. tax system is vitally important for the nation. A one-percentage-point increase in voluntary compliance would bring in about $40 billion in additional tax receipts.

The tax gap estimates provide insight into the historical scale of tax compliance and to the persisting sources of low compliance.

“Keeping the voluntary compliance rate as high as possible ensures that taxpayers believe our system is fair,” Rettig said. “The vast majority of taxpayers strive to pay what they owe on time. Those who do not pay their fair share ultimately shift the tax burden to those people who do, which fuels the tax gap. The IRS will continue to direct our resources to help educate taxpayers about the tax requirements under the law while also focusing on pursuing those who avoid their legal responsibilities.”

Estimating the tax gap; offshore, digital assets, other categories not fully represented

Given the complexity of the tax system and available data, no single approach can be used for estimating each component of the tax gap. Each approach is subject to measurement or nonsampling error; the component estimates that are based on samples are also subject to sampling error. For the individual income tax underreporting tax gap, Detection Controlled Estimation is used to adjust for measurement errors that results when some existing noncompliance is not detected during an audit. Other statistical techniques are used to control for bias in estimates based on operational audit data. Because multiple methods are used to estimate different subcomponents of the tax gap, no standard errors are reported. In addition, those reviewing this data should be mindful of these limitations when using these estimates.

Given available data, these are the best possible estimates of the tax gap components presented, although they do not represent the full extent of potential non-compliance. There are several factors to keep in mind:

  • The estimates cannot fully represent noncompliance in some components of the tax system including offshore activities, issues involving digital assets and cryptocurrency as well as corporate income tax, income from flow-through entities, illegal activities because data are lacking.
  • The tax gap associated with illegal activities has been outside the scope of tax gap estimation because the objective of government is to eliminate those activities, which would eliminate any associated tax.
  • For noncompliance associated with digital assets and other emerging issues, it takes time to develop the expertise to uncover associated noncompliance and for examinations to be completed that can be used to measure the extent of that noncompliance.

The IRS continues to actively work on new methods for estimating and projecting the tax gap to better reflect changes in taxpayer behavior as they emerge.

 

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2023 401k Limit & 2023 IRA Limit

On October 26, 2022   /   IRS  
2023 401k Limit & 2023 IRA Limit
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IR-2022-188, October 21, 2022 – 2023 401k Limit & 2023 IRA Limit

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that the amount individuals can contribute to their 401(k) plans in 2023 has increased to $22,500, up from $20,500 for 2022. The IRS today also issued technical guidance regarding all of the cost of living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other retirement-related items for tax year 2023 in Notice 2022-55PDF, posted today on IRS.gov.

Highlights of changes for 2023

The contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan is increased to $22,500, up from $20,500.

The limit on annual contributions to an IRA increased to $6,500, up from $6,000. The IRA catch up contribution limit for individuals aged 50 and over is not subject to an annual cost of living adjustment and remains $1,000.

The catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and over who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan is increased to $7,500, up from $6,500. Therefore, participants in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan who are 50 and older can contribute up to $30,000, starting in 2023. The catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and over who participate in SIMPLE plans is increased to $3,500, up from $3,000.

The income ranges for determining eligibility to make deductible contributions to traditional Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), to contribute to Roth IRAs, and to claim the Saver’s Credit all increased for 2023.

Taxpayers can deduct contributions to a traditional IRA if they meet certain conditions. If during the year either the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s spouse was covered by a retirement plan at work, the deduction may be reduced, or phased out, until it is eliminated, depending on filing status and income. (If neither the taxpayer nor the spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work, the phase-outs of the deduction do not apply.) Here are the phase out ranges for 2023:

  • For single taxpayers covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is increased to between $73,000 and $83,000, up from between $68,000 and $78,000.
  • For married couples filing jointly, if the spouse making the IRA contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is increased to between $116,000 and $136,000, up from between $109,000 and $129,000.
  • For an IRA contributor who is not covered by a workplace retirement plan and is married to someone who is covered, the phase-out range is increased to between $218,000 and $228,000, up from between $204,000 and $214,000.
  • For a married individual filing a separate return who is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains between $0 and $10,000.

The income phase-out range for taxpayers making contributions to a Roth IRA is increased to between $138,000 and $153,000 for singles and heads of household, up from between $129,000 and $144,000. For married couples filing jointly, the income phase-out range is increased to between $218,000 and $228,000, up from between $204,000 and $214,000. The phase-out range for a married individual filing a separate return who makes contributions to a Roth IRA is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains between $0 and $10,000.

The income limit for the Saver’s Credit (also known as the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit) for low- and moderate-income workers is $73,000 for married couples filing jointly, up from $68,000; $54,750 for heads of household, up from $51,000; and $36,500 for singles and married individuals filing separately, up from $34,000.

The amount individuals can contribute to their SIMPLE retirement accounts is increased to $15,500, up from $14,000.

Details on these and other retirement-related cost-of-living adjustments for 2023 are in Notice 2022-55PDF, available on IRS.gov.

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