Koski Professional Group, P.C.

Once you file your 2024 tax return, you may want to shred or delete tax records. But if the IRS audits your return, you could have to produce documentation. It’s a good idea to keep the actual returns indefinitely. But what about supporting records such as receipts, canceled checks and 1099 forms? In general, the IRS can only assess tax within three years after the return for the year was filed (or three years after the return was due). For example, if you filed your 2022 return by the April deadline in 2023, the IRS has until April 2026 to assess a tax deficiency against you. If you file late, the IRS generally has three years from the date you filed. For more information, please visit our website at https://bit.ly/tax-briefs

You can itemize deductions if the total of your allowable itemized write-offs for the year exceeds your standard deduction allowance for the year. Otherwise, you must claim the standard deduction. The basic standard deduction allowances for 2024 are: $14,600 for single taxpayers, $29,200 for married joint filers and $21,900 for heads of households. Additional standard deduction allowances apply if you’re age 65 or older or blind. For 2025, the basic standard deduction allowances are $15,000, $30,000, and $22,500, respectively. Itemized deductions include charitable contributions, mortgage interest, state and local taxes, and medical expenses. Other rules and limits apply. For more information, please visit our website at https://bit.ly/tax-briefs

As a business owner, you may be eligible to claim home office tax deductions that will reduce your taxable income. However, it’s crucial to understand the IRS rules to ensure compliance and avoid potential IRS audit risks. If you’re eligible, there are two ways to claim deductions. With the actual expense method, you claim direct expenses, such as the cost of painting and a share of indirect expenses, such as utilities, insurance and depreciation. With the simplified method, you deduct $5 per square foot of home office space, up to $1,500. Unfortunately, employees can’t deduct home office expenses. We can help you determine if you qualify and how to proceed. For more information, please visit our website at https://bit.ly/tax-briefs

Current tax law generally limits deductions of business interest, with certain exceptions. If your business has significant interest expense, it’s important to understand the impact of the Section 163(j) deduction limit on your tax bill. Unless your company is exempt, your maximum business interest deduction for the tax year equals the sum of 1) 30% of your company’s adjusted taxable income (ATI), 2) your company’s business interest income, if any, and 3) your company’s floor plan financing interest, if any. If your company is affected by the business interest deduction limitation, contact us to see if you can avoid it or reduce the impact. We can help assess what’s right for your business. For more information, please visit our website at https://bit.ly/tax-briefs

Are you starting a business with partners and considering the best entity to form? An S corporation might be the ideal choice. One significant advantage of an S corp over a partnership is that, as an S corp shareholder, you won’t be personally liable for corporate debts. If you anticipate early losses, an S corp is more favorable than a C corp from a tax perspective. C corp shareholders typically don’t benefit from such losses, but S corp shareholders can deduct their share of the losses on their personal tax returns, up to their basis in the stock and any loans made to the entity. Contact us for more information. For more information, please visit our website at https://bit.ly/tax-briefs

As college costs continue to rise, you may be concerned about how to save and pay for it. Tax-favored strategies may be available. For example, you can contribute to a 529 plan set up to meet a child’s or grandchild’s education expenses. Contributions aren’t deductible but earnings accumulate tax-free. Contributions are taxable gifts to the child and are eligible for the $19,000 gift tax exclusion in 2025. By taking advantage of a five-year gift tax election, a grandparent can contribute up to $95,000 ($19,000 × 5) per beneficiary this year, free of gift tax. Distributions of earnings that aren’t used for qualified expenses are subject to income tax plus a 10% penalty. Other rules apply. For more information, please visit our website at https://bit.ly/tax-briefs

The IRS will start the 2025 filing season for individual income tax returns on Jan. 27. Even if you usually don’t file until April, you may want to file early. It can potentially protect you from tax identity theft. In this crime, a thief uses your personal information to file a fraudulent return early in the filing season and claim a bogus refund. Another benefit of early filing is that if you’re getting a refund, you’ll get it faster. This year, the filing deadline to submit 2024 returns, file for an extension and pay tax owed is generally April 15. If you’re requesting an extension, you’ll have until Oct. 15 to file. Contact us for an appointment to prepare your return. For more information, please visit our website at https://bit.ly/tax-briefs

The unemployment rate was 4.2% in November. With today’s hiring challenges, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) may help employers. The WOTC is available to employers that hire workers from targeted groups who face significant barriers to employment. The credit is generally worth up to $2,400 for each eligible employee. The maximum credit amounts are different for some employees (certain veterans, long-term family assistance recipients and summer youth employees). The job applicant and the employer must complete a pre-screening notice on or before the day a job offer is made. For more information, please visit our website at https://bit.ly/tax-briefs

You can’t keep funds in your traditional IRA indefinitely. You must start taking withdrawals from a traditional IRA (including a SIMPLE IRA or SEP IRA) when you reach age 73. You must take your first RMD by April 1 of the year following the year in which you turn 73, regardless of whether you’re still employed. The RMD for any year is the account balance as of the end of the immediately preceding calendar year divided by a distribution period from the IRS’s “Uniform Lifetime Table.” If you take money out of a traditional IRA before age 59½, you may be subject to a 10% penalty tax and income tax on the distribution. Contact us with any questions. For more information, please visit our website at https://bit.ly/tax-briefs

When deciding on the best business structure, one option is a C corporation. There are pros and cons to doing business this way. For example, a C corporation allows a business to be taxed separately from you as the owner. The corporate tax rate is currently 21%, which is lower than the highest 37% noncorporate tax rate. One potential disadvantage: Earnings can be subject to double tax, once at the corporate level and again when distributed to you. One big advantage is the liability protection a C corporation offers. Shareholders aren’t personally liable for the corporation’s debts and liabilities. So personal assets are generally protected if the corporation faces legal issues or bankruptcy. For more information, please visit our website at https://bit.ly/tax-briefs