The sky isn't falling... It's just September!

Even though it's technically the first month of Fall, September still brings sun and promise.?

A last chance to make the most of the weather and the long days before another year comes to a close.

I don't know about you, but I'm thinking about what I'm going to do with this time. Both personally and with my business.

"How can I prepare my business for Fall (so that I can start the New Year running)?" is a question?that is?currently at the front?of my mind.

While we all mull this over, here are the business essentials every business owner needs to know this month.

Keep scrolling for essential updates and tips...

?September 2021

Feature Articles

• Tax Relief for Those Affected by Natural Disasters
• What Is a Designated Roth Account?
• Six Things To Know Before You Start a Business
• Verifying Your Identity When Calling the IRS
• Tax Rules for Divorce and Alimony Payments

Tax Tips

• Extension Deadline Looming for 2020 Tax Returns
• Reminder: Protect Yourself From Scammers
• Gross Receipts Safe Harbor for Employers Claiming ERC
• How To Get an Identity Protection Pin
• Tax Planning: Facts About Credits and Deductions

QuickBooks Tips

• How to Track Inventory in Quickbooks

Any accounting, business or tax advice contained in this communication, including attachments and enclosures, is not intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid tax-related penalties. If desired, we would be pleased to perform the requisite research and provide you with a detailed written analysis. Such an engagement may be the subject of a separate engagement letter that would define the scope and limits of the desired consultation services.

Tax Relief for Those Affected by Natural Disasters

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Recovery efforts after natural disasters can be costly. With floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters affecting so many people throughout the U.S. this year, many have been left wondering how they're going to pay for the cleanup or when their businesses will be able to reopen. The good news is that there is some relief for taxpayers - but only if you meet certain conditions. Let's take a look:

Tax Relief for Homeowners

Fortunately, personal casualty losses are deductible on your tax return as long as the property is located in a Presidentially-declared disaster area as long as:

1. The loss was caused by a sudden, unexplained, or unusual event.

Natural disasters such as flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires qualify as sudden, unexplained, or unusual events.

2. The damages were not covered by insurance.

You can only claim a deduction for casualty losses not covered or reimbursed by your insurance company. The catch here is that if you submit a claim to your insurance company late in the year, your claim could still be pending come tax time. If that happens, you can file an extension on your taxes. Please call if you need help filing an extension or have any questions about what losses you can deduct.

3. Your losses were sufficient to overcome any reductions required by the IRS.

The IRS requires several "reductions" to claim casualty losses on your tax forms. The first is that you must subtract $100 from the total loss amount for each casualty event. This is referred to as the $100 loss limit.

Second, you must reduce the amount by 10 percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI) or adjusted gross income from the total casualty losses for the year. For example, if your AGI is $25,000 and your insurance company paid for all of the losses you incurred due to flooding except $3,100, you would first subtract $100 and then reduce that amount by $2500. The amount you could deduct as a loss would be $500.

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Taxpayers claiming the disaster loss on a prior year's return should put the Disaster Designation in red ink at the top of the form. Doing so ensures the IRS can expedite the refund processing, waive the usual fees, and expedite requests for copies of previously filed tax returns for affected taxpayers who need them to apply for benefits or to file amended returns claiming casualty losses.

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Tax Relief for Homeowners and Businesses

The IRS often provides tax relief for those affected by natural disasters, such as the individuals and businesses impacted by Hurricane Ida in Louisiana. Tax relief for victims of Hurricane Ida includes postponing various tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred starting on August 26, 2021. As a result, affected individuals and businesses will have until January 3, 2022, to file returns and pay any taxes that were originally due during this period.

Individuals who had a valid extension to file their 2020 return due to run out on October 15, 2021, will now have until January 3, 2022, to file. However, taxpayers should be aware that because tax payments related to these 2020 returns were due on May 17, 2021, those payments are not eligible for this relief.

Claiming Disaster-related Casualty Losses

Affected taxpayers in a Presidential Disaster Area have the option of claiming disaster-related casualty losses on their federal income tax return for either this year or last year. Claiming the loss on an original (2021) or amended return for last year (2020) will get the taxpayer an earlier refund, but waiting to claim the loss on this year's return could result in a greater tax saving, depending on other income factors. If you choose to deduct losses on your 2020 tax return, you have one year from the due date of the tax return to file.

Help is Just a Phone Call Away

If you're confused about whether you qualify for tax relief after a recent natural disaster, please contact the office for assistance in figuring out the best way to handle casualty losses related to hurricanes and other natural disasters.

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What Is a Designated Roth Account?

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Many 401(k) plans allow taxpayers to make Roth contributions as long as the plan has a designated Roth account. Your plan may also allow you to transfer amounts to the designated Roth account in the plan or borrow money.

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Check with your employer to find out if your 401(k), 403(b) or 457 governmental plan has a designated Roth account and whether it allows in-plan Roth rollovers or loans.

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A designated Roth account allows you to:

• Make designated Roth contributions to the account; and
• if the plan permits, rollover certain amounts in your other plan accounts to the Roth account.

Pre-tax Deferrals vs. After-tax Contributions

Unlike pre-tax salary deferrals, which are not taxed when you contribute them to the plan, you have to pay taxes on any contribution you make to a designated Roth account. Any pre-tax salary deferrals and related earnings are taxable when you withdraw them from the plan.

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Your gross income for the year in which you make designated Roth contributions will be higher than if you had made only pre-tax salary deferrals.

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Roth contributions, however, are not taxed when you withdraw them from the plan. Earnings on Roth contributions are also not taxed when they are withdrawn from the plan if your withdrawal is a qualified distribution. A qualified distribution is a distribution that is made:

• At least 5 years after the first contribution to your Roth account; and
• After you are age 59 1/2 or on account of you being disabled, or to your beneficiary after your death.

Maximum Contribution Amounts

Roth IRA.?In 2021, the maximum contribution to a regular Roth IRA account is $6,000 ($7,000 if age 50 or older). Furthermore, contributions are limited by tax filing status and adjusted gross income.

Designated Roth Account.?In contrast, in 2021, the maximum contribution to a designated Roth account is $19,500 ($26,000 if age 50 or older), and contribution limits are not impacted by filing status or adjusted gross income.

Questions?

Depending on your particular tax situation, contributing to a designated Roth account could be a smart move. To learn more about whether you should take advantage of a designated Roth account, please call.

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Six Things To Know Before You Start a Business

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Starting your own business can be an exciting prospect, but there is more to it than simply writing a business plan. Understanding the tax responsibilities of starting a business venture can save taxpayers money and help set them up for success. That's where a tax professional can help. Here is what you need to know before you start a new business:

1. Deciding on a Business Entity

The first decision you need to make is determining which business entity you will use because the type of business structure you choose determines what taxes you need to pay and how to pay them, as well as which income tax return you file. The most common types of business entities are:

• Sole proprietorship - An unincorporated business owned by an individual. There's no distinction between the taxpayer and their business.
• Partnership - An unincorporated business with ownership shared between two or more people.
• Corporation - Also known as a C corporation. It's a separate entity owned by shareholders.
• S Corporation - A corporation that elects to pass corporate income, losses, deductions and credits through to the shareholders.
• Limited Liability Company - A business structure allowed by state statute.

2. Obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Securing an Employer Identification Number (also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number) is the first thing you must do since many other forms require it. The IRS issues EINs to employers, sole proprietors, corporations, partnerships, nonprofit associations, trusts, estates, government agencies, certain individuals, and other business entities for tax filing and reporting purposes.

An EIN is used to identify a business. Most businesses need one of these numbers. A business with an EIN needs to keep the business mailing address, location, and responsible party up to date. IRS regulations require EIN holders to report changes in the responsible party within 60 days. They do this by completing Form 8822-B,?Change of Address or Responsible Party, and mailing it to the address on the form.

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Even if you already have an EIN as a sole proprietor, for example, if you start a new business with a different business entity, you will need to apply for a new EIN.

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The fastest way to apply for an EIN is online through the IRS website or telephone. Applying by fax and mail generally takes one to two weeks, and you can apply for one EIN per day. There is no cost to apply.

3. Choosing a Tax Year

A tax year is defined as an annual accounting period for keeping records and reporting income and expenses. A new business owner must choose either calendar year or fiscal year defined as follows:

Calendar year.?12 consecutive months beginning January 1 and ending December 31.

Fiscal year.?12 consecutive months ending on the last day of any month except December.

4. Understanding State Withholding, Unemployment, Sales, and Other Business Taxes

Once you have your EIN, you need to fill out forms to establish an account with the state for payroll tax withholding, Unemployment Insurance Registration, and sales tax collections (if applicable). Business taxes include income tax, self-employment tax, employment tax, and excise tax. Generally, the type of tax your business pays depends on the type of business structure. Keep in mind that you may also need to make estimated tax payments.

5. Payroll Record Keeping

Payroll reporting and recordkeeping can be time-consuming and costly. Also, keep in mind that almost all employers are required to transmit federal payroll tax deposits electronically. Personnel files should be kept for each employee and include an employee's employment application as well as the following:

• Form W-4,?Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate. Completed by the employee and used to calculate their federal income tax withholding. This form also includes necessary information such as the employee's address and Social Security number.
• Form I-9,?Employment Eligibility Verification U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services?. This form verifies that an employee is legally permitted to work in the U.S.

6. Employee Healthcare Requirements

As an employer with employees, you may have certain healthcare requirements you need to comply with as well. If so, you should know about the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit, which helps small businesses (fewer than 25 employees who work full-time or a combination of full-time and part-time) pay for health care coverage they offer their employees. The maximum credit is 50 percent of premiums paid for small business employers and 35 percent for small tax-exempt employers, such as charities. It is available to eligible employers for two consecutive taxable years.

If you have any questions or need help setting up a payroll and accounting system for your new business, don't hesitate to call.

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Verifying Your Identity When Calling the IRS

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Sometimes, taxpayers need to call the IRS about a tax matter. If this is the case, they should know that IRS phone assistors take great care to only discuss personal information with the taxpayer or someone the taxpayer authorizes to speak on their behalf. As such, the IRS will ask taxpayers and tax professionals to verify their identity when they call.

As part of the IRS's ongoing efforts to keep taxpayer data secure from identity thieves and to avoid having to call the IRS back, taxpayers should have the following information ready before calling the IRS:

• Social Security numbers (SSN) and birth dates for those who were named on the tax return
• An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) letter if the taxpayer has one instead of an SSN
• Their filing status: single, head of household, married filing joint, or married filing separate
• The prior-year tax return. Phone assistors may need to verify taxpayer identity with information from the return before answering certain questions
• A copy of the tax return in question
• Any IRS letters or notices received by the taxpayer

Taxpayer's Legally Designated Representative

By law, IRS telephone assistors will only speak with the taxpayer or to the taxpayer's legally designated representative. In other words, a taxpayer can grant a third party authorization to help them with federal tax matters. Depending on the authorization, the third-party can be a family member or friend, a tax professional, attorney, or business. The different types of third party authorizations include:

• Power of Attorney?- Allow someone to represent you in tax matters before the IRS. Your representative must be an individual authorized to practice before the IRS.
• Tax Information Authorization?- Appoint anyone to review and/or receive your confidential tax information for the type of tax and years/periods you determine.
• Third Party Designee?- Designate a person on your tax form to discuss that specific tax return and year with the IRS.
• Oral Disclosure?- Authorize the IRS to disclose your tax information to a person you bring into a phone conversation or meeting with us about a specific tax issue.

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Taxpayers must still meet all of their tax obligations even when authorizing someone to represent them.

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Taxpayers Calling on Behalf of Someone Else's Account

If taxpayers or tax professionals are calling about someone else's account, they should be prepared to verify their identities and provide information about the person they are representing. Before calling about a third-party, they should have the following information available:

• Verbal or written authorization from the third-party to discuss the account
• The ability to verify the taxpayer's name, SSN or ITIN, tax period, and tax forms filed
• Preparer Tax Identification Number or PIN if a third-party designee
• One of these forms, which is current, completed and signed: Form 8821,?Tax Information Authorization?or Form 2848,?Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative

Questions or Concerns?

If you have any questions or concerns about verifying your identity before calling the IRS, don't hesitate to contact the office for assistance.

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Tax Rules for Divorce and Alimony Payments

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Divorce is a painful reality for many people, both emotionally and financially. Quite often, the last thing on anyone's mind is the effect a divorce or separation will have on their tax situation. To make matters worse, most court decisions do not consider the effects divorce or separation has on your tax situation, which is why it's always a good idea to speak to an accounting professional before anything is finalized.

Furthermore, tax rules regarding divorce and separation can and do change - as they recently did under tax reform. Divorced and separated individuals should be aware of tax law changes that took effect in 2019.

Who is Impacted

The new rules relate to alimony or separate maintenance payments under a divorce or separation agreement and includes all taxpayers with:

• Divorce decrees.
• Separate maintenance decrees.
• Written separation agreements.

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Tax reform did not change the tax treatment of child support payments which are not taxable to the recipient or deductible by the payor.

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Timing of Agreements

Agreements executed beginning January 1, 2019 or later.?Alimony or separate maintenance payments are not deductible from the income of the payor spouse, nor are they includable in the income of the receiving spouse if made under a divorce or separation agreement executed after December 31, 2018.

Agreements executed on or before December 31, 2018 and then modified.?The new law applies if the modification does these two things:

• Changes the terms of the alimony or separate maintenance payments.
• Specifically states that alimony or separate maintenance payments are not deductible by the payer spouse or includable in the income of the receiving spouse.

Agreements executed on or before December 31, 2018.?Before tax reform, a taxpayer who made payments to a spouse or former spouse could deduct it on their tax return. The taxpayer who receives the payments is required to include it in their income. If an agreement was modified after that date, the agreement still follows the previous law as long as the modifications?do not:

• Change the terms of the alimony or separate maintenance payments.
• Specifically state that alimony or separate maintenance payments are not deductible by the payer spouse or includable in the income of the receiving spouse.

Tax reform made an already complicated situation even more so. Don't hesitate to call if you have any questions about the tax rules surrounding divorce and separation.

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Extension Deadline Looming for 2020 Tax Returns

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Time is running short for taxpayers who requested an extra six months to file their 2020 tax return. As a reminder, Friday, October 15, 2021, is the extension deadline for most taxpayers. Taxpayers who owe tax – even those who did not request an extension - and have yet to file a 2020 tax return can generally avoid additional penalties and interest by filing the return as soon as possible and paying any balance due.

Taxpayers with relatively simple returns should keep the following items in mind regarding the extension deadline and taxes:

1. Taxpayers can still e-file returns. Filing electronically is the easiest, safest, and most accurate way to file taxes.

2. For taxpayers owed a refund, the fastest way to get it is to combine direct deposit and e-file.

3. Taxpayers who owe taxes should consider using IRS Direct Pay, a simple, quick, and free way to pay from a checking or savings account using a computer or mobile device. There are also other online payment options. Please call the office if you need details about other payment options.

4. Members of the military and those serving in a combat zone generally get more time to file. Military members typically have until at least 180 days after leaving a combat zone to both file returns and pay any tax due.

5. Taxpayers should always keep a copy of tax returns for their records. Keeping copies of tax returns can help taxpayers prepare future tax returns or assist with amending a prior year's return.

Taxpayers with complicated tax returns should contact the office immediately for assistance. Many tax preparers and accounting professionals are extremely busy due to the complexity of tax regulations brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Reminder: Protect Yourself From Scammers

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Understanding how the IRS communicates can help taxpayers protect themselves from scammers who pretend to be from the IRS with the goal of stealing personal information. For example, the IRS typically does not call a taxpayer, but if the IRS does call, it should not be a surprise because the agency will have sent a notice or letter first to alert the taxpayer of their intent.

As a reminder, taxpayers should always protect themselves from scammers. One of the ways they can do this is by understanding how the IRS communicates with them. With this in mind, let's take a look at some of the other ways the IRS communicates with taxpayers:

1. The IRS doesn't normally initiate contact with taxpayers by email. As such, never reply to an email from someone who claims to be from the IRS because the IRS email address could be spoofed or fake. Emails from IRS employees will end in irs.gov.
2. The agency does not send text messages or contact people through social media. Fraudsters will impersonate legitimate government agents and agencies on social media and try to initiate contact with taxpayers.
3. When the IRS needs to contact a taxpayer, the first point of contact is normally by letter delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Taxpayers should be aware that debt relief firms send unsolicited tax debt relief offers through the mail. Fraudsters will often claim they already notified the taxpayer by U.S. mail.
4. Depending on the situation, IRS employees may first call or visit with a taxpayer. In some instances, the IRS sends a letter or written notice to a taxpayer in advance, but not always. Many IRS notices are searchable on the IRS website; however, just because someone references an IRS notice in email, phone call, text, or social media, it does not mean the request is legitimate. If you have any doubts, don't hesitate to contact the office.
5. IRS revenue agents or tax compliance officers may call a taxpayer or tax professional after mailing a notice to confirm an appointment or to discuss items for a scheduled audit. The IRS encourages taxpayers to review,?How to Know it's Really the IRS Calling or Knocking on Your Door: Collection, found on the IRS website.
6. Private debt collectors can call taxpayers to collect certain outstanding inactive tax liabilities, but only after the taxpayer and their representative have received written notice. Private debt collection should not be confused with debt relief firms who will call, send lien notices via U.S. mail, or email taxpayers with debt relief offers. Taxpayers should contact the IRS regarding filing back taxes properly.
7. IRS revenue officers and agents routinely make unannounced visits to a taxpayer's home or place of business to discuss taxes owed, delinquent tax returns, or a business falling behind on payroll tax deposits. IRS revenue officers will request payment of taxes owed by the taxpayer. However, taxpayers should remember that payment will never be requested to a source other than the U.S. Treasury.
8. If the IRS visits a taxpayer, they should always ask for credentials; IRS representatives can always provide two forms of official credentials: a pocket commission and a Personal Identity Verification Credential.

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Gross Receipts Safe Harbor for Employers Claiming ERC

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Safe harbor is now available that allows employers to exclude certain items from their gross receipts solely for determining eligibility for the Employee Retention Credit (ERC). These amounts are:

• The amount of the forgiveness of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan;
• Shuttered Venue Operators Grants under the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act; and
• Restaurant Revitalization Grants under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

An employer elects to apply the safe harbor by excluding these amounts solely for determining whether it is an eligible employer for a calendar quarter for purposes of claiming the ERC on its employment tax return.

The safe harbor should be applied consistently to determine eligibility for the ERC. Employers must exclude the amounts from their gross receipts for each calendar quarter in which gross receipts are relevant to determining eligibility to claim the ERC. Furthermore, the employer claiming the credit must also apply the safe harbor to all employers treated as a single employer under the aggregation rules.

Employers claim the ERC on their employment tax return, generally Form 941,?Employers Quarterly Federal Tax Return, or adjusted employment tax return, generally Form 941-X,?Adjusted Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return or Claim for Refund.

Please note that an employer is not required to apply this safe harbor, and the safe harbor does not permit the exclusion of these amounts from gross receipts for any other federal tax purpose.

Further changes may be forthcoming pending legislation; however, if you have any questions or would like more information about the latest guidance regarding the ECR, don't hesitate to call the office now.

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How To Get an Identity Protection Pin

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An Identity Protection PIN is a six-digit number eligible taxpayers get to help prevent their Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number from being used to file fraudulent federal income tax returns. This number helps the IRS verify a taxpayer's identity and accept their tax return. The?Get An IP PIN?tool enables anyone with an SSN or ITIN to get an IP PIN after verifying their identity through a rigorous authentication process. For security reasons, tax pros cannot get an IP PIN on behalf of clients.

Facts taxpayers should know about the IP PIN:

• It's a six-digit number known only to the taxpayer and the IRS.
• The opt-in program is voluntary.
• The IP PIN should be entered onto the electronic tax return when prompted by the software product or onto a paper return next to the signature line.
• The IP PIN is valid for one calendar year.
• For security reasons, enrolled participants get a new IP PIN each year.
• Spouses and dependents are eligible for an IP PIN if they can verify their identities.
• IP PIN users should never share their number with anyone but the IRS and their trusted tax preparation provider. The IRS will never call, email, or text a request for the IP PIN.

Currently, taxpayers can get an IP PIN for 2021, which should be used when filing any federal tax returns during the year, including prior year returns. New IP PINs will be available starting in January 2022.

Taxpayers Unable to Validate Identity Online

Taxpayers who are unable to validate their identity online and have income of $72,000 or less, can file Form 15227 (EN-SP),?Application for an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number. The IRS will call the phone number the taxpayer provided on Form 15227 to validate the taxpayer's identity. However, for security reasons, the IRS will assign an IP PIN for?the next filing season, and the taxpayer cannot use?the IP PIN for the current filing season.

Taxpayers who cannot validate their identity online, or by the phone, or who are ineligible to file a Form 15227 can make an appointment at a Taxpayer Assistance Center. Please call the office if you need assistance locating a center. Before arriving at their appointment, taxpayers will need to bring one current government-issued picture ID and another identification document to prove their identity. Once verified, the taxpayer will receive an IP PIN in the mail, usually within three weeks.

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Tax Planning: Facts About Credits and Deductions

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Tax credits and deductions can mean more money in a taxpayer's pocket. Here are a few facts about credits and deductions that help taxpayers with their year-round tax planning:

1. Taxable income is what's left over after someone subtracts any eligible deductions from their adjusted gross income. This includes the standard deduction ($12,5550 in 2021 for single filers; $25,100 for married filing jointly). Most individual taxpayers take the standard deduction. On the other hand, some taxpayers may choose to itemize their deductions because it could lower their taxable income.
2. As a general rule, if a taxpayer's itemized deductions are larger than their standard deduction, they should itemize. Also, in some cases, taxpayers may even be required to itemize.
3. For a quick overview of what expenses they may be able to itemize, taxpayers with less complicated returns may be able to use the Interactive Tax Assistant found on the IRS website.
4. Tax credits are subtracted from the total amount of tax owed. To claim a credit, taxpayers should keep records that show their eligibility for it.
5. The American Rescue Plan changed several valuable tax credits, including the child and dependent tax credit, the childless earned income tax credit, the childless earned income tax credit, and the child tax credit. It's important for taxpayers to understand how these changes may affect the 2021 tax return.
6. Properly claiming tax credits can reduce taxes owed and boost refunds. Some tax credits, like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), are even refundable, which means a taxpayer can get money refunded to them even if they don't owe any taxes.

To learn more about how you can save money on your 2021 tax return by planning ahead, please call the office today.

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How to Track Inventory in Quickbooks

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If your company sells physical products, you know how important it is to always be aware of your stock levels. You have to know what's selling and what's not, and you need to get a head start on ordering new inventory when yours is running low.

The tricky part is always having enough available to meet the needs of existing orders as they come in. On the other hand, you don't want to have too much money tied up in products that are selling slowly. It's a delicate balance and one you can't maintain unless you have precise inventory records and reports.

QuickBooks helps with both sides of this equation. It lets you create detailed records for each of your company's products that track your existing stock levels in real-time and alert you when it's time to reorder. Plus, specialized reports provide insight into your inventory as a whole. Here is how it works:

Getting Set Up

Before you start entering item records, you need to make sure that QuickBooks is set up for inventory tracking. Open the?Edit?menu and select?Preferences, then?Items & Inventory. If you are the administrator, you can click on the?Company Preferences?tab to open this window.

Figure 1: Before you start working with inventory, you must make sure that QuickBooks is ready.

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Click in the box in front of?Inventory and purchase orders are active?if it's not already checked. Check the next two boxes if those apply to you, then respond to the final query.?Quantity On Hand?refers to the number of units you have in stock. Some items may not be available if they're committed to assemblies, for example. So choose one of the two conditions that should trigger a warning about inaccessible inventory. When you're done here, click?OK.

Creating Accurate Records

Even if you have a relatively modest catalog of products for sale, we recommend that you use QuickBooks' inventory tracking. It's just too difficult to keep tabs on your item levels manually, especially if you sell in any volume. And errors in this area may mean you come up short when customers order products that you thought were available but weren't. You could easily lose business.

To start creating item records, click the?Items & Services?icon on the home page or open the?Lists?menu and select?Item List. Right-click anywhere in the window that opens and select?New. Under?Type?in the upper left corner, click the down arrow and select?Inventory Part. This just means that you want to be able to track how many of this item that you have in stock.

Figure 2: QuickBooks provides detailed record templates for your item records.

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You don't necessarily have to complete every field in these records, but the more thorough you are, the more comprehensive and accurate your inventory tracking will be. Enter an?Item Name/Number. If this product will be a?subitem of?another, check that box and select the parent item.?Manufacturer's Part Number?is optional.

In the two columns below these fields, you'll provide?Purchase Information?and?Sales Information. In the left column, enter the text that would appear on a purchase order and the?Cost?the vendor charges for the item. The?Cost of Goods Sold?account should appear by default. Change it if it doesn't. And if you have a?Preferred Vendor, select it from the drop-down list.

The right column should contain information about your sale of the item. The?Description on Sales Transactions?may be different from the vendor's text. Next, decide what your?Sales Price?will be. Of course, this should be higher, so you can make a profit. Is the item taxable? Select the correct jurisdiction under?Tax Code?if so. You'll then need to select your?Income Account. You may want to consult with us on this issue because it's important that you make the right choice - or know how to create your own.

On the bottom row here, let the first field default to?Inventory Asset. If you want to be reminded to reorder when your inventory count hits a specific number, enter a number in the field below?Reorder Point (Minimum)?. Provide the number you currently have?On Hand. QuickBooks will automatically complete the remaining fields. When you've finished here, click?OK. Your item will now appear in the?Item List?and will be available to use in sales and purchase forms.

QuickBooks can quickly show you the status of your items in the form of numerous reports. Open the?Reports?menu and hover your mouse over?Inventory?to see the list that is available, including?Inventory Stock Status by Item?and?Inventory Valuation Detail.

Simple or Complex?

QuickBooks Pro and Premier can handle simple inventory tracking and even meet more complex needs in some cases. If you find that it doesn't do everything you need, you have options. There are add-on apps that expand on the software's capabilities and older versions of QuickBooks that offer robust inventory management. Don't hesitate to get in touch if you want to explore one of these or if you need help understanding the basics of inventory tracking in your current version.

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Tax Due Dates for September 2021

September 10

Employees Who Work for Tips?- If you received $20 or more in tips during August, report them to your employer. You can use Form 4070.

September 15

Individuals?- Make a payment of your 2021 estimated tax if you are not paying your income tax for the year through withholding (or will not pay in enough tax that way). Use Form 1040-ES. This is the third installment date for estimated tax in 2021.

Partnerships?- File a 2020 calendar year income tax return (Form 1065). This due date applies only if you were given an additional 6-month extension. Provide each shareholder with a copy of Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) or a substitute Schedule K-1.

S corporations?- File a 2020 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120S) and pay any tax due. This due date applies only if you made a timely request for an automatic 6-month extension. Provide each shareholder with a copy of Schedule K-1 (Form 1120S) or a substitute Schedule K-1.

Corporations?- Deposit the third installment of estimated income tax for 2021. A worksheet, Form 1120-W, is available to help you make an estimate of your tax for the year.

Employers?- Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in August.

Employers?- Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in August.