Tax preparation top companies in Houston? You can also split your refund among the direct deposit choices by completing Form 8888.18? You’ll need to let your tax preparer know what you want to do, so that can be indicated on your return. If you use the same preparer that you used last year, they are likely to have your previous information. If you use a new preparer, last year’s return can serve as a reminder to the preparer—and you—of some items you don’t want to overlook. Here are two examples: Interest and dividends. Last year’s return should indicate which banks, mutual funds, or other financial institutions sent you 1099 forms. Use that list to make sure you received 1099s from them again this year (unless you closed those accounts or sold the investments in the meantime).

If you own a business, restructure your business entity, particularly if you are operating as a sole proprietor, LLC, or an S-Corp. The taxes for a C-Corp are lower at the top than for other business structures. However, there’s also a new 20% deduction of business income for pass-through entities. And, if you hire your children, you can pay them without withholding or matching payroll taxes if you have a sole proprietorship. You should work with an accountant to determine if restructuring your business is worthwhile. Invest in tax-exempt bonds. Any interest you earn is not subject to federal income tax and from Medicare surtax calculations. Also, municipal bond interest for bonds purchased in the state where you live is exempt from state income taxes, too.

Bonus depreciation is an extra benefit for buying assets. The TCJA also increased this tax break from 50% to 100% of cost for assets placed in service from September 27, 2017 through January 1, 2023. Talk to your tax preparer if you’ve purchased any major assets to find out if you qualify. You can deduct up to $25 per person of the cost of gifts given to customers and vendors. An exception exists for those that bear your business name, are distributed as a matter of course, and cost less than $4. Deducting the costs of entertainment is a bit trickier if you show your appreciation by paying for a good time. These costs are no longer deductible unless the event is directly related to your business in some way. Find additional info at https://greentree.tax/llc-tax-preparation/.

“Flip houses and make big bucks” scream the headlines. The premise is simple – buy real estate with little down, fix it up, and sell it quickly. What could be easier? Well, easy or not, one thing the promoters rarely tell you is that you’ll pay taxes on any profit you make if you are selling investment property and not the home you live in (your principal residence). If you flip houses or things like furniture for a profit, here are some tax implications and tips about your taxes, and possibly how to lower them.