Doing an IRA rollover?  Be careful.  Do you know about the 60 day rule?  It's best to just do a trustee to trustee IRA rollover and then you can avoid the issue.  This article describes some of the dangers.  http://www.accountantsworld.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?page=articles&faid=667&category=story&kw=

 

http://tacomataxcpa.com/

John Huddleston

Huddleston Tax Consulting

Estimated tax payments are due on 9/15.  You need to pay 90% of your current year's tax obligations through estimated payments or through withholding to avoid a penalty.  Alternatively, you can pay 100% or 110% of your prior year's tax obligation (110% if your AGI is over $150,000).  If you think your income is equal or less than 2007, you can have your CPA or tax accountant do a tax estimate to determine a smaller payment.  Don't forget.

 

http://tacomataxcpa.com/

John Huddleston

It happens to butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers. It probably happens in your business, too: A customer doesn’t pay what they owe and you end up with a bad debt. Can you take a tax deduction?

The answer depends on how you account for income on your tax return. If you included the amount due from the customer in income this year or in previous years, it’s likely you have a bad debt deduction. You can claim all or part of the now-worthless receivable.

What if you record income as you collect the cash? In this case, since you don't receive the amount your customer owes you, and since you never reported it as income, there’s no deduction.

Suppose you lend money to a customer for a business reason and the loan becomes uncollectible. Is the loan considered a deductible bad debt?

As a general rule, yes, as long as your intention was to make a loan, not a gift, and you attempted to collect the debt but could not. Money you lend to employees or suppliers may also be deductible.

Though you don’t have to go to court to prove a debt is uncollectible, the deduction can only be taken in the taxable year it becomes worthless. If you overlook the deduction on that year’s return, don’t despair. For a fully worthless bad debt you have up to seven years from the due date of your original return to file an amended one.

Additional rules apply to specific situations, and certain businesses can use a special method for claiming bad debt deductions. Give us a call to discuss your options.

It happens to butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers. It probably happens in your business, too: A customer doesn’t pay what they owe and you end up with a bad debt. Can you take a tax deduction?

The answer depends on how you account for income on your tax return. If you included the amount due from the customer in income this year or in previous years, it’s likely you have a bad debt deduction. You can claim all or part of the now-worthless receivable.

What if you record income as you collect the cash? In this case, since you don't receive the amount your customer owes you, and since you never reported it as income, there’s no deduction.

Suppose you lend money to a customer for a business reason and the loan becomes uncollectible. Is the loan considered a deductible bad debt?

As a general rule, yes, as long as your intention was to make a loan, not a gift, and you attempted to collect the debt but could not. Money you lend to employees or suppliers may also be deductible.

Though you don’t have to go to court to prove a debt is uncollectible, the deduction can only be taken in the taxable year it becomes worthless. If you overlook the deduction on that year’s return, don’t despair. For a fully worthless bad debt you have up to seven years from the due date of your original return to file an amended one.

Additional rules apply to specific situations, and certain businesses can use a special method for claiming bad debt deductions. Give us a call to discuss your options.

Tax Tip for the Week of January 23, 2006