PPT-Tax Benefits Chapter 1 pp. 1-37

2015 National Income Tax Workbook Tax Benefits Limited by Income pp 137 Many benefits in the IRC are applicable only to taxpayers whose income does not exceed specific thresholds Benefits can be obtained by tax planning to minimize income and maximize deductions. Learning Objectives. Determine a taxpayer’s regular tax liability and identify tax issues associated with the process. . Compute a taxpayer’s alternative minimum tax liability and describe the tax characteristics of taxpayers most likely to owe the alternative minimum tax.. Research has shown that most dental practitioners overpay in taxes, and the reason behind this seems to stem from their lack of proactive tax planning. By not appreciating, understanding and acting upon the myriad nuances of the tax law, dentists the country over are missing out on potential tax saving opportunities and jeopardising their financial futures. What? You Don’t believe this? All you need do is listen to and read all the various quotes from IRS directors, commissioners and former agents, not to mention all the quotes from congressmen and women. Whether you’re new to the world of taxes as a business owner or individual, an accountant is generally considered to be the best person to help you with your financial information, and they can be thought of as professional tax collectors. With the 2019 tax year looming on the horizon, you’re probably already thinking about preparing for this time to try and get the maximum out of the changes that were introduced with the TCJA, or Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Credits have been adjusted, exemptions and tax bracket have altered, making it the perfect time to take a step back and look at your finances before the end of the fourth quarter. Keeping that in mind, here are just a few intelligent money manoeuvres to think about before December 31st, that could help you stay a step ahead of the tax filing season: There are many ways in which you can try and get yourself organized before the 2019 tax year commences, and here are just a few of them: Most US individuals and businesses who benefit from having completed their tax returns in a timely and accurate manner, will admit to having used the services of a tax professional, and there is absolutely no shame in that. One of the simplest ways of preparing for your taxes is to utilise the services of a tax professional, and recent statistics put around 60% of US tax paying citizens reportedly using paid preparers to submit their tax returns. While it is perfectly acceptable to go it alone - especially if you have a good head for such things – using a paid professional is the best way of eliminating errors and being sure to submit all the relevant information at the right time. As discussed in Part One, the majority of US citizens use the services of paid tax professionals to help them submit their tax returns each year, and with these simple tips, your tax preparation experience can be as pain-free as possible: Tax time comes around with surprising regularity, and when it seems you’ve only just got over the stress of filing in time for the deadline, that time of the year comes around again and our taxes loom over us like a rain cloud. There are, of course, strict penalties in place for those who incorrectly file their tax return, whether it’s a business or personal one, but the IRS will not assess a penalty if it owes you or your business, a refund. You can even claim your refund late by filing an amended tax return within three years, but if you owe money to the IRS and fail to pay because of an inaccurate tax return, then they may go ahead and assess penalties and interest. Few see doctors as business people, and few doctors will admit to being businessmen, but the reality is that those who do operate their own practices, must find a balance between caring for their patients and running a service-based business. Even some of those doctors employed by hospitals or other medical facilities will be required to make important financial decisions. Taxes are a hassle no matter how you tackle them, but there are ways of simplifying the whole process by planning in advance to help minimize your stress levels when your taxes are due: When Congress decides to make changes to tax rates, that’s when they occur and the frequency at which this happens is hard to predict. Most recent changes were back in 2001, thanks in part to the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act, which reduced tax rates for both individuals and businesses. So, Congress writes the tax laws, but the IRS are responsible for implementing them and helping to explain how the new rules can be applied to specific situations. Treasury Regulations and Revenue Rulings are the written regulations and procedures in which the new tax codes will appear, and they are almost four times as long as the tax code itself! Here’s a little more about the relationship between the IRS and the tax code: