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Beware! Third Parties Are Promoting False Credit Claims for Employee Retention

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Employers should be cautious of third-party companies encouraging them to claim credit for employee retention though they are unqualified. Improper positions associated with taxpayer eligibility and credit claims are being filled by these deceptive companies. This article ensures taxpayers are aware of proper Employee Retention Credit filings.

An Employee Retention Credit (ERC) is defined as a tax credit that is refundable and is issued for businesses that paid employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses with a decline in gross receipts from March 13, 2020 – December 31, 2021 are eligible for this credit.

A massive upfront fee is charged and is dependent upon the potential refund. These companies also fail to make taxpayers aware of federal income tax that must be adjusted according to the amount of credit. This can put the employer in a negative circumstance with the IRS.

If a business submitted a tax return with the qualified deductions, that company must file a correction through an amended tax return. Doing this will prevent any violations and filing disqualifications. Wage deductions can be listed as overstated if the amending process is not taken.

If solicitations seem too good to be true, they may be a scam. This is crucial for taxpayers because they are responsible for all reported tax information. An improperly filed ERC can result in required repayments, penalties, and interest.

To qualify for the ERC, employers must fulfill one of the circumstances below:

  • Maintained operational suspension (full and/or partial) due to the COVID-19 pandemic throughout 2021 or the first 9 months of 2021
  • Employer experienced a major reduction in gross receipts during 2020 or the first 9 months of 2021
  • Employer

If you have questions about your ERC or want to learn more about tax updates from the IRS, visit our website.

Taxpayers Should Check Their Tax Withholding Status

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Avoid negative tax surprises by reviewing tax withholdings. Taxpayers should monitor their returns and make sure withholdings are adjusted properly. Luckily, there is still time to adjust withholdings in 2022 and check to see next year’s return benefit. Adjustments made now can help taxpayers avoid paying penalties. ETax Services has the information taxpayers need to avoid tax hang-ups.

The following circumstances can require a taxpayer to adjust withholdings

  • Marriage or divorce
  • Newborn children
  • Purchase a new home
  • Tax law changes

Life can be unexpected, and the IRS understands that situations change. Visit our contact page to connect with a tax expert to review your adjustments.

How to Pay Taxes

Taxpayers usually pay throughout the year. Payment intervals can be withheld from the salary, quarterly, or a combination of both. The IRS reports that over 70% of taxpayers withhold too much resulting in a refund for them.

Other Impactful Items

As stated previously, unforeseen situations occur and can impact withholding amounts. These other qualifying life events include:

  • Coronavirus Relief for Taxes: This includes tax help for businesses, taxpayers, tax-exempt businesses, and others impacted by COVID-19.
  • Natural Disasters: This includes wildfires, hurricanes, tsunamis, and other disasters. If a location is declared a disaster area by the federal government, the taxpayers in that location will have to adjust their withholdings.
  • Lay off or Loss of Employment: This unfortunate circumstance can impact tax information though the IRS allows adjustments.
  • Gig Economy Transition: Taxpayers in the gig economy can prevent penalty payments by reviewing estimated tax payments. People who earned a certain amount in one year may have to file documents such as the 1099 NEC.

Etax has the best tax updates and information for taxpayers. Visit our contact page to book an appointment with an expert tax agent.

Tax Tips for Self-Employed Consultants

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Independent work is popular. People who are independent workers are often referred to as “Direct Sellers” by the IRS because they often sell a product or service to people they know from personal connections or even networking events. Since Direct Sellers work for themselves, their tax filing rules are different from those who work a W-2 full-time corporate job. Follow these tips from ETax Service to learn about how to be prepared for potential tax auditing as a Direct Seller.

  1. File the Tax Return

Any income of $400 or more over one year must be reported. For example, people who only made $155 throughout a year will not owe any taxes. It is important to file because that is how people are issued tax refunds.

  •  File Business Income

Many independent workers make various kinds of income (product purchases, prices, commissions, gifts, and many more). Direct sellers often receive a Form 1099 if they made over $600 or invested more than $5,000 in inventory.

  •  Pay Self-Employment Taxes

The IRS requires the self-employed to pay their own taxes. This is because companies are not automatically deducting expenses such as Social Security, Medicare, and other income taxes. The tax rate for direct sellers is 15.3% of net earnings (12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare).

  •  Understand Expenses You Can Deduct

A great way to lower your taxable income is by deducting business expenses. Self-employed workers can normally deduct various kinds of expenses. These expenses include home office, marketing, startup costs, inventory (value, not sales), and more.

  •  Separate Business and Hobby Incomes

Some people have a skill and do not intend to make an LLC or other business out of the skill. If you are providing a skill and are not concerned about money, you are considered a Hobbyist. Hobbyists still must report all income though no expenses may be deducted.

For more questions about tax rates for the self-employed, visit www.etaxservice.com to connect with our expert tax staff.

The US Flat Tax Revolution

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One thing that divides the United States of America is the various tax rates. In other words, only some states have the flat tax rate implemented while others use a graduated tax rate. A flat tax is a single fixed rate on income while a graduated tax rate is a percentage that varies based on the level of an individual’s income. 5 states have already adopted the flat tax rate in 2022. Since more and more states are seemingly following this trend, it is safe to assume that America is experiencing a Flat Tax Revolution.

The first states to implement the flat tax were Wisconsin in 1912 followed by Massachusetts in 1917. The other states that hopped in the flat tax band wagon include Colorado in 1987, Utah in 2007, North Carolina in 2014, Kentucky in 2019. These states are now joined with the states that already had a flat tax rate: Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

States that are transitioning from graduating tax rates to a flat tax include:

  • Iowa at a rate of 3.9 % by 2026
  • Mississippi at a rate of 4% by 2026
  • Georgia at a rate of 5.49% then to 4.9% by 2023
  • Arizona at a rate of 2.5% by 2024

More states including Idaho, Missouri, and Oklahoma will also be adopting the flat tax soon. People in favor of the flat tax flaunt this policy as a benefit of living in the state. The advocacy for the flat tax may inspire the rest of the country to follow suit.

For more of the best information concerning tax rates, deadlines, and other tax factors, visit www.etaxservice.com to connect with our team of experts.