It may not be high on the list of wedding planning activities, but there are a few simple steps that can help keep tax issues from interrupting your newly wedded bliss. If you recently married, check out your new tax situation. You might save money or even prevent the problem of a missing refund check.
The first things to handle are changes of name and address. Later, as tax season approaches, consider whether or not you'll itemize deductions, which tax return form is right for you and what filing status you'll use.
No one should delay the cake cutting or honeymoon because of taxes. But here are some helpful hints for later:
Use Your Correct Name
You must provide correct names and identification numbers to claim personal exemptions on your tax return. If you changed your name upon marrying, let the Social Security Administration know and update your Social Security card so the number matches your new name. Use Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card.
Change of Address
If you or your spouse has a new address, notify the U.S. Postal Service so that it will be able to forward any tax refunds or IRS correspondence. The Postal Service will also pass your new address on to IRS for updating. You may also notify to notify the IRS directly by filing Form 8822.
Refund Checks
Each year, the Postal Service returns thousands of tax refund checks as undeliverable, usually because the addressee has moved. Notifying both the Postal Service and the IRS of an address change in a timely manner can help ensure the proper delivery of any refund checks. To check the status of a tax refund, go to the IRS web site and use the "Where's My Refund?" service.
Changing Filing Status
Your marital status on December 31 determines whether you are considered married for that year. Married persons may file their federal income tax return either jointly or separately in any given year. Choosing the right filing status may save you money.
A joint return (Married Filing Jointly) allows spouses to combine their income and to deduct combined deductions and expenses on a single tax return. Both spouses must sign the return and both are held responsible for the contents.
With separate returns (Married Filing Separately), each spouse signs, files and is responsible for his or her own tax return. Each is taxed on his or her own income, and can take only his or her individual deductions and credits. If one spouse itemizes deductions, the other must also.
Which filing status should you select? It depends entirely on your specific situation. You should consider sitting down with a tax professional to make a determination.
Richard Chapo is CEO of business tax recovery - Obtaining tax refunds for small businesses for overpaid taxes. Discovery tax strategies and deductions in our business tax recovery.
one time home cleaning Highland Park ..Yes, the tax season is upon with the first filing... Read More
April 15 - The most dreaded day of the year... Read More
All states also have their own tax system. Typically there... Read More
Do you realize that some tax forms ask you to... Read More
Tilting the Tax Laws in Your Favor.In order to accelerate... Read More
Haven't done your taxes yet? No problem. Now there is... Read More
How about a Tax Tip?As we all know Taxes are... Read More
Background issues of access to recordsTo assess the records at... Read More
As everyone in the U.S. knows, we have just passed... Read More
Let's assume that you would like to begin saving for... Read More
Self-assessment relies on taxpayers voluntarily meeting their tax obligations. This... Read More
Does this scene sound familiar? It's April 7. You haven't... Read More
Once a year Canadian taxpayers are required, by law, to... Read More
The knock on the door from a Tax Inspector is... Read More
If you are a Small Business Owner or Self-Employed Person,... Read More
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that it costs nearly... Read More
Have you been thinking about incorporating your small business or... Read More
Q: I was contacted by the city tax collector to... Read More
It's a moment every person dreads. You pick up the... Read More
Ever wish that, as a business owner, you knew exactly... Read More
1812The first attempt to impose an income tax on America... Read More
Newlyweds and the recently divorced should make sure that names... Read More
As teachers and students head back to school following a... Read More
Just image, you are a small manufacturing company, business has... Read More
The federal tax code is complex. This complexity generally arises... Read More
licensed cleaning services Park Ridge ..The means and types of businesses have transformed with advent... Read More
Statistics for IndividualsUnfortunately, the IRS increased its rate of auditing... Read More
The end of tax filing extensions is quickly approaching. What... Read More
We need real tax reform and we need it now.... Read More
As an employer, you must pay employment taxes if you... Read More
Why a Corporation Helps Save You TaxesThe Tax Rates (Notice... Read More
Media reporting of a new EU savings tax directive has... Read More
Your days as an entrepreneur and businessperson are consumed with... Read More
Tilting the Tax Laws in Your Favor.In order to accelerate... Read More
Estate taxes. It's not enough to simply know they exist,... Read More
If you paid someone to care for a child so... Read More
OverviewIn the Pre-Budget Report of December 2003 the Chancellor Gordon... Read More
Recently, I stumbled across a concept that could change your... Read More
"Settle for Pennies on the Dollar! IRS debts settled for... Read More
As teachers and students head back to school following a... Read More
Knock-Knock-KnockWho's there?The IRS!The next quarterly payment of estimated income tax... Read More
IRS Tax forms can be confusing.Am I a 1099 or... Read More
"What we've got here is a failure to communicate." ... Read More
"Deducting Meals and Entertainment"O.K. You've been working really hard on... Read More
In the rush to get tax returns prepared and filed... Read More
It's a moment every person dreads. You pick up the... Read More
Haven't done your taxes yet? No problem. Now there is... Read More
As tax time approaches, many home-based business owners begin completing... Read More
The 100 year old investment-banking firm of... Read More
The powers of Congress, and the limitations set upon those... Read More
Tax |