The adoption process can be expensive. Fortunately, the adoption tax credit can help offset some those expenses Taxpayers who adopted or started the adoption process in 2020 should review the rules for this credit.

Here are some facts to help people understand the credit and if they can claim it when filing their taxes:

• The maximum adoption credit taxpayers can claim on their 2020 tax return is $14,300 per eligible child.
• There are income limits that could affect the amount of the credit
• Taxpayers should complete Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses. They use this form to figure how much credit they can claim on their tax return.
• An eligible child must be younger than 18. If the adopted person is older, they must be physically or mentally unable to take care of themselves.
• This credit is non-refundable. This means the amount of the credit is limited to the taxpayer’s taxes due for 2020. Any credit leftover from their owed 2020 taxes can be carried forward for up to five years. 

• Qualified expenses include:
  • Reasonable and necessary adoption fees.
  • Court costs and legal fees.
  • Adoption related travel expenses like meals and lodging.
• Other expenses directly related to the legal adoption of an eligible child.
• If the taxpayer and someone other than a spouse each paid qualified adoption expenses to adopt the same child, the $14,300 credit must be divided between the two of them.
  
• Expenses may also qualify even if the taxpayer pays them before an eligible child is identified. For example, some future adoptive parents pay for a home study at the beginning of the adoption process. These parents can claim the fees as qualified adoption expenses.
  
• Qualified adoption expenses don’t include costs paid by a taxpayer to adopt their spouse’s child.

 

Have additional questions? We’re here to help!  Contact Loeffler Financial Group today at 717-393-7366, or email info@loefflerfinancial.com with any questions you may have.  Our tax experts and accountants can help break down the steps in order to one, understand the tax credit, and two see if the tax credit will benefit you for your 2020 tax return.

 

The Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service announced they are disbursing approximately 37 million payments in the second batch of Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan. This brings the total disbursed payments from the American Rescue Plan to approximately 127 million payments worth approximately $325 billion.

As announced on March 12, Economic Impact Payments will continue to roll out in batches to millions of Americans in the coming weeks.

The second batch of payments includes direct deposits, as well as paper checks and debit cards being sent through the mail. Here is additional information on the second batch of payments:

• Like the first batch of payments, the payments announced today primarily were sent to eligible taxpayers who filed 2019 or 2020 returns. People who don’t typically file a return but who successfully used the Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov last year were sent payments in this batch.
• In total, this second batch includes approximately 37 million payments, with a total value of nearly $83 billion.
• As part of that, this batch of payments includes approximately 17 million direct deposit payments, with a total value of more than $38 billion. These payments began processing on Friday, March 19, and some Americans saw the direct deposit payments as pending or as provisional payments in their accounts before today’s official payment date.
• In addition, this batch of payments includes nearly 15 million paper checks (with a total value of nearly $34 billion) and approximately 5 million prepaid debit cards (with a total value of around $11 billion).
• Paper checks and debit cards – known as EIP cards –began processing on Friday, March 19, and will continue to be sent by mail over the next few weeks.

As announced last week, the first batch of payments was mostly sent by direct deposit. Here is additional information on the first batch of payments:

• The first batch of payments began processing on Friday, March 12, and some Americans saw the direct deposit payments as pending or as provisional payments in their accounts before the official payment date of March 17.
• The first batch of payments primarily was sent to eligible taxpayers who provided direct deposit information on their 2019 or 2020 returns, including people who don’t typically file a return but who successfully used the Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov last year.
• In total, the first batch included approximately 90 million payments, with a total value of more than $242 billion.
• The use of direct deposit to issue these payments means that they were disbursed remarkably faster than would otherwise be possible.
• While most payments were disbursed by direct deposit, Treasury mailed roughly 150,000 checks worth approximately $442 million.

Additional batches of payments will be sent in the coming weeks as direct deposits and through the mail as paper checks or debit cards. The vast majority of all Economic Impact Payments will be issued by direct deposit. No action is needed by most taxpayers.

Many federal beneficiaries who filed 2019 or 2020 returns or used the Non-Filers tool were included in these first two batches of payments, if eligible. For federal beneficiaries who did not file a 2019 or 2020 tax return or did not use the Non-Filers tool, the IRS is working directly with the Social Security Administration, the Railroad Retirement Board, and the Veterans Administration to obtain updated 2021 information to ensure that as many people as possible are sent fast, automatic payments. More information about when these payments will be made will be provided on IRS. gov as soon as it becomes available.

Individuals can check the “Get My Payment” tool on IRS.gov to see the payment status of these payments.

 

Learn more about the third round of the Stimulus payment and see who is eligible for the Economic Impact Payment check out our blog post here.

Need to still schedule a tax appointment? Book online, or call Loeffler Financial Group today at 717-393-7366.

 

The IRS started issuing the third round of Economic Impact Payments. No action is needed by most taxpayers. The IRS will issue payments automatically to you by direct deposit and through the mail as a check or debit card.

Many people will receive the third payment the same way they received the first and second Economic Impact Payments. Because these payments are automatic for most eligible people, there’s no need to contact Loeffler Financial Group, or the IRS. Individuals can check the Get My Payment tool on IRS.gov for status of their third stimulus payment.

Highlights of the third Economic Impact Payments

In general, most people will get $1,400 for themselves and $1,400 for each qualifying dependent claimed on their tax return. As with the first two Economic Impact Payments, most people will receive their third payment without having to take any action.

The third Economic Impact Payment is based on the taxpayer’s latest processed tax return from either 2020 or 2019. This includes anyone who successfully registered at IRS.gov using the agency’s Non-Filers tool last year or submitted a simplified tax return. If the IRS received and processed a taxpayer’s 2020 return before issuing someone’s third Economic Impact Payment, the amount is based on the 2020 return.

Those who received the first or second payment but don’t receive a payment by direct deposit will generally receive a check or a prepaid debit card, referred to as an EIP Card. The IRS will not add the third payment to an existing EIP card that people received for the first or second round of stimulus payments.

Please note: Under the new law, the IRS can’t apply the third Economic Impact Payment to past-due federal debts or back taxes.

Who is eligible for the third Economic Impact Payment

Generally, U.S. citizens or U.S. resident aliens are eligible for the full amount of the third Economic Impact Payment if they and their spouse, if they’re filing jointly, are not a dependent of another taxpayer and have a valid Social Security number and their adjusted gross income on their tax return does not exceed:

• $150,000, if married and filing a joint return or if filing as a qualifying widow or widower.
• $112,500, if filing as head of household.
• $75,000 for eligible individuals using any other filing statuses, such as single filers and married people filing separate returns.

The payments phase out — or reduce — above those AGI amounts. This means taxpayers will not receive a third payment if their AGI exceeds:

• $160,000, if married and filing a joint return or if filing as a qualifying widow or widower.
• $120,000, if filing as head of household.
• $80,000 for eligible individuals using other filing statuses, such as single filers and married people filing separate returns.

 

Looking for more information on tax tips and strategies? Check out our 10 Tax Tips for Individuals, and Tax Strategies for Homeowners!

To schedule an appointment, call us today at 717-393-7366 or book online (virtual appointments and in-person appointments daily). Loeffler Financial Group is here for you!

 

FEDERAL INCOME TAX DEADLINE EXTENDED

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced today that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. The IRS will be providing formal guidance in the coming days.

Individual taxpayers can also postpone federal income tax payments for the 2020 tax year due on April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This postponement applies to individual taxpayers, including individuals who pay self-employment tax. Penalties, interest and additions to tax will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid balances as of May 17, 2021. Individual taxpayers will automatically avoid interest and penalties on the taxes paid by May 17.

Individual taxpayers do not need to file any forms or call the IRS to qualify for this automatic federal tax filing and payment relief. Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the May 17 deadline can request a filing extension until Oct. 15 by filing Form 4868 through Loeffler Financial Group. Filing Form 4868 gives taxpayers until Oct. 15 to file their 2020 tax return but does not grant an extension of time to pay taxes due. Taxpayers should pay their federal income tax due by May 17, 2021, to avoid interest and penalties.

TAX REFUND

The IRS, and Loeffler Financial Group recommend individuals who are expected to receive a refund, to file as soon as possible. Most tax refunds associated with e-filed returns are issued within 21 days. You can follow your refund status at WHERE’S MY REFUND?

This relief does not apply to estimated tax payments that are due on April 15, 2021. These payments are still due on April 15. Taxes must be paid as taxpayers earn or receive income during the year, either through withholding or estimated tax payments. In general, estimated tax payments are made quarterly to the IRS by people whose income isn’t subject to income tax withholding, including self-employment income, interest, dividends, alimony or rental income. Most taxpayers automatically have their taxes withheld from their paychecks and submitted to the IRS by their employer.

STATE TAX RETURNS

The federal tax filing deadline postponement to May 17, 2021, only applies to individual federal income returns and tax (including tax on self-employment income) payments otherwise due April 15, 2021, not state tax payments or deposits or payments of any other type of federal tax. State filing and payment deadlines vary and are not always the same as the federal filing deadline. The IRS urges taxpayers to check with their state tax agencies for those details.

Contact Loeffler Financial Group today to file your tax return, or schedule your in-person or virtual appointment here.

Want to learn more helpful tips on taxes, tax planning, and your financial future? Head to our blog to learn more!

 

It’s that time of year again. TAX SEASON.

Loeffler Financial Group is celebrating their 20th Tax Season this year! That’s right 20 years! What first started out in Craig Loeffler’s living room, has now become a successful full service accounting, wealth management and tax preparation!

TAX PREPARER.

Many individuals and small businesses question if they should do their own taxes or seek a tax accountant.  You can certainly do your own taxes, however, 2020 brought a lot of change, and experts said a preparer is the way to go.

If someone, for example, got laid off, and they went and started their own business, there are deductions they may not be aware of.  Software is good, but you have to know what to put in and where to put things.

Loeffler Financial has experienced tax preparers that take continual education courses to stay up-to-date with the latest tax laws and changes.

TAXES DURING A PANDEMIC.

2020 was a challenging year with the COVID-19 pandemic. Our firm keeps it easy and simple to file your taxes on time, YOUR way.  We offer in person appointments, virtual zoom appointments, and our streamlined drop-off services that we have offered for numerous years! We have proper safety protocol to keep our clients, and staff as healthy and safe as possible. We sanitize and wipe down in between each tax appointment. We also provide glass shields and work at a 50% capacity which includes staff and clients in the building.

TAXPAYER CHECKLISTS AND FORM DOCUMENTS.

To help make things easier for you this tax season we have provided our Taxpayer Checklist, along with our Engagement Letter, so you can easily download these forms and fill them out before your scheduled appointment, and/or before you drop off your tax files. This also helps to make sure you have included all necessary documents to keep your tax return moving without any delays!

RENTAL PROPERTIES AND/OR SMALL BUSINESS TAX DOCUMENTS.

Have rental properties or small businesses? Those forms are included below for you as well! 

Rental Property Checklist

Small Business Checklist

WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER.

This tax season we have you ready and prepared to make your tax filing smooth and easy!