An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a federally-authorized tax practitioner who has technical expertise in the field of taxation and who is empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before all administrative levels of the Internal Revenue Service for audits, collections, and appeals.

What does the term “Enrolled Agent” mean?

“Enrolled” means to be licensed to practice by the federal government, and “Agent” means authorized to appear in the place of the taxpayer at the IRS. Only Enrolled Agents, attorneys, and CPAs may represent taxpayers before the IRS. The Enrolled Agent profession dates back to 1884 when, after questionable claims had been presented for Civil War losses, Congress acted to regulate persons who represented citizens in their dealings with the U.S. Treasury Department.

How does one become an Enrolled Agent?

The license is earned in one of two ways, by passing a comprehensive examination that covers all aspects of the tax code or by having worked at the IRS for five years in a position that regularly interpreted and applied the tax code and its regulations. All candidates are subjected to a rigorous background check conducted by the IRS.

How can Enrolled Agent help me?

Enrolled Agents advise, represent, and prepare tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, estates, trusts, and any entities with tax-reporting requirements. Enrolled Agents’ expertise in the continually changing field of taxation enables them to effectively represent taxpayers audited by the IRS.

 

Loeffler Financial Group has a team of Tax Advisors, CPA’s and EA’s to help assist with your taxes each year.  Our team of experts stays up-to-date on all the tax laws and changes for the upcoming tax season.

 

Schedule your tax return appointment online here, or call our office at 717-393-7366!

To read more about our tax office and tax advisors click here.

 

Taxpayers should file their tax return by the deadline even if they cannot pay their full tax bill. Taxpayers who owe tax and don’t file on time, maybe charged a failure-to-file penalty. This penalty is usually five percent of the tax owed for each month, or part of a month that the tax return is late, up to 25%.

If an individual taxpayer owes taxes, but can’t pay in full by April 18, 2022, deadline, they should:

File their tax return or request an extension of time to file by the April 18 deadline.

  • People who owe tax and do not file their return on time or request an extension may face a failure-to-file penalty for not filing on time. Loeffler Financial Group can file your extension for you per your request.
  • Taxpayers should remember that an extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay. An extension gives taxpayers until October 17, 2022, to file their 2021 tax return, but taxes owed are still due April 18, 2022.

To get an extension to file, taxpayers must do one of the following:

Pay as much as possible by the April 18 due date.

Set up a payment plan as soon as possible.

Interest is based on the amount of tax owed and for each day it’s not paid in full. Interest rates are determined every three months and can vary, based on type of tax; for example, individual or business-tax liabilities. Loeffler Financial Group is here to assist you with any tax questions you have.

Need to file your tax return still? Call 717-393-7366 to book your appointment with one of our tax experts.

 

Right about now you’re probably wading through tax records and filling out your tax return. But it’s a daunting task – one that can be frustrating and eat up more hours than you have to devote to it.

But you don’t have to go it alone. Loeffler Financial Group continues to keep up with the tax code. Our expertise can help ensure that you get all the deductions and credits you are eligible to receive.

Here are the top 10 reasons why you may want to hire a professional tax professional:

  1. It can save you money. If your tax preparer finds even one deduction or tax credit you may have missed, it can easily exceed the fee it costs to have a professional prepare your return.
  2. It saves you time. The Internal Revenue Service reports that it takes nearly 20 hours to complete the average tax return with deductions. Your time is worth money. How much is it worth to you to get that time back?
  3. Tax professionals can answer your questions and resolve issues. It’s very likely you will have questions about your taxes. Calling the IRS means you could be on hold for hours. Tax professionals can answer most of these instantly.
  4. The tax code is very complicated. Professional tax preparers keep up with it and all those changes each and every year so you don’t have to.
  5. You gain peace of mind. Just knowing that a professional is handling your taxes reduces stress.
  6. Making mistakes can be very costly. In terms of missed deductions or triggering an IRS letter or audit; a tax professional can help eliminate errors and ensure your returns are prepared correctly.
  7. You benefit with money-saving tax planning. Tax professionals can advise you now and all year round on the best strategies to make smart tax-saving decisions.
  8. Your previous returns can be also reviewed. A tax professional can look at your past returns to see if any deductions were missed and, if so, amend them for you.
  9. You can reduce your risk of an audit. And, if you are audited or the IRS starts asking questions you can’t easily answer, a professional tax preparer knows how to deal with the IRS.
  10. It takes the hassle out of doing it yourself.

If you plan to hire a tax professional to prepare your taxes, you do need to gather and organize your records, including W-2 forms, 1099 forms, mortgage and bank statements, charitable contributions, and so forth. Being organized saves your tax preparer time and keeps the fees down. Loeffler Financial Group is here to help every step of the way. Call 717-393-7366 to schedule your tax appointment today.

 

Year-round tax planning is for everyone. An important part of that is recordkeeping. Gathering tax documents throughout the year and having an organized recordkeeping system can make it easier when it comes to filing a tax return or understanding a letter from the IRS.

Good records help:

  • Identify sources of income. Taxpayers may receive money or property from a variety of sources. The records can identify the sources of income and help separate business from nonbusiness income and taxable from nontaxable income.
  • Keep track of expenses. Taxpayers can use records to identify expenses for which they can claim a deduction. This will help determine whether to itemize deductions at filing. It may also help them discover potentially overlooked deductions or credits.
  • Prepare tax returns. Good records help taxpayers file their tax return quickly and accurately. Throughout the year, they should add tax records to their files as they receive them to make preparing a tax return easier.
  • Support items reported on tax returns. Well-organized records make it easier to prepare a tax return and help provide answers if the return is selected for examination or if the taxpayer receives an IRS notice.

In general, the IRS, and the experts at Loeffler Financial Group suggest that taxpayers keep records for three years from the date they filed the tax return. Taxpayers should develop a system that keeps all their important information together. They can use a software program for electronic recordkeeping. They could also store paper documents in labeled folders.

Records to keep include:

  • Tax-related records. This includes wage and earning statements from all employers or payers, interest and dividend statements from banks, certain government payments like unemployment compensation, other income documents and records of virtual currency transactions. Taxpayers should also keep receipts, canceled checks, and other documents – electronic or paper – that support income, a deduction, or a credit reported on their tax return.
  • IRS letters, notices and prior year tax returns. Taxpayers should keep copies of prior year tax returns and notices or letters they receive from the IRS. These include adjustment notices when an action is taken on the taxpayer’s account, Economic Impact Payment notices, and letters about advance payments of the 2021 child tax credit. Taxpayers who receive 2021 advance child tax credit payments will receive a letter early next year that provides the amount of payments they received in 2021. Taxpayers should refer to this letter when filing their 2021 tax return in 2022.
  • Property records. Taxpayers should also keep records relating to property they dispose of or sell. They must keep these records to figure their basis for computing gain or loss.
  • Business income and expenses. For business taxpayers, there’s no particular method of bookkeeping they must use. However, taxpayers should find a method that clearly and accurately reflects their gross income and expenses. Taxpayers who have employees must keep all employment tax records for at least four years after the tax is due or paid, whichever is later.
  • Health insurance. Taxpayers should keep records of their own and their family members’ health care insurance coverage. If they’re claiming the premium tax credit, they’ll need information about any advance credit payments received through the Health Insurance Marketplace and the premiums they paid.


Contact Loeffler Financial Group for additional questions on recordkeeping or what additional paperwork you should keep on file. 717-393-7366.

 

Taxpayers receiving Social Security benefits may have to pay federal income tax on a portion of those benefits. Social Security benefits include monthly retirement, survivor, and disability benefits. They don’t include supplemental security income payments, which aren’t taxable.

The portion of benefits that are taxable depends on the taxpayer’s income and filing status.

To find out if their benefits are taxable, taxpayers should take half of the Social Security money they collected during the year and add it to their other income. Other income includes pensions, wages, interest, dividends, and capital gains.

  • If they are single and that total comes to more than $25,000, then part of their Social Security benefits may be taxable.
  • If they are married filing jointly, they should take half of their Social Security, plus half of their spouse’s Social Security, and add that to all their combined income. If that total is more than $32,000, then part of their Social Security may be taxable.

Fifty percent of a taxpayer’s benefits may be taxable if they are:

  • Filing single, single, head of household or qualifying widow or widower with $25,000 to $34,000 income.
  • Married filing separately and lived apart from their spouse for all of 2020 with $25,000 to $34,000 income.
  • Married filing jointly with $32,000 to $44,000 income.

Up to 85% of a taxpayer’s benefits may be taxable if they are:

  • Filing single, head of household or qualifying widow or widower with more than $34,000 income.
  • Married filing jointly with more than $44,000 income.
  • Married filing separately and lived apart from their spouse for all of 2020 with more than $34,000 income.
  • Married filing separately and lived with their spouse at any time during 2020.

Still have questions, our tax accountants at Loeffler Financial Group are here to help!

The Interactive Tax Assistant on IRS.gov can help taxpayers answer the question Are My Social Security or Railroad Retirement Tier I Benefits Taxable?

Call Loeffler Financial Group today to learn more about Social Security and your tax benefits, 717-393-7366!

 

Filing season reminder: An extension to file is not an extension to pay taxes

For most individual taxpayers the tax filing and payment deadline was postponed to May 17, 2021. Those who need more time to file beyond the postponed date, can request an eextension to file.

Taxpayers must request an extension to file by May 17, or they may face a failure to file penalty. This extension gives them until October 15, 2021 to file their tax return. An extension to file is not an extension to pay. Taxes must be paid by May 17 to avoid penalties and interest on the amount owed after that date.

 

How to request an extension to file:

To get an extension to file, the IRS urges taxpayers to do one of the following:

 

An automatic extension of time to file will process when taxpayers pay all or part of their taxes electronically by the Monday, May 17 due date.

If you are still panicking to get all your documentations organized and ready for taxes to be prepared, contact Loeffler Financial Group to file an extension before the May 17th deadline.

 

Tax filing time is an ideal time to review your financial affairs. You have to gather information to prepare your tax return at this time. Why not take one more step and do something positive for your financial well-being?

The following suggestions will get you started on your financial review:

Hold a discussion with your family. Spouses and children need to share and prioritize their financial aspirations.

  • Write down your financial goals. How much money will you need to meet each goal? When will you need the money, and how will you get it?
  • Construct a net worth statement (a list of your assets and debts), and compare it to last year’s statement. Are you gaining or losing ground?
  • With your goals (and the effects of inflation) in mind, review the performance of your investments.

Take steps to protect what you already have. Goals may become instantly unobtainable if you lose your present assets or your income potential.

  • Do you have adequate disability insurance coverage to replace take-home pay if you become incapacitated?
  • Do you have enough life insurance if you or your spouse should die?
  • Do you have replacement value property insurance on your home?
  • Do you have adequate insurance for calamities such as automobile accidents or lawsuits? Note: Make sure that you need all of the insurance that you have. Do not duplicate employer-provided coverage. Review your coverage annually; do not just automatically renew policies.

Review your will and your estate plan. Did your situation change during the year (marriage, divorce, births, deaths, move to another state, for example)? If so, make appropriate changes to your will and estate plan.

Review your credit use. Keep your credit card bills current. If you’re finding that hard to do, it’s probably time to cut up some of those credit cards and get your debt under control.

Organize your records. If you had trouble assembling data for your financial review, you need a better system. Set one up.

Tax credits are one of the most powerful ways to lower your income taxes. A tax credit reduces your tax bill dollar for dollar. A tax deduction, on the other hand, only reduces your taxable income, so your benefit is determined by your tax bracket.

For example, a tax deduction of $1,000 will lower your tax bill by $320 if you are in the 32% tax bracket. A $1,000 tax credit will lower your tax bill by $1,000.

Here are some of the most common tax credits; most are subject to income limits.

  • Child credit. Taxpayers who have dependent children under age 17 may be eligible for a child tax credit of $2,000 per child.
  • Dependent care credit. Expenses paid for the care of dependent children under 13 and certain other dependents may qualify for a tax credit.
  • Education credits. Qualified college and vocational school expenses for eligible students may qualify for a credit. Under the American Opportunity Tax Credit, up to $2,500 per student can be claimed for tuition and fees paid during four years of post-secondary education. Under the Lifetime Learning Credit, up to $2,000 per family is available for post-secondary education expenses and for education expenses to acquire or improve job skills.
  • Earned income credit. This credit is intended for low-income taxpayers. The size of the credit depends on the amount of your earned income (wages and self-employment income), investment income, and your filing status. Qualifying children can increase the credit.
  • Business credits. There are a number of credits available to businesses. They include the research credit the work opportunity credit, the disabled access credit, and the low-income housing credit.

Don’t overlook valuable credits that could reduce your taxes. For details on the credits for which you might qualify, call Loeffler Financial Group today at 717.393.7366 for a review of your situation.

 

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.