January, 2016


1099s?

Don’t forget to gather the information for your 1099s, along with the rest of your tax information. If you don’t do your 1099s, there can be a variety of penalties, and the IRS has just doubled some of the penalties, which are based on when you file—the later, the greater the penalty. Once you’ve finished your 1099s, you must transmit “the red copy” with a Form 1096, which is like a cover sheet and summary of the 1099s you’re sending in.

Most people haven’t seen penalties imposed, but a second client got a penalty notice this last year, so it appears the IRS is starting to impose the penalties.

Engagement Letters for Clients, Extensions Not Automatic

I’m trying a new system this year for engagement letters. I’ll send out an email “blast” with the policies, deadlines and agreements by mid-January to the clients I’ve coded on my list. If you believe I’m doing your tax return and you don’t get an Engagement Letter from me, you’ll need to contact me to get “on my list” for 2015 taxes prepared in 2016.

I don’t automatically put everyone who was a client last year on extension if I don’t hear from you. If you need an extension from me, you must engage me.

If I have your materials and I decide to put you on extension so I can complete your return accurately, there is no fee. If your materials have not arrived (and been acknowledged by me), I will not put you on extension, unless I receive the fee.

If you choose to file an extension on your own, I cannot take time away from my paying clients to answer “just one question.”

Classes: Basic Payroll and Schedule C

Here’s a link to the seminars page on my website: www.taxbuddha.com/seminars.html

Basic Payroll
In conjunction with the IRS and EDD, I’m going to be doing some Basic Payroll seminars coming up in the near future.

Basic Payroll Seminar runs 9 am ­ 3 pm with an hour for lunch

The next seminar will be:

San Francisco at the SBA office 455 Market Street, 6th floor (I take BART to Embarcadero or Montgomery Street)
Wednesday, January 13, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Oakland Basic Payroll “Short Course” at 7677 Oakport Street, Suite 400, Oakland CA
Wedesday, January 27, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm

Register by going to http://www.edd.ca.gov/Payroll_Tax_Seminars/ and find your favorite location.

These seminars have proven to be very popular for business owners and bookkeepers, plus they’re free.

How to Prepare your Own Schedule C
Get ready for next year and filing your own Schedule C for last year. Review what the IRS wants to know from you and how to report it for your business. This is a class for business owners who need a basic understanding of their 1040 Schedule C tax forms. We’ll also talk about what to do with the numbers once you have them. We can’t guarantee you won’t get audited, but this class will make it less likely.

I will be at the US SBA office in San Francisco at 455 Market Street, 6th Floor.
Wednesday, February 17, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm

You can register for this class at http://www.sbatrainings.eventbrite.com

The Eightfold Path to Pay Less Tax and Avoid an Audit

Eight basic things business owners want to know printed in a booklet in “executive summary” form. This is ten years of working with the IRS Tax Code distilled down so it doesn’t take YOU ten years.

Just another way we’re trying to simplify your life. And the purchase is tax deductible!

You can order from Amazon.com. Here’s the link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Eightfold-Path-Less-Avoid-Audit/dp/0615233422/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226611038&sr=1-22 

The booklet also contains sections on how returns are selected for audit, when to seek professional help, and how long to keep your tax records.

Little Box of Inc: Incorporations Made Easy published on Kindle

The book with tips about how the S Corporation works is now published to Amazon’s Kindle, updated with additional information about S Corporations, and can be found by searching for Andrew S Rogers as author, and click on “Kindle.” Here’s the blurb:

Considering incorporating as an S Corporation? This booklet will help you understand how the S Corporation works, what you need to do to become incorporated and what you need to do once you have a corporation to stay out of trouble. The structure and the requirements are reviewed, as well as helpful tips to use your corporation to reduce your tax liability and retain your status as an S Corporation. I’ve worked with S Corporations for many years, and as a tax preparer, I can choose the kind of entity I have for my business: I choose the S Corporation myself, and I’ve convinced many of my fellow tax preparers to incorporate as well. I’ve divided the information into clear, easy-to-understand topics, and cross-referenced sections when it might be helpful.

After you’ve read this material, you can view on-line videos via YouTube.com for free to access more advanced information about S Corporations. You may also be interested in my “Choice of Entity” class – see below.

http://www.amazon.com/Little-Box-Inc-Incorporations-ebook/dp/B005F6EREE/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315154223&sr=1-2

Phone and Fax Numbers

Our northern California occasional in Alameda:
1516 Oak Street, Suite 109
Alameda CA 94501
Phone numbers are:
Phone (510) 332-0401
Fax (925) 478-2726

“You too can be enlightened about tax” — Tax Buddha