Deducting Miles For Business, Medical, Moving & Charity

Your accountant or CPA can
help you find all your
legitimate deductions

Exactly how much can you deduct? 

For 2014, the standard mileage rates for the use of an automobile (which includes cars, vans, pickups or panel trucks) in cents per mile are:

         56 c/mi for business miles driven

         23.5 c/mi driven for medical or moving purposes

         14 c/mi driven in service of charitable organizations

The rates for business, medical and moving expenses will be different for the 2015 tax year since those rates are adjusted each year – expect to see those updated numbers reported here in December 2014. However, as the rate for charitable expenses is fixed by statute, it can only be changed by Congress so that number will likely sit tight at 14 cents just like it has since the Clinton era.

READ MORE >> FORBES.COM: "Back to School 2014: Deducting Miles For Business, Medical, Moving & Charity"

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•     About GBC Services
•     GBC Audit Services Website
•     Visit the Internal Revenue Service's Website

Beware of Scams by Phony IRS Agents

Crooks use the 1040 season
to access your personal and financial
information.

The official method of correspondence by the IRS and local or state tax offices is U.S. Postal Service-delivered letter. If you initiate contact by phone call or email, you may get a response that way. But the IRS rarely makes unexpected phone calls or sends unsolicited emails, faxes or text messages.

If the message arrives by email or text, you may be asked to click on a link for more details. Don't. That can install "malware" programs in your computer to give the crooks remote access to your files and passwords or even let them take control of the device. This year, new ploys include:

• Bogus claims that you can get $80 for completing a customer survey for the IRS. The message asks for personal and financial information that can be used to steal your identity.
  
• Fictitious promises of refunds or rebates based on excess or withheld Social Security benefits or for the expired Economic Recovery Credit Program or recovery rebate credit. Each of these scams requests your SSN and other personal info.
• False claims that you can use Treasury Form 1080 to transfer funds from the Social Security Administration to the IRS, enabling a payout to you from the IRS.
• Offers of "free money" from the IRS or other government agencies. These lies circulate in flyers posted at churches and other gathering spots, and also in online advertisements. They often imply that tax credits or refunds are available without proof of eligibility.

READ MORE >> AARP.ORG: Don’t Get Scammed by Phony IRS Agents

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For All Your Accounting Needs Call GBC 678-366-9232

Choosing the Right CPA for You

Interview at least 3 CPAs to get
the right one for your business.

CPAs are more than just individuals who do your yearly taxes. They can advise you on a long list of other services, which may include advice on your accounting system, financial, retirement, estate and tax planning.

CPAs are part of a business owner's professional team along with a banker and a lawyer.

Your local Chamber of Commerce will tell you the names of CPAs who are members. When you attend any type of meeting, or meet other business owners, ask for CPA recommendations. Here are a few more points to consider:

• Use the 60% Rule
  If you're a business owner, pick a CPA who has 60% of their business coming from business owners like you! They're more apt to keep up with the laws regarding clients they deal with most often. If you're a corporation, make sure that the person specializes in corporate accounting, including financial statements, audits, etc.
• Bring Your Records to the Interview
  Bring a copy of at least one year's tax return when you interview a CPA. This way your prospective CPA can give you educated "guesstimates" as to what their services will cost you.
• How To File
  If you want to save some money, ask how they want your paper files.... If you bring your files to them in shoeboxes (hey, many folks do), you will pay to have all that deciphered! You can save money if you separate the information the way the CPA suggests.

READ MORE >> entrepreneurs.about.com: Choose the Right CPA for Your Business

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For All Your Accounting Needs Call GBC 678-366-9232


    

Choosing a Good CPA: Ability, Attitude, Altitude

Choosing the right CPA
for your small business
can make all the difference

Hiring a professional CPA is not something we do every day, and striving to find a CPA whose ambition matches your own is not an easy task.

Find the right one and you will find a home for your business and someone who cares about your business as much as you do.


Before you select a tax adviser, accountant, or personal financial adviser, make sure you consider the three A's of choosing a CPA:

1. ABILITY: What is your CPA’s Technical Ability, Track Record & Performance?
   
2. ATTITUDE: Can You Relate to Your CPA? How is Their Customer Service?
3. ALTITUDE: How Far Can Your CPA Take You?
   

READ MORE >> CHRISTIANPOST.COM: "Three A's of Choosing a CPA: Ability, Attitude, Altitude"
 
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READ MORE GBC Tax Services Website
For All Your Accounting Needs Call GBC 678-366-9232

Calculate Your 2015 Refund

Estimate your refund amount
or balance due

Make sure you get every dollar you’re entitled to. This 2015 Tax Refund Calculator should help you prepare your taxes for next year. We all work hard and look forward to our refund each year, and would like to find out if in fact we are going to owe tax so we can plan accordingly.

READ MORE >>
REFUNDSCHEDULE.COM: 2015 Tax Refund Calculator

• The Tax Estimator calculates your refund or how much you’ll owe in taxes.

• The W-4 Calculator helps you understand your refund amount or balance due from your current W-4.

• Estimate how the Affordable Care Act may affect you with our Health Care calculator.

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•     About GBC Services
•     GBC Audit Services Website
•     Visit the Internal Revenue Service's Website

Time to Hire a Professional Accountant for Your Small Business?

It's hard to find the time to look
for an accountant who is suitable.
Here's how to get the right CPA
for your growing company.

It's hard to find a good accountant—so hard, in fact, that it has become something of a running joke in the small business world.

Q: What's the definition of an accountant?
A: Someone who solves a problem you didn't know you had in a way you don't understand.

Okay, so maybe that's not entirely fair! But as with most humor there's a grain of truth to the joke. Most small businesses choose an accountant -- either hiring a "numbers person" on staff or hiring accounting services on a contract basis -- when a business' financial challenges have become too great to handle without expert help. Maybe you want to better the financial function of your business. Or perhaps your accounting software isn't providing the type of data you need to grow your business. Having trouble switching from cash to accrual accounting? Are your financial statements inaccurate or incomplete? These are all good reasons to look for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

When is it time? It all depends on the size of the company. If you're a small business owner and find yourself sitting in front of QuickBooks wondering where to begin, that's a good indication that it's time to find someone knowledgeable.

Inside or Outside Accountant? Before you can find the right accountant, you need to determine if you need an accounting firm or an inside accountant.

• Hiring an outside accountant or accounting firm on a consulting basis is usually a good first step for a growing business. The outside firm can often cost less than the salary and benefits of a full-time employee and, at the same time, you may be getting a higher level of advice from a CPA or a tax accountant, the latter of whom usually is a licensed CPA and a lawyer specializing in tax law.
• When the business grows in revenue and the transactions become more complicated, it is time to consider hiring a full- or part-time inside accountant. Since the outside accountant's fee grows with the size of the business, the owner may see some cost savings by bringing some of the work in-house.

READ MORE >> Inc.com: How to Choose an Accountant for Your Business 

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For All Your Accounting Needs Call GBC 678-366-9232
 

Free Income Tax Calculator

Be prepared this tax season with
good planning and a good accountant

Estimate your income tax return free of charge. These free online income tax calculators help you to estimate your federal tax liability ahead of time.

Take measures to ensure there is no unexpected surprise when it comes time to file your tax return and pay your taxes. 

Estimating your tax liability ahead of time can dramatically reduce your anxiety and stress during the tax season. It allows you to quit worrying about what your tax bill will be and focus on meeting your financial obligation. You can then prepare your tax return without that stress hanging over your head.

READ MORE >> INCOME.TAX.CALCULATOR.COM: Income Tax Calculator 2014 - 2015

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For All Your Accounting Needs Call GBC 678-366-9232

Common Misconceptions About State Income Taxes

Understand your state income tax
with the help of an accountant

State income taxes are complicated, especially when each state has their own way of doing things, and this complicated web of differing tax rules can lead to a lot of misconceptions.

Don't fall for these seven common myths about state income taxes this year:

• Myth 1: I only have to pay income taxes to the state I live in.
• Myth 2: State income tax rules are the same as federal tax rules.
• Myth 3: State income taxes are unconstitutional.
• Myth 4: I have to pay income taxes to the state where my employer is located.
• Myth 5: I don't have to file a return in a reciprocal state.
• Myth 6: I got audited, and everything was fine. Therefore, I did everything right on my return.
• Myth 7: I don't owe taxes because I live or work in a state without an income tax.

READ MORE >> TAXES.ABOUT.COM: Seven State Income Tax Myths

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•     About GBC Services
•     GBC Audit Services Website
•     Visit the Internal Revenue Service's Website

The IRS Offers Options for Getting Right with Uncle Sam

A good CPA can help you find
solutions to your tax problems.

Do you owe the IRS right now? The first thing to do is open all mail from the agency so you're on top of the matter. Next, stay calm. Well, it's understandable if you panic a little, because the IRS wields power that can make your life miserable. Depending on your situation, the agency can take your paycheck and your bank and retirement accounts, and more. They'll seize land, business assets, cars — anything they can auction and turn into cash quickly.

But all is not lost if you act now.  

Consider the following strategies to get back in good graces with Uncle Sam:

1. Ask for more time. Depending on your circumstances, you may be granted a short extension period to pay your tax in full. You can request this by filling out an application for an online payment agreement or by calling 800-829-1040.

2. Try for an installment plan. If you owe $50,000 or less in combined taxes, penalties and interest, you can fill out the application for an online payment agreement. Fees for setting up payment plans can range from $43 to $105.

3. Make an offer. That is, file for what's known formally as an "offer in compromise." You basically tell the IRS that you're prepared to pay a certain amount to settle your debt. Getting agreement will depend on whether the agency believes that this is the maximum you can manage. You must meet certain standards to be considered. If you're going through a bankruptcy, for example, you're not eligible. And if you haven't filed all of your tax returns, don't apply.

READ MORE >> AARP: Can't Pay Your Taxes?

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•     About GBC Services
•     GBC Audit Services Website
•     Visit the Internal Revenue Service's Website