Introduction to Tax Planning: The Basics

April 4, 2022 by fasnew@fasnew@66541.6486513

Introduction to Tax Planning: The Basics

Tax planning means examining your financial situation with the goal of reducing tax liability. A tax plan works to ensure that each financial element of a plan works together to reduce your total tax bill as much as possible. Through tax planning, you can make contributions to retirement plans and investments that have the best impact on reducing your tax bill each year. Since retirement plans and investments can have a large effect on taxes owed, it’s important to consider these elements when you’re creating a tax plan. Tax planning also includes thinking about how businesses should arrange their income and expenses each year to create a lower total tax bill for the business overall.

Primary objectives of Tax Planning

Tax planning means taking all appropriate steps to reduce your tax liability while reducing the impact of taxes on your overall financial picture. It’s about ensuring that you follow the letter of the law, as well as its spirit. It’s about being proactive–about ensuring that when it’s time to pay your taxes, you’ve taken every available precaution to minimize your outlay and maximize your return. Tax planning applies to both individuals and businesses. In fact, tax planning is essential for any business owner or investor who wants to remain profitable and free from legal entanglements.

Importance of Tax Planning

In today’s financial climate of ultra-low bank interests and economic uncertainty, tax planning is a necessity for anyone who wants to see real returns on their investment. Tax planning is not just about minimizing your tax burden. It’s also about maximizing your returns by taking inflation into account, as well as taxes, expenses, and so on.

For example, the property market has been showing strong signs of recovery over the last few years. However, this isn’t necessarily good news for all investors. There are currently a lot of government grants available for first-time homebuyers that can mean big savings on stamp duty and other associated costs. But keep in mind that these high capital gains taxes will eat up any profits you make in the long run. That’s why it’s important to get professional investment advice when looking at properties to purchase. Professional advisers can help you identify any additional costs or risks you might not have considered if left to your own devices—and they can help you figure out ways to take advantage of current grants and tax credits while still keeping your tax bill as low as possible.

Lower Tax Bills

Paying low taxes puts less strain on individuals and companies; working toward tax efficiency is the best way to hold assets and capital together. People living abroad may find assets that were tax-efficient in their home country taxable in their country of residence. Reviewing tax plans can reduce the tax bills, resulting in more improved financial stability.

Tax Payment Flexibility

Proper tax planning gives individuals and businesses more flexibility when paying taxes. This flexibility means payments can be made at the most appropriate times for personal and business finances. As a result, people are less likely to pay more taxes than necessary, giving them control over their finances. This makes it easier to budget effectively, which in turn leads to greater financial sustainability.

Tax Planning Advantages

Get a head start

Businesses operating under a trust can take advantage of tax planning to estimate distribution early enough in the year, saving the need to make decisions out of rush. Tax planning allows businesses to look at the available options and strategize according to the analyzed data.

Minimized Litigation

Avoiding or evading taxes is an action taken by people who find the tax rates too high. Tax planning helps taxpayers and the government resolve their differences by paying taxes properly, as the government seeks to collect taxes while the taxpayers look for ways to pay less. Thus, tax planning can save citizens and entities from legal troubles.

Seeing the Bigger Picture

Tax planning helps individuals and businesses map out their financial future. Business owners discover ways to change the business structure to increase profits. As a result, a business owner finds new investments and looks for untapped sources of revenue.

Economic Growth

Taxes pay for the projects that help our country grow and thrive, including development projects. A solid tax planning strategy is essential for any business, as well as personal finances. Some of the benefits of good tax planning include creating more money for your savings account, increasing your business’s stability, and avoiding bankruptcy because you can’t cover your bills and loan payments. The health of a country’s economy benefits both citizens and the entire country.

Tax Planning Types

Purposive Tax Planning

In this type of tax planning, you use intelligent strategies to take advantage of tax provisions to achieve a certain financial goal, such as changing your investment strategy or diversifying your business activities.

Permissive Tax Planning

Permissive tax planning involves taking advantage of various exemptions and deductions while following all the rules that apply to you.

Short-Range Tax Planning

Temporary tactics are implemented in this type of tax planning strategy. These temporary tactics are implemented at the end of the year to achieve certain specific tax objectives.

Long-Range Tax Planning

Polar to short-range tax planning, this type of strategy forms long-term tactics at the start of the year and the results of the formulated strategies are expected only in the long run.

Disadvantages of Tax Planning

Tax planning can be of great help in reducing your tax liability and increasing your savings. However, there are some downsides to tax planning that you should consider before investing your hard-earned money in tax-saving products.

Usually, tax planning results in the blocking of funds to purchase a particular investment product. This can impact short-term liquidity and flexibility. This can especially be a concern for senior citizens who need a certain amount of cash for daily needs and medical expenses.

At times, taxpayers tend to confuse tax planning with tax evasion and end up misinterpreting certain provisions. This may lead to an increase in their income tax liability or even attract penalties or interest charges.

Bottom line

Tax planning can help you reduce the overall tax burden. However, it is important to know that you should stay within the limits of the tax laws while planning your taxes. This means you should not engage in any activity that helps you cut down your tax liability without paying heed to the fact that there are certain rules in place for tax planning.

One of the most popular ways to plan your taxes is by investing in different instruments. For example, there are several investment options available today such as stocks, mutual funds, bonds etc., where you can invest your money and earn returns on them. However, before investing in any of these instruments, you need to understand how they work and whether they can actually help you save taxes or not.

If you need expert help in planning your taxes, send us an email today and we’ll have our expert Enrolled Agent get in touch with you!

How to choose the best tax preparer near you – Here’s what you should look for!

March 23, 2022March 23, 2022 by fasnew@fasnew@66541.6486513

how to choose the best tax preparer in my area

How to choose the best tax preparer near you – Here’s what you should look for!

Do you feel like taxes are getting harder and harder every year? Do you find yourself asking how will you find the best tax preparer in my area? Well, you’re not alone! Taxes are getting harder and harder as the years go by, if tax preparation is too much to handle yourself this year and think that you need some help with tax preparation this year, check out this checklist to find the right person for the job.

When you hire a tax preparer, it helps to ask what credentials and certifications they have.

It might come as a surprise to you, but tax preparers have access to your most personal details, including your bank accounts, marriage, and kids — and your Social Security number.

Taxpayers should ask prospective tax preparers some key questions before hiring them. Here are 5 things that to consider that can help you choose the best tax preparer near you.

Find a tax preparer with an Enrolled Agent designation

The Enrolled Agent designation is one credential that stands out when it comes to the field of tax preparation! Enrolled Agents are certified by the Federal Government through the IRS to prepare taxes for everyone. Enrolled Agents also go through the IRS’ Annual Filing Program to ensure that they are up to date with the latest rules and guidelines concerning your taxes. The Accredited Business Accountant/Advisor and Accredited Tax Preparer programs prepare people to fulfill annual filing season requirements. These credentials require varying amounts of study, exams, and ongoing education.

Watch out for Tax Preparer Red Flags

Because there are many people claiming to be tax preparers, it can be difficult to know who’s right for you. Here are a few red flags that could mean someone isn’t legitimate.

- Promises the moon when it comes to your tax refund
  
  When looking for a tax preparer you can fall for the “it’s-too-good-to-be-true” trap. The trap involves promises of high tax returns that are significantly higher than what you usually get for the past few years. Unless your income, family situation, or the tax law has changed significantly, your tax refund should be similar from year to year. Be wary of anyone who says they can get you a refund far in excess of anything you’ve received in the past.
- Won’t sign the return
  
  The law requires those who prepare taxes to sign the tax return that they have prepared! If you find yourself with a tax preparer that outright refuses to sign a return, do not put your signature on the paper. Find another tax preparer that will willingly sign the tax return that he or she has made and then you can have the peace of mind of placing your signature on the return since your tax preparer placed theirs on the return.
- Doesn’t have a website
  
  You should choose an independent tax preparer who has a permanent business presence and is easy to find. You’ll want to be able to find him or her if you’re audited or have any questions about your return.
- Charges you based on your refund
  
  Legitimate tax preparers charge their clients either an hourly fee or a flat rate for their work. Avoid those who charge based on the size of your refund; this practice is considered unethical by the National Association of Tax Professionals.
- Listen to your gut
  
  When deciding on a preparer, go with your gut and trust your instincts. If something about a tax preparer doesn’t feel right—they seem to gloss over or misunderstand your questions or tax situation, for instance—it might be best to keep looking for someone else to handle your return.

Interview Tax Preparers in your area

You can learn a lot by researching the tax preparer online, but nothing beats a personal discussion. This is particularly true when you’re looking for a long-term tax preparer that you can trust. Tax season is busy, so don’t expect a deep conversation. But make sure to ask your tax preparer for a five to ten-minute phone call at least. During the call, get the following information if it is not readily available on the preparer’s or professional’s website:

How they handle and store your sensitive financial documents.
Are the charges based on a flat fee or an hourly rate?
How many years have they been in the business?
Do they prepare the returns themselves or have a staff to assist.
Do they file tax returns electronically?
Are they an Enrolled Agent.

Runaway from Tax Preparers who still file by paper

Tax preparers who file 10 or more taxes per year are required to file electronically. If your tax preparer refuses to file electronically, this might mean that they don’t do that much tax preparation to have the knowledge and skills to properly file your taxes.

Bottom line

Anyone can pose themselves as a tax preparer by simply having a PTIN. However, preparing taxes is complicated work that requires years of experience and technical tax knowledge to properly execute. Getting stuck with a tax preparer that doesn’t have the experience or technical tax knowledge of an Enrolled Agent might result in mistakes in your tax returns and it could lead you to hot waters. Take these tips in mind when you are looking for a tax preparer so you can save yourself the hassle of an IRS audit!

Rushing to meet the 2022 tax deadline and need a trustworthy tax preparer to help you out? Don’t worry we’ve got you covered!

Get in touch with us today! We are located at 24044 Cinco Village Center Blvd 100, Katy, TX. You can call us at +713 855 8035

Benefits of having a Tax Professional

February 2, 2022 by fasnew@fasnew@66541.6486513

Benefits of having a Tax Professional

The IRS announced the start of the 2021 tax year last January 24, 2022. When the IRS sounded the horn that signals the beginning of the tax filing season, most taxpayers are faced with the question of whether they should do their taxes at home or if they should hire a tax professional to do it for them. Some might say that they can do their taxes themselves without the need for any professional to help them. But is the US tax code really that simple that you don’t need to have a tax professional do your taxes for you?

Turns out the answer is not so simple!

DIY Tax Preparation

Taxpayers who choose to do their own taxes think that filing their taxes simply means that they have to answer the questions included in whatever form they think is applicable to them. They are partially correct; however, the US tax code is not as simple as they think it is. The US tax code is getting more and more complicated as the years go by.

Drake Software is a Professional Tax Software company that conducted a survey and they found out that around 46% of paid tax preparers did not have any professional designation. Compare that to the 29% of taxes filed by CPAs and 26% filed by Enrolled Agents.

Having someone with no professional designation to file your taxes for you is as dangerous as filing your taxes yourself without even flipping through the first page of the US tax code. Professional designations are provided to Accountants and Enrolled Agents because they have shown a high level of competency when it comes to dealing with the ever-evolving landscape of tax rules and policies. Going through the maze of taxes without the proper knowledge, continuing professional education and experience can have you facing hefty interest and penalties.

Tax Professionals

If the US tax code is as complicated as it ever was, going to a tax professional to do my taxes is the right move, right? The answer to that is also not as simple as it seems. Tax professionals are given the designation because they have shown a high level of competency in dealing with the tax code when they were tried and tested. However, not all tax professionals are created equal.

For example, out of all the registered tax professionals in the country, only 41% have finished their Continuing Professional Education coursework, the other 48% are yet to finish their CPE coursework. Meanwhile, only 47% of tax professionals say that they have studied the latest changes in the tax law that will affect the upcoming filing season, the other 53% say that they haven’t gotten to studying the changes yet according to the survey conducted by Drake Software.

Competency

Competency is not the only criteria to becoming a trusted and effective tax professional. Since tax professionals are dealing with sensitive financial information, you must choose someone that takes good care of them and makes every effort to keep your sensitive financial information away from prying eyes. According to the survey conducted by Drake Software, only 39% of tax professionals use secure online portals to accept and store their client’s sensitive financial documents. 35% of tax professionals haven’t gotten to using a secure online portal and the other 22% don’t intend to use a secure online portal to properly handle their clients’ sensitive financial information.

The bottom line is that the benefit of having a tax professional to do your taxes for you is not the same across the board. Some tax professionals are more competent and experienced when it comes to dealing with the US tax code and some tax professionals conduct their services in a more secure manner protecting you from the prying eyes of no good-doers. If you are to choose a tax professional to do your taxes for you this tax filing season, make sure that you ask them the right questions for you to know if they can give you the peace of mind that your taxes are done the right way according to the latest IRS guidelines and if they can handle and store your sensitive financial information in a secure and safe manner.

Bottomline

Doing your taxes to save you some money from hiring a tax professional might seem like a good idea but hiring a tax professional gives you the benefit of knowing that your taxes are done the right way helping you steer clear of the IRS’ bad side which can lead to an audit and then lead to hefty fines and penalties. However, if you are going to choose a tax professional to do your taxes for you, make sure that they can give you the benefit of peace of mind that they are well versed in the latest updates in the tax regulations and that they can handle your sensitive financial information in a safe and secure manner.

The benefit of having a tax professional is not the same across the board. If you want an experienced tax professional to do your taxes for you with the utmost regard for your sensitive financial information then look no further. We are here to help you have the peace of mind that your unique tax situation is handled accordingly to the latest tax code changes and that your sensitive financial information is handled in a safe and secure manner that keeps it away from prying eyes.

Get in touch with us today!