Gathering records before preparing tax return makes filing go smoother
As taxpayers are getting ready to file their taxes, one of the first things they’ll do is gather their records. To avoid refund delays, taxpayers should gather all year-end income documents before filing a 2019 tax return.
It’s important for folks to have all the needed documents on hand before starting to prepare their return. Doing so helps them file a complete and accurate tax return. Here are some things taxpayers need to have before they begin doing their taxes.

• Social Security numbers of everyone listed on the tax return. Many taxpayers have these number memorized. Still, it’s a good idea to have them on hand to double check that the number on the tax return is correct. An SSN with one number wrong or two numbers switched will cause processing delays.
• Bank account and routing numbers. People will need these for direct deposit refunds. Direct deposit is the fastest way for taxpayers to get their money and avoids a check getting lost, stolen or returned to IRS as undeliverable.
• Forms W-2 from employers.
• Forms 1099 from banks and other payers.
• Any documents that show income, including income from virtual currency transactions. Taxpayers should keep records showing receipts, sales, exchanges or deposits of virtual currency and the fair market value of the virtual currency.
• Forms 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement. Taxpayers will need this form to reconcile advance payments or claim the premium tax credit.
• The taxpayer’s adjusted gross income from their last year’s tax return. People using a software product for the first time will need their 2018 AGI to sign their tax return.  Those using the same tax software they used last year won’t need to enter their prior year information to electronically sign their 2019 tax return.

Forms usually start arriving by mail or are available online from employers and financial institutions in January. Taxpayers should review them carefully. If any information shown on the forms is inaccurate, the taxpayer should contact the payer ASAP for a correction.

GLM is getting ready for the Upcoming GOA Business Expo. You can participate too! Just follow the Link: https://www.thegoa.com/expo2020.html  

THE 2020 EXPO IS HERE AND THE THEME IS GAME OF BUSINESS.
We are asking our businesses to decorate their booth/business to board games. (Think Monopoly, Sorry!, Candy Land) Usually, we don't PLAY around when it comes to business... but it's time to have some fun and show us what you've got! Awards will be given for various categories. Game on!
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Why Exhibit?

• Build relationships face to face.
• Promote your company to hundreds of attendees.
• Boost brand awareness.
• Generate customer interest.
• Market new products and services.

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#YourMove

For your convenience, I have fast forwarded to the part about GLM, but feel free to listen to the whole thing from start to finish:

WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service successfully opened the 2020 tax filing season today as the agency begins accepting and processing federal tax returns for tax year 2019.

The deadline to file a 2019 tax return and pay any tax owed is Wednesday, April 15, 2020.  More than 150 million individual tax returns for the 2019 tax year are expected to be filed, with the vast majority of those coming before the April 15 tax deadline. 

"The IRS workforce has worked for nearly a year to prepare for the opening of tax season,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “Our dedicated employees are committed to help taxpayers, process tax returns and serve the nation − not just through the April 15 tax deadline but throughout the year.”

While the IRS’ Free File program as well as many tax software companies and tax professionals began accepting tax returns earlier this month, processing of those tax returns begins as IRS systems open today.

The IRS expects about 90 percent of individuals to file their returns electronically. Filing electronically and choosing direct deposit remains the fastest and safest way to file an accurate income tax return and receive a refund.

“The IRS reminds taxpayers there are many options to get help,” Rettig said. “Our website has around the clock information available and is the fastest way to get assistance. We’ve made improvements to the Free File program and filing electronically with direct deposit remains the best way to speed refunds and minimize errors. As always, experts in the nation’s tax professional community stand ready to help people navigate their tax issues. And we also remind people our IRS-trained community volunteers are ready to help file tax returns in locations across the country.”

Taxpayers: Rely on a reputable tax professional; IRS.gov can help
The IRS also reminds taxpayers that a trusted tax professional can prepare their tax return and provide helpful information and advice. Tips for choosing a return preparer and details about national tax professional groups are available on IRS.gov.
No matter who prepares a federal tax return, by signing the return, the taxpayer becomes legally responsible for the accuracy of all information included.

Please remember that GLM can help!

Gather documents and organize tax records
The IRS urges all taxpayers to make sure they have all their year-end statements in hand before filing. This includes Forms W-2 from employers and Forms 1099 from banks and other payers. Taxpayers should confirm that each employer, bank or other payer has a current mailing address or email address. Typically, year-end forms start arriving by mail – or are available online – in January. Review them carefully and, if any of the information shown is inaccurate, contact the payer right away for a correction.
In 2019, taxpayers who engaged in a transaction involving virtual currency will need to file Schedule 1, Additional Income and Adjustments To Income. The Internal Revenue Code and regulations require taxpayers to maintain records that support the information provided on tax returns.  Taxpayers should maintain, for example, records documenting receipts, sales, exchanges, or other dispositions of virtual currency and the fair market value of the virtual currency.

To avoid refund delays, be sure to gather all year-end income documents before filing a 2019 tax return. Doing so will help avoid refund delays and the need to file an amended return. Filing too early, before receiving a key document, often means a taxpayer must file an amended return to report additional income or claim a refund. It can take up to 16 weeks to process an amended return and issue any related refund.

Most refunds sent in less than 21 days; however, some require further review and take longer
Just as each tax return is unique and individual, so is each taxpayer's refund. There are a few things taxpayers should keep in mind if they are waiting on their refund but hear or see on social media that other taxpayers have already received theirs.

Different factors can affect the timing of a taxpayer’s refund after the IRS receives the return. Also, remember to take into consideration the time it takes for the financial institution to post the refund to the taxpayer’s account or to receive a check in the mail.

Even though the IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 days, some tax returns require additional review and take longer to process than others. This may be necessary when a return has errors, is incomplete or is affected by identity theft or fraud. The IRS will contact taxpayers by mail when more information is needed to process a return.

Choosing electronic filing and direct deposit for refunds remains the fastest and safest way to file an accurate income tax return and receive a refund. The IRS expects about 90 percent of individual tax returns will be prepared electronically using tax software.

The IRS reminds taxpayers that, by law, the IRS cannot issue refunds claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) before mid-February. This applies to the entire refund − even the portion not associated with the EITC or ACTC. The IRS expects most EITC/ACTC related refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit cards by the first week of March, if the taxpayer chose direct deposit and there are no other issues with the tax return.

After refunds leave the IRS, it takes additional time for them to be processed and for financial institutions to accept and deposit the refunds to bank accounts and products. The IRS reminds taxpayers many financial institutions do not process payments on weekends or holidays, which can affect when refunds reach taxpayers.
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Refund information will generally be available within 24 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of an electronically filed return on the Where's My Refund? ‎tool on IRS.gov and the IRS2Go phone app. These tools will be updated with projected deposit dates for most early EITC and ACTC refund filers by Feb. 22, so those filers will not see an update to their refund status date on Where's My Refund? ‎or through their software packages until then. The IRS, tax preparers and tax software will not have additional information on refund dates. Where’s My Refund? is the best way to check the status of a refund.

​Typical Situation: Our client has customers who owe outstanding bills for many months. Before classifying it as Bad Debt, send it out to Collections.
 
When you hear a business owner say:

• “I have some customers/ clients not paying their bills.”
• “I've got good customers but they're paying my invoices slow/beyond terms”
•  “I'm not getting returned calls about client outstanding bills”

 
An Accounts Receivable Consultant provide strategic financing solutions for business to business companies.  Complete end-to-end solutions provide you with the results you need across the entire credit-to-cash continuum, all while enhancing your valued customer relationships.
How they Work The Consultant delivers results by utilizing a proprietary predictive analytics platform that drives recovery operations. More than just a debt collection agency, they offer strategic end-to-end accounts receivable management and debt collection solutions that make your cash flow.
 
You can introduce them:
“It sounds like you should really talk to someone about your outstanding invoice and get your money.  I know someone that can provide some results for your accounts receivable so you can make it.”
 
Matching Ideas with Resources:

WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service confirmed that the nation’s tax season will start for individual tax return filers on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, when the tax agency will begin accepting and processing 2019 tax year returns. 

The deadline to file 2019 tax returns and pay any tax owed is Wednesday, April 15, 2020. More than 150 million individual tax returns for the 2019 tax year are expected to be filed, with the vast majority of those coming before the traditional April tax deadline.  

“As we enter the filing season, taxpayers should know that the dedicated workforce of the IRS stands ready to help,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “We encourage taxpayers to plan ahead and use the tools and information available on IRS.gov. The IRS and the nation's tax community are committed to making this another smooth filing season."

The IRS set the Jan. 27 opening date to ensure the security and readiness of key tax processing systems and to address the potential impact of recent tax legislation on 2019 tax returns.

While taxpayers may prepare returns through the IRS’ Free File program as well as many tax software companies and tax professionals before the start date, processing of those returns will begin after IRS systems open later this month.

“The IRS encourages everyone to consider filing electronically and choosing direct deposit,” Rettig said. “It’s fast, accurate and the best way to get your refund as quickly as possible.”
 
Filing electronically flags common errors and prompts taxpayers for missing information.

Taxpayers can get free help preparing and filing taxes through IRS Free File online or free tax help from trained volunteers at community sites around the country. The IRS also reminds taxpayers that they don’t have to wait until Jan. 27 to start their tax return or contact a reputable tax preparer. 

In addition, IRS tax help is available 24 hours a day on IRS.gov, the official IRS website, where people can find answers to tax questions and resolve tax issues online. The Let Us Help You page helps answer most tax questions, and the IRS Services Guide links to these and other IRS services.

Of course, even if High School math did teach taxes, by the time you needed to use it the tax laws will have changed... a lot.

High School Math would NOT:

• Get you prepared for what you need to do DURING the tax year to save on taxes.
• Show you how to keep good records all year long.
• Tell you what part of you Home Office is Tax Deductible
• Help you eliminate Tax Errors
• How to carry Family Members into your business
• Set up a new business during the tax year.
• Show how to expense more deprecation using Section 179
• More Tax Tips from Previous Blogs

When you do your own taxes, you may just get it done, which is OK. But, as AT&T commercials are showing, "Just OK is not OK"​ 

Reminder to those with clients paying the current minimum wage, the state minimum wage is going up to $9.25 as of 1/1/20 ($5.55 for tipped workers)
https://www2.illinois.gov/idol/Laws-Rules/FLS/Pages/minimum-wage-rates-by-year.aspx

In conjunction with this the state has created a Minimum Wage Credit for those small companies (less than 50 full-time equivalent employees) that are moving employees up to $9.25 at the start of the year.  FY2020-13, attached, goes over the details but it boils down to this:  The state will give employers a credit for the difference between each employee’s old pay rate and the new minimum wage for every employee that was below minimum wage.  So employees going from $8.25 to $9.25 will generate a withholding credit of 25% of the difference of $1.00 on their actual earnings each quarter.  I presume tipped workers increasing to the new tipped minimum wage also qualify.  If you pay more than the minimum wage, you still only get a withholding credit up to the minimum wage.

There are still open questions on this.  I don’t know how the Cook Co & City of Chicago minimum wages play into this.

Also at the federal level, the minimum salary to be permitted to be exempt from overtime is increasing from $455 per week (or $23,660 annually) to $684 per week (or $35,568 annually) as of 1/1/20.  Employee’s must still meet the duties test to be considered truly exempt from overtime.
​https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/17g-overtime-salary
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