How a Potential Federal Government Shutdown Will Affect the Tax Deadline
The absence of a budget agreement between Congress and the Obama administration could result in a shutdown of some federal government services beginning Saturday, April 9. In the event of a government shutdown, the IRS plans to continue accepting all tax returns, both electronically and paper filed. The IRS has stated that they will continue…
Programming Issue with Small Proportion of First Time Homebuyer Credit Claims
The IRS is having programming issue delaying the processing of a small percentage of returns for taxpayers who must repay the First Time Homebuyer Credit. The issue affects taxpayers reporting a sale or disposition of the home that qualified for the credit, which in most cases means taxpayers must repay the credit. The delay also…
IRS Sends 200,000 Balance Due Notices by Mistake
Due to a computer processing glitch, the IRS mailed 200,000 CP-14 balance due notices to taxpayers who filed electronically. These notices told the taxpayers that their balance was due by April 15, even if they had already designated automatic withdrawal from their bank accounts. These notices were not to be processed in the middle of…
New Tax Court Ruling on Clergy Housing Allowance & Multiple Homes
Phil Driscoll owns two homes. One in Cleveland Tennessee and a lake home outside of Cleveland Tennessee. Phil Driscoll is an ordained gospel minister. Phil Driscoll Ministries paid for both homes and it was excluded from his income under the Pastor’s Housing allowance under Section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The IRS…
Holidays & Weekends Affect 2011 Tax Deadlines
Every year, taxpayers in the United States have until April 15 to file their tax return or file an extension. Normally, the only exception is if April 15 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or national holiday. This year taxpayers get will an extra three days to file their 2010 tax returns due to a Washington …
IRS Delays Start of Filing Season For Some Taxpayers
Clergy who claim deductions for home-mortgage interest, gifts to charity and state and local taxes will have to wait until middle to late February to file their 2010 returns. The Internal Revenue Service attributed the late start of the filing season to changes in tax law for 2010 that were finished last week. The agency…
How the Obama tax bill will affect church employees
On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed into law H.R. 4853, the Tax Relief Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act Of 2010, which will affect every U.S. employer and several areas of payroll, tax and benefits administration in January. Back in 2008, after the passage of the 2008 stimulus package, many taxpayers received $300…
Clergy who claim deductions for home
Clarifying the IRS Rules About Endorsing Candidates From The Pulpit
Recently in the news, there have been stories about clergy endorsing political candidates from the pulpit: Pastors Preach Politics from Pulpit– News42.com Hastings Pastor Defends Endrosement – WCCO.com Pastors, Not the Gov’t, Should Decide When They Can Speak About Candidates From the Pulpit – Christian Post Minnesota Pastors Plan to Endorse Candidates From the Pulpit…
Clergy Compensation Package
The 1986 Tax Reform Act, the 1987 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation, Technical Correction Act of 1988, and the 1993 Reconciliation Act made the most sweeping changes in almost 50 years. The law is not simple. Your salary package is the most important factor in determining your annual tax liability. At year end, you are limited in…
