TaxBit and TaxAct: Crypto Tax Filing Made Easy

As cryptocurrency investments become more mainstream, many taxpayers wonder how they can quickly and accurately report digital currency transactions on their tax returns. Enter your newest tax-filing duo: TaxAct® and TaxBit. What crypto means for your taxes The IRS classifies cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and other digital assets as property for tax purposes. As property, a taxable event is recognized when you […]

What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Refund

You’ve successfully e-filed your taxes. Congratulations! Now, where’s your refund? Here’s what happens to your return once it’s submitted to the IRS. The Process of Getting Your Refund E-filing your tax return with TaxAct is easy, fast, and secure. After completing the Q&A interview, TaxAct checks your return for errors and guides you through the simple e-file steps. TaxAct then transmits your […]

6 Common Tax Return Mistakes That Could Cost You

Nobody wants to drag out the tax filing process — just make sure you aren’t sacrificing accuracy for speedy filing. To help you avoid making any costly errors this year, we’ve put together six common mistakes taxpayers make when filing their federal tax returns so you know how to prevent them ahead of time. 1. Filing too early The earlier […]

Tax Breaks Students (and Parents) Can Claim in 2022

You’ve heard about writing off your internet bill as a business expense — but can it also count as an education expense? We cover the answer to this question and many more. As virtual learning becomes more prevalent after the pandemic, many students and parents are wondering if there are any new tax benefits for education to accommodate this new […]

Everything Non-Residents Need to Know About Filing US Taxes

As an immigrant or non-resident of the United States, it’s normal to have many questions about filing your taxes. Why should you file? What forms do you need? How could this affect me? The list goes on and on. Americans love to complain about filing their taxes — often with good reason. But the process isn’t nearly as complicated as […]

Understand These Tax Breaks When Buying a Home

*Updated for tax season 2021 and 2022. Buying a home can help lower your tax bill in certain circumstances. In fact, tax breaks for homeownership are a primary motivation for many people to buy their own homes. To get the maximum tax benefit from your home purchase, it’s important to understand what options are available to you. Here are some […]

Can I Report My Child’s W-2 on My Tax Return?

Your child has started earning their own money, but you’re still claiming them as a dependent. How will this situation affect your taxes? One of the most common tax questions parents have is if they should report their dependent child’s W-2 on their tax return or if the child should file their own return. Here’s what you need to know […]

Expectation vs. Reality: Deducting Work From Home Expenses

Working from home comes with many perks. Are tax deductions one of them? Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic made remote work a necessity, teleworking has become the new normal for many American employees. In fact, more teleworkers are now choosing to work remotely and increasingly say they prefer it to working in an office. So, if you’re one of the […]

Bitcoin Tax Calculator

If you are a U.S. resident who invested in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies in 2021, you may have recently received a tax document from the trading platform or cryptocurrency exchange you use and may need to pay taxes. While there is currently very little guidance on the taxation of cryptocurrency, one thing is clearly defined. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) views […]

6 Ways to Maximize Your 401(k) or IRA Plan Contributions

One of the best money moves you can make this year is maximizing contributions to your deductible or nondeductible retirement plan. Whether you’ve contributed all year or have yet to start, here are a few tips to get the most from tax-advantaged retirement plans. 1. Know your contribution limits. Try to contribute as much as the law allows so you get the […]

The Tax Benefits of Contributing to an IRA

I-R-A. Who knew three letters could be so daunting yet yield so many benefits for our financial lives? IRA stands for Individual Retirement Account. And if you’re like most people, you likely think it sounds like a fancy investment tool that is reserved for people with loads of money and an unattainable level of financial savvy-ness. But the truth is […]

What’s New About the Home Office Deduction in 2022?

If you are self-employed and work at home — even just part-time — you may claim a tax deduction for expenses related to your home office. Alas, if you’re an employee who has been working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that amazing home office deduction you’ve heard so much about does not apply. I started working from home […]

Is It Crazy to Buy Gold Coins For Investments?

Have you ever considered gold as an investment? Or maybe just as a hobby? In the days of instant online stock trading and financial accounts, sometimes money seems almost make-believe. Many of us no longer see our money as a tangible object. That’s why there’s something very satisfying and solid about investing in and wanting to buy gold coins. There’s […]

Small Business Owner vs. Self-Employed: What’s the Difference?

There are many similarities between being self-employed and being a small business owner. Both allow you to be your own boss, for one thing! But in the eyes of the IRS, your formal business classification can mean very different things when it comes to filing your taxes and reporting your business income. Here’s how to determine which category you fall […]

What Do New Payment App Regulations Mean for Taxpayers?

You may have heard about new tax reporting rules for businesses using third-party payment apps such as PayPal, Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, etc. This has caused some confusion for app users, but we’re here to help you understand how it will (or won’t) affect your taxes next year. What’s changed? Until this year, payment platforms were not required to report […]

What To Do If You Didn’t File On Time

We know it’s tempting, but don’t put off filing your taxes! Taxpayers must stay on top of tax deadlines to avoid possible penalties and interest charges for late filing. Falling behind on your tax filing obligations can be stressful. It’s better to file taxes early or on time so you can stop worrying about your taxes and move on to […]

How to Avoid Delays When Filing Your 2021 Tax Return

Both taxpayers and the IRS will face some unique challenges when filing and processing federal tax returns for tax year 2021. To help you out, here are five tips that will help you avoid delays and ensure a smoother tax filing process for both sides. 1. Collect all tax documents before filing To file the most accurate federal income tax […]

10 FAQs About Claiming the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit

Some people never received or didn’t get their full stimulus payment amount in 2021. If this applies to you, or if you gained any dependents in 2021, you might be able to claim the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit — even if you don’t usually file taxes. Check out our FAQs below for general information on who is eligible for this […]

Everything You Need to Know About the Child Tax Credit

Raising kids is expensive. Thankfully, becoming a parent comes with some valuable tax breaks — most notably, the Child Tax Credit (CTC). What is the Child Tax Credit? The CTC is a tax credit for parents of dependent children designed to help offset the cost of raising kids. For tax year 2021, the CTC is fully refundable, meaning you can […]