Electronic filing of Forms 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, and 3922 – File Forms 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, and 3922 with the IRS (except a Form 1099-MISC reporting nonemployee compensation). This due date applies only if you file electronically.

Electronic Filing of Form W-2G– File copies of all the Form W-2G (Certain Gambling Winnings) you issued for 2018. This due date applies only if you electronically file.

April 1

Electronic Filing of Forms 8027 – File copies of all the Forms 8027 you issued for 2018. This due date applies only if you electronically file.

Electronic Filing of Forms 1094-C and 1095-C and Forms 1094-B and 1094-B – If you’re an applicable Large Employer, file electronic forms 1094-C and 1095-C with the IRS. For all other providers of essential minimum coverage, file electronic Forms 1094-B and 1095-B with the IRS.

April 10

Employees who work for tips – If you received $20 or more in tips during March, report them to your employer. You can use Form 4070.

April 15

Individuals – File an income tax return for 2018 (Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ) and pay any tax due. If you want an automatic 6-month extension of time to file the return, file Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Returnor you can get an extension by phone if you pay part or all of your estimate of income tax due with a credit card. Then file Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ by October 15.

Household Employers – If you paid cash wages of $2,100 or more in 2018 to a household employee, file Schedule H (Form 1040) with your income tax return and report any employment taxes. Report any federal unemployment (FUTA) tax on Schedule H if you paid total cash wages of $1,000 or more in any calendar quarter of 2017 or 2018 to household employees. Also, report any income tax you withheld for your household employees.

Individuals – If you are not paying your 2019 income tax through withholding (or will not pay in enough tax during the year that way), pay the first installment of your 2019 estimated tax. Use Form 1040-ES.

Corporations – File a 2018 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120) and pay any tax due. If you want an automatic 6-month extension of time to file the return, file Form 7004 and deposit what you estimate you owe in taxes.

Corporations – Deposit the first installment of estimated income tax for 2019. A worksheet, Form 1120-W, is available to help you estimate your tax for the year.

Employers – Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in March.

Employers – Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in March.

April 30

Employers – Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File form 941 for the first quarter of 2019. Deposit any undeposited tax. (If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full with a timely filed return.) If you deposited the tax for the quarter in full and on time, you have until May 10 to file the return.

• By Leon Clinton
• April 1, 2019

Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), there is an additional first-year depreciation deduction that applies to qualified property, including passenger automobiles, acquired and placed in service after September 27, 2017, and before January 1, 2027.

Generally, both the section 179 and the depreciation deductions for passenger automobiles are subject to dollar limitations for the year in which the taxpayer places the passenger automobile in service and, for each succeeding year. For a passenger automobile qualifying for the 100-percent additional first-year depreciation deduction, TCJA increased the first-year limitation amount by $8,000.

If the depreciable basis of a passenger automobile for which the 100-percent additional first-year depreciation deduction is allowed exceeds the first-year limitation, the excess amount is deductible in the first taxable year after the end of the recovery period.

While this may be somewhat confusing for taxpayers, guidance is now available for a safe harbor method of accounting for passenger automobiles. Here is how the safe harbor works:

The safe harbor allows a depreciation deduction for the excess amount during the recovery period. It is, however, subject to the depreciation limitations applicable to passenger automobiles.

To apply the safe-harbor method, the taxpayer must use the applicable depreciation table found in Appendix A of IRS Publication 946, How To Depreciate Property. Taxpayers should note that the safe harbor method does not apply to a passenger automobile placed in service by the taxpayer after tax year 2022, or to a passenger automobile for which the taxpayer elected out of the 100-percent additional first year depreciation deduction or elected under section 179 to expense all or a portion of the cost of the passenger automobile.

Taxpayers can use the safe harbor method of accounting by applying it to the depreciation deduction of a passenger automobile on their return for the first taxable year following the placed-in-service year.

For more information on the additional first-year depreciation deduction, don’t hesitate to contact the office.

• By Leon Clinton
• March 28, 2019

Some taxpayers may be required to pay an Additional Medicare Tax if their income exceeds certain limits. Here are some things that you should know about this tax:

1. Tax Rate. The Additional Medicare Tax rate is 0.9 percent.

2. Income Subject to Tax. The tax applies to the amount of certain income that is more than a threshold amount. The types of income include your Medicare wages, self-employment income and railroad retirement (RRTA) compensation. See the instructions for Form 8959, Additional Medicare Tax, for more on these rules.

3. Threshold Amount. You base your threshold amount on your filing status. If you are married and file a joint return, you must combine your spouse’s wages, compensation or self-employment income with yours. Use the combined total to determine if your income exceeds your threshold. The threshold amounts are:

• Married filing jointly: $250,000
• Married filing separately: $125,000
• Single: $200,000
• Head of household: $200,000

3. Withholding/Estimated Tax. Employers must withhold this tax from your wages or compensation when they pay you more than $200,000 in a calendar year. If you are self-employed you should include this tax when you figure your estimated tax liability.

4. Underpayment of Estimated Tax. If you had too little tax withheld, or did not pay enough estimated tax, you may owe an estimated tax penalty. For more on this, please call.

5. Form 8959. If you owe this tax, file Form 8959, Additional Medicare Tax, with your tax return. You also report any Additional Medicare Tax withheld by your employer on Form 8959.

If you have any questions about the Additional Medicare Tax, help is just a phone call away.

• By Leon Clinton
• March 25, 2019