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Moving Soon? Let the IRS Know

If you changed your home or business address, notify the IRS to ensure that you receive any refunds or correspondence. Although the IRS uses the postal service’s change of address files to update taxpayer addresses, notifying the IRS directly is still a good idea.

There are several ways to do this.

On your tax return. You may correct the address legibly on the mailing label that comes with your tax package or write the new address in the appropriate boxes on your tax return when you file.
Form 8822. You may use Form 8822, Change of Address, to submit an address or name change at any time during the year.
Verbal Notification. If an IRS employee contacts you about your account, you may verbally provide a change of address.
Written Notification. To give written notification, write to the IRS center where you file your return and provide your new address. The addresses for the IRS centers are listed in the tax instructions. In order to process an address change, the IRS will need your full name, old and new addresses, your Social Security number or employer identification number, and signatures. If you filed a joint return, you should provide the same information for both spouses. If you filed a joint return and have since established separate residences, you each should notify the IRS of your new addresses.

It’s a good idea to notify your employer of your new address so that you can get your W-2 forms on time.

If you change your address after filing your return, don’t forget to notify the post office at your old address so your mail can be forwarded.

You should also notify the IRS if you make estimated tax payments and you change your address during the year. You should mail a completed Form 8822, Change of Address, or write the IRS center where you file your return. You can continue to use your old pre-printed payment vouchers until the IRS sends you new ones. However, do not correct the address on the old voucher.

What Income Is Nontaxable?

Generally, you are taxed on income that is available to you regardless of whether it is actually in your possession, but there are some situations when certain types of income are partially taxed or not taxed at all.

Here are some examples of items that are NOT included in your income:

Adoption expense reimbursements for qualifying expenses
Funding of your Health Savings Account (HSA) with a one-time direct transfer from your qualified individual retirement plan (Roth IRA or IRA, but not an ongoing SEP IRA or SIMPLE IRA), an Archer MSA, health reimbursement account (HRA), or health flexible spending account (FSA), but not from an ongoing SIMPLE IRA and SEP IRA
Child support payments
Gifts, bequests, and inheritances
Workers’ compensation benefits
Meals and lodging for the convenience of your employer
Compensatory damages awarded for physical injury or physical sickness
Welfare benefits
Cash rebates from a dealer or manufacturer

Here are examples of items that may or may not be included in your income:

Life Insurance. If you surrender a life insurance policy for cash, you must include in income any proceeds that are more than the cost of the life insurance policy. Life insurance proceeds paid to you because of the death of the insured person are not taxable unless the policy was turned over to you for a price.
Scholarship or Fellowship Grant. If you are a candidate for a degree, you can exclude amounts you receive as a qualified scholarship or fellowship. Amounts used for room and board do not qualify.
Non-cash Income. Taxable income may be in a form other than cash. One example of this is bartering, which is an exchange of property or services. The fair market value of goods and services exchanged is fully taxable and must be included as income on Form 1040 of both parties.

Please contact us if you’d like more information about what income is nontaxable.

5 Tips for Taxpayers Who Owe Money to the IRS

The vast majority of Americans get a tax refund from the IRS each spring. But what if you’re not one of them? What if you owe money to the IRS?

Here are five tips for individuals who still need to pay their taxes.

If you get a bill for late taxes, you are expected to promptly pay the tax owed including any additional penalties and interest. You can pay the balance owed by electronic funds transfer, check, money order, cashier’s check, or cash. If you are unable to pay the amount due, it is often in your best interest to get a loan to pay the bill in full rather than to make installment payments to the IRS.
You can also pay the bill with your credit card. In either case, the interest rate on a credit card or bank loan may be lower than the combination of interest and penalties imposed by the Internal Revenue Code.
If you cannot pay the liability in full you may request an installment agreement. This is an agreement between you and the IRS for the collection of the amount due and is payable in monthly installment payments. To be eligible for an installment agreement, you must first file all required returns and be current with estimated tax payments.
You can also use an installment agreement if you owe $25,000 or less in combined tax, penalties, and interest. The IRS will inform you usually within 30 days whether your request is approved or denied or if additional information is needed. If the amount you owe is $25,000 or less, provide the monthly amount you wish to pay with your request. At a minimum, the monthly amount you will be allowed to pay without completing a Collection Information Statement is an amount that will fully pay the total balance owed within 60 months.
You may still qualify for an installment agreement if you owe more than $25,000, but a Collection Information Statement must be completed before an installment agreement can be considered. If your balance is over $25,000, consider your financial situation and propose the highest amount possible, as that is how the IRS will arrive at your payment amount (based on your financial information).
If an installment agreement is approved, a one-time user fee will be charged. The user fee for a new agreement is $105 or $52 for agreements where payments are deducted directly from your bank account. For eligible individuals with incomes at or below certain levels, a reduced fee of $43 will be charged. This is automatically figured and is based on your income.

If you owe the IRS money, give our office a call. We can help you set up installment agreements and other payment options.

What Income Is Nontaxable?

5 Tips for Taxpayers Who Owe Money to the IRS

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