Tax Credits Available for Certain Energy-Efficient Home Improvements

It is tax time of year and below are a few helpful notes to make sure you  get some credit for qualified home energy improvements you made during 2011. Perhaps you installed solar equipment or recently insulated your home? Here are two tax credits that may be available to you:

1. The Non-business Energy Property Credit  Homeowners who install energy-efficient improvements may qualify for this credit. The 2011 credit is 10 percent of the cost of qualified energy-efficient improvements, up to $500. Qualifying improvements includeadding insulation, energy-efficient exterior windows and doors and certain roofs. The cost of installing these items does not count. You can also claim a credit including installation costs, for certain high-efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, water heaters and stoves that burn biomass fuel. The credit has a lifetime limit of $500, of which only $200 may be used for windows. If you’ve claimed more than $500 of non-business energy property credits since 2005, you can not claim the credit for 2011. Qualifying improvements must have been placed into service in the taxpayer’s principal residence located in the United States before Jan. 1, 2012.

2. Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit This tax credit helps individual taxpayers pay for qualified residential alternative energy equipment, such as solar hot water heaters, solar electricity equipment and wind turbines. The credit, which runs through 2016, is 30 percent of the cost of qualified property. There is no cap on the amount of credit available, except for fuel cell property. Generally, you may include labor costs when figuring the credit and you can carry forward any unused portions of this credit. Qualifying equipment must have been installed on or in connection with your home located in the United States; geothermal heat pumps qualify only when installed on or in connection with your main home located in the United States.

Not all energy-efficient improvements qualify so be sure you have the manufacturer’s tax credit certification statement, which can usually be found on the manufacturer’s website or with the product packaging.
 
If you’re eligible, you can claim both of these credits on Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits when you file your 2011 federal income tax return. Also, note these are tax credits and not deductions, so they will generally reduce the amount of tax owed dollar for dollar. Finally, you may claim these credits regardless of whether you itemize deductions on IRS Schedule A.

You can find more information or have your questions answered by emailing or calling me.

IRS Tax Tip 2012-45

S Corporation Distributions

1: S Corporation Distributions are Tax Free to the extent of basis when there is no earnings and profits

When distributions by an S Corporation are made with no earning and profits, the amounts are tax free to the extent of the shareholder’s adjusted basis in the stock, because this amount is considered a return of the shareholder’s investment. If the distributions exceed the shareholder’s adjusted basis, then the excess is treated as gain from the sale or exchange of the stock, and is normally taxed at capital gain rates. The shareholders basis in the stock is then reduced by the amount of any distribution that is not included in income.

2: Taxation of S Corporation Distributions with Earnings and Profits depend on Accumulated Adjustments Accounts

If the S Corporation has earnings and profits, the tax implications are a bit more complicated, because the taxation depends on the accumulated adjustments account. In general, this is a running total of the undistributed earnings that have been taxed to the shareholders since the corporation made its S Corp election. Any distributions made to the extent of the accumulated adjustments account are treated similarly to distributions by an S corporation without earnings and profits — first as a tax free return of investment, then as gain from the sale or exchange of stock. Any distribution in excess of the accumulated adjustments account is first treated as a dividend, to the extent it doesn’t exceed the S corporations earnings and profits, and then as a gain from the sale or exchange of stock.

3: S Corporation Distributions can be cash or property

The distributions can be made either in cash or property. It is important to note that if property is distributed, the amount will be the fair market value of that property on the date of distribution, with the shareholder taking a basis in the property equal to that fair market value. If the distributed property has increased in value, the corporation is subject to tax based on the extent of such appreciation. As a result, S corporations are not the preferred entities for owning property.

What Employers Need to Know About Claiming the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

If you are a small employer with fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees that earn an average wage of less than $50,000 a year and you pay at least half of employee health insurance premiums…then there is a tax credit that may put money in your pocket.

The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit is specifically targeted to help small businesses and tax-exempt organizations. The credit can enable small businesses and small tax-exempt organizations to offer health insurance coverage for the first time. It also helps those already offering health insurance coverage to maintain the coverage they already have.

Here is what small employers need to know so they don’t miss out on the credit for tax year 2011:

• Qualifying businesses calculate the small business health care credit on Form 8941, Credit for Small Employer Health Insurance Premiums, and claim it as part of the general business credit on Form 3800, General Business Credit, which they would include with their tax return.
• Tax-exempt organizations can use Form 8941 to calculate the credit and then claim the credit on Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return, Line 44f.
• Businesses that couldn’t use the credit in 2011 may be eligible to claim it in future years. Eligible small employers can claim the credit for 2010 through 2013 and for two additional years beginning in 2014.

For tax years 2010 to 2013, the maximum credit for eligible small business employers is 35 percent of premiums paid and for eligible tax-exempt employers the maximum credit is 25 percent of premiums paid.  Beginning in 2014, the maximum credit will go up to 50 percent of qualifying premiums paid by eligible small business employers and 35 percent of qualifying premiums paid by eligible tax-exempt organizations.

Contact me if you have any questions regarding the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit for Small Employers.

Additional information about eligibility requirements and calculating the credit can be found on the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit for Small Employers page of the IRS website.

Issue Number:    IRS Tax Tip 2012-44

Mortgage Debt Forgiveness: 10 Key Points

Canceled debt is normally taxable to you, but there are exceptions. One of those exceptions is available to homeowners whose mortgage debt is partly or entirely forgiven during tax years 2007 through 2012.

The IRS would like you to know these 10 facts about Mortgage Debt Forgiveness:

1. Normally, debt forgiveness results in taxable income. However, under the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, you may be able to exclude up to $2 million of debt forgiven on your principal residence.

2. The limit is $1 million for a married person filing a separate return.

3. You may exclude debt reduced through mortgage restructuring, as well as mortgage debt forgiven in a foreclosure.

4. To qualify, the debt must have been used to buy, build or substantially improve your principal residence and be secured by that residence.

5. Refinanced debt proceeds used for the purpose of substantially improving your principal residence also qualify for the exclusion.

6. Proceeds of refinanced debt used for other purposes – for example, to pay off credit card debt – do not qualify for the exclusion.

7. If you qualify, claim the special exclusion by filling out Form 982, Reduction of Tax Attributes Due to Discharge of Indebtedness, and attach it to your federal income tax return for the tax year in which the qualified debt was forgiven.

8. Debt forgiven on second homes, rental property, business property, credit cards or car loans does not qualify for the tax relief provision. In some cases, however, other tax relief provisions – such as insolvency – may be applicable. IRS Form 982 provides more details about these provisions.

9. If your debt is reduced or eliminated you normally will receive a year-end statement, Form 1099-C, Cancellation of Debt, from your lender. By law, this form must show the amount of debt forgiven and the fair market value of any property foreclosed.

10. Examine the Form 1099-C carefully. Notify the lender immediately if any of the information shown is incorrect. You should pay particular attention to the amount of debt forgiven in Box 2 as well as the value listed for your home in Box 7.

For more information about the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, please contact me by email or phone and I will be happy to answer your questions. Also, IRS Publication 4681, Canceled Debts, Foreclosures, Repossessions and Abandonments, is also an excellent resource.

IRS Tax Tip 2012-39

Payroll Tax Cut Extended to the End of 2012

IR-2012-27, Feb. 23, 2012

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service released revised Form 941 enabling employers to properly report the newly-extended payroll tax cut benefiting nearly 160 million workers.

Under the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, enacted yesterday, workers will continue to receive larger paychecks for the rest of this year based on a lower social security tax withholding rate of 4.2 percent, which is two percentage points less than the 6.2 percent rate in effect prior to 2011. This reduced rate, originally in effect for all of 2011, was extended through the end of February by the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011, enacted Dec. 23.

No action is required by workers to continue receiving the payroll tax cut. As before, the lower rate will have no effect on workers’ future Social Security benefits. The reduction in revenues to the Social Security Trust Fund will be made up by transfers from the General Fund.

Self-employed individuals will also benefit from a comparable rate reduction in the social security portion of the self-employment tax from 12.4 percent to 10.4 percent. For 2012, the social security tax applies to the first $110,100 of wages and net self-employment income received by an individual.

The new law also repeals the two-percent recapture tax included in the December legislation that effectively capped at $18,350 the amount of wages eligible for the payroll tax cut. As a result, the now repealed recapture tax does not apply.

The IRS will issue additional guidance, as needed, to implement the newly-extended payroll tax cut, and any further questions or assistance that you may need, you can email or phone me.

Four Tax Credits that Can Boost your Refund

A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of taxes owed. Some tax credits are refundable meaning if you are eligible and claim one, you can get the rest of it in the form of a tax refund even after your tax liability has been reduced to zero.

Here are four refundable tax credits you should consider to increase your refund on your 2011 federal income tax return:

1. The Earned Income Tax Credit is for people earning less than $49,078 from wages, self-employment or farming. Millions of workers who saw their earnings drop in 2011 may qualify for the first time. Income, age and the number of qualifying children determine the amount of the credit, which can be up to $5,751. Workers without children also may qualify. For more information, see IRS Publication 596, Earned Income Credit.

2. The Child and Dependent Care Credit is for expenses paid for the care of your qualifying children under age 13, or for a disabled spouse or dependent, while you work or look for work. For more information, see IRS Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses.

3. The Child Tax Credit is for people who have a qualifying child. The maximum credit is $1,000 for each qualifying child. You can claim this credit in addition to the Child and Dependent Care Credit. For more information on the Child Tax Credit, see IRS Publication 972, Child Tax Credit.

4. The Retirement Savings Contributions Credit, also known as the Saver’s Credit, is designed to help low-to-moderate income workers save for retirement. You may qualify if your income is below a certain limit and you contribute to an IRA or workplace retirement plan, such as a 401(k) plan. The Saver’s Credit is available in addition to any other tax savings that apply. For more information, see IRS Publication 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs).

There are many other tax credits that may be available to you depending on your facts and circumstances.

IRS Tax Tip 2012-41

Tax Due Dates for March 2012 and April 2012

For March 2012

March 11

Daylight Saving Time begins.

March 15

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

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

2011 calendar-year corporation income tax returns are due.

Corporations – File a 2011 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120 or 1120-A) 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.

S Corporations – File a 2011 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120S) and pay any tax due. Provide each shareholder with a copy of Schedule K-1 (Form 1120S), Shareholder’s Share of Income, Credits, Deductions, etc., or a substitute Schedule K-1. If you want an automatic 6-month extension of time to file the return, file Form 7004 and deposit what you estimate you owe.

Electing large partnerships – Provide each partner with a copy of Schedule K-1 (Form 1065-B), Partner’s Share of Income (Loss) From an Electing Large Partnership. This due date is effective for the first March 15 following the close of the partnership’s tax year. The due date of March 15 applies even if the partnership requests an extension of time to file the Form 1065-B by filing Form 8736 or Form 8800.

S Corporation Election – File Form 2553, Election by a Small Business Corporation, to choose to be treated as an S corporation beginning with calendar year 2012. If Form 2553 is filed late, S treatment will begin with calendar year 2013.

For April 2012

April 2

Deadline for payers who file electronically to file 2011 information returns (such as 1099s) with the IRS.

Deadline for employers who file electronically to send copies of 2011 W-2s to the Social Security Administration.

NOTE: Businesses are required to make federal tax deposits on dates determined by various factors that differ from business to business.

Payroll tax deposits: Employers generally must deposit Form 941 payroll taxes (income tax withheld from employees’ pay and both the employer’s and employees’ share of social security taxes) on either a monthly or semiweekly deposit schedule. There are exceptions if you owe $100,000 or more on any day during a deposit period, if you owe $2,500 or less for the calendar quarter, or if your estimated annual liability is $1,000 or less.

Monthly depositors are required to deposit payroll taxes accumulated within a calendar month by the fifteenth of the following month.
Semiweekly depositors generally must deposit payroll taxes on Wednesdays or Fridays, depending on when wages are paid.
For more information on tax deadlines that apply to you or your business, contact our office.

April 15

Individuals – File a 2011 calendar year income tax return (Form 1040) and pay any tax due. If you want an automatic 6-month extension of time to file the return, file Form 4868 and deposit what you estimate you owe.

Partnerships – File a 2011 calendar year income tax return (Form 1065) and pay any tax due. Provide each partner and/or LLC member with a copy of Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), or a substitute Schedule K-1. If you want an automatic 5-month extension of time to file the return, file Form 7004 and deposit what you estimate you owe.

Deadline for payers who file electronically to file 2011 information returns (such as 1099s) with the IRS.

If you have questions on this or any other accounting or tax matters, call or email me. I will be there to make your business better.

Home Office Deductions – www.TaxTV.com

Tax time also brings Tax Scams

The IRS has released their annual list of “Dirty Dozen” tax scams.   Below you will find the list.

• Identity Theft
• Phishing
• Return Preparer Fraud
• Hiding Income Offshore
• “Free Money” from the IRS & Tax Scams Involving Social Security
• False/Inflated Income and Expenses
• False Form 1099 Refund Claims
• Frivolous Arguments
• Falsely Claiming Zero Wages
• Abuse of Charitable Organizations and Deductions
• Disguised Corporate Ownership
• Misuse of Trusts

Being informed could help you avoid being a tax scam victim.  If you have questions or feel that you may have been victim of any tax scam, please give me a call or send an email to discuss your options.

Read the entire list with a full description of the scam at IRS Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2012 at  http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=254383,00.html

Depreciation update for 2012

If you bought business assets in the past few years, you probably noticed more than one change to the immediate expensing depreciation rules. While the trend has been toward higher deductions, opportunities for writing off the cost of assets under federal rules presently in effect for 2012 are less generous.

Here are the new limits.

Bonus depreciation. The enhanced deduction — up to 100% of qualified assets — expired at the end of 2011. The maximum bonus depreciation allowance for most qualified property placed in service in 2012 is 50% of the cost of the property.

Bonus depreciation is generally available for new assets that have a useful life of 20 years or less.
Section 179. The expanded $500,000 Section 179 write-off that has been available for the past two years ended December 31, 2011. For 2012, you can elect to expense up to $139,000 of qualified assets you purchase during the year.

To receive the full benefit of the Section 179 deduction, the total cost of all qualifying assets purchased in 2012 must be $560,000 or less. Your deduction may also be limited by the amount of your business income.

Both new and used assets qualify for Section 179. If you’re thinking of purchasing assets for your business this year, please give me a call. I’ll keep you up to date with the latest depreciation developments.