Posts Tagged ‘Reasons’
5 Reasons to File Delinquent Tax Returns: There’s Still Hope if You Haven’t Paid Your Taxes This Year
The April 15 tax deadline has come and gone. For the millions of taxpayers who failed to file legally required tax returns, tax help is available for those who act now! Even taxpayers who received an extension for filing are not granted more time for the payment of taxes owed and may need income tax relief. The act of not filing your tax returns can lead to more significant financial problems in the long run. Not to mention, failure to file tax returns may be construed as a criminal act by the IRS, punishable by one year in jail and $10,000 for each year not filed. Needless to say, it’s one thing to owe the IRS money, but another thing to potentially lose your freedom for failure to file a tax return. Â The longer you place off dealing with overdue taxes, the more serious your IRS problems will be. So I recommend filing any tax returns that are due as soon as possible to avoid additional interest, penalties and potential IRS collection tactics, such as a levy on your bank account. Â With the federal budget deficit for the current year expected to top $1. 8 trillion, Americans can expect more tax audits and increased IRS actions. So anyone who owes back taxes will want to avoid becoming targets of aggressive IRS collection efforts that can financially cripple them for life. Â Here are 5 reasons to file your delinquent tax returns: Â 1) You can go to jail for not filing your taxes Even if you havenât filed your tax return for one year – it is still considered delinquent and could be construed by the IRS as a criminal offense. Actor Wesley Snipes didnât report more than $10 million to the IRS and he was convicted of three misdemeanor counts of failing to file a tax return. Richard Hatch, who won the first season of CBSâs hit show Survivor, is in prison for failing to report $1 million in prize money. The IRS goes after those U. S. taxpayers who try to avoid taxes, and Average Joes as are just as likely as high-profile individuals to be targets of the tax-collecting agency. At every level, the agency has become increasingly aggressive in pursuing tax cheats. Are you willing to lose your freedom because you failed to file your tax returns? 2) You can incur a 25% penalty for not filing your tax returns In this economic downturn, Americans may opt to not file because they donât have the funds to pay the taxes owed. The best thing for taxpayers in hard financial situations to do is file their tax return, pay what they can and work with the IRS to establish a payment plot that will keep them compliant. Additionally, if there are any delinquent tax returns that are due, they should consider filing these returns as soon as possible to avoid the wrath of any potential IRS action, such as a levy on their bank accounts. 3) You can incur additional penalties for not paying your taxes If you fail to pay your taxes due, you will incur additional penalties for failure to pay. Taxpayers who request an extension of time to file should keep in mind that this it is not an extension of time to pay. To avoid additional penalties, taxpayers should file by the deadline and pay as much as they can, even if they are unable to pay the entire amount due. You will still have a failure to pay penalty, but itâs much less. Then you can work with a specialized tax resolution expert to help you negotiate a tax settlement. 4) You can be subject to an increased tax bill if the IRS prepares your taxes for you The IRS may prepare a âSubstitute For Returnâ for delinquent taxpayers, in which they wonât be able to file for all of their personal exceptions or allowable deductions. Because these returns are filed in the best interest of the government, the only deductions they’ll usually see are the standard deduction and one personal exemption, subjecting them to a larger tax liability. So itâs vital for individuals to file their 2008 tax return as well as any prior delinquent tax returns as soon as possible to save money and avoid significant long-term consequences. 5) You must have all prior tax returns filed to be eligible for income tax relief All back tax returns must be filed before the IRS will even entertain any type of tax settlement like an offer in compromise or monthly payment plot arrangement. The excellent news is the sooner you take care of your delinquent taxes, the less penalties and interest youâll owe. I believe thereâs a solution to every problem. For delinquent taxpayer, itâs never too late for to resolve your tax debt and avoid IRS penalties. For more information on receiving income tax relief or help resolving back taxes, visit www. taxresolution. com for a free tax relief consultation or call 866-IRS-PROBLEMS.
Equipment Leasing – 5 Reasons Why Business Owners Prefer Equipment Leasing
Within the past decade, equipment leasing has mushroomed into a multi-billion dollar industry and currently accounts for over one-quarter of all capital expenditures in the United States.
There are five major reasons, or category of reasons why lessees prefer equipment leasing versus a loan for equipment acquisitions.
1) Economic or Financial
2) Financial Reporting
3) Income Taxes
4) Technological
5) Flexibility
Let’s examine each of these more closely.
1) Economical. The economic attributes of an equipment lease can be considerable. The monthly rentals in the lease can be quite low when compared to the loan payments levied by a bank, due primarily to the impact of the residual value in a lease.
The tax benefits alone that are generated in the transaction will influence the lease payments as well. The lessor can lower the equipment lease payments when receiving value from tax benefits, although, the lessor may use tax benefits to increase its yield.
Longer lease terms also help to lower the lessee’s lease payments. The repayment of the equipment cost is spread out over more periods so less payment needs to be charged each period to recover the entire cost.
Equipment leasing also requires small, if any, up-front cash outlays when compared to a bank loan. Many leases require just one payment up front versus the normal down payment requirement on an installment loan for a lessee with a excellent credit history. The combination of lower up-front and lower subsequent payments helps to preserve working capital.
Additionally, equipment leasing provides the business owner with another source financing, thus allowing them to diversify their funding options.
2) Financial Reporting. Entities are constantly striving to have their financial statement look as strong and healthy as possible to their shareholders and lenders. When a company buys equipment and finances it with a loan, an asset, as well as the corresponding liability, appears on the balance sheet. If, but, the company chooses equipment leasing over a loan, and that lease is classified as an operating lease, then no asset or liability would appear on the company balance sheet. Hence, the term operating lease has become synonymous with off-balance-sheet financing.
Off-Balance-Sheet financing is sought after for a variety of reasons: to keep debt off the balance sheet, to improve the financial ratios of a company, and to potentially enhance the company’s ability to borrow in the future. It is also conceivable that in the early years of the lease, the operating lease will improve the company’s reported earnings when compared to a capital lease or buy.
3) Income Taxes. The value of tax benefits to the lessor can influence the lease payment charged to the lessee. A built-in reciprocity exists in tax leasing, in that the lessor-owner in a tax lease receives the tax benefits given up by the lessee-user and, in return, may pass those benefits on to the lessee in the form of a lower lease payment. The lessee also receives a tax benefit since the lease payments are fully deductible.
Another income tax factor to consider is the Alternative Minimum Tax or AMT, which is very complex. AMT is a penalty tax imposed by Congress. Equipment leasing, not purchasing, helps an organization avoid falling into this penalty situation, thereby saving taxes.
4) Technological. In today’s rapidly changing environment, there is always the risk that high technology equipment will become obsolete. Indeed, the risk of technological obsolescence is one of the primary reasons for leasing. Equipment leasing can help lessees transfer the risk of owning equipment which is no longer technologically useful.
The transfer of risk can be accomplished in several ways. The most obvious would be for a lessee to enter into a small-term agreement, thereby requiring the lessor to assume the technological risk through residual value. If the equipment is still useful at the end of the lease term, the lessee could then renew the lease. If the equipment becomes obsolete during the lease term, the lessor may replace it with newer technology through what is know as a takeout, or an equipment upgrade.
In a takeout, the lessor, through its access to the secondary market, will find a new home for the original equipment because equipment that is obsolete to one entity is not necessarily obsolete to another. For new and untried technology, many lessees prefer leasing the equipment on a small-term or experimental-use basis.
5) Flexibility. A company may simply need the use, not the ownership, of a piece of equipment. Leasing can help a company avoid many of the headaches associated with equipment ownership. For instance, leasing can transfer the burden of disposing of the equipment o the lessor, who typically has better access to the used equipment market. The lessee can also contract with the lessor to take care of the other aspects of ownership, such as insurance, maintenance and property tax, by bundling these costs into the lease payment. Many lessees appreciate this one-stop shopping aspect of equipment leasing.
Many owners/managers prefer equipment leasing, as opposed to purchasing, because leasing enables them to buy needed equipment out of their operating budgets, without the necessity of going through a lengthy bureaucratic capital budgeting and approval process. Lessees may also benefit from very flexible structuring practices such as step or skipped-payment leases. These type of payment schedules are useful to businesses in industries that are seasonal and disruptive to cashflow.
Note: Business owners should always seek advice from their tax professionals before a major equipment acquisition.
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5 Good Reasons to File an Income Tax Extension
With not much time remaining until the April 15 IRS income tax deadline, many Americans are scrambling to finalize their income tax returns. This year, a growing percentage of taxpayers will choose to file an IRS income tax extension, which will postpone their tax deadline to October 15.
If you?re considering filing an income tax extension, you?re not alone. The IRS recently estimated that 10. 2 million of the 140 million tax filers will file for a tax extension this year. What?s more, approximately 2 million of those extensions will be electronically filed online. File Later tax extension service – a well loved website where taxpayers can file their income tax extension – compiled the following list of reasons why taxpayers should consider joining the growing trend of taxpayers filing a tax ex tension rather than stress about getting their returns completed by April 15.
Although the IRS doesn?t care (or question) why millions of taxpaying Americans file for extensions every year, you may find these valuable: 1. Accountants and tax professionals are much busier in April than they are in October. Getting the proper amount of time with an accountant gets harder and harder the longer you wait leading up to April 15. Extending your income tax deadline to October 15 will give your accountant or tax pro that extra time to focus on your tax return, which may mean extra tax savings in your pocket. 2. Filing an income tax extension may reduce your chance of audit. IRS auditors have quotas they need to meet every year on the number of returns audited. Returns are sorted for auditors by filing date, and most auditors will have met their quotas before they get to extended returns. 3. Getting paperwork together to complete your taxes isn?t simple. Organizing that shoebox of W2s, 1099s, mortgage interest statements, and receipts can take longer than you expect. Giving yourself the extra time needed will ensure you?re taxes are done right, and extending will give you extra time to track down any additional deductions so you?re getting the largest tax return possible. 4. For business owners, funding retirement plans such as Simplified Employee Pensions (SEPs) or SIMPLE IRA?s can be expensive. Filing for an income tax extension will also extend your deadline to fund these types of retirement plans. 5. It?s simple. Your income tax extension can be filed in less than 10 minutes using an online provider like File Later. The process is completely paper-free, and your extension will be e-filed, meaning you?ll get an email confirming the IRS has approved your extension, and you?ll have 6 more months to finalize your tax return.
And remember, even though you may be interested in the reasons to extend your income tax return, the IRS doesn?t care or question. As long as your application is filed correctly, your extension will be granted by the IRS and your new tax deadline will be October 15.
4 Good Reasons to Get a Refinance Home Loan
When should I refinance my home? It is a known fact that interest rates are lower than they have been in years. This is due to our quick paced and ever changing economy and market. Now would be the perfect opportunity to refinance your home to obtain a lower interest rate. Even a . 25 difference can save you thousands of dollars a year in mortgage payments.
Why should I refinance my home?
There are several reasons home owners decides to refinance. The four most common reasons include:
To obtain a lower interest rate
Home owner generally are aware of interest rate down fall. They take advantage of this opportunity by applying to a refinance loan to lower their existing interest rates and save money on mortgage expenses. The money that a borrower saves on mortgage expenses can be invested in other financial investments.
To receive a refinance cash out
Some home owners who have enough equity accumulated in their homes refinance to cash out their equity and get a lower interest rate
To make home improvements
Sooner than later you will find that maintaining your home is hard work (not to mention quite expensive). In most cases, home owners will pursue a refinance, rather than a personal loan, in order to save on interest rates. A personal loan may have higher interest rates and are normally, not as large as a home improvement loan.
To change loan programs
A majority of home owner refinance because they are not satisfied with their current loan program. They may be under a 5 year arm, but somewhere down the line they chose they would prefer a 30 year fixed loan. Whatever the reason may be, a refinance home loan will solve the problem.
What are the benefits of refinancing my home?
There are several benefits included with refinancing your home, including:
Your credit may be in better standings then before you bought your home, now you can refinance and obtain a more suitable loan, with lower interest rates and terms.
Or, you can obtain a home equity line of credit and have cash available when you need it.
With refinance cash out, your lender can consolidate your bills and pay off all of your debt. You will not have to deal with the hassle by yourself.
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