Don’t let what happened to Jim and Martha Flake happen to you. Because of bad recordkeeping, they attracted the attention of the IRS. The result? They had to visit with an IRS agent every two weeks for about a year! How can you stay on Uncle Sam’s good side and avoid the two mistakes that got the Flakes in hot water? Easy. Read my new article titled Tax Tips: IRS Asserts … [Read more...]
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What to do if you lose your tax records
There’s a dangerous myth floating around the Internet. It goes something like this: “If you lose your business records, don’t worry about it. All you have to do is sign an affidavit stating that ‘these are my deductions and I affirm they are correct’ and you’re home free.” If this sounds silly to you, think about how it sounds to the IRS or to a judge! Nope. If you lose … [Read more...]
How to deduct business meals with your spouse
Not so fast! Don’t automatically assume that the IRS won’t let you deduct the cost of a business meal with your spouse. If you know how to handle things the right way, you can enjoy a leisurely dinner with your wife or husband and let Uncle Sam pick up the tab! How can you overcome the IRS’s “no deduction for personal, family, or living expenses rule”? You’ll find out when … [Read more...]
Want to survive an IRS audit? Know the law!
Usually, in a tax audit, you’re discussing facts, not the law. If the IRS auditor questions your deductions, you prove the facts with receipts, canceled checks, log books, etc. But once you get into matters of law, not matters of fact, you need a lot more information. That’s where my new article comes in. It will show you how to use the law, court rulings, and IRS documents … [Read more...]
How long should you keep your tax records?
When it comes to the tax law, a lot of people don’t understand what the “statute of limitations” really means. They think it governs the length of time they have to hang on to their tax records. Wrong. The “statute of limitations” refers to the window of time when you and the IRS can make changes to your tax returns. The statute of limitations sets the time periods during … [Read more...]