Tax Planning Flashcards
Tax Forms and Schedules - 1040
Individual Income Tax Return
Tax Forms and Schedules - 1040X
1040 Amended Return
Tax Forms and Schedules - 1040ES
Estimated Tax for Individuals
Tax Forms and Schedules - 1041
Estates and Trusts
Tax Forms and Schedules - Form W-2
Wages and Taxes
Tax Forms and Schedules - Schedule 1
Additional Income and Adjustments to Income
Tax Forms and Schedules - Schedule A
Itemized Deductions
Tax Forms and Schedules - Schedule B
Interest and Dividend Income
Tax Forms and Schedules - Schedule C
Profit/Loss from Business
Tax Forms and Schedules - Schedule D
Capital Gains / Losses
Tax Forms and Schedules - Schedule E
Rental and Royalty Income
Tax Forms and Schedules - Schedule F
Profit or Loss from Farming
Tax Forms and Schedules - Schedule H
Household Employment Taxes
Tax Forms and Schedules - Schedule SE
Self-Employment Tax
Tax Forms and Schedules - Schedule K-1
Partnership Distributions (1041/1120-S/165)
Tax Forms and Schedules - 706
Estate + GSTT
Tax Forms and Schedules - 709
Gift + GSTT
Tax Forms and Schedules - 1098
Mortgage Interest Statement
Tax Forms and Schedules - 1099-DIV
Dividends and Distributions
Tax Forms and Schedules - 1099-INT
Interest Income
Tax Forms and Schedules - 1099-NEC
Non-Employee Compensation
Tax Forms and Schedules - 1099-MISC
Miscellaneous Income
Tax Forms and Schedules - 1099-R
Retirement Distributions
Tax Forms and Schedules - Form 4868
Extension of Time to File
Tax Forms and Schedules - Form 5498
IRA Contributions Individuals
Tax Forms and Schedules - Form 8606
Non-Deductible IRAs
Which Tax Forms are used for Roth Conversions?
Forms 1099-R and 5498
Tax Filing Statuses
Single
Married Filing Jointly (MFJ)
Married Filing Separately (MFS)
Head of Household
Qualifying Widow(er) with Dependent Child
Single
On Dec. 31 either unmarried, divorced, legally separated
MFJ
If married on Dec. 31 of calendar year, a couple can file MFJ.
If a spoused died in the current year, surviving tax payer can file a joint return for that year.
Income + deductions for both used
Not allowed if one spouse is a non-resident alien
Jointly + separately liable
MFS
Married couple can choose to file 2 separate tax returns. This may be beneficial if it results in less tax owed than if you file a joint return.
Each spouse: separate items + income, deductions, credits
If one elects to itemize, the other must also itemize.
MFS filers lose certain credits: child & dependent care credit, earned income credit, adoption credit, AOTC, LLC, student interest. Other credits are reduced: child tax credit and savers credit.
With MFS, IRS requires returns when gross income exceeds $5, regardless of age.
Head of Household
Applies to taxpayers that are single/ not married, but special rules apply:
Pay more than 1/2 of housing costs
Qualifying child: lived with you for more than 1/2 year
Qualifying relative: providing at least 50% of annual living expenses
Qualifying Widow(er)
May apply if spouse died during tax year and there is a dependent child. MFJ = year of spouse death
Not remarried
QW = year 1 + 2 years after death
50% of household expenses
Claim qualifying child as dependent
When must a tax return be filed?
When gross income exceeds standard deduction (exception: MFS, file when gross income exceeds $5!)
Estimated Tax Payments
Estimated tax payments must be made for income types that are not subject to withholding: investment income, rents, income from self-employment, capital gains.
Estimated payments must be made quarterly.
Estimated taxes are calculated on and submitted using vouchers on Form 1040-ES.
Required quarterly payment due dates
Payment period Due Date
Jan 1 - Mar 31 April 15
April 1 - May 31 June 15
June 1 - August 31 September 15
Sept 1 - Dec 31 January 15
Amount of estimated quarterly payments
To avoid penalty on the underpaid amount, the estimated quarterly payments must be 25% of the LESSER of the following amounts:
90% of the tax liability for the current year
100% of the tax liability for the prior year if the taxpayer’s AGI ≤ $150,000
If AGI ≥ $150,000 ($75,000), no penalty if taxpayer pays:
110% of prior year tax OR
90% of current year tax
NO penalty is imposed if
the estimated tax for the current year < $1,000 OR
The individual had no tax liability for the prior year.
Determining if you need to make quarterly estimated tax payments
Will you owe more than $1,000 after subtracting income tax withholding and refundable credits from your total tax?
YES → Will your income tax withholding and refundable credits be at least 90% (66 ⅔% - (2/3 = exponent!) for farmers and fishermen) of the tax on your 2022 return?
YES → no estimated tax payments needed
NO → Will your income tax withholding and refundable credits be at least 100% of the tax on your 2021 return?
YES → no estimated tax payments needed
No → Estimated quarterly tax payments MUST be made!
IRS charges a penalty for various reasons, including if the taxpayer does NOT:
- File a tax return on time
- Pay any taxes owed on time and in the right way
- Prepare an accurate return
- Provide accurate information on returns
IRS Penalties - Negligence
Negligence: Deficiency of tax liability if there was no intent to defraud - 20% penalty applied to amount of deficiency
IRS Penalties - Fraud
Intent to defraud - 75% penalty applied to amount of deficiency
IRS Penalties - Frivolous Return
Not enough information or clearly incorrect tax information - Penalty = $5,000
IRS Penalties - Failure to File
Failure to file: 5% of unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month that a tax return is late up to a maximum of 25% - a minimum of $435 is imposed if the tax return is later than 60 days
IRS Penalties - Failure to Pay
0.5% per month the tax is unpaid up to a maximum of 25%
EXAM TIP:
If both, failure to pay and failure to file penalty are applied in the same month, the failure to file penalty is reduced by the amount of the failure to pay penalty for that month, for a combined penalty of 5% for each month or part of a month that the return was late.
IRS Penalties - Understatement of Liability
If tax withheld from W-2 and/or estimated payments is less than
90% of current year liability OR
100% of prior year liability (110% if AGI above $150k MFJ)
Penalty is based on
- amount of underpayment
- period when underpayment was due and underpaid
- interest rate for underpayments that is published quarterly
IRS Penalties for Tax Preparers - Failure to furnish a copy to taxpayer
$50 for each failure of a tax preparer to give a copy of a tax return or refund claim to a taxpayer
IRS Penalties for Tax Preparers - Failure to sign return
$50 for each failure of a tax preparer to sign a tax return or refund claim