What taxpayers can do now to get ready to file taxes in 2022
'Tax time' memo on 1040 individual tax form
This Week's Quote:
Everything started as nothing.
Now that the holidays are over, we at Bradstreet & Company want to thank you for another year of great relationships and meaningful friendships, and hope you have a joyous and prosperous new year.
As you start thinking about gathering all of your tax related information, please keep in mind that the new tax laws and recent provisions have made it more important than ever to have the correct information available to prepare your returns. Our last tax tip in 2021 mentioned several items for you to watch for as tax time rolls around. In this tax tip, we wanted to mention a few things that will be needed that you would not normally have to worry about. For example, when we were working on 2020 returns, we needed to know how much in stimulus payments you received. Several folks knew exactly, but some had no clue. This was a brand new issue for 2020, and we have the same issue again for 2021. You will need to know how much you received for the third stimulus round because it will be reconciled on your 2021 return. Although stimulus payments are not taxable income, they have to be reconciled in the return, and for those of you who didn’t get the full amount, you could be entitled to more money. Another item that will be needed to prepare your returns are the amounts of advance child tax credits you might have received. In addition, if you deal in virtual currency, you will need a complete summary of any dispositions and related acquisitions since these transactions will need to be reported in your returns. Below is an IRS tax tip that summarizes a lot of the information that will be needed this tax season in order to prepare returns, and also provides some other useful information. We hope it will help with gathering the information needed.
Norm Hicks
Issue Number: COVID Tax Tip 2021-177
What taxpayers can do now to get ready to file taxes in 2022
There are steps people, including those who received stimulus payments or advance child tax credit payments, can take now to make sure their tax filing experience goes smoothly in 2022. They can start by visiting the Get Ready page on IRS.gov. Here are some other things they should do to prepare to file their tax return.
Gather and organize tax records
Organized tax records make preparing a complete and accurate tax return easier. They help avoid errors that lead to processing delays that slow refunds. Having all needed documents on hand before taxpayers prepare their return helps them file it completely and accurately. This includes:
Forms W-2 from employers
Forms 1099 from banks, issuing agencies and other payers including unemployment compensation, dividends, distributions from a pension, annuity or retirement plan
Form 1099-K, 1099-MISC, W-2 or other income statement for workers in the gig economy
Other income documents and records of virtual currency transactions
Taxpayers should also gather any documents from these types of earnings. People should keep copies of tax returns and all supporting documents for at least three years.
Income documents can help taxpayers determine if they're eligible for deductions or credits. People who need to reconcile their advance payments of the child tax credit and premium tax credit will need their related 2021 information. Those who did not receive their full third Economic Impact Payments will need their third payment amounts to figure and claim the 2021 recovery rebate credit.
Taxpayers should also keep end of year documents including:
Letter 6419, 2021 Total Advance Child Tax Credit Payments, to reconcile advance child tax credit payments
Letter 6475, Your 2021 Economic Impact Payment, to determine eligibility to claim the recovery rebate credit
Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement, to reconcile advance premium tax credits for Marketplace coverage
Confirm mailing and email addresses and report name changes
To make sure forms make it to the them on time, taxpayers should confirm now that each employer, bank and other payer has their current mailing address or email address. People can report address changes by completing Form 8822, Change of Address and sending it to the IRS. Taxpayers should also notify the postal service to forward their mail by going online at USPS.com or their local post office. They should also notify the Social Security Administration of a legal name change.
View account information online
Individuals who have not set up an Online Account yet should do so soon. People who have already set up an Online Account should make sure they can still log in successfully. Taxpayers can use Online Account to securely access the latest available information about their federal tax account.
Review proper tax withholding and make adjustments if needed
Taxpayers may want to consider adjusting their withholding if they owed taxes or received a large refund in 2021. Changing withholding can help avoid a tax bill or let individuals keep more money each payday. Life changes – getting married or divorced, welcoming a child or taking on a second job – may also be reasons to change withholding. Taxpayers might think about completing a new Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Certificate, each year and when personal or financial situations change.
People also need to consider estimated tax payments. Individuals who receive a substantial amount of non-wage income like self-employment income, investment income, taxable Social Security benefits and in some instances, pension and annuity income should make quarterly estimated tax payments. The last payment for 2021 is due on Jan. 18, 2022.
Credit given to: IRS Tax Tip 2021-177.
Thank you for all of your questions, c
Now that the holidays are over, we at Bradstreet & Company want to thank you for another year of great relationships and meaningful friendships, and hope you have a joyous and prosperous new year.
As you start thinking about gathering all of your tax related information, please keep in mind that the new tax laws and recent provisions have made it more important than ever to have the correct information available to prepare your returns. Our last tax tip in 2021 mentioned several items for you to watch for as tax time rolls around. In this tax tip, we wanted to mention a few things that will be needed that you would not normally have to worry about. For example, when we were working on 2020 returns, we needed to know how much in stimulus payments you received. Several folks knew exactly, but some had no clue. This was a brand new issue for 2020, and we have the same issue again for 2021. You will need to know how much you received for the third stimulus round because it will be reconciled on your 2021 return. Although stimulus payments are not taxable income, they have to be reconciled in the return, and for those of you who didn’t get the full amount, you could be entitled to more money. Another item that will be needed to prepare your returns are the amounts of advance child tax credits you might have received. In addition, if you deal in virtual currency, you will need a complete summary of any dispositions and related acquisitions since these transactions will need to be reported in your returns. Below is an IRS tax tip that summarizes a lot of the information that will be needed this tax season in order to prepare returns, and also provides some other useful information. We hope it will help with gathering the information needed.
Norm Hicks
Issue Number: COVID Tax Tip 2021-177
What taxpayers can do now to get ready to file taxes in 2022
There are steps people, including those who received stimulus payments or advance child tax credit payments, can take now to make sure their tax filing experience goes smoothly in 2022. They can start by visiting the Get Ready page on IRS.gov. Here are some other things they should do to prepare to file their tax return.
Gather and organize tax records
Organized tax records make preparing a complete and accurate tax return easier. They help avoid errors that lead to processing delays that slow refunds. Having all needed documents on hand before taxpayers prepare their return helps them file it completely and accurately. This includes:
Forms W-2 from employers
Forms 1099 from banks, issuing agencies and other payers including unemployment compensation, dividends, distributions from a pension, annuity or retirement plan
Form 1099-K, 1099-MISC, W-2 or other income statement for workers in the gig economy
Other income documents and records of virtual currency transactions
Taxpayers should also gather any documents from these types of earnings. People should keep copies of tax returns and all supporting documents for at least three years.
Income documents can help taxpayers determine if they're eligible for deductions or credits. People who need to reconcile their advance payments of the child tax credit and premium tax credit will need their related 2021 information. Those who did not receive their full third Economic Impact Payments will need their third payment amounts to figure and claim the 2021 recovery rebate credit.
Taxpayers should also keep end of year documents including:
Letter 6419, 2021 Total Advance Child Tax Credit Payments, to reconcile advance child tax credit payments
Letter 6475, Your 2021 Economic Impact Payment, to determine eligibility to claim the recovery rebate credit
Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement, to reconcile advance premium tax credits for Marketplace coverage
Confirm mailing and email addresses and report name changes
To make sure forms make it to the them on time, taxpayers should confirm now that each employer, bank and other payer has their current mailing address or email address. People can report address changes by completing Form 8822, Change of Address and sending it to the IRS. Taxpayers should also notify the postal service to forward their mail by going online at USPS.com or their local post office. They should also notify the Social Security Administration of a legal name change.
View account information online
Individuals who have not set up an Online Account yet should do so soon. People who have already set up an Online Account should make sure they can still log in successfully. Taxpayers can use Online Account to securely access the latest available information about their federal tax account.
Review proper tax withholding and make adjustments if needed
Taxpayers may want to consider adjusting their withholding if they owed taxes or received a large refund in 2021. Changing withholding can help avoid a tax bill or let individuals keep more money each payday. Life changes – getting married or divorced, welcoming a child or taking on a second job – may also be reasons to change withholding. Taxpayers might think about completing a new Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Certificate, each year and when personal or financial situations change.
People also need to consider estimated tax payments. Individuals who receive a substantial amount of non-wage income like self-employment income, investment income, taxable Social Security benefits and in some instances, pension and annuity income should make quarterly estimated tax payments. The last payment for 2021 is due on Jan. 18, 2022.
Credit given to: IRS Tax Tip 2021-177.
Thank you for all of your questions, comments and suggestions for future topics. As always, they are much appreciated. We also welcome and appreciate anyone who wishes to write a Tax Tip of the Week for our consideration. We may be reached in our Dayton office at 937-436-3133 or in our Xenia office at 937-372-3504. Or, visit our website.
This Week’s Author, Norman S. Hicks, CPA
–until next week.