Bear’s Blog

The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates will remain the same for the calendar quarter beginning July 1, 2021. The rates will be: 3% for overpayments (two (2) % in the case of a corporation), 0.5% for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000, 3% for underpayments and 5% for large corporate underpayments....

The IRS, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service announced they have disbursed more than 2.3 million additional Economic Impact Payments under the American Rescue Plan. The most recent two weeks of the effort brings the total payments disbursed to more than 169 million – representing a total value of...

The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers who pay estimated taxes that they have until June 15 to pay their estimated tax payment for the second quarter of tax year 2021 without penalty. Estimated tax is the method used to pay tax on income that isn’t subject to withholding. This includes income from self-employment, interest, dividends,...

The Internal Revenue Service has started sending letters to more than 36 million American families who, based on tax returns filed with the agency, may be eligible to receive monthly Child Tax Credit payments starting in July. The expanded and newly-advanceable Child Tax Credit was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act, enacted in March. The...

This is the first of two tax tips providing an overview of how the American Rescue Plan may affect some individual’s 2021 taxes. Child and dependent care credit increased for 2021 only The new law increases the amount of the credit and the percentage of employment-related expenses for qualifying care considered in calculating the credit, modifies...

Thieves are actively working to steal the taxpayer information and identities. Everyone should do everything they can to prevent identity theft. Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses a taxpayer's stolen personal information, such as a Social Security number, to file a tax return claiming a false refund. The IRS and its partners are...

The premium tax credit helps pay for health insurance coverage bought from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Eligible people can choose to have all, some, or none of the estimated credit paid in advance directly to their insurance company on their behalf. These payments – which are called advance payments of the premium tax credit, advance credit...

The May 17 deadline for individuals to file and pay their federal income tax is fast approaching. While paying taxes is not optional, people do have options when it comes to how they pay taxes. The IRS offers a variety of ways to pay taxes. Some taxpayers must make quarterly estimated tax payments throughout the year. This includes sole...

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today issued Notice 2021-25 providing guidance under the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Relief Act of 2020. The Act added a temporary exception to the 50% limit on the amount that businesses may deduct for food or beverages. The temporary exception allows a 100% deduction for food or...

The Internal Revenue Service today reminded self-employed individuals, retirees, investors, businesses, corporations and others who pay their taxes quarterly that the payment for the first quarter of 2021 is due Thursday, April 15, 2021. The extension to May 17, 2021 for individuals to file their 2020 federal income taxes does not apply to...

To help taxpayers, the Internal Revenue Service announced today that it will take steps to automatically refund money this spring and summer to people who filed their tax return reporting unemployment compensation before the recent changes made by the American Rescue Plan. The legislation, signed on March 11, allows taxpayers who earned less than...

Tracking the status of a tax refund is easy with the Where's My Refund? tool. It’s conveniently accessible at IRS.gov or through the IRS2Go App. Taxpayers can start checking their refund status within 24 hours after an e-filed return is received. Refund timing Where's My Refund provides a personalized date after the return is processed and a...

The IRS announced on Wednesday that it is postponing the deadline for all individual tax returns. Returns otherwise due April 15 will not have to be filed until May 17 this year. The IRS says it will issue formal guidance in the near future. The postponement applies only to individual taxpayers, who can postpone their federal income tax returns...

The Internal Revenue Service announced today that the third round of Economic Impact Payments will begin reaching Americans over the next week. Following approval of the American Rescue Plan Act, the first batch of payments will be sent by direct deposit, which some recipients will start receiving as early as this weekend, and with more receiving...

Taxpayers who didn’t save a copy of their prior year’s tax return, but now need it, have a few options to get the information. Individuals should generally keep copies of their tax returns and any documents for at least three years after they file. If a taxpayer doesn’t have this information here’s how they can get it: Ask the software provider...

Taxpayers  can securely access and view their IRS tax information anytime through their individual online account. They can see important information when preparing to file their tax return or following up on balances or notices. This includes: Adjusted gross income. This can be useful if the taxpayer is using different tax software or a...

Getting vaccinated is an important step to help protect you from getting COVID-19. Medicare covers the COVID-19 vaccine, so there's no cost to you. Bring your red, white, and blue Medicare card or Medicare Number to your vaccination appointment so your health care provider or pharmacy can bill Medicare. If you can't find it, you can also view...

The Internal Revenue Service reminds first-time filers and those who usually don’t have a federal filing requirement to consider filing a 2020 tax return. They may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, a new refundable credit, authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the COVID-related Tax Relief...

Taxpayers should double-check to make sure they have all their documents before filing a tax return. Taxpayers who haven't received a W-2 or Form 1099 should contact the employer, payer or issuing agency and request the missing documents. This also applies for those who received an incorrect W-2 or Form 1099. If they can’t get the forms, they...