irs - Linkenheimer LLP CPAs & Advisors

Supporting You During the Coronavirus

Dear clients, friends and community,

We understand there is a lot of anxiety and stress caused by the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic that is affecting the local and global community. As Sonoma County and the Bay Area have been put under a shelter in place order, we are doing everything we can to look after the health and safety of our staff and clients. We want you to know we are standing by your side during this crisis.

Certain essential businesses such as providers of healthcare, food, supplies, and financial services are exempt from the shelter in place order. Because of the clients served by Linkenheimer LLP, we are also exempted from the order as an essential services provider. That being said, we are implementing strategies to reduce contact and mitigate exposure.

Currently, our offices will remain open during regular business hours. However, for the protection and health of our staff, clients and community we are implementing a strategy that involves most of our staff working from home. We are also asking documents be sent to us electronically, rather than delivered in person. In person meetings, when possible, should be conducted electronically, whether via video […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:03:15+00:00March 20th, 2020|CA tax, New Tax Laws, Santa Rosa, tax deadlines, taxpayers california franchise tax board|0 Comments

IRS Launches New Identity Theft Website

The IRS has launched “Identity Theft Central,” a new website devoted to identity theft and data security for taxpayers, tax professionals, and businesses. Available 24/7, the site provides resources on reporting identity theft and guarding against phishing, online scams, and more. Specifically, the site (1) lists steps to take if you become a victim of identity theft; (2) summarizes the responsibilities of tax professionals under the law; and (3) instructs businesses on how to recognize the signs of identity theft. Also, the page features videos on key topics that can be used by taxpayers or partner groups. The IRS encourages tax professionals to bookmark the site and periodically check the guidance for updates. Identity Theft Central can be accessed at www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central .

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:03:19+00:00February 6th, 2020|irs|0 Comments

Small Businesses: Get Ready for Your 1099-MISC Reporting Requirements

A month after the new year begins, your business may be required to comply with rules to report amounts paid to independent contractors, vendors and others. You may have to send 1099-MISC forms to those whom you pay non-employee compensation, as well as file copies with the IRS. This task can be time consuming and there are penalties for not complying, so it’s a good idea to begin gathering information early to help ensure smooth filing.

Deadline

There are many types of 1099 forms. For example, 1099-INT is sent out to report interest income and 1099-B is used to report broker transactions and barter exchanges. Employers must provide a Form 1099-MISC for non-employee compensation by January 31, 2020, to each non-corporate service provider who was paid at least $600 for services during 2019. (1099-MISC forms generally don’t have to be provided to corporate service providers, although there are exceptions.)

A copy of each Form 1099-MISC with payments listed in box […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:03:30+00:00November 11th, 2019|1099, business, employer|0 Comments

Watch Out for Tax-Related Scams

“Thousands of people have lost millions of dollars and their personal information to tax scams,” according to the IRS. Criminals can contact victims through regular mail, telephone calls and email messages. Here are just two of the scams the tax agency has seen in recent months.

Fake property liens. A tax bill is sent from a fictional government agency in the mail. The fake agency may have a legitimate sounding name such as the Bureau of Tax Enforcement. The bill is accompanied by a letter threatening an IRS lien or levy based on bogus overdue taxes. (A levy is a legal seizure of property to satisfy a tax debt. A lien is a legal claim against your property to secure payment of your tax debt.)
Phony calls from the IRS. In this scam, criminals impersonating IRS employees call people and tell them that, if they don’t pay back taxes they owe, they will face arrest. The thieves then demand that the taxpayers pay their tax debts with a gift card, other prepaid cards or a wire transfer.

Important reminders

If you receive a text, letter, email or phone call […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:03:35+00:00October 8th, 2019|irs|0 Comments

The Chances of an IRS Audit are Low, But Business Owners Should be Prepared

Many business owners ask: How can I avoid an IRS audit? The good news is that the odds against being audited are in your favor. In fiscal year 2018, the IRS audited approximately 0.6% of individuals. Businesses, large corporations and high-income individuals are more likely to be audited but, overall, audit rates are historically low.

There’s no 100% guarantee that you won’t be picked for an audit, because some tax returns are chosen randomly. However, completing your returns in a timely and accurate fashion with our firm certainly works in your favor. And it helps to know what might catch the attention of the IRS.

Audit red flags

A variety of tax-return entries may raise red flags with the IRS and may lead to an audit. Here are a few examples:

Significant inconsistencies between previous years’ filings and your most current filing,
Gross profit margin or expenses markedly different from those of other businesses in your industry, and
Miscalculated or unusually high deductions.

Certain types of deductions may be questioned by the IRS because there are strict record-keeping requirements for them • for example, auto and travel expense deductions. In addition, an owner-employee salary that’s inordinately higher or […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:03:36+00:00September 30th, 2019|audit, business, irs|0 Comments