Tax

One of the perennial fears of taxpayers is getting audited by the IRS. Financially, few scenarios strike such fear into hearts. However, taxpayers can probably breathe a sigh of relief – at least for now. This is because the rate at which the IRS is initiating audits of individual taxpayers is dropping like a stone…. View Article

Pennsylvania passed its budget for the 2022 – 23 fiscal year on July 8, 2022. While the main purpose of the annual budget is to allow the state to continue to pay its bills, it is also the primary source of tax law changes in Pennsylvania. The recently passed budget brings a long-sought reduction to… View Article

This article explains the precautions to take when getting a divorce, and several tax concerns that need to be addressed to ensure that taxes are kept to a minimum and important tax-related decisions are properly made. Five issues to consider in the process of divorce include alimony or support payments, child support, personal residence, pension… View Article

The June 15th deadline for return estimated payments for PA-40 and PA-41 is quickly approaching. The RBF tax team wanted to be sure you are aware that estimated payments of $15,000 plus must be paid electronically via myPATH online portal or PA will assess up to a $500 penalty. myPATH stands for “my Pennsylvania Tax Hub,”… View Article

Taxpayers often question how long records must be kept and the amount of time IRS has to audit a return after it is filed. It all depends on the circumstances! In many cases, the federal statute of limitations can be used to help you determine how long to keep records. With certain exceptions, the statute… View Article

If you have a second home in a resort area, or if you have been considering acquiring a second home or vacation home, and with summer just around the corner, you may have questions about how rental income is taxed for a part-time vacation-home rental. The applicable rental rules include some interesting twists that you… View Article

Have you ever wondered how long the IRS has to question and assess additional tax on your tax returns? For most taxpayers who reported all their income, the IRS has three years from the date of filing the returns to examine them. This period is termed the statute of limitations. But wait – as in… View Article

You may hear people use the term “Stepped-Up Basis” that many believe is a tax provision that allows beneficiaries of an inheritance to reduce or even avoid taxes when and if they sell inherited property. When an individual sells property, any gain from the sale of the property is taxable. The tax term “basis” is… View Article

Many taxpayers use the Where’s My Refund tool and wonder what “Return being processed” means for them and their refund. The answer: not much yet! The prompt means that the IRS has received your return, but due to Covid-19 delays, the IRS is experiencing a considerable backlog, slowing processing times and disbursements. Typically the IRS… View Article

The earned income tax credit (EITC) is regarded as one of the government’s largest antipoverty programs and helps millions of American families every year. You are urged to check to see if you qualify for this very beneficial refundable credit. Significant enhancements have been added (some only for 2021), and even if you have not… View Article