Janell A. Israel & Associates

1585 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1604, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 Phone: 808-942-8817

May 2011 Tax Newsletter

 

 

 

What's new in taxes:

 

IRS Increases Dollar Threshold For Tax Liens

 

The IRS recently announced that it will moderate its use of tax liens to collect back taxes. A federal tax lien gives the IRS a claim on a delinquent taxpayer's property for unpaid taxes.

 

This change means the IRS won't use a tax lien unless at least $10,000 in back taxes is owed; the previous threshold had been $5,000. In addition, the IRS says it will "withdraw" more tax liens once the back taxes have been paid. A withdrawal removes the lien from the taxpayer's credit record, whereas a lien "release" as previously used left the lien on the credit record for at least seven years.

 

 

New Business:

 

New Law Repeals Expanded 1099 Reporting Rules

 

 

On April 14, 2011, President Obama signed legislation - the "Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Replacement of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011" - repealing expanded reporting rules for businesses and landlords that had been created by laws passed in 2010.

 

* Business reporting. The Form 1099 reporting rules were changed by the 2010 health care legislation. Under the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010," every business, charitable organization, and governmental unit was required to file a Form 1099 for payments to any vendor or supplier of goods or services (other than a tax-exempt organization) totaling $600 or more for the year. Both the recipient and the IRS had to receive a copy of the Form 1099. These rules were scheduled to take effect for payments made after December 31, 2011.

 

Before the passage of the health care law, payments to corporations were generally exempt from the Form 1099 reporting requirements. The 1099 law just signed by President Obama completely repeals the expansion of business reporting requirements, and the reporting rules return to what they were before health care legislation.

 

* Rental property reporting. Similarly, new Form 1099 reporting requirements were recently imposed on landlords. Under the "Small Business Jobs Act of 2010," owners of rental properties were generally required to file a Form 1099 for rental-related payments to any provider for services totaling $600 or more for the year. These reporting rules were to apply to recipients who provided professional services, such as accountants, as well as workers like plumbers and electricians. They were to be effective for payments made after December 31, 2010.

 

The new law repeals these Form 1099 reporting rules for landlords. As with the repeal for business reporting, it's like the requirements never existed.

 

Repeal of the expanded business and rental property expense reporting rules will eliminate a flood of paperwork for most small business and rental property owners.

 

 

 

Check Out Disability-Related Tax Breaks

 

 

A variety of tax breaks are available to help disabled taxpayers cope with the financial burdens of disability. Businesses that improve access for the disabled are also eligible for tax credits and deductions.

 

For example, business owners who pay an interpreter to assist the hearing-impaired could qualify for a tax credit. The cost of services, materials, and equipment purchased to assist the visually impaired or those with other disabilities may also qualify for credit.

 

The credit, which reduces the taxes you owe, can be as much as $5,000, and you can carry unused amounts forward to future returns. Your company is eligible if prior-year gross receipts were no more than $1 million or you employed no more than 30 full-time workers.

 

You might also be able to take advantage of the barrier removal deduction when you make your company's vehicles, walkways, parking lots, and other facilities user-friendly and convenient for the disabled.

 

This deduction lets you claim up to $15,000 per year for certain modifications to business property you own or lease. The benefit: Instead of depreciating the cost of these changes, which spreads the deduction over a longer period, qualified expenses can reduce taxable income in the year you pay for them.

 

If you would like more details on the disability-related tax breaks your business might qualify for, contact our office.

 

 

 

 

 

What's New in Finances:

 

It's Not Too Late To Convert To a Roth IRA

 

 

If you procrastinated on converting your regular IRA to a Roth last year, you can still do so in 2011. Although converting your IRA generates taxable income in the year of the transfer, later withdrawals of contributions and income from the Roth are tax-free. Making this transfer while income tax rates remain low could pay off big time. And your conversion opportunities are not limited to just traditional IRAs. You can also convert your 401(k), 403(b), or 457 plan to a Roth.

 

 

 

 

What You Need To Know About Private Mortgage Insurance

 

 

If you're in the market for a home, you've probably heard of private mortgage insurance or PMI. It's insurance that protects lenders - not borrowers - if the mortgage goes into default. Lenders generally require PMI if you're unwilling or unable to make a down payment of at least 20% of the home's purchase price. Depending on your credit history, your income, the size of your mortgage and other factors, PMI can run from $50 to several hundred dollars a month. After building up equity in your home (in technical terms, when your loan-to-value ratio drops below 80% of the original loan balance), your PMI policy can be cancelled. But building up that much equity, especially with a conventional long-term mortgage, can take a decade or longer.

 

Is everyone who can't afford a 20% down payment required to take out a PMI policy? If you're financing a home with a conventional mortgage, the short answer is: probably. Homes financed with a Veteran's Administration (VA) or Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage don't require PMI. That's because the federal government protects these lenders by paying off the outstanding mortgage balance if the borrower defaults. Lenders who finance conventional mortgages don't have that protection. From the lender's perspective, if you borrow more than 80% of the home's market value, you're more likely to default on the loan. To compensate for this greater perceived risk, conventional mortgage lenders generally require you to purchase PMI. Those lenders who don't require PMI will compensate for their risk in other ways, such as jacking up your mortgage's interest rate.

 

On the plus side, a conventional mortgage with PMI may enable you to acquire a home that's otherwise outside your budget. On the other hand, the availability of PMI may entice you to purchase a home that's more expensive than you can realistically afford. Consider also that PMI premiums add an extra cost to your monthly house payment.

 

So if you're looking to finance that dream home, be sure to consider all the factors - including PMI. If you need assistance, give us a call.

 

 

 

 

"Tax Freedom Day" came later this year

 

"Tax Freedom Day" fell on April 12 in 2011, three days later than in 2010. According to the Tax Foundation, all the money earned by taxpayers in the first 102 days of 2011 will go to pay their federal, state, and local taxes.

 

Another statistic from the Tax Foundation: If the government were to collect enough taxes to fund all spending for 2011 (with no deficit), Tax Freedom Day would be May 23, 2011. That's 41 more days of work to provide the additional $1.48 trillion needed.

 

 

 

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 To qualify for the tax free penalty free withdraw of earnings, a ROTH IRA must be in place for at least five tax years, and the distribution must take place after age 59 ½

 

All information is believed to be from reliable sources, however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. The information contained in this newsletter is provided by Mostad & Christensen, Inc. The information is of a general nature and should not be acted upon in your specific situation without further details and/or professional assistance. For more information on anything in this newsletter, or for assistance with any of your tax, business, or financial strategy concerns, contact our office.

Securities and advisory services offered through National Planning Corporation (NPC), Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Mosted & Christensen, Janell Israel & Associates and NPC are separate and unrelated companies.

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