Seattle Tax Law Blog

Could filing your business taxes cause trouble with the IRS?

On behalf of Insight Law on Tuesday, October 29, 2019.

Business owners often have to perform a wide range of tasks for the company that they start and run. While you may not have had any experience with financial record-keeping before you started the business, you may start to perform minor accounting tasks as a way of keeping costs low for your company.

Software can make it easy to track account balances and withhold the proper amount of employment taxes. It's only natural that those who handle their own financial records may also decide that filing their own taxes for the business would be an affordable alternative to paying hundreds of dollars for professional accountants to prepare the tax return.

What happens if you receive a letter of deficiency from the IRS?

On behalf of Insight Law on Tuesday, October 1, 2019.

If you are like most Americans, you pay your taxes, but you try to avoid overpaying them by making sure you get all the right deductions and tax credits. After all, who wants to send Uncle Sam more money than he's entitled to from the paycheck you work so hard for?

Trying to minimize tax obligations and be smart about what you file and what you write off can help you financially, but it can also open you up to potential issues in the future. For example, you could accidentally pay less than you owe, leaving you vulnerable to action by the Internal Revenue Service.

IRS can take your passport if you have high tax debt

On behalf of Insight Law on Wednesday, September 11, 2019.

Delinquent tax debt can be a heavy burden for you to bear. The IRS can put a lien on your home or garnish your wages. They can often do this automatically or without the use of a court order. They can also revoke your passport.

If you have what the IRS calls “seriously delinquent tax debt,” the IRS can ask the state department to revoke your passport or deny an application or renewal. Until you can satisfy your debt, you will not be able to use your passport for international travel.

How will my choice of entity for my new business affect my taxes?

On behalf of Insight Law on Thursday, August 29, 2019.

When you start a new business, you have to take many choices into consideration. Each decision you make will take into account the type of business you plan to run and how you plan to run it. As you plan your new business structure, one major decision will be which type of business entity you want to create.

Each type of business entity offers different tax benefits. Understanding how your business runs will help you understand which tax structure benefits you the most.

Overturned tax law could mean income taxes in Washington state

On behalf of Insight Law on Friday, July 26, 2019.

Businesses and residents of Washington may have to start paying more income taxes. A recent decision by the Washington state Court of Appeals has left the door open for a local income tax.

A 1984 law prohibited cities and counties from collecting net income tax. The court has now ruled that law unconstitutional. Lawmakers will try to decide if Washington needs a new law banning local income taxes.

What to do if you receive a tax audit notice

On behalf of Insight Law on Friday, June 28, 2019.

The reason that the IRS conducts tax audits is to uncover inaccurate tax returns. If your tax return contains inaccurate information, you may be subject to an audit. During the audit, the IRS will determine if there is any reason to penalize you for inconsistencies on your filing or return.

The process

Quarterly payments can help you move your business forward

On behalf of Insight Law on Thursday, May 30, 2019.

Owning a business can be an excellent means to support your family, develop a niche for yourself and bring your dreams to fruition. And although business ownership may provide you with the right to determine your schedule and free you from answering to a boss, it comes with some added responsibilities.

Whether you work alone or have employees reporting to you, you need to maintain financial records for your company. And as opposed to people working for a W2, you must pay quarterly taxes. But when finances are tight, you might wonder whether making quarterly taxes is beneficial.

Sales tax exemption reform could affect Washington businesses

On behalf of Insight Law on Wednesday, May 15, 2019.

Washington businesses may soon experience decreased sales due to new state tax legislation. Under Senate Bill 5997, which narrowly passed over the last weekend of April, Oregonians shopping in Washington may no longer be able to claim sales tax exemptions at the register by simply presenting their IDs. Washington business owners are concerned that this change in policy will drastically affect their business as fewer Oregonians will be willing to make purchases in Washington.

What do you need if you experience a personal tax audit?

On behalf of Insight Law on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.

No one wants to have their taxes audited. A fear of audit is why many tax services will offer some form of audit assurance. The Washington Department of Revenue conducts audits for several reasons and knowing what documents they’ll need could save you added stress.

What you need to know about taxes if you have a side hustle

On behalf of Insight Law on Wednesday, February 27, 2019.

For many Americans, a side hustle is a great way to earn some extra income. It can also help you transition into a new career, perhaps as a small business owner. There are many reasons you may choose to work as a freelancer, and while there are perks to the gig economy, things can get complicated at tax time. Here is what you need to know about filing taxes for your side gig this year.