How do I Prepare for Tax Season?

Gather your documents

The first step in prepping for tax season is to gather all the necessary documents. Depending on your personal circumstances, these can include:

W-2 forms
1099 forms
Receipts and invoices
Mortgage and loan documents
Investment statements
Business income and expenses
Other miscellaneous income

Organize your finances

Store all your documents and receipts in a folder, binder or digital file so you can access them whenever necessary. This will help ensure you don’t miss any deductible expenses.

Prepare your personal information

In addition to your income information, you’ll need the Social Security number and date of birth of each dependent you claim. It’s a good idea to have this info, and any other details your tax preparer will need, ready before you start your return.

Review tax law changes

The tax code changes every year, and some of this year’s modifications may impact your tax situation. Be sure to review the most recent updates so you can take advantage of any new deductions or credits.

Determine your filing status

Your filing status determines the tax rates and the standard deduction you’re eligible to take. Choose the status that best fits your situation. The most common filing statuses are:

Single
Married filing jointly
Married filing separately
Head of household
Qualifying widow(er)

Learn the deadlines

It’s important to be aware of tax filing deadlines. For most individuals, the deadline to file federal income taxes is April 15th. If the 15th is on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is typically extended to the next business day.

Choose your filing method

You can file a paper tax return and mail it to the IRS, use tax prep software like TurboTax or H&R Block, hire a professional tax preparer or e-file your return on your own.

Plan for next year

Finally, use the tax season as an opportunity to plan for the future. Consider adjusting your tax withholding to avoid owing large sums at tax time or receiving large refunds.

You’re ready to file your taxes!

Beware Tax Filing Scams

It’s tax time! Unfortunately, that means there are thousands of scammers looking to steal your information and your tax refund by posing as authentic tax preparers. Here’s all you need to know about these scams and how to keep safe.

How the scam plays out

In a tax filing scam, a victim will hire an alleged tax preparer to do their taxes. The scammer then uses the victim’s information to file a tax return in the victim’s name. They’ll change some important details on the tax form, such as a checking account number or mailing address, and then collect the victim’s refund. By the time the victim realizes what’s happened, they’ve lost the money owed to them by the IRS and are now vulnerable to deeper identity theft.

Protect yourself

The best way to stay safe from a tax filing scam is to do your research carefully before hiring a tax preparer.

First, avoid pop-up ads when choosing a tax preparer, especially those that are riddled with typos. Research any preparers you consider hiring by asking for references of previous clients and by looking for a physical address on their website. Be suspicious, as well, if they promise a large return without knowing anything about your finances.

Second, before hiring an individual or an agency to do your taxes, ask to see their Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). If the “preparer” refuses to share their PTIN, you’re being scammed.

Finally, if you’ve already hired a preparer but you’re suspicious about their authenticity, look for these red flags:

The preparer inflates numbers that affect your tax liability.
They claim ineligible individuals as your dependents.
They ask you to sign a blank form and promise to fill out the remainder after you sign.
The preparer refuses to sign your form.

In the event that your tax preparer follows any of the above practices, terminate your relationship with them immediately.

When you’ve been targeted

If you’ve been targeted by a tax filing scam, report it to the authorities immediately! Let the FTC know about the scam and alert the IRS. If you’ve shared personal information with the scammer, you are now vulnerable to identity theft. Check out the federal government’s page on identity theft recovery to learn what steps to take next.

Stay safe!

7 Reasons to Buy an RV or Campervan

If you’re thinking of road-tripping your summer getaway, think RVs. Recreational vehicles and their close cousin, campervans, are growing increasingly popular as more families hit the road for a true American adventure that’s easier on the wallet and heavy on unique fun. Here are six reasons to buy an RV or a campervan:

1. Save money

With a means of transportation and a place to stay all rolled into one, an RV helps you save significantly on your vacation costs. Plus, when you travel with an on-the-go kitchen, you can cut down on the money you’d spend feeding your family while on the road.

2. Privacy and comfort

Why fight for legroom on a crowded airplane when you can travel in a vehicle that gives you tons of space? Move around as much as you’d like, enjoy a private bathroom and catch a few winks in the sleeping area, all while heading toward your destination.

3. Increased flexibility

When you travel using your own means of transportation, you’re in control. That means there’s no getting locked into specific dates for your getaway. Come and go as you please and vacation on the schedule that works best for you and your family.

4. Explore more

Traveling by RV will give you the opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of each place you pass through. You can even stop on the roadside to watch a glorious sunset or a passing herd of deer.

5. Bring your pets along

No need to arrange pet-sitters or to keep your furry friend in a carrier under an airline seat. When you buy an RV, you can bring your pets along and keep them nearly as comfortable as they’d be at home.

6. Tax benefits

In many states, owning an RV can mean enjoying significant tax benefits, which can include the homeowner’s deduction, a sales tax deduction and/or deducting the interest payments of your RV loan. Check with your accountant or tax pro to see which of these tax benefits apply to you.

If you’re ready to purchase an RV or a campervan, look no further than Olean Area Federal Credit Union! Our RV loans have affordable interest rates, reasonable payback terms and easy eligibility requirements for qualifying members. Call, click or stop by Olean Area Federal Credit Union to get started!

Beware Child Tax Credit Scams

Money’s on the way to millions of households, and that means scammers are not far behind! The Child Tax Credit (CTC) taking effect in July will provide monthly payments of up to $300 per child for approximately 40 million households. The payments will provide struggling families with desperately needed funds unless the scammers get to the money first.

Here’s what you need to know about CTC scams and how to avoid them.

How the scams play out

In one variation of the scam, victims receive phone calls, emails, or social media messages appearing to be from the IRS and asking them to authenticate their personal details or share sensitive information to get their CTC funds. Instead of pretending to be the IRS, the scammer may claim to be offering to “help” the victim get their funds. In either scenario, if the victim follows the instructions, they’ll be playing right into the hands of scammers.

In another variation of the scam, victims land on a spoofed government website and are invited to input their personal information. Unfortunately, this can open the door for scammers to pull off identity theft and more.

What you need to know about the Child Tax Credit and the IRS

The IRS does not make unsolicited calls or emails. All official communications from the IRS are sent via standard USPS mail.
You do not need to take any action or share any personal info to receive the Child Tax Credit.
Only the IRS will be issuing the Child Tax Credits. Anyone else claiming to “help” you receive the payments is a scammer.

If you’ve been targeted

If you believe you’ve been targeted by a CTC scam, follow the cardinal rule of personal safety: Never share sensitive data with an unverified source. Triple-check the URL on any IRS webpage you visit, as these are easily spoofed. Finally, report all suspicious activity to the IRS and the FTC.

For additional information on the upcoming Child Tax Credits, to check if you qualify, or to update your dependent or banking information, visit the IRS’s CTC webpage directly at IRS.gov

Stay safe!

What Do I Need to Know About the Advance Child Tax Credit Payments?

Q: What do I need to know about the advance Child Tax Credit payments of 2021?

A: The advance Child Tax Credits of 2021 will be distributed monthly to eligible families, beginning on July 15. Here’s what you need to know about these payments.

What are the changes to the Child Tax Credits for 2021?

The Child Tax Credit (CTC) for 2021 will be greatly expanded:

Eligible families will get $3,000 per qualifying child between ages 6 and 17 at the end of 2021.
Eligible families will get $3,600 per qualifying child under age 6 at the end of 2021.
The credit is fully refundable.
Advance payments of up to 50% of the total CTC per family will be distributed once a month, from July 15 through Dec. 15, 2021.

Who’s eligible for the Child Tax Credits?

Taxpayers who have a primary residence in the U.S. and live in it at least half of the year are eligible for the child tax credits.

Payments will begin to be phased out for married taxpayers filing a joint return who earn more than $150,000 a year, for heads of household earning more than $112,500 a year and for all other taxpayers earning more than $75,000 a year. Income eligibility will be based on 2020’s tax return.

How much will I receive per month through the advance Child Tax Credits?

The advance payments being sent to qualifying families will be equal to up to 50% of each family’s total CTC. The payments will be based upon the income information found in taxpayers’ 2020 tax returns, or, if these are not yet filed, in the 2019 tax returns.

Families eligible for the full CTC will receive half of the total across a six-month time span. From July to December, eligible families will receive $300 a month per child under age 6, and $250 a month per child ages 6-17.

Can I decline the advance payments of the 2021 Child Tax Credits?

Eligible taxpayers who do not want advance payments of the 2021 Child Tax Credit can choose not to receive them. This may apply to taxpayers who anticipate earning more in 2021 than in 2020, or who have primary custody of the child(ren) receiving the credit in 2020, but not in 2021. The IRS has not yet provided instructions for how to officially decline the advanced payments, but has promised to update its website when they are available.

The advance CTC payments will be a boon for families struggling with the financial fallout of the pandemic, but it may not be in every taxpayer’s best interest to accept these payments now. Use our guide to brush up on the details of these payments so you can make an informed decision.

SOURCES:

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/17/new-monthly-child-tax-credit-payments-start-july-15-what-to-know-.html

If You Hear This, You’re Talking to a Tax Scammer

It’s tax season, and the scammers are at it again! Beat them at their game by knowing what to look out for. If you hear or see any of the following lines this tax season, you’re dealing with a scammer:

1. “We’re calling from the IRS to inform you that your identity has been stolen and you need to buy gift cards to fix it.”

If your identity has indeed been stolen, no amount of purchased gift cards will get it back.

2. “You owe tax money. We’ll arrest you, unless you buy iTunes gift cards.”

In this ruse, the scammer will also ask for the access numbers to the iTunes card to get easy and untraceable access to cash.

3. “If you don’t pay your tax bill now, we’ll cancel your Social Security number.”

Your Social Security number cannot be canceled, suspended, frozen or blocked.

4. “We’re calling you about a tax bill you’ve never heard about.”

The IRS will never initiate contact about an overdue tax bill by phone.

5. “This is the Bureau of Tax Enforcement. We’re putting a lien or levy on your assets.”

Sounds scary, except for the fact that the Bureau of Tax Enforcement isn’t real.

6. “This is a pre-recorded message from the IRS. If you don’t call us back, you’ll be arrested.”

Scam alert: The IRS does not leave pre-recorded voicemails to individual taxpayers.

7. “You must make an immediate payment over the phone, using our chosen method.”

The IRS says that agents will never call to demand immediate payment using a specific method.

8. “Click here for more details about your tax refund.”

The IRS will never send emails with information about tax refunds. Clicking on the link in emails worded like this will put malware on the victim’s device.

9. “You owe the federal student tax.”

The federal student tax is yet another invention of tireless scammers.

10. “This is an SMS/social media post from the IRS. We need more information.”

The IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers, or ask for sensitive information, via text message or social media.

Stay alert during tax season and keep your money and your information safe!