Affordable Care Act

 

 The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its Possible Effects on You and Your Tax Return

We know you have a choice when choosing a tax professional, and we want to thank you for your business! We wanted inform you how the Affordable Care Act (ACA), sometimes also referred to as Obamacare, may impact all of us this tax season.

The ACA created the new Premium Tax Credit and the Individual Responsibility Payment that may affect your tax return this season.

More Complex Tax Returns

The entire filing process will be more complicated this year, with every tax return to now include new provisions related to health insurance. This year, many taxpayer returns will contain additional forms related to health care coverage. Tax returns will be more complicated and will take more time and expertise to complete.

 Possible Reduced Refunds

The new Individual Responsibility Payment will be assessed by the IRS against taxpayers who do not indicate on their return that they either had health care coverage throughout 2014, and do not qualify for an exemption from the health care coverage requirement Learn More. This new payment amount is collected by the IRS as part of the new ACA law starting with 2014 returns. As a result, if the IRS subjects you to this payment amount, your refund may be less than you expected, or less than you received in past years.

Additionally, the IRS may adjust your refund (either up or down) if you currently receive health insurance through the Marketplace (sometimes also referred to as Obamacare) but the IRS determines that the information on file at the Marketplace is incorrect.

 Who is Affected?

All taxpayers across the country are subject to the requirements of new ACA law. The federal government urges all consumers receiving coverage through the their federal or state Marketplace to report “life changes” that can affect their coverage as soon as the changes take place (such as changes in marital status, income, number of dependents, where you live, or disability status). The government urges you to report these changes so that insurance adjustments can be made immediately and tax refunds not affected as much.

 Your Tax Professional’s Assistance

Now, more than ever, it benefits you to have the assistance of a tax professional familiar with the changes, laws, and tax forms associated with ACA. Your Tax Professional is here at Liberty Accounting Plus to assist you with the proper tax forms and with questions and problems that may arise.

You can  find additional information on ACA online at IRS.gov.

If you didn’t get health coverage last year open enrollment is available until February 15, 2015.  Check out www.healthcare.gov to enroll today.  You can avoid penalties next filing season.

Please give us a call if you have any questions regarding the Affordable Care Act at 937-268-9004.

Your Tax and Accounting Coach,

Paulette Marshall

 

 

 

 

 

Direct Deposit Limits

This year there will be some changes to the number of direct deposits one account can accept from the IRS.

Source IRS – Direct Deposit Limits

“In an effort to combat fraud and identity theft, new IRS procedures effective January 2015 will limit the number of refunds electronically deposited into a single financial account or pre-paid debit card to three.”

This is an effort from the Internal Revenue Service to combat fraud from criminals from receiving mulitple refunds into one bank account or pre-paid debt card.

The second feature is to combat taxpreparers from spliting the taxpayers refund for fees using Form 8888.

“The new limitation also will protect taxpayers from preparers who obtain  payment for their tax preparation services by depositing part or all of  their clients’ refunds into the preparers’ own bank accounts. The new
direct deposit limits will help eliminate this type of abuse.”

Tax preparer fees cannot be deducted from a taxpayer in this manner.

Nor can the tax preparer open a joint account with the taxpayer to receive payment for tax preparation.

Any tax preparer who is trying to collect tax preparation fees using Form 8888 is subject to penalty.

You should avoid a taxpreparer who is trying to split your refund using Form8888.

We look forward to helping you file your taxes.

Your Tax and Financial Coach,

Paulette Marshall