"Navigating Tax Filing After Divorce: Who Gets to Claim the Kids?" In 2024, 41% of first marriages ended in divorce, leading to complex issues when children are involved—especially during tax season. A common question is: who gets to claim the children on their taxes? If there’s only one child, only one parent can claim them as a dependent. This parent can also qualify for the Head of Household (HoH) filing status, which provides beneficial tax rates and a higher standard deduction. But what about the other parent? Are they left without options if the child doesn’t live with them? Believe it or not, they can still file as Head of Household in certain cases! While the parent claiming the child for the Child Tax Credit typically qualifies for HoH status, the other parent may also qualify if they meet specific conditions. This rule helps address the situation of parents who share custody throughout the year. Adams Enterprises can guide you through these requirements to ensure you qualify for Head of Household status if eligible. Call us, and let us help you make the most of your tax filing!

Salesperson: Congratulations on your Solar Installation. You will be receiving a $12000 federal tax refund! Taxpayers often hear this from many salespersons. Unfortunately, this information is incorrect. What this taxpayer would actually receive is a $12000 federal energy tax credit. Credits reduce your taxes. If your taxable income is zero, then you will not get any of the credit that year. You don’t lose it. It carries over to the next tax year and so on until the credit is used up. However, the finance companies that these solar installers use are expecting that $12000 payment when you file your taxes. If you fail to make the payment, they will re-amortize your loan often resulting in a much higher monthly payment and a higher APR. Residential Energy Tax Credits are Non-refundable meaning that they can only reduce your tax to zero whereas a refundable tax credit results in a tax refund even if the amount owed is below zero. An example of this is the additional child tax credit or the earned income tax credit. Below is a link for all the new updated tax credits for tax year 2023. https://www.energystar.gov/about/federal_tax_credits/non_business_energy_property_tax_credits Adams Enterprises will answer any questions you may have concerning tax credits. Give us a call and let us help you!

There are 5 General Types of IRS Notices and letters: Collections Audits Return Errors Return Requests General Letters   The IRS sends notices and letters for the following reasons: You have a balance due. You are due a larger or smaller refund. We have a question about your tax return. We need to verify your identity. We need additional information. We changed your return. We need to notify you of delays in processing your return.   Some IRS notices are sent via certified mail, such as the Notice of Intent to Levy, while others are mailed via regular post, like changes made to your tax return. Read all IRS letters and notices you receive, both certified and via regular mail. CP = Computer Paragraph - (CP) numbers (3-digit number for BMF AND IRAF, 2-digit number for IMF) are located in the upper right corner of the notices and letters. CSP = Classification Settlement Program - allows taxpayers and tax examiners to resolve worker classification cases as early in the administrative process as possible, reducing taxpayer burden. 5071C – Suspected Identity Theft. It requires you to verify your identity. CP11 – The IRS has corrected one or more mistakes on your Tax Return, often resulting in a higher tax balance. CP12 – The IRS has corrected one or more mistakes on your Tax Return, often resulting in a higher refund amount. CP27 – The IRS is notifying you that you may be eligible for the Earned Income Credit (EIC) but you didn’t claim it on your Tax Return. CP14 – You haven’t paid your taxes and the IRS is notifying you of the outstanding debt. This is always followed by a CP501 notice reminding you that you have unpaid taxes due. You will receive CP503 as your last reminder before the IRS starts getting serious. CP21A – This is a response to an amended tax return you filed. CP90 – This is a written notification, required by law, to inform you that the IRS intends to place a levy on federal payments due to you 30 days after the date of the letter. CP05 – A notice that your refund is being held while the IRS verifies the accuracy of the tax credits, income tax withholding, or business expenses have been verified. CP515 – The IRS did not receive a tax return from you by the due date. Adams Enterprises will assist you if you receive an IRS notice, even if you are not a client!

You’ve lived a good life.  You’ve set aside money in retirement accounts.  Then you receive a letter from your finance company stating that you are now required to start taking Required Monthly Distributions (RMDs) from all of your retirement accounts.  You do the math and quickly realize that this amount of money could cause you to have to pay income taxes.  You contact your Tax Professional and they tell you how the money will affect your tax situation.  There is a legal way that you can reduce your taxes and help your favorite charities at the same time.  Example:  A Married Couple over age 72 drawing only Social Security who always takes the standard deduction.  Your financial advisor tells you that your RMD is $3500 per month or $42000 per year.  Your total social security earnings for the year are $32185. What does this RMD do to your tax situation?  Without the RMD, your taxable income is $0 meaning you pay no taxes and you get no refund.  The first way is you receive the funds and you give $41000 to your church or a favorite charity.  The result is your retirement income is $42000 which causes your Social Security to be taxed at $17979. That makes your Adjusted Gross Income $59979.  You gave $41000 to your church and you were able to itemize your deductions with a deduction of $41550 making your Taxable Income $18429. The Tax on this amount is $1843. In this scenario, you would be paying the IRS $1843. Your Virginia Taxes would be $0.  Ouch!  $1843 tax on the money you didn’t need but were forced to take!  What could you have done to avoid these taxes?  There is a legal way to reduce the taxable amount of these RMDs by making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).  You still have to take the $42000 only this time you instruct your financial advisor to send $41000 of the $42000 to your Church.  By making a QCD, your retirement income is only $1000 which eliminates the taxes on your social security.  You get the Standard deduction of $28400 because you no longer need to itemize.  Your Taxable income is now $0.  You pay $0 in taxes and you did the exact thing with the RMD money!  This difference is how that money was given to the church.  In the first scenario, you get the money; you write the check to the church and take the deduction.  However, the entire $42000 is taxable income.  By taking the QCD route, your financial advisor sends the check directly to the church on your behalf.  The church sends you the statement at the end of the year and you get the deduction (if needed).  Adams Enterprises will advise you on how to legally reduce your taxes.  A QCD is just one method.  Ask questions! As you can see, it can keep you from having to pay taxes.