Holiday Gifting with a Tax Twist
Some holiday gifts you provide to members of your family, employees, and others may also yield tax benefits. In this week’s article we provide some examples
Category Archives: Tax Organizers
How Long Should You Hold On To Old Tax Records?
This is a common question: How long must taxpayers keep copies of their tax returns and supporting documents?
Generally, taxpayers should hold on to their tax records for at least 3 years after the due date of the return to which those records apply. However, if the original return was filed later than the due date, including if the taxpayer received an extension, the actual filing date is substituted for the due date. A few other circumstances can require taxpayers to keep these records for longer than 3 years.
The statute of limitations in many states is 1 year longer than in the federal statute. This is because the IRS provides state tax authorities with federal audit results. The extra year gives the states adequate time to assess taxes based on any federal tax adjustments.
Continue reading →Don’t Toss Those Tax Records Yet!
Even though the 2017 tax due date has come and gone, and even though you have filed your 2017 tax return, you may still need to keep your 2017 tax records. Generally, tax records are retained for two reasons: (1) in case the IRS or a state agency decides to question the information on your tax returns or (2) to keep track of the tax basis of your capital assets so that you can minimize your tax liability when you dispose of those assets.
If you are like most taxpayers, you have records from years ago that you are afraid to throw away. With certain exceptions, the statute for assessing additional taxes is three years from the return’s due date or its filling date, whichever is later. However, the statute of limitations in many states is one year longer than that of federal law.
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