Tag: tax credit

Must I File a Tax Return?

Must I File a Tax Return for 2009?

The short answer to this question, do I have to file a tax return, is yes if your income is above the level required for your filing status. But a couple additional pieces of information affect the answer including your age and the source of your income. IRS.gov is a great resource for the exact tax rules.

In addition to the requirement, it makes sense to file a return to get a refund on any taxes that you did pay during the year. There is the special tax credit, Making Work … Read the rest

Must I File a Tax Return for 2009?

The short answer to this question, do I have to file a tax return, is yes if your income is above the level required for your filing status. But a couple additional pieces of information affect the answer including your age and the source of your income. IRS.gov is a great resource for the exact tax rules.

In addition to the requirement, it makes sense to file a return to get a refund on any taxes that you did pay during the year. There is the special tax credit, Making Work Pay, that is refundable to you even if you do not meet the income requirements to file. A government pension could provide you with a tax credit that will be refunded to you. The Earned Income Tax Credit will also refund money to you beyond what you have paid into the tax system. And there are a number of other tax credits that you might qualify for that you can receive a refund on without having earned enough to file.

Now, if you were self-employed during 2009 and earned over $400, you must file a return regardless of other factors. If you owe special taxes on retirement plans or medical savings accounts, you must file a return for 2009. If you work for tips and need to pay social security and Medicare tax, you need to file. If you need to pay the Alternative Minimum Tax or any recapture tax, you need to file a return. And finally, if you work for a church and your income is greater that $108.28.

Related articles

The Making Work Pay Tax Credit

The Making Work Pay Tax Credit

Created by the ARRA federal bill with an aim at leading to an economic recovery in the US, the Making Work Pat tax credit is something you should be familiar with when completing your tax return for 2009, according to the IRS. The first thing you will notice is a $400 refundable tax credit for single tax filers and an $800 tax credit for married couples. If your employer has taken the credit out of your withholding already, you will not be eligible for an additional credit.

Use Schedule M if you feel … Read the rest

The Making Work Pay Tax Credit

Created by the ARRA federal bill with an aim at leading to an economic recovery in the US, the Making Work Pat tax credit is something you should be familiar with when completing your tax return for 2009, according to the IRS. The first thing you will notice is a $400 refundable tax credit for single tax filers and an $800 tax credit for married couples. If your employer has taken the credit out of your withholding already, you will not be eligible for an additional credit.

Use Schedule M if you feel you have not already received the credit and want to claim it this tax filing season. You file the 1040EZ, there is a worksheet for line 8, in place of Schedule M, which will allow you to claim the credit directly on the main tax form.

The credit was spread evenly over a shorter period of time in 2009 than it will be in 2010. Therefore you might see some additional withholding in 2010 to compensate. There are some instances were the credit was deducted incorrectly for individual tax situations and you might have received a bigger tax credit during the year that legislated. Review Publication 919 to determine how much should have been deducted from your pay check and how much you will owe when you file your return.

Extended and Expanded: The First Time Homeowners Tax Credit

Extended and Expanded: The First Time Homeowners Tax Credit

If you were looking to purchase a home last year before the First Time Home Owners Tax Credit ran out in November and did not find the home you wanted to purchase, you are in luck. The tax credit has been extended to the end April 2010. And this time you do not need to close on a home before the deadline, you just need to have a house in contract. You can close anytime prior to July 1st and qualify for the non-repayment credit. First time homebuyers are anyone … Read the rest

Extended and Expanded: The First Time Homeowners Tax Credit

If you were looking to purchase a home last year before the First Time Home Owners Tax Credit ran out in November and did not find the home you wanted to purchase, you are in luck. The tax credit has been extended to the end April 2010. And this time you do not need to close on a home before the deadline, you just need to have a house in contract. You can close anytime prior to July 1st and qualify for the non-repayment credit. First time homebuyers are anyone that has not owned a home in the past three years.

And the really good news for those that are not first time home buyers, if you are considered a long time home owner there is a new tax credit for you. The tax credit is part of the First Time Home Owners Tax Credit but applies to home purchasers that have lived in the same home at least 5 of the last 8 years. They are eligible for a $6,500 tax credit towards the purchase of their new home. Not quite the $8,000 the first time buyers are awarded but helpful non-the-less.

For those that do not fall into one of these groups you will need to wait for another extension after the current April 30, 2010 deadline. And there are some income phases out to be concerned with. Single tax filers begin to be phased out of the credit at $125,000 in income and completely at $145,000. For married couples the phase out range is $225,000 to $245,000.