The Balance Sheet, Inc.

Bookkeeping Company | Tax Service

Accountants In West Palm Beach

(561) 842-1304

5725 Corporate Way, Suite 205
West Palm Beach, FL 33407

You are here: Home / Archives for Announcements

2017 Standard Mileage Rates for Business, Medical and Moving Announced

By

The Internal Revenue Service issued the 2017 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2017, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

  • 53.5 cents per mile for business miles driven, down from 54 cents for 2016
  • 17 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, down from 19 cents for 2016
  • 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

3 Important Tax Announcements for the Upcoming 2016 Season

By

Tax Season Starts January 23

The IRS has announced that tax season will officially begin on January 23, 2017. After you receive the early January release of Drake Tax Software, you’ll be able to transmit returns to Drake and we will hold them “in queue” until the IRS begins accepting returns.

Refunds for Returns with EITC or ACTC Delayed

The PATH Act of 2015 requires the IRS to hold refunds claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until February 15. The IRS must hold the entire refund — even the portion not associated with the EITC and ACTC — until at least February 15. The IRS cautions that these refunds likely won’t arrive in bank accounts or debit cards until the week of February 27 –- if there are no processing issues with the tax return and the taxpayer chose direct deposit.

Filing Deadline is April 18

The filing deadline to submit 2016 tax returns is Tuesday, April 18, 2017. This date is due to April 15 falling on a Saturday and the following Monday being Emancipation Day, a legal holiday in the District of Columbia.

New Due Date for Form 1099-MISC Box 7 Use

By

According to the 2016 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns:

  • New Due Date for Forms 1099-MISC Using Box 7 — January 31, 2017 is now the due date for filing Forms 1099-MISC when reporting nonemployee compensation payments in box 7. Otherwise, file on paper by February 28, 2017, or file electronically by March 31, 2017. (The due dates for furnishing payee statements remain the same.)
  • Electronic Filers must use the FIRE System. The IRS has included a “First Time Filers Quick Reference Guide” in Publication 1220 (page 2).
  • Extensions — A 30-day extension must be requested by the due date of the return. Under certain hardship conditions, an additional 30-day extension can be requested. For more information, go to https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1099gi.pdf (page 6).

More detailed information is available at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1220.pdf.

IRS Announces New Due Date, Filing Extensions, & Penalties for Form W-2

By

According to the 2016 General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3 published by the IRS:

  • New Due Date for Forms W-2 — January 31, 2017 is now the due date for filing 2016 Forms W-2 and W-3 with the SSA, whether filing using paper forms or electronically. (Forms W-2AS, W-2CM, W-2GU, W-2VI, and W-3SS are also included.)
  • Extensions Not Automatic — Extensions of time to file Form W-2 with the SSA are no longer automatic. For filings due on or after January 1, 2017, one 30-day extension may be requested. However, the IRS will only grant the extension in extraordinary circumstances or catastrophe.
  • Higher Penalty Amounts — Higher penalty amounts apply to returns required to be filed after December 31, 2015 and are indexed for inflation.

More detailed information is available at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw2w3.pdf.

IRS April 18th Late Notice – ACTION REQUIRED

By

The IRS has begun issuing late notices for tax deposits received April 18, 2016 as being late.  This is because April 15, 2016 was a District of Columbia Holiday and their computer system was not properly updated to reflect this.

IF YOU RECEIVE A NOTICE: Whether a penalty is assessed or not, you need to contact your accountant immediately to clear this from your IRS records.