.: Deducting Alimony Payments
Category:Home / Finance / Taxes
Over 50% of marriages end in divorce in the United States. Many divorce decrees include provisions for the payment of alimony. The IRS takes the position that such payments constitute a form of income and create an alimony tax deduction for the person making payments.
According to the IRS, alimony payments are taxable to the recipient in the year received. In turn, the person paying the alimony can claim a deduction for the payments if the following tests are met:
1. You and your spouse or former spouse do not file a joint return with each other,
2. You pay in cash (including checks or money orders),
3. The divorce or separation instrument does not say that the payment is not alimony,
4. If legally separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance, you and your former spouse are not members of the same household when you make the payment,
5. You have no liability to make any payment (in cash or property) after the death of your spouse or former spouse; and
6. Your payment is not treated as child support.
If you are receiving or paying alimony, you must use Form 1040 for your personal taxes. Regardless of income levels, deductions or miscellaneous tax issues, you cannot use Form 104A or Form 1040EZ.
In preparing your tax return, the person receiving alimony will report the information on line 11 of Form 1040. That person must also provide their social security number to their former spouse or face a fine of $50. The person paying the alimony can claim the deduction on line 34a of Form 1040.
Article keywords: alimony, divorce, tax deduction, deduction, deductions, taxes, tax, irs
Article Source: http://www.articles32.com
Richard Chapo is with BusinessTaxRecovery.com - information on tax deductions.
.: New Taxes Articles
1). Top 6 Best Tax Tips for Online Education
Here are 6 top tax tips you should read before April 15. These tips can save you money. Utilize these tips and you will likely complete your tax returns on time correctly with less stress and have better chances of earning greater tax returns.
2). Home Based Business Tax Deduction Topic - Home Office
If you are self-employed and run you business from a space in your home, you may qualify for a home office tax deduction. This article will cover the requirements to qualify for a home office deduction.
3). Home Business Tax Savings - Business Travel
If you have a home business that requires you to travel, either by plane, car, or train, then you have additional tax deductions you may qualify for. This includes but is not limited to the cost of airfare, meals, dry-cleaning, and hotel/motel expenses. This article will cover the rules and requirements so you can claim these deductions on your 2006 tax return.
4). Home Based Business Tax Deduction Topic - Vehicles
This article will cover vehicle related deductions that often get overlooked by home-based businesses. Our focus will be for individuals with no employees, however many of the deductions will apply to small business and large corporations as well.
5). Tax Considerations When Re-Financing
For many homeowners the overall goals of re-financing are often paying less in interest overall and reducing monthly payments.
6). Get Tax Help From The IRS - It Can Greatly Help You
Tax help is important for most of us, because not everyone is an accountant. There are many ways a taxpayer could go about obtaining tax help and some of these avenues will save you money.
7). Get Tax Help To Avoid Getting Caught In A Financial Mess!
It has been said that there are two certainties in life, death and taxes. While you can do nothing about the first there is all kinds of help available when it comes to paying taxes. Getting the right kind of advice is crucial if you are to save at least some of your dollars.
.: Top Taxes Articles
1). Captial Gains Tax Explained
Capital Gains tax is a federal tax penalty that is imposed on capital accumulation, investment and productivity. Some of the income that is subject to capital gains tax includes the sale of an investment, a home, a family business, a farm or ranch or even a work of art. The capital gains tax is applied on the difference between the price paid for an item and the money received from selling it, or the capital gain.
2). Three Dumbest LLC Formation Mistakes
I see a lot of dumb llc formation mistakes. Maybe more than most people because I occasionally teach a graduate tax class on LLC formation.
Some of the mistakes are made by entrepreneurs and investors trying to save money on accountants and attorney fees. And I guess that’s okay--albeit penny-wise and pound-foolish.
But you know what really irks me? Some of these mistakes—in fact, most of them—are made by attorneys and paralegal services… Professionals who should know better.
3). Considering Being an Accountant?
If number crunching, math skills and organization are your strong points, the profession of accounting may be for you. Here is a primer on how.
Considering Being an Accountant?
Accounting is no longer the stereotyped dull job that it used to be. The change in the corporate culture has resulted in adding more glamour and importance to an accountant’s job.
4). Figuring Out Your W-4 Withholdings
If you are employed by a business, you have the ability to play with the withholding on your paycheck. Fortunately, there is an easy way to do this online these days.
Figuring Out Your W-4 Withholdings
What is one of the happiest days of the year? Holidays excluded, for many people it is the day they get their tax refund check. Yep, cold, hard cash they can spend anyway they want.
5). Tax Deduction – Meal Per Diems
Per Diems deduction can be one of the best flight attendant deductions. This deduction depends on which city you layover in. The IRS states that you can either itemize each city you fly to or you may take a standard rate. If you fly domestic, this standard rate can work to your advantage. We are seeing a nice jump in them minimum about in 2006. Previous the base rate was $31 a day for meals and incidentals; in 2006 the base rate has jumped to $39.
6). Payroll Tax Penalties, When the IRS sends a Letter.
“Payroll Taxes are Due, with Penalties and Interest”
At least that is what the letter from the IRS says. First thing, don’t panic. Quoting Daniel J. Pilla’s study for the Cato Institute “About 40 percent of the revenues the IRS collects through penalty assessments are abated when citizens challenge the penalties.”
So we now know the odds are good that the IRS is wrong or will blink first.
7). Strategies For Limiting Taxes If You Are Your Own Boss
Self-employed individuals always cringe at the amount of taxes the pay to the IRS and state. Here are tax strategies for self-employed individuals that reduce those tax amounts.
Strategies For Limiting Taxes If You Are Your Own Boss
The good news is being self-employed is one of the best tax strategies out there. Unlike a salaried employee, the full scope of tax credits and deductions available in the tax code are now available to you.