ESTIMATE YOUR TAX LIABILITY BEFORE YEAR END

Ten Forty + Quality Tax Preparation & Financial Services 281-397-7777 Fax 281-397-7443 Tax Tips Estimate your tax liability before year-end Under current pay-as-you-go federal income tax rules, you're generally required to pay taxes as you earn the related income. Failing to pay the correct amount can result in a penalty when you file your tax return. That's a good reason to estimate your 2015 tax liability now, while you can still make corrections. Here's what you need to know. • The rules. Estimated tax underpayment penalties generally do not apply when the balance due on your 2015 return is $1,000 or less. If you end up owing more than $1,000, you can avoid a penalty by paying "safe-harbor" amounts. For example, your tax payments during the year need to equal 90% of your 2015 tax or 100% of the tax on your 2014 return (110% if you file jointly and your income was over $150,000). • Your options. You can pay what you owe by having additional federal income tax withheld from your wages, social security, pensions, and other income. You could also choose to increase your final estimated tax payment or make it early. An important difference between the two is that federal withholding is treated as if you made payments evenly throughout the year. Increasing your withholding, even in December, can help you prevent an underpayment penalty. Checking your tax liability is a simple way to avoid surprises when you file your return. There's another benefit too: If you discover you've paid in more than you're going to owe, you can give yourself an early refund by reducing your payments during the last few weeks of the year. As always please call us if you have any questions. 1040 + Quality Tax Preparation & Financial Services Joseph C Becker www.tenfortyplus.com 281-397-7777, Fax 281-397-7443 joeb@tenfortyplus.com Contact Us There are many events that occur during the year that can affect your tax situation. Preparation of your tax return involves summarizing transactions and events that occurred during the prior year. In most situations, treatment is firmly established at the time the transaction occurs. However, negative tax effects can be avoided by proper planning. Please contact us in advance if you have questions about the tax effects of a transaction or event, including the following: • Pension or IRA distributions. • Retirement. • Significant change in income or • Notice from IRS or other deductions. Revenue department. • Job change. • Divorce or separation. • Marriage. • Self-employment. • Attainment of age 59½ or 70½. • Charitable contributions • Sale or purchase of a business property in excess of $5,000. • Sale or purchase of a residence or other real estate.