Tax Tip of the Week
900 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08034
856.667.4100 ·
215.563.0276 ·
Fax: 856.667.3652
Avoid becoming a pen pal with the IRS
For the week of
February 5, 2001
Getting a letter or notice from the IRS can be upsetting, confusing, and unnecessary. The IRS sends taxpayers notices to request payment for taxes, to notify them of a change to their account, or to request additional information. Attention to the following details will reduce the likelihood that you will become pen pals with the IRS.
- Always report all income to the IRS. The IRS
receives copies of statements from employers, businesses, banks, brokerage firms, and other financial institutions
that it uses to verify the income you report on your return. If a W-2 form or 1099 form is incorrect, notify the
party who sent it to you immediately.
- Never send a payment to the IRS without designating what
it is for. Otherwise the IRS may apply it in any manner they want. Every payment should include your name, your
taxpayer identification number, the type of tax you are paying, and the period the tax payment is for.
- Make sure the name and social security number on your tax
return agree with the Social Security Administration's records. If you change your surname, notify the Social Security
Administration and request a new social security card.
- Don't claim a tax exemption for your child unless you are
entitled to do so. Special rules apply to divorced parents. If both parents claim the child as a dependent, both
returns will be subject to further IRS review.
- Respond promptly to any notice you receive from the IRS,
even if you think the notice is incorrect. If the IRS doesn't hear from you within the time specified on their
notice, you may lose the right to protest any changes made to your return.
- Send a change of address form (Form 8822) to the IRS when
your address changes. If you fail to provide the IRS with your current mailing address, you may not receive a refund
check or a notice if there are problems or adjustments to your return. And even if the IRS can't find you, penalties
and interest will continue to accumulate on any tax due.
- Send your income tax return and any other correspondence to the IRS by certified mail, return receipt requested. The receipt provides evidence that you filed on time. That proof will be valuable in the event the IRS or Postal Service loses your paperwork, and the IRS threatens to assess late-filing and late-payment penalties.
If you would like additional information or need assistance,
please call us. We will be pleased to answer your questions and to assist you with your tax concerns.
Click here to view previous tax tips.
"Tax Tips" are published weekly to
provide useful tax information. Return to this site every week for helpful tax-cutting suggestions, tax reminders,
and current tax information.
The information contained in this site is of a general nature and should not be acted upon in your specific situation
without further details and/or professional assistance.
If you would like more information on anything in "Tax Tips," or if you'd like to be on our mailing list
to receive other tax-cutting information from time to time, please contact our office. We're here to help.
