Here are three of the most commonly asked questions about filing taxes
along with some comprehensive answers to these income tax questions. They
should answer some of the questions you may having about filing your taxes.
For more information about your taxes browse through the remaining articles
in this section and consult a tax professional.
Q: What should I do if I don’t receive my W2?
Employers are required by law to mail all employee W2’s by the end of
January each year. So, January 31st has come and gone and you haven’t yet
received your W2. What should you do?
First, consider whether or not you’ve allowed enough time for the mailing to
reach you. Employers need only mail the document by the 31st of January, not
have it in your hands by that date.
Ok, you’ve patiently waited out the normal delivery time frame of your
postal service and still no W2; what now? Your first step at this point
should be to contact your employer; normally the Human Resources department.
Most often, it’s as simple as that. If it’s simply a matter of delivery,
your company should be able to easily supply you with another copy.
Q:
My employer gave me a 1099. What’s that?
While 1099’s are used for a variety of reasons, typically they are given to
independent contractors, also known as freelancers, as a record of income
received from a particular business or organization. The income is noted on
the form and reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by the business,
but no deductions are taken for medical, deferred compensation, social
security, or federal or state taxes. It is the freelancer’s responsibility
to make all tax deductions and forward payment to the IRS.
Q:
I have expenses related to my job. Can I claim them?
Oftentimes, yes.
If you are employed by a business, the general rule of thumb is that you can
claim those expenses directly related to your job that are not already
compensated for by your employer. A catch though is that those expenses
combined, in total, must be in excess of 2% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).
And, only the amount over and above the 2% is allowed to be deducted.
If you are self-employed or working freelance on a job, there are a whole
host of expenses you can claim. Unfortunately, those items come with a large
list of guidelines and rules that need to be followed. In this case, it is
best to refer to the instructions for completing a 1040 Schedule C, which
can be found online at
www.irs.gov or locally at your library or Commissioner of Revenues
office.
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