Friday, January 17, 2014

What Counts As A Deductible?

By Norbert Higensen


With the world moving towards a more and more hands off approach to work, meaning that more work is being outsourced and completed thanks to the global network known as the internet, there are likewise an increasing number of individuals who are working as freelancers.

Deductions allow you to reduce the amount you have to pay or may increase the amount of money you are paid in your return. While there are some obvious deductions you want to include, there are several that people overlook every year. All of these may not apply to your situation but it is good to know about them as they may apply in the future.

But the easy and potentially substantial income that is attached with freelance work still needs to be accounted for in the form of taxes; and, unlike those who are working for a structured company or organization, those who perform freelance work have the added responsibility of keeping track of their own taxes.

In a company or organization, it is most often the case that the employer will withhold a certain percentage from each paycheck so that a person can fill out a W2 tax form during the tax season and pay their taxes from those withheld funds, but for freelancer this is not the case.

What Deductions Should I Look For? - The deductions that you qualify for will differ for every individual. It is recommended that you speak to a professional who understands tax law and the intricacies of how it works. Many people choose to do their own taxes each year, and collectively they miss out on millions of dollars by neglecting to deduct some of the following items.

The concept is pretty simple. You get what you give in life. For instance, if you give love then you get love back. If you give time to somebody then you get time back. The same goes for money as well. So for those who are being stingy and trying to save up they may be hitting a plateau. If they would just let go of the thing that is starting to control their lives then they might actually gain control over things.

For example, form 1099-INT is a 1099 that is used for reporting interest income received and form 1099-DIV is the form used for reporting gains from stocks and mutual funds; but these are only two types of 1099 forms and the form or forms you will need to accurately report on your taxes may be another type, so figuring out which forms you will need is the first step in filing taxes as a freelancer.

Mileage - This is a pretty big one that many people fail to take advantage of. You are allowed to take a per mile deduction for any miles you put on your car as long as it is for business, moving, or charitable work. The rate per mile varies for each of these so check the federal guidelines to see how much of a deduction you get.

The world of taxes can be a disastrously complicated place, especially once legal actions are taken by the IRS. To help you with all of your freelance tax questions and issues, first contact a professional tax accountant to help file your taxes correctly and then contact a certified tax lawyer if legal issues arise in your tax reporting as a freelancer.




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