Leading Tax and Forensic Accounting Firm Gettry Marcus CPA, P.C., Reveals Year-End Tax Strategies for Accelerating or Deferring Income and Deductions
Woodbury, NY (PRWEB) December 07, 2013 -- Gettry Marcus CPA, P.C., shares ways to accelerate or defer income/deductions as part of a year-end tax strategy.
The arrival of the end of 2013 presents special opportunities for most taxpayers to take steps in lowering their tax liability. The tax law imposes tax liability based upon a "tax year." For most individuals and small business, their tax year is the same as the calendar year. As the end of 2013 gets closer, most taxpayers have a more accurate picture of what their tax liability will be in 2013 than at any other time during the current year. However, if taxpayers don't like what they see, they have until year end to make improvements before their tax liability for 2013 is permanently set in stone.
A good part of year-end tax planning involves techniques to accelerate or postpone income or deductions, as the tax situation dictates. Efforts are generally focused on keeping projected tax liability for 2013 slightly lower than that anticipated for 2014, not overweighing projected tax liability for any one year. Having spikes in taxable income in any one tax year puts a taxpayer in a higher average tax bracket than they would be in if they had evened out the amount of taxable income between the current and subsequent year.
Right to income versus cash receipt - generally, a cash-basis taxpayer (which includes most individuals) recognizes income when it is received and takes deductions when expenses are paid. There is a subtle but important difference between the two:
• Income is generally taxable in the year that it is received, by cash or check or direct deposit. Taxpayers cannot postpone tax on income by refusing payment until the following year once they have the right to that payment in the current year. However, if they make deferred payments a part of the overall transaction, they may legitimately postpone both the income and the tax on it into the year or years in which payment is made. Postponement in this context usually takes place in a business setting. Examples include: installment sales, on which gain is prorated and taxed based upon the years over which installment payments are made; like-kind exchanges through which no gain is realized except to the extent other non-like-kind property (including cash) may change hands; and, on a higher level, tax-free corporate reorganizations pursuant to special tax code provisions.
• Deductions, on the other hand, are generally not allowed until taxpayers pay for the item or service for which they want to take the deduction. Merely accepting the liability to pay for a deductible item does not make it deduction. Therefore, a doctor's bill does not become a medical expense deduction necessarily in the year that services are rendered or the bill is sent for payment. Rather, it is only considered deductible in the year in which the taxpayer pays the bill. Determining when to pay bills for tax purposes also has its nuances. A bill may be paid when cash is tendered; when a credit card is charged; or when a check is put in the mail (even if it is delivered in due course a few days into a new calendar year).
For more year-end tax strategy tips, including compensation arrangements, visit the Gettry Marcus monthly tax update page.
IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.
Gettry Marcus CPA, P.C. is a Top 200 firm nationally with offices in Woodbury, Long Island and New York City. We provide accounting, tax, and consulting services to commercial businesses, high net worth individuals and various industries which include Real Estate and Health Care. We have one of the premier and most credentialed Business Valuation, Litigation and Forensic Accounting Groups in the New York Area. Our experience in diverse industries and a highly talented and experienced professional staff gives us the ability to share valuable insights into our clients’ businesses, to better understand their goals and problems and to help them attain the vision they have for their company.
Gettry Marcus is "Always Looking Deeper" to build value for our clients.
Media inquiries: Contact Fayellen Dietchweiler at 516-364-3390 ext. 225 or via email at fdietchweiler(at)gettrymarcus(dot)com.
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Scott Darrohn, fishbat, http://fishbat.com, +1 855-347-4228, [email protected]
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