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Making Work Pay Tax Credit – Things to Know
Working taxpayers may be eligible for the Making Work Pay tax credit, a significant tax provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This tax credit means more take-home pay for millions of American workers. Here are five things the IRS wants every taxpayer to know about the Making Work Pay tax credit:
1. This credit — available for tax years 2009 and 2010 — equals 6.2 percent of a taxpayer’s earned income. The maximum credit for a married couple filing a joint return is $800 and $400 for other taxpayers. Most wage earners have been enjoying a boost in their paychecks from this credit since April.
2. Eligible self-employed taxpayers can also benefit from the credit by evaluating their expected income tax liability. If eligible, self-employed taxpayers can make the appropriate adjustments to the amounts of their upcoming estimated tax payments in September and January.
3. Taxpayers who fall into any of the following groups should review their tax withholding to ensure enough tax is being withheld. Those who should pay particular attention to their withholding include:
Married couples with two incomes
Individuals with multiple jobs
Dependents
Pensioners
Social Security recipients who also work
Workers without valid Social Security numbers
Having too little tax withheld could result in potentially smaller refunds or – in limited instances –small balance due rather than an expected refund.
4. The Making Work Pay tax credit is either phased out or unavailable for higher-income taxpayers. The phase out begins at $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for couples filing a joint return.
5. For those who believe their current withholding is not right for their personal situation, a quick withholding check using the IRS withholding calculator on IRS.gov may be helpful. Taxpayers can also do this by using the worksheets in IRS Publication 919, How Do I Adjust My Withholding? Adjustments can be made by filing a revised Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. Pensioners can adjust their withholding by filing Form W-4P, Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments.
For more information on this and other key tax provisions of the Recovery Act, visit the official IRS Website at IRS.gov/Recovery.
Links:
Publication 919, How Do I Adjust My Withholding?
IRS withholding calculator
Video:
Making Work Pay – General – You Tube video
Making Work Pay – Retirees – You Tube video
Making Work Pay – Married – You Tube video
Audio:
Highlights From The Stupid Preparer Files
By Stacie Clifford Kitts, CPA
Here is my latest addition of the stupid preparer files. Again – mind boggling. This preparer tried to scam something as stupid and easy to track as buying a house. The thing that is most disturbing about this case, is the fact that this guy thought he could get away with it.
Today the Internal Revenue Service announced that it has successfully prosecuted James Otto Price III for falsely claiming the first-time home-buyers credit on a clients federal income tax return. Mr. Price faces up to three years in jail and a $250,000 fine.
The IRS warns potential fraudsters to beware as they have implemented technology that automatically searches for and identifies potential fraudulent claims. The IRS currently has 24 open criminal investigations and has issued seven search warrants related to the fraudulent use of the credit.
“We will vigorously pursue anyone who falsely tries to claim this or any other tax credit or deduction,” said Eileen Mayer, Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation. “The penalties for tax fraud are steep. Taxpayers should be wary of anyone who promises to get them a big refund.”
Taxpayers are reminded that even if they utilize a paid preparer, the taxpayer is still responsible for the accuracy of the return.
The IRS says:
“The First-Time Homebuyer Credit, originally passed in 2008 and modified in 2009, provides up to $8,000 for first-time homebuyers. The purchaser, however, must qualify as a first-time homebuyer, which for purposes of this credit means someone who has not owned a primary residence in the past three years. If the taxpayer is married, this requirement also applies to the taxpayer’s spouse. The home purchase must close before Dec. 1, 2009, to qualify, and the credit may not be claimed on the purchaser’s tax return until after the taxpayer closes and has purchased the home. Different rules apply for homes bought in 2008.”
Stacie's Tax Stuff 