As a growing tax business we realize that creative marketing is essential to the growth of our business. This tax season with a fully fledged marketing effort we are noticing more and more the ads of our competitors and frankly a lot of them make us sick!

First off, you see a lot of the “free” return offers. Sounds great, doesn’t it? It’s not!

And it’s not really anything special. You can go to IRS.gov and get the same “free” basic Federal tax return done for free. The difference here is that it is the old “bait and switch” where you are baited on the “free” product only to find out that there is an added cost.

The additional costs in these so-called “free” products add up quickly. For example the retail software products and nationwide tax chains charge extra to do State returns. These are included in your price quote from JFTS. If you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, which is what most early-season filers depend on to get a large refund, there is an extra cost. Again, this is included in your JFTS quote. Next thing you know “free” return has ballooned into a $400+ bill for just a basic return with a few additional credits claimed, like the couple in this video.

Where our marketing differs, is our free consultation is a product with value. To consult with a tax professional, especially a CPA, usually costs upwards of $150/hr. At JFTS we don’t believe in charging for advice, so we offer free consultations as a way to build trust with our potential clients so YOU can decide whether our services are right for you.

Now that we’ve discussed price, on to the other aspect of marketing that bothers us “no audit guarantees.” You see this in both the software products and nationwide companies, however, what’s the value in the guarantee when it only guarantees you from mistakes that THEY make? For software it protects you from calculations made by the software and not errors made when you input your data. These errors, despite all the “roadmaps” and “guidance” functions are easy to make, even for trained professionals. This is why our Tax Patriots are given extensive training every year on the professional grade software we use as it changes year by year. How many at-home tax preparers are provided training on how to use their software? NONE. Even worse, is most at-home preparers think that browsing the instruction manual or doing a quick Google search will yield the results they need, only to find out when they get audited that they did something wrong.

With the store-fronts, the audit guarantees are just as useless. At JFTS we make no such guarantees, we only guarantee that we will do our best to get your taxes done right the FIRST time and if you are audited then you have the information and guidance you need to protect yourself. The reality is that there are “red flag” audits where the IRS will choose a given subject, such as last year’s “red flag”, The First Time Homebuyer Credit. Then there are “selective” audits where the IRS will just choose random returns. For the selective audits it is usually a “marekt research” or “training” audit. With a “market research” audit they take a big business in a new industry and try to make an example of them. For a “training” audit, this is where auditors in training are given a list of returns and audit whoever they want so that they can get practice and experience.

The biggest protection against an audit is having a full consultation with a tax professional. With the store-front model they are given a standard interview format and in the heart of the tax season it is very easy to cut corners. The next thing you know you are being audited on an item that your preparer never interviewed you on, whether it was a credit/deduction due-diligence question or not asking the right questions to find out about all of your taxable income. Again, this is why the initial consultation from a JFTS Tax Patriot is essential and a “one-size fits one” approach is the ultimate value add in our services.

Bottom line: Don’t fall for “free” return preparation or “no-audit” guarantee offers!

Here at JFTS all we promise is to give you a professional level of service at a fair price and don’t believe in the false promises of “free” preparation or “no-audit” guarantees.

After reading an article titled “10 Most Overlooked Tax Deductions” from Investopedia I felt it was my duty as a professional to make sense of this.

Despite all the tax services and software claiming maximum refunds and the most comprehensive review there are still many deductions that are overlooked. Even worse, there are improper deductions taken as a result of either preparer inexperience or user input error that lead to the worst possible scenario- an audit!

Keep in mind for the 2010 Tax Return practically all of these deductions are only available if you file a Schedule A for Itemized Deductions instead of taking the Standard Deduction for your chosen filing status. In addition, most of these deductions have thresholds, which means that they need to meet a certain percent of your Adjusted Gross Income(AGI) before they can be deductible.

So on to the 10 most overlooked deductions, which are:

1. Selling Your Home

While the profit from your home sale can be taxable, the expenses incurred can be deductible from real-estate brokers’ fees to closing costs. In addition, any real estate taxes paid during the year of sale are deductible on that year’s tax return.

2. New Car Sales Tax

For a new vehicle purchased up until Jan 1st 2010 there is still a possibility of deducting the sales tax in addition to any state or local taxes paid if the sales tax was paid any time in 2010.

If the vehicle was purchased after Jan 1st 2010 you might be able to deduct the sales tax in lieu of state and local taxes paid. Check with one of our Tax Patriots to make sure which deduction is more beneficial for you.

3. Car Registration Fees(based on the value of the vehicle)

In our home state of Arizona the annual registration of a vehicle is dependent on the price of the vehicle. The portion of this fee that is based on the price is what the IRS calls “Personal Property Tax” and can be deducted on Schedule A.

4. Non-Cash Charitable Contributions

We donate a lot to the local Goodwill. These donations can be deductible, but only if we have an appraisal of the items donated if the value is over $500. In addition to the value of items being donated, the actual appraisal fees can be deductible.

5. Miles Driven For Charity/Volunteer Events

The value of your time is not deductible. Any cash spent for volunteering purposes as well as transportation costs, however, can be deductible. Mileage, parking and tolls might be deductible as well as any public transportation costs incurred.

6. Laundry/Dry-Cleaning Costs for Business Trips

Most business travelers only keep receipts for the major items like air travel and hotel stays, however, staying dressed and pressed for your business meetings can also be a deductible expense. So keep those dry cleaning receipts, but remember, these are only for expenses that your employer does not cover or reimburse.

7. Shipping/Baggage Costs for Business Purposes

On top of laundry, if there are any documents you have to ship or if you have to pay those dreaded baggage fees, don’t worry, they can be deductible.

8. Business Phone/Internet Use During Business Trips

If you don’t have a smart phone or you are traveling abroad and need to pay extra to use a phone or internet connection these expenses can be deductible. If you hate paying $2/min for a local call and $5/min for long-distance, keep those receipts for tax time to get a break on your taxes.

9. Medical Insurance Premiums

Most employees have premiums taken out of their check before taxes are calculated. If this is not the case or you just pay your own then you might have a deduction. Medical expenses are the highest threshold at 7.5% of your AGI so you need to have a pretty sizable expense before you can deduct, but chances are with the cost of health insurance that you will benefit come tax time.

10. Medical Mileage/Transportation Costs

Not only are your surgeries, doctor visits and prescription costs potential deductions, but so too is your transportation for medical purposes. Keep a mileage log or receipts for any public transportation or air travel necessary for medical services performed within the US so you can write it off at tax time.

Bottom line, after looking at these items I know as a professional and most readers probably know that “if it seems deductible, chances are it is worth keeping the receipt”. Just keep in mind that there are thresholds and limits, thus it is essential to talk to a Tax Patriot to figure out how much of your 2010 expenses are deductible and how you can plan for tax year 2011 to get the best tax advantage for your common expenses.

Tax season 2011 is here and we are all awaiting those important documents in our mailbox any day now. Meanwhile, here are the Top 10 Tax Tips directly from the IRS to ensure a smooth and easy experience in getting your taxes done:

1.     Get Your Records Ready

Gather up all your records to support filing your taxes: receipts for expenses, donations, rentals, businesses, canceled checks and all other necessary paperwork you have to support deductions you could claim on your return.

On our Services page you can see that we service “All States(where required)” and not “all 50 States” or even “all 50 States plus the District of Columbia and all US Territories”. This is because not all states have an income tax.

The seven states that do not have an income tax are: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

Not having an income tax would make these sound like perfect places to live and do business, however, there is a catch.

First off, Alaska, South Dakota and Wyoming are among the 5 least populous states. All three are very large in area which means the low population density means there are many areas that are uninhabitable.

Up next is Washington, a somewhat populous state with a great metropolitan area in Seattle as well as the affluent town of Redding, home of Microsoft.

After Washington is a group of Florida and Texas, both of which are great retirement destinations with warm climates(aside from the wonderful snow storms in Texas now).

The final income tax free state is Nevada, home of Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the US, a major reason why Nevada’s state treasury can afford to operate without an income tax.

So let us look at the states individually and see the pros and cons of living without an income tax. Is it worth it? What other costs make up for the lack of an income tax?

Alaska

Some of the positives of living in Alaska aside from the gorgeous Summers are the monetary incentives. Did you know that residents of Alaska are actually given a monetary incentive to live in the “Last Frontier” known as the “Alaska Permanent Fund”?

This fund is only available to full year residents of Alaska and is an encouragement for citizens to brave the brutal Winters and live and work here. Despite this fund Alaska has some of the highest costs of living from the necessities(a gallon of milk can cost over $10, almost 5x the national average) to the indulgences(the liquor tax is about $13/gallon).

As you can see the lack of income tax is made up for in desolate Winters, high sales taxes and high excise taxes.

Florida

Known for its beaches and Disney World, Florida is a great destination for families, partiers and most of all, retirees.

The recent Recession though, has hit Florida hard, especially in the job market. With double-digit unemployment as well as some of the worst hit housing markets for foreclosures and a steep drop in housing prices Florida’s economy took a beating.

This doesn’t even factor in the worst part about Florida, the annual hurricane season, which doesn’t bother locals who are accustomed to this natural disaster as much as those who emigrate here.

Finally, the “catch” to no income tax is the relatively high sales tax, gas tax and liquor tax. All of which more than make up for the lack of a state income tax.

Nevada

Despite the gambling tax making up some of the gap in income tax revenue lost, Nevada, home of “Sin City”, is not without sin.

Much like Florida it has the same issues of a depressed housing market, high unemployment and high sales taxes. The plus side is that there is a high median income for those who are employed.

Bottom line, if you’re not an entertainer, gaming mogul or a dealer, Nevada might not be right for you, despite the lack of a state income tax.

South Dakota

Grouped with Alaska when it comes to population, it differs in the fact that South Dakota is among the lowest in unemployment rates and boasts a high median income.

However, in South Dakota’s largest city, Sioux Falls, the issue of under-employment comes to mind. Yes there is low unemployment, however, with the highest density of restaurants per capita, a lot of employees are working for minimum wage and barely meeting basic costs of living.

This is in stark contrast to the salaries and bonuses of executives at some of the financial giants such as Citigroup and Wells Fargo who are based here due to the business incentives for holding operations in South Dakota.

Texas

Everything’s bigger in Texas! From the steaks to the ranches to the Cadillacs it is all big. Without an income tax and better yet, a great climate for most of the year as well as cheap property it sounds like a great place to live.

There is a catch. From high sales taxes to high property taxes, the Lone Star State more than makes up for its lack of income tax. In addition, despite deregulation over 15 years ago, the energy costs are still sky-high.

Washington

With beautiful scenery of the Pacific Northwest Washington is a great place to live. Add to it business giants like Amazon and Microsoft and it is a great place to work. The Seattle area has plenty do, however, as is the case with this entire article, there is a catch.

Aside from the high unemployment and sales tax, there are other taxes that are higher than normal such as property taxes. Looking at the bottom line, WA might not be the best financial decision, unless you have the wealth of Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founders of Microsoft and Amazon, respectively.

Wyoming

Saving the best for last, the least-populated state, Wyoming.

Aside from having many wide-open, desolate spaces, WY is starting to feel the pain of the depressed economy with rising unemployment.

In addition, it boasts the second highest tax burden per capita at $2,973.87, behind Hawaii at $3,050.03. This shows that the lack of income taxes is more than made up for in other taxes.

The verdict: No state income tax comes with a catch. In addition, one must not forget that there is still a Federal income tax to pay that is the same no matter where you live. Consider the big picture when relocating and if you do live in a no income tax state it is worth your while to consult with a tax professional such as one of our Tax Patriots to make sure you are getting the best deal on your taxes.

Sources:

Yahoo! Finance – 7 States With No Income Tax

Statemaster.com – Total Tax Burden Per Capita

With the 2010 filing season upon us there are a few strategies you can still employ to adjust your tax bracket. A tax bracket is a defined threshold of “taxable” income levels taxed at a certain percentage(i.e. 10%, the lowest and 35%, the highest). The most common tactic is contributing to a retirement plan if you are on the borderline between two tax brackets or just want to lessen your liability. If you do not have the funds available to contribute to a retirement plan or utilize any other strategies to get your 2010 taxable income lower, then you need to start planning for 2011.

Thanks to the 2 year extension of the “Bush Era” Tax Cuts, the tax percentages have remained the same, however, the income thresholds have changed slightly. As stated in our article Death and Taxes – Do I Need To File A Return This Year? the standard deduction and exemption amounts from 2009 to 2010 remained virtually the same with the only difference being a bump of $50 for the standard deduction on Head of Household status from $8350 to $8400. For 2011 the exemption amount will go up $50 from $3650/individual to $3700/individual. The standard deduction will go up across the board, with the following increases for each respective filing status:

Single = +100 from $5700 in 2010 to $5800 in 2011

Married Filing Joint = +200 from $11,400 in 2010 to $11,600 in 2011

Head of Household = +100 from $8400 in 2010 to $8500 in 2011

Keep in mind that these rates are also important for those who itemize their deductions as you need to cross those thresholds in order to benefit from common itemized deductions such as mortgage interest, charitable donations and state/local taxes paid.

With that out of the way, here’s your 2010 Tax Brackets based on “taxable” income which is: Adjusted Gross Income – (Adjustments + Deductions).

Numbers below provided by IRS.gov(with the exception of MFJ/QW and MFS for 2011):

An example of tax planning strategy would be if you were MFJ and your 2010 taxable income was $118,000, which puts you in the 28% bracket. Say you expect a slight pay increase in 2011, you might want to find a way to deduct enough or get more adjustments to get you in the 25% bracket for 2011. In addition, for 2010, you could just contribute an extra $500 to your retirement plan(if you haven’t already maxed it out) to get you to the 25% bracket.

Knowing the RIGHT deductions and adjustments you can take is just another reason you NEED to contact us now to consult with a Tax Patriot so we can use our extensive knowledge of the tax laws to help you pay less! Remember, audits are usually the result of either improper/overstated deductions, adjustments or credits with the remainder being from understated income. The tax laws are complicated! This is why you need a professional who knows them and a full understanding of the tax laws is behind everything we do.

This article is a response to a post on a business forum that posed the question- “Who here has been audited?”. Never a victim of an audit ourselves, we have seen way too many victims of poor tax services come for help in this time of need and here’s our take from experience in dealing with real-life audit representations:

Keep in mind that an audit is not the end of the world. If you have documentation that supports your write-offs then you are fine. Yes, it is a small inconvenience, but it is not as “dreaded” as most think. The sad reality is there are many tax cheats out there that ruin it for legitimate taxpayers and this is why you might be the “victim” of an overzealous auditor who wants to audit you because of one questionable deduction.

If you find yourself in an audit situation or want to make sure you’re taking your deductions correctly, please contact us for a FREE consultation and one of our Tax Patriots will assist you.

Finally, not all accountants are created equal and the following comment in regard to a so-called “professional accounting firm” was downright horrifying:

This example shows that this so-called professional accountant has either never been through an audit OR wants to withhold this valuable information until they get paid their exorbitant hourly rate, usually north of $150 per hour.

That is why we believe in giving a free initial consultation and disapprove of the “traditional” CPA Firms as well as Tax Attorneys who have the “billable hours” model. Advice should be free! Services rendered and RESULTS are what should have a cost.

With tax time here, it is important to give you this information. In the time we live in it is great that you can buy a tax software for $79 that can do most simple returns, however, is it really worth the money? Watch this and decide for yourself:

As you can see the initial savings of doing their own taxes ended up costing this couple a lot more in the long-run!

Liberty Cost- $431
Liberty Refund- $1464
Net– $1033

PROS: Lower cost and higher refund than H&R Block

CONS: Took two preparers to do return. Preparer had too many questions and lacked confidence. According to CPA who double-checked, there were errors made. Liberty has no quality control system to catch errors.

H&R Block Cost- $463
H&R Block Refund- $1446
Net– $983

PROS: Highly trained, good quality according to CPA who checked work.

CONS: High cost, not ALL H&R Block offices are this level of quality.

TurboTax Cost- $79
TurboTax Refund- $229
Net– $150

PROS: Low upfront cost.

CONS: Refund much lower and net much lower than going with a professional. Improper deductions taken can lead to an IRS Audit. Missed deductions led to a lower refund.

Verdict– GO to a Tax Professional to get your taxes done!

Is it worth saving a few dollars for the risk of getting audited? NO!

Is it worth saving a few dollars and getting a lower refund, thus taking money out of your own pocket? NO!

Without knowing the exact situation of the couple in the video we can’t make any guarantees on cost or refund. We CAN make the guarantees that one of our Tax Patriots will give you the professional level of service that the H&R Block preparer gave and we will try our best to match Liberty Tax’s refund while giving you a fair price and making your NET gain as high as possible!

Don’t take our word for it, contact us now for a FREE consultation and decide for yourself if Jefferson Franklin Tax Services is for you!