Frequently Asked Tax Questions

GENERAL QUESTIONS

• Where is Your Office Located? - Map & Directions

• What are Your Hours of Operation?

• What Should I Bring to My Tax Appointment?

• When is My Employer REQUIRED to Give Me a Form W-2?

• HELP! I Lost My Form W-2. How Do I Get Another Copy?

• What's NEW for Tax Year 2011?

FILING STATUS

• How is a Taxpayer's "Filing Status" Determined?

• Can I file "Married Filing Jointly" Claiming Common Law Marriage?

DEPENDENTS

• Who is a Qualifying Child or Qualifying Relative Dependent?

EARNED INCOME CREDIT

• What are the Qualifications to Claim the "Earned Income Credit"?

INCOME

• What is "Gross Income"?

• What Types of Income are "Nontaxable"?

• Are Any of My Social Security Benefits Taxable?

DEDUCTIONS & CREDITS

• Can I Claim a Homebuyer Tax Credit?

• What Job Expenses Can I Deduct as an EMPLOYEE?

• What Expenses can I Deduct in My BUSINESS (Self-employed / Independent Contractor)?

• What Taxes are Deductible?

• Is "Student Loan Interest" Deductible?

• Are Higher Education Expenses Deductible?

• Is "Child Care and Dependent Care" Deductible?

• Are "Moving Expenses" Deductible?

• What is the "Child Tax Credit"?

• Can I Deduct "Child Support"?

• I Went Through a Divorce and Paid Legal Fees. Are They Deductible?

• I Just Bought a Home. What Can I Deduct from the Settlement Statement?

• Can I Write-Off a Personal (Nonbusiness) "Bad Debt"?

OTHER TAX QUESTIONS

• How Can I Check the Status of My Tax Refund?

• What Happens If I Change My Name?

• How Can I Get a Copy of My Tax Return that I Filed with the IRS?

• How Can I Get a Copy of My Florida Unemployment Form 1099-G?

• Can I Make Changes to My Tax Return After it is Filed?

• Do I Have to Make "Estimated Tax" Payments?

• How Long Should Tax Records Be Kept?

• Will I Be Charged Interest and Penalties for Paying and Filing My Personal Taxes Late?

• I'm Expecting a REFUND, But I Have NOT filed my tax return and the Deadline has Passed. Is it Too Late to File? Will I Be Charged a Late Filing Penalty?

• Should I Notify the IRS if I Change My Address?

• Can I Ask to Make Installment Payments on Taxes Owed?

• Can I Pay Taxes With a Credit or Debit Card?

• Will My Refund be Taken to Pay Other Debts That I Owe?

• Am I an "Injured Spouse"?

• I Recently Opened a New Account at a Financial Institution and Was Asked to Complete IRS Form W-9. Is This Necessary?

• I Already Filed My Tax Return and Just Received Another Tax Form (Such as W-2 or 1099). What Do I Need To Do?

• How Can I Get a Copy of My Tax Return?

• I have Investment Property. Can You Explain the Term "Basis"?

• How Am I Taxed If I Sell My Principal Residence (Main Home)?

• What are the "Social Security and Medicare Rates"?

• What is "Depreciation"?

• How Do I Determine If A Person Is An "Employee or Independent Contractor"?

• Are Gifts, Bequests, or Inheritances Taxable?