May 19, 2013

Ian Woodman, Idaho Tax Relief Expert, Gives an Overview of 2012 Tax Changes

Ian Woodman Idaho

Ian Woodman Idaho

Ian Woodman, Idaho tax resolution firm Instant Tax Solutions co-founder, helps lead a team of tax experts. Together, they work hard to stay abreast of tax changes each year, explains Ian Woodman. Idaho taxpayers and others across the country were impacted by several changes in the tax laws this year. Today, Ian Woodman of Idaho explains what those tax changes were and how they might affect you.

Recently, you may have noticed an increase in the federal withholding allowance, describes Ian Woodman. Idaho residents are now able to withhold $3,800. This allows taxpayers to have more deducted from each paycheck in order to avoid paying at the end of the year. Ian Woodman ’s Idaho Instant Tax Solutions sees some taxpayers who prefer to maximize withholding throughout the year in order to see a larger tax return the following spring. This can help pay for vacations and large purchases, Ian Woodman of Idaho acknowledges. The increase in the withholding allowance means that, according to Ian Woodman, Idaho residents can have more held out throughout the year to receive a larger tax refund at tax time.

Another increase the IRS instituted this year was an increase in the social security wage limit, says Ian Woodman. Idaho residents will be taxed up to $110,000 on earnings in 2012, Woodman adds. The good news is the tax rate stays the same—7.65% for individuals and 6.2% for employers. The Medicare tax will remain the same—1.45%, according to Ian Woodman. Idaho residents should note there is no wage base limit for the Medicare tax.

One of the biggest changes for Ian Woodman ’s Idaho clients this year is the end of the advance payment of the Earned Income Credit. This, Ian Woodman of Idaho explains, was a program designed to help those making low to moderate wages. As the economy begins to once again gain ground, Ian Woodman ’s Idaho office is seeing less governmental programs to help taxpayers. But this is good news as people begin returning to work, concludes Woodman.

Ian Woodman, an Idaho tax relief specialist, established Instant Tax Solutions in 2008 with his business partner Byron Pedersen. Together, they share a mission of providing stress-free tax relief with honesty and integrity to taxpayers. Ian Woodman, Idaho businessman, helps to lead Instant Tax Solutions, which boasts 4,000 clients and is served by 25 employees.

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The Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team Opens up About Industry Problems and Solutions

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings

In this exclusive interview, the Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team discusses how consumers can help protect themselves from deceptive tax relief agencies.

Interviewing Experts: Good afternoon and thank you for joining us.

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: We are always happy to offer taxpayers information on our industry.

Interviewing Experts: There has been a great deal of bad press lately regarding the tax services industry. Can you tell us how firms like Instant Tax Solutions handle that?

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: It can be difficult at times, since one bad news report can reflect badly on the industry as whole.

Interviewing Experts: We’ve seen that all too often in almost every profession.

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: Yes, that’s true. All we can do is make sure that consumers are away that not every business of our nature is out for a fast buck; many of us are very dedicated to what we do.

Interviewing Experts: What are some of the deceptive practices that Instant Tax Solutions believes need addressing?

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: We believe that TV and radio spots should be restricted to only the facts. No one should be able to tell a taxpayer that their tax problems are over without any kind of consultation.

Interviewing Experts: What about fees?

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: Fees should be fair and negotiated only after a good faith review of an individual taxpayer’s situation.

Interviewing Experts: After the good faith analysis, then the parties can enter into an agreement?

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: Yes, exactly. Many of the “as seen on TV” agencies require a service agreement before even getting the taxpayer’s last name. Those groups are notorious to making false promises.

Interviewing Experts: Which is why the industry is viewed negatively sometimes?

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: Unfortunately, yes.

Interviewing Experts: We understand that the IRS has pretty strict requirements before offering any reduced fees. How hard is it to do this alone?

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: We won’t say that it can’t be done. It can; but without someone who is familiar with IRS procedure, it can be difficult to say the least.

Interviewing Experts: So no one can guarantee easy relief on a wide scale? There are no “Bail out” or “Stimulus Programs” offered by the IRS?

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: No, and that is a topic that we believe needs to be addressed – that some agencies advertise to sound like they are offering a government sanctioned benefit.

Interviewing Experts: That sounds like a topic your firm is passionate about.

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: It is very close to our hearts. Our IRS enrolled agents, legal counsel, and other tax professionals are the best in the industry. We think that taxpayers are entitled to education and learning to spot a scam is one way they can protect themselves when they are most vulnerable.

Interviewing Experts: Thank you for your time today. We appreciate the information.

Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team: You are very welcome.

The Instant Tax Solutions Ratings Team is a group of tax professionals who are devoted to teaching consumers the importance of education when facing the IRS. The group offers ratings and reviews of industry practices and IRS policy. For more information or for Instant Tax Solutions ratings and client testimonial, please visit www.instanttaxsolutions.com

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Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team Says That Deceptive Practices Have To Stop

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews

According to the Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team, the firm is seeing more and more deceptive ads and misleading practices by fraudulent tax debt resolution companies. The group states that by regulating the industry, the government can help protect taxpayers and reputable tax service providers alike. Today, the Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team speaks with Interviewing Experts to discuss their ideas on improving the industry for all those involved.

Interviewing Experts: Good morning, and thank you all for speaking with us today.

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team: It is absolutely our pleasure, we appreciate the opportunity.

Interviewing Experts: Let’s get started, shall we? Can you tell us why Instant Tax Solutions feels so passionately about the subject of fraudulent tax firms?

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team: When a tax fraud victim is scammed, it makes the industry as a whole look unreliable. This reflects poorly upon each and every hard-working tax professional across the nation.

Interviewing Experts: We have heard a lot in recent months about deceptive wording in advertising materials. Can you give us some specifics?

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team: Many fraudulent firms  use phrases like “bailout” or “stimulus” to make the taxpayer believe the agency is working on behalf of the federal government.

Interviewing Experts: Does the government actually employ any of these agencies to help with taxpayer issues?

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team: No, they do not. There are no government programs operated by an independent tax attorney or agency.

Interviewing Experts: What about their advertising materials – specifically images?

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team: We believe that all tax agencies should be strictly prohibited from using images that allude to the connection between the US government and themselves. This would include images of the White House or any other US landmarks or government buildings.

Interviewing Experts: We have seen many logos and advertisements that look like official government correspondence. Do you believe the tax agencies should use less official looking materials?

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team: We certainly believe that misleading a taxpayer with visual images suggesting a connection to a government sanctioned program should be illegal.

Interviewing Experts: What about name usage?

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team: We believe that all advertising should feature the true and legal name of the provider.

Interviewing Experts: What other sort of misleading or false information do fraudulent tax firms use to deceive clients or prospective clients?

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team: They may misrepresent their ability to stop IRS collections or levies or may guarantee that they could stop wage garnishment without an actual review of the taxpayer’s information.

Interviewing Experts: Can or should tax firms tell potential clients that they can get their tax debt down to a specific dollar amount?

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team: We don’t believe they should be able to cite a specific dollar amount or a specific monthly payment amount. Additionally, we believe that misrepresentation of the provider’s ability to eliminate interest and penalties should be strictly regulated, monitored, and prohibited.

Interviewing Experts: Do you have any thoughts on how providers compensate their employees?

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team: Yes, we do not feel that employee compensation should be based solely on the number of agreements they are able to secure.

Interviewing Experts: That sounds like it could lead to sloppy work and a greater number of tax fraud victims.

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team: We agree.

Interviewing Experts: Do you have any suggestions as far as a provider’s right to transfer money to and from client accounts?

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team: This is definitely a hot topic. It is our personal belief that the client should feel safe when giving out their bank account information to a tax debt settlement company. We believe that the provider should only have access to the client’s account when issuing a refund or for the properly authorized payment of fees.

Interviewing Experts: These are all very good points. Are there any other issues that you feel need to be addressed?

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team: Unfortunately, yes. There are countless flaws regarding how the industry is regulated and there are far too many innocent victims who have been duped into signing agreements and paying money to firms who just walk away and offer no results.

Interviewing Experts: Can you give us a quick rundown of a few other issues that you see?

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team: Across the board, we feel that giving a false opinion or suggesting any illegal action should be monitored closely. We also feel that implying a working relationship with the IRS should be prohibited.

Interviewing Experts: That’s all the time we have for today. We certainly appreciate you being here with us and look forward to speaking with you in the future.

Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team: Our pleasure. Thank you very much.

The Instant Tax Solutions Reviews Team is made up of a group of ITS employees dedicated to providing their clients with unbiased IRS information. As the nation’s premiere tax debt resolution firm, Instant Tax Solutions reviews each and every client’s specific situation to determine the best course of action to negotiate with the IRS and settle their tax problems once and for all.

 

Instant Tax Solutions, LLC | 1700 E. Schneidmiller Ave. Post Falls, ID 83854 | Phone: 1-888-387-4071

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Ian Woodman Offers Tax Tips: How You May Be Overpaying Taxes

Ian Woodman

Ian Woodman

According to Ian Woodman, a number of past studies estimate that many taxpayers overpay taxes. This, according to Ian Woodman, was largely attributed to the number of taxpayers who understate charitable contributions.

Did you tithe or donate clothing to Goodwill? Ian Woodman’s staff at Instant Tax Solutions can help you claim these deductions and avoid paying too much to the IRS. Ian Woodman has found some people reject claiming these deductions for a variety of reasons. One of these reasons, Ian Woodman says, is that it is too much trouble to get a receipt and itemize. Another, according to Ian Woodman, is that they feel the donation is no longer charitable if they get a tax credit for it.

To cure this, Ian Woodman encourages his clients to reframe their thinking. Claiming contributions on a tax return isn’t the same as being handed cash for that contribution, Ian Woodman states. All you are doing is reducing the portion of your annual income that is taxed. As Ian Woodman explains it, say you made $50,000 last year but gave $5,000 to your church. By claiming that $5,000, Ian Woodman states, you are setting aside that $5,000 to keep the IRS from taxing it. So your total taxed income would be $45,000—the amount of your salary you didn’t give to the church.

Another problem with item donations, aside from the extra effort in getting a receipt, is itemizing donations, Ian Woodman adds. The IRS has cracked down on item donations, requiring taxpayers to now claim fair market value for each item they donate, according to Ian Woodman. Goodwill has a fair market value calculator on its site, but taxpayers still have to estimate between such ranges as two dollars to twelve dollars for a woman’s blouse. Taxpayers are told to use garage sale prices, but this can be vague, according to Ian Woodman. As Ian Woodman has found, taxpayers are confused as to what is fair for various items, and many end up undervaluing items just to be safe.

By consulting a tax professional like the ones at Instant Tax Solutions, notes Woodman, taxpayers can make sure they understand the deductions to which they are entitled. Ian Woodman says that the team of professionals at Instant Tax Solutions can explain to you the best way to value your donations and make sure you have the necessary documentation in order in case you are ever audited.

For more information, contact Instant Tax Solutions by visiting www.instanttaxsolutions.com

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