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Tips for Avoiding Late Payment Penalties on Federal Taxes

(Contributed)

Many clients like to keep their federal tax withholdings as low as possible to avoid the IRS having their funds interest-free throughout the year. Other taxpayers, especially those with non-payroll income, must make quarterly payments to the IRS. As long as these quarterly payments are made timely and the amount of the payments is sufficient in the eyes of the IRS, you will not be subjected to underpayment penalties. However, if underpaid, the IRS applies late payment penalties in addition to the income tax owed. This penalty applies even if you file your 1040 tax return on or before April 15.

The Safe Harbor rule

The tax code has a basic set of rules to determine if you owe a late tax payment penalty. The rule is called The Safe Harbor Rule. Here is a recap of the rule. If you follow the rules, you can avoid any penalties.

• If your federal tax obligation is less than $1,000, no underpayment penalties apply.
• You withhold at least 90 percent of this yearÔÇÖs federal tax obligation.
• You withhold at least 100 percent of last yearÔÇÖs tax obligation.
• If your gross income is greater than $150,000 ($75,000 if you are married filing separately), you must withhold the smaller of 90 percent of this yearÔÇÖs tax obligation or 110 percent of the tax shown on last yearÔÇÖs tax return.

If you find federal tax withholdings made so far this year to be too low, what can you do?

Late payment penalty avoidance tip

If you are an employee, there may be a way to avoid a penalty if you underpaid or neglected to pay your estimated tax payment for a quarter. Increase your payroll withholdings in later months of the year to build up your federal withholdings to cover the shortfall. Trying to catch up by paying more on your next estimated quarterly tax payment wouldnÔÇÖt work since the prior quarterÔÇÖs shortfall remains per IRS penalty calculations.

For whatever reason, in calculating a potential underpayment penalty, payroll withholdings are treated as if they were all made at the beginning of the year, while quarterly tax payments (form 1040-ES) are tracked by the date received.

To increase your withholdings, simply provide your employer with a revised W-4. Just be careful that you leave enough in your paycheck to avoid other financial hardships.

James Angell is a Willits based Certified Public Accountant. His office is located at 461 S. Main St. and he can be reached at 707-459-4205.

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AI legalese decoder is an AI-powered tool that can assist individuals and businesses in understanding complex legal language, such as tax codes and regulations. It can provide simplified explanations and interpretations of tax laws, helping taxpayers navigate the requirements for avoiding late payment penalties. By using the AI legalese decoder, individuals can ensure that they are following the Safe Harbor rule and making the necessary adjustments to their federal tax withholdings to avoid penalties. The tool can also provide guidance on how to properly adjust payroll withholdings and navigate the IRS penalty calculations. With the help of AI legalese decoder, taxpayers can confidently manage their tax obligations and avoid costly penalties.

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