THIENEL LAW BLOG
How Does a Maryland LLC Pay Taxes?
A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is organized under state laws. Many companies choose a Maryland LLC as their business entity because it provides limited liability protection from personal liability. State laws govern the operation of an LLC in Maryland. However, the Internal Revenue Code provides alternatives for how an LLC is taxed for the income it earns.
[Updated 2020] Do You Owe Back Taxes? Here's What You Can Do To Get The IRS to Go Easy on You.
It's tempting to procrastinate when you get a letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that you owe back taxes, but that is the worst thing to do. If you ignore collection efforts from the IRS, things will only get worse, and you will owe more in interest and penalties.
The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act Revisited [2020 Tax Update]
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) received a lot of attention when it passed in 2017, but with everything that has happened since, it would be a good idea to take another look at the TJCA. Some provisions of the tax reform act did not go into effect immediately, so you might want to talk to a Maryland tax attorney and revisit the TJCA.
Federal Tax Extensions During the Pandemic - What You Need to Know
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has extended Tax Day from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. However, what does that mean for individuals and businesses? Our Maryland tax attorney answers common questions about the COVID-19 federal tax extensions in this blog.
Sole Proprietorship or LLC – What is the Best Business Structure for Tax Purposes? [Updated 2022]
A sole prop is the simplest and most flexible corporate form – but the personal liability that attaches to all business operations can potentially create a host of problems later down the road.
New Court-Approved Ways to Defeat IRS Penalties
Are you fighting to defeat IRS penalties? If so, new court-approved ways to defeat IRS penalties can help you keep the money you earned instead of paying it to the federal government. As a Maryland tax attorney, I continually monitor changes in the tax code that benefit my clients and help devise strategies to avoid penalties and decrease overall tax liability.
[VIDEO] Tax 101 – Four Ways to Defeat IRS Penalties
Nobody likes paying taxes, especially when the IRS heaps on penalties for an honest mistake. Watch this video to discover a few tips on getting the IRS to back down on those penalties. Have tax questions? Talk with Maryland tax attorney, Steve Thienel.
Taxes for AirBnB Rental Properties
Owners who list their Maryland property on AirBnB should know a major change in the tax laws for short-term occupancy taxes. The change took effect on June 1, 2019. AirBnB has noted the tax on its website. Many property owners fear that the mandatory occupancy tax will reduce the number of guests who book their property, but owners of hotels and other businesses already subject to state occupancy taxes were for the change.
How Will my Cryptocurrency Sales Affect my Taxes?
The IRS views digital currency as property. Therefore, the applicable tax code for cryptocurrency is typically the portion of the code that relates to capital gains or losses. However, some transactions involving digital currency may be treated as income for the owner. Now that Bitcoin and other forms of digital currency have gained in popularity, and increased substantially in value, the IRS is interested in ensuring that taxpayers report cryptocurrency correctly.
[Video] Tax 101 - Five Tips for Making Tax Time Easier Next Year
Tax Attorney Steve Thienel discusses time-honored tactics for reducing stress around tax time.
When Do I Need to File a Non-resident Tax Return?
Individuals who work or live in Maryland are typically subject to state taxes based on their residency status. Therefore, your residency status can have a significant impact on whether you owe state income taxes. If Maryland demands you file a tax return and pay state income taxes even though you were not a resident, contact a Maryland tax attorney to discuss your options for challenging the state’s claim of residency.
Going Broke from Estimated Tax Penalties? Five Tips to Keep You Out of Hot Water with the IRS
For taxpayers who do not pay taxes throughout the year or underpay, they may face a large tax penalty when they file their tax returns. If you are going broke paying estimated tax penalties, working with a Maryland tax attorney to identify problems with your estimated tax payments could help eliminate those penalties.
Did the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Kill My Boat Deduction?
The deductions you may take for interest on your boat loan has changed somewhat since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), but the deductions have not been eliminated. Below is a brief discussion from Maryland tax attorney, Steve Thienel, of some changes in the tax reform bill that impacts interest deductions for a boat. If you follow the current rules in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, you may still benefit from certain deductions.
Income Tax Planning for Musicians
As a musician, you have expenses that are unique to your industry. Utilizing the tax deductions available for musicians is essential to reducing your tax liability. This is especially true since some of the deductions musicians may have used in past tax years were eliminated with the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
In this article, we discuss several of the unique income tax planning issues for musicians and how musicians can take advantage of tax laws to reduce income tax liability.
Two Ways to Save Thousands with the Home Office Deduction
Business owners who use a portion of their home for business may benefit from using the home office deduction when preparing their income taxes. Claiming a deduction for a home office often reduces tax liability. However, the IRS has strict guidelines for claiming a home office deduction on your tax return. A Maryland tax attorney can help you determine if you can claim a home office deduction and the best way to maximize tax benefits for this deduction.
[UPDATED] Can I Deduct my Business-Related Auto Expenses on my S-Corp Taxes?
Updated 2020 - The rules have changed on how you can deduct your business-related auto expenses on your S-Corp taxes under the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA). A Maryland tax attorney can help.
Three Ways to Pull Money from Your IRA at Any Age - Without Getting Dinged
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are used by many people to save for retirement because of the benefits of contributing to IRAs while you are working. However, if you want to access the money in your IRA before age 59 ½, you may owe taxes on the withdrawal, in addition to the hefty 10 percent penalty for early withdrawals.
Should My LLC be Taxed as an S-Corporation?
An LLC may elect how it wants to be taxed: as a sole proprietorship, partnership, S-Corp, or C-Corp. Depending on the situation, electing one income tax structure over another income tax structure for an LLC can provide important tax benefits for the company and the owner. Because tax law can be complicated, it's beneficial to discuss your concerns and needs with a Maryland business tax attorney before electing how your LLC should be treated for tax purposes.
What Can a Tax Attorney Do For You?
A Maryland tax attorney can do many things for clients. We are not only called upon when someone has a problem with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or other taxing authority. A tax attorney can help you with all matters related to personal and business taxes with two goals in mind – reducing your tax burden and preventing an audit.
Estate Planning Strategies Under the New Federal Tax Law
Several events should trigger a review of your estate plan, such as the birth of a child, a divorce, or the death of an heir. Another reason to review your estate plan is a change in the tax code. When Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), I received numerous calls from clients with questions about how the changes to the federal tax code impacted their estate plans.