Jeffrey B. Kahn, Esq. discusses taxes on the November 23, 2014 radio show “Talking Money with Mr. C” on 760AM KFMB in San Diego
Are you at risk for this major tax penalty?
Don’t let the hustle and bustle of the holiday season distract you into a hefty tax penalty come April. The Internal Revenue Service expects consumers to begin taking distributions from many of their retirement accounts-including 401(k) and 403(b) plans, and traditional IRAs-starting in the year they turn 70-and-a-half or the year when they retire, whichever is later. Fail to do so and the amount you should have withdrawn will be taxed at 50%. “It’s one of the biggest penalties in the tax code”.
IRS Attacks On Businesses – So where a business has been treating its workers as independent contractors and there is a concern that the IRS in an audit would not respect this arrangement, what can the business do?
The business should consider entering into the IRS’ Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP). The VCSP is a voluntary program that provides an opportunity for taxpayers to reclassify their workers as employees for employment tax purposes for future tax periods with partial relief from federal employment taxes. To participate in this voluntary program, the taxpayer must meet certain eligibility requirements and apply to participate in the VCSP by filing Form 8952, Application for Voluntary Classification Settlement Program, and enter into a closing agreement with the IRS.