Robin Ardinger CPA

Congress is working hard on the new tax bill and thinking outside the box! One new idea: create a cap on how much can be in your retirement account, continuing to grow tax-free until withdrawal. Taxpayers filing jointly would have to still be earning enough to be in the top bracket (income over $450,000) AND have more than $10 million in their retirement accounts. Then they'd have to withdraw (and subject to tax in the current year) half of the amount over $10 million. Th...ink about this . . . since the amount able to be contributed each year is already limited, if your retirement account is over $10 million, there would be many years of contributions, as well as a lot of growth within that account that hasn't been taxed yet. Why do I like this?? Because MY retirement account is SAFE from this tax!! Just a little tax geek humor here! I hope this makes it into the final law!! See more

It's September 15! 1. Pay your 3rd quarter estimated taxes (federal, state and local). Online payment options are simpler than ever before and you have until midnight; 2. If you haven't filed your entity's tax returns, get those signature pages back to your accountant; 3. Countdown to final October 15 deadline for your 1040 begins!! 4. Say a prayer (or send good vibes, juju, whatever) for your CPA.... Everyone remain calm! Taxes shouldn't be stressful! See more

I'm an accountant, so for me numbers tell a story. 2,996 people died in the 9/11 attack. In the next 20 years, 2,369 US soldiers were killed in Afghanistan, including the 13 who died in the final exit. EVERYONE SEEMS TO AGREE that it was long past the time for the USA to leave Afghanistan. The story IS that every single one of those lives was precious to someone. Let's hope for more peaceful days ahead. Thank you to the families of the military who fight the fight for us. I'd make a terrible soldier, so I will sit here and count the beans!

Oh IRS, you made me laugh today!! Mr. Collier, of the IRS Atlanta Office, returned my call today and was very helpful! I thanked him profusely, noting that a previous call wasn't quite so pleasant, to which he replied, "Well, I'm in a good mood today because I'm retiring next week!" I took full advantage of his good mood and asked to pick his brain on the other issue. He replied in his lovely Southern accent, "Well sure! Go ahead and ask me anything!" Then as I proceeded . . . *click* . . . he was gone! HERE'S TO MR. COLLIER!! You made me laugh!! Happy Retirement!

Things I was able to do while on hold with the IRS today: Open mail, clean desk, get IRS transcripts on-line, eat dinner, leaf through 2 catalogs, write notes, enter Publishers Clearing House "Win $15,000 a Week For LIfe" sweepstakes! I'm not sure which has the better odds: the Clearing House, or the IRS answering the phone! Call me a gambler!! I'm hanging on . . . I'll be humming this music for a while. Gosh I've got a great life!!

If you saw the column in the news that said ". . . the time to be polite and forgiving for the failures at the IRS is so over", let me direct your frustration to the proper target, which happens to be (once again) Congress. The funding for the number and skill-level of IRS customer service personnel is woefully lacking. IRS agents are dancing as fast as they can!! and THAT'S not a pretty sight! Dancing with the Stars it is NOT!!

When you join that Fantasy Sports league, remember to put some of your winnings aside to pay tax on your profits! STOP LAUGHING! It IS taxable! I know your next question: "How are they gonna catch me?" Once again . . . be American, pay your taxes! In answer to your question, you'll get a 1099 form for any winnings in excess of $600, which also goes to the IRS.... Let the games begin!! See more

Are you feeling the love??? IRS wants you to be safe! (Please limit your comments that may bring me out of my la la land!) Be careful out there! https://www.irs.gov//irs-announces-dirty-dozen-tax-scams-f

Dear Clients: Our office will be closed on Friday, June 25 and Monday, June 26 in order to enjoy life! In case of a tax emergency . . . KIDDING! My clients don't HAVE tax emergencies! We'll be back in the office on Tuesday, June 29th. Have a great weekend!

PARENTS: IF you are counting on the Child Tax Credits to help pay your 2021 tax liability, DO NOT let the IRS give it to you in advance OR you may be underpaid and will have to give it back in April, 2022, maybe with a penalty for underpayment! The IRS site is now able to take your request to Unenroll from Advance Payments. Go to irs.gov and click on the Child Tax Credit Box, then Unenroll From Advance Payments. You will have to have an IRS username or ID.me account. More details are available on the site. If your children are all over age 17, well then, nevermind. . . you aren't eligible.

Two years ago, if you'd have asked me the significance of May 17, 2021, I would have had NO idea!!! But here we are! I made it to 2020 TAX DEADLINE DAY! Thank you to ALL my clients, those filed AND those extended, for your patience and understanding this tax season!

Extensions are a beautiful thing. *fact*

If you're only starting to look for tax help now, you may have to file your own extension and call in person to speak directly to the tax professional after May 17th. We're swamped. . . which is good, but tiring! You can get the extension forms online. Don't forget your state and local extensions also, and pay any tax you guesstimate to be due. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4868.pdf

If you don't think you should have gotten the Economic Impact Payments, $1,200, $600, or the new $1,400, even though you were eligible for them, and You don't think the government should be giving out so much $$, there is now a solution! Give it back, in a charitable nature, to the government entity of your choice, OR just to reduce the public debt! Go to www.pay.gov to see your options of giving! Scroll down to "Make a Donation or Contribution" and go from there! Uncle Sam thanks you! What a concept!!!

Slow down, you move too fast . . . gotta make tax season last!! (Were you singing that? I was!) Especially true for 2020 tax returns if you received unemployment compensation. The new law may make the first $10,200 federal-tax-free! Software companies will have work to do, IRS will have work to do . . . I'LL HAVE work to do!!

It's our 10th Anniversary of RAcpa!! It makes me feel young, since I stopped counting the years of experience after 30!! Some clients have been with me now over 20 years! Make new clients, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold! Thank you all!

The IRS is now caught up on last year's unopened 20 million pieces of mail. Suddenly my backlog doesn't look so bad after all!!