H. Brisbin Skiles II, CPA

Covid won't keep us from sharing treats with our clients. Prepackaged to go bags with your favorite caramel treats, tootsie rolls and smarties for the little ones

For the safety of our staff, we will remain closed this afternoon and evening. We will have normal hours on Saturday from 9am to 11:30am. See you then!

The office will be closed this morning. We will make a decision on the afternoon hours of 3:30 to 6:30pm later today. Be safe and enjoy the snow if you can. Our family will be having virtual school and work from home

We'll be in the office until 11:30am this morning. Stop and drop off your forms if you have them ready! Happy Saturday!

Pam will be in the office from 3:30-6:30 this afternoon. Feel free to drop off your tax papers.

I want to clarify info for stimulus checks - the government and media have done a horrible job communicating information to taxpayers and tax preparers like me. It is frustrating. Here's the basics, please feel free to ask me any questions, if I know the answers I'll share..........it is FREE!! You will NOT pay tax on this economic impact payment. It is 1,200 for individuals and 2,400 for married couples since you are 2 individuals If you are a dependent on a return you don...'t get it. There are income limits. You will receive a full payment if your adjusted gross income (AGI , 2019 Form 1040 line 8b or if not yet filed 2018 Form 1040 line 7 will be used) is 75,000 or less (150,000 for married joint). You will receive a partial payment if your AGI is less than 99,000 (198,000 for married joint). If you are in the phase out your payment is reduced by $5 for each $100 above the 75,000 (150,000) thresholds. The amount is based on 2019 taxes filed unless you haven't filed 2019, then the IRS will use 2018. Ultimately, it will be recalculated with 2020 filing and IF you didn't get a check and you should have you will get it then (for example you're single and your income is 100,000 in 2019 but in 2020 you are out of work and your income drops to 70,000). If you got a check and you made more money in 2020 and you didn't qualify you will NOT pay it back. Go to www.irs.gov for more info. Today the "Get my Payment" opened which will give info about when you will receive your $ and also will allow you to enter banking info if you didn't have it on your 2019 tax return. (if you had a direct deposit in 2019 or 2018 (if 2019 isn't filed) the IRS will use this bank account to deposit your funds). I warn you this site has been "down" more than it has been "up" today. I was able to use it a few times and entered banking info for a client that didn't have a 2019 refund so her check can be direct depsosited - success! I was also able to learn another client had a deposit in her account today - success! Several attempts for info failed.

The IRS announced today that they are delaying the 2nd Quarter 2020 estimated tax payment to 7-15-2020 (it was due 6-15-2020). Therefore, the 1st and 2nd Quarter 2020 estimated tax payments for Federal, PA and Local taxes are all due 7-15-2020.

If IRS doesn’t have your direct deposit info, a check will be mailed to your address on file. For your #TaxSecurity, do NOT provide your direct deposit or banking information for others to input on your behalf into the IRS secure portal. https://go.usa.gov/xvrf7 #COVIDreliefIRS

Please share this info with your friends and relatives collecting social security.....

https://www.uc.pa.gov/Pages/covid19.aspx This could help many of our small business clients - please watch this website for updates...... The federal CARES Act will provide unemployment benefits to the self-employed, gig workers, and other individuals who previously were not eligible for unemployment. Special instructions will be provided to these individuals. At this time, you should NOT file a claim through the existing online system or phone number if you are not currently eligible for unemployment.

IRS will share details about the economic impact payment as soon as it’s available. The IRS will NOT contact you to ask you to pay a fee or confirm personal information IT IS A SCAM. Stay informed and spread the word: www.irs.gov/coronavirus

Latest Update on Due Date Extensions - Federal, PA and Local Tax Collectors have extended the due date for 2019 individual balances due from 4/15 to 7/15/2020. Federal, PA and Local 1st quarter estimated tax payments are now due 7/15/2020, extended from 4/15.... Federal 2nd quarter estimated tax payments are still due 6/15/2020 - before the 1st quarter, no extension. PA 2nd quarter estimated tax payments are now due 7/15/2020, extended from 6/15. Local 2nd quarter estimated tax payments remain at the 7/15/2020 due date. Payments are allowed to be made prior to the due dates. Please contact our office with any questions or concerns. Stay healthy, safe and sane! We miss all of you and look forward to opening our office to clients again soon. Until then we are working full time from our home office - Bris and Janet

Latest Update - PA Extends Personal Income Tax Return Filing Deadline to July 15, 2020 The Department of Revenue today announced the deadline for taxpayers to file their 2019 Pennsylvania personal income tax returns is extended to July 15, 2020. Similar to Federal, Pennsylvania is waving interest and penalties on payments through the July 15, 2020 extended deadline.... Pennsylvania's first and second quarter estimates for 2020 have also been extended to July 15, 2020. As of now, second quarter federal estimates are still due June 15, 2020. Currently, 2019 County Income Taxes and 1st quarter estimates are still due April 15, 2020. We anticipate the counties will extend their deadlines to match Pennsylvania.

The Federal tax filing deadline is extended to July 15, 2020. Secretary Steven Munchin tweeted, At Donald Trump’s direction, we are moving Tax Day from April 15 to July 15. All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest and penalties. Please note - the tax deadline for Pennsylvania and most other states and PA Counties is still April 15, 2020. We expect to hear from the States and Counties in the next few weeks about whether or not they will follow the IRS extension. We are monitoring this closely and will communicate any changes. This being said, we continue to prepare and mail returns from our home office. Hang in there everyone!

Just to clarify, our Gap office #'s and faxes are transferred and ringing at our home office. Don't hesitate to call! We are fully functioning at home!

To our wonderful clients - we are trying to navigate the final few weeks of our tax season. Be patient. Our state CPA organizations are trying to find out how to proceed. With no notice we are told we can not operate but all tax due dates and payments have not been extended (some have some haven't). We do expect them to extend all forms and payments IF they force us to close the office. Bris and Janet will continue to work from home and will mail as many returns as possible. The phones and computers are working. Call, text or email anytime. Leave a message if you get the machine, it's kinda crazy here! (here being our home office, Gap is officially closed as of 7:30pm tonight)

Finally got everyone together to celebrate a successful tax season (very belated). Blessed to have the best employees!! Ready or not another tax season is quickly approaching. Wouldn't want to go through it with anyone else So happy to report Amy, Pam and Beth will all be returning again next year!

SCAM ALERT: The Department of Revenue today warned the public of a recently reported mail scam in which con artists have tried to defraud Pennsylvanians by threatening them with legal action or criminal prosecution if they don’t pay an illegitimate tax debt immediately. Con artists are always working to develop new and elaborate schemes to swindle money from hard-working people, Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell said. They use high-pressure tactics and threats to pressure their victims and make them fearful of the potential consequences if they don’t act immediately. We want everyone to be aware of scams like these so they can recognize the warning signs and protect themselves. Click here to read more about the scam and for tips on how to protect yourself: https://bit.ly/2MK66VQ