What is Tax Relief?

What is Tax Relief?

Tax relief is any program or policy that the government offers to individuals or businesses to reduce or eliminate their tax debts.

There are many options for tax relief. These include universal tax cuts, targeted programs to benefit certain taxpayers, and initiatives that support specific goals. The child tax credit, for example, gives parents of minor children a tax break, while the tax credit for green improvements (e.g. energy-efficient windows) helps the United States achieve its goal of energy independence and cleaner air.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

• many types of tax relief can be used to lower your tax bill and settle tax-related debts.
• Tax deductions allow you to deduct certain expenses, such as interest on a home mortgage, from your taxable income. This allows you to lower the amount of tax that you owe.
• Tax credits can directly reduce your tax bill, and may even provide a refund, even if no tax is owed.
• IRS Fresh Start helps individuals and companies pay back taxes and avoid a tax lien.

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Understanding Tax Relief

Through tax credits, deductions, and exclusions, tax relief programs and initiatives can help taxpayers lower their tax bills. Some programs assist taxpayers with tax debts to reduce their tax bills and avoid liens.

Sometimes, the federal tax code is amended by government policy goals. In response to concerns over the lack of retirement savings in the United States, Congress created incentives for people to save in tax-advantaged savings accounts like IRAs or 401(ks)s to help them retire.

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Natural disasters can also result in tax relief. The IRS announced dozens of tax relief announcements for individuals and businesses that were affected by natural disasters such as tornadoes, flooding, hurricanes, and straight-line winds. This relief is usually in the form of penalty and interest waivers, an extension of filing and payment, and deductions for theft and casualty losses resulting from federally declared disasters.

If you don't file a timely claim to be reimbursed and the loss is reduced by the anticipated reimbursement, you can't deduct casualty or theft losses.

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Tax deductions

Tax deductions reduce your taxable income and lower your tax bill. You can either take the standard deduction, or you can itemize your deductions on Schedule A Form 1040-SR.

Standard deduction

Your filing status, your age, and whether or not you are disabled, as well as the income tax return of another person, will determine how much standard deduction you can take. These are the standard deduction amounts applicable to the tax years 2021 and 2022:

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Standard Deductions 2021-2022
Filing Status	2021 Standard deduction	2022 Standard deduction
Single	$12,550	$12,950
Filing Separately from Married	$12,550	$12,950
Head of the Household	$18,800	$19,400
Filing jointly by a married couple	$25,100	$25,900
Surviving with Spouses	$25,100	$25,900

 

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If you turn 65 years old or are legally blind, you can claim an additional deduction. This "additional standard deduction" for 2021 is $1,350 (or 1,700 if you file as a single or head-of-household) if your age is 65 or older, or blind. If you're 65 years old or blind, the amount will double. The standard deduction for 2022 is $1,400 ($1,750 for a head of household or single). ⁷

You can be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer if you earn more than $1,100. The standard deduction for 2021 can only be increased to $350 if your earned income exceeds $350. The deduction for 2022 is limited to $1,150, your earned income plus $400, 

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Itemized deductions

Itemized deductions are expenses you can subtract from your adjusted gross to lower your tax bill and taxable income. Only if you do not claim the standard deduction, can you itemize your deductions? If the amount you are allowed to deduct exceeds the standard deduction, it is financially sensible to itemize. These are the most common itemized deductions:

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• Mortgage interest and discount points for the first $750,000 in secured mortgage debt. If you purchased the house before Dec. 16, 2017, the $1 million will be deducted.
• Charitable donations
• Unreimbursed dental and medical expenses
• State and local taxes (SALT).
• Certain gambling losses
• Investment interest expenses

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Tax relief is often targeted at specific taxpayers such as taxpayers who are facing unexpected costs from a hurricane or wildfire.

Tax Credits

Another form of tax relief is the tax credit. Tax deductions lower your taxable income but tax credits directly reduce the tax you owe.

Let's take an example. Let's say a taxpayer takes the standard deduction and pays $3,000. The person would also be eligible for a $1,000 tax credit. Their final tax bill would then be $2,000. A $1,000 tax deduction would net a $220 savings for someone in the 22% tax bracket.

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Tax credits are better than tax deductions because they lower the amount of tax that you owe and not only your taxable income.

This tax relief is sometimes called a tax incentive, as it reimburses taxpayers for any expenditures that the government considers worthwhile. The American opportunity tax credit program and the lifetime credit programs offer tax credits for people who enroll in postsecondary education programs. Some other tax credits that are popular include:

• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
• Credit for child tax
• Tax credit for savers
• Premium tax credit for Health Insurance Marketplace

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Tax Exclusions

Tax deductions are the amounts you subtract from your income. However, tax exclusions allow certain income types to be considered non-taxable. Tax exclusions can reduce your taxable income as well as your tax bill. You can, for example, exclude from your income child support payments, life-insurance death benefits, and any municipal bond income.

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Common tax exclusions include the one for employer-sponsored healthcare insurance. The premiums paid by your employer for health insurance are exempted from federal income tax and payroll taxes. In general, the premiums you pay are not included in your taxable income. Your tax bill will be lower if premiums are excluded, thereby reducing the cost of your health insurance coverage after taxes.

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You might be eligible for the exclusion on foreign earned income and exclusion on foreign housing if you have earned income abroad. You must be either a U.S citizen or a resident alien for an uninterrupted period that includes the entire tax year to qualify.

Selling a house is another popular exclusion. You can exempt up to $250,000 (or $500,000 if you are married filing jointly) from capital gains resulting from the sale or purchase of your primary residence. You must have lived in the house for at least two of the five previous years. Additionally, you cannot exclude the gains from another sale within the past two years.

Income that is exempted from tax purposes may not be recorded on the return in some cases. Other cases see it recorded in one area of the return and then deducted from another.

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Tax Debt Relief

The IRS Fresh Start program assists taxpayers to catch up on their back taxes and avoid tax levies, wage garnishments, and jail time. The IRS Fresh Start program was launched in 2011. It is a series of amendments to the U.S tax code that simplifies the collection process and allows you to settle your tax debt for a fraction of the amount you owe. The program is open to both individuals and businesses.

There are four Fresh Start options available for taxpayers who are behind in their tax payments.

• Offer in compromise. This federal program allows you to settle your IRS tax debts for less than what you owe. This program is for taxpayers who owe more than they can afford to pay or if it would cause financial hardship.
• Not currently collectible. The IRS has determined that your gross monthly income is not sufficient to pay the amount you owe. The IRS will not garnish your wages or levy your bank account to stop the collection of your debt. Instead, you can defer payments until you are financially ready to make them.
• Installment agreement. You can pay your taxes with an IRS installment agreement. This allows you to make regular monthly payments over a specified, extended period. You may be subject to penalties and interest until your balance is paid in full.
• Penalty abatement. You can have penalties reduced or removed by the IRS, but first, you need to prove that there was a valid reason you didn't pay your taxes on time. Fire, natural disasters, and other disturbances are all acceptable causes. The IRS may also reduce or eliminate penalties from your balance if you can prove that there was a legitimate reason for not paying taxes on time. The IRS says that "a lack or inability to obtain tax-related records is not a reasonable reason for failure to file or pay on schedule."

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It is important to remember that the Fresh Start program can be confusing and difficult to navigate. Consider consulting a tax professional if you have substantial tax debt. They can help you navigate the program and ensure that you get approved.

What is the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction?

Tax credits reduce the tax you owe and tax deductions lower your taxable income. Credits offer the greatest savings, while deductions can save you money on taxes. A $1,000 tax credit can lower your tax bill by the same $1,000. A $1,000 tax deduction will reduce your taxable income by the same amount. If you are in the 24% tax bracket, then a $1,000 tax deduction would reduce your tax bill by $240.

 

What is the Standard Deduction for 2021?

The standard deduction for 2021 is $12,550 for single or married taxpayers filing separately, $18,800 per head of household, and $25,100 for married filers filing jointly and their surviving spouses.

What is the Standard Deduction for 2022?

The standard deduction for 2022 is $12,950 for married and single taxpayers, $19 400 for heads of household, and $25,900 respectively for married filers filing jointly.

What is the annual gift exclusion for 2022?

For 2022, the annual exclusion for gifts will increase to $16,000 from $15,000 for 2021. This means that you can gift up to $16,000 tax-free without having to use any of your estate or lifetime gifts.

 

There are differences between tax credits, exemptions, and reliefs.

Tax credits

Tax credits can directly lower the tax you pay. Tax credits can be used for the entire tax year. Some tax credits can be claimed automatically, while others must be claimed. You can access my account by clicking the icon 'Manage tax 2022'.

You can't get a refund for any tax credits that you haven't used and they cannot be carried over to another tax year.

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Allergy to tax

Tax reliefs directly lower your income tax liability. You may be eligible for a refund of the tax paid. The rate of tax that you pay will determine the amount of relief you get.

Your income will be reduced if you pay 40% tax and the remainder is subject to 40% tax. It will be reduced by the relief, and the rest is taxed at 20%.

You can apply for these tax reductions using my account by clicking the icon 'Manage tax 2022'.

Tax exemptions

Certain types of income may not be subject to tax. To be eligible for an exemption, you must meet certain conditions. You can qualify for an exemption by meeting certain conditions, such as marginal relief or some social welfare payments.

 

Tax relief companies advertise their assistance to taxpayers in distress on television, radio, and the internet. These companies will charge you an upfront fee that can reach thousands of dollars. They claim they can help reduce or eliminate tax debts, stop back-tax collection, and apply for legitimate IRS hardship programs. Most taxpayers are not eligible for these programs. The companies that offer them don't pay the tax debt and don't send the IRS the paperwork requesting participation. To make matters worse, some of these companies refuse to refund taxpayers and place people in even more debt.

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Several taxpayers have filed complaints to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They claimed that after signing up for these companies and paying thousands in upfront fees, the companies took more of their money by charging unauthorized charges to credit cards or withdrawing from their bank accounts.

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The FTC is the national consumer protection agency. If you owe taxes back and aren't sure how to pay them, don't panic. Take a deep breath and think about your options. It's better to negotiate a payment plan directly with your creditor than to have someone else do it for you. This is also true if you owe money to the IRS or your state's comptroller.

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IRS Assistance for Taxpayers

You can submit an Installment Agreement Request (Form 9455) with your tax return if you owe taxes but are unable to pay the IRS fully. If you owe less than $10,000, the IRS may not deny you a request for an installment agreement. You should still make sure you pay the full amount. Even if you request an installment agreement, interest will be charged and a penalty for late payments. By establishing an installment agreement and paying your installments upfront, you can avoid IRS collection notices or actions such as a Notice Federal Tax Lien and an IRS levy.

Many IRS tax relief programs can help you with back taxes. These include the Fresh Start initiative.

• An Installment agreement is available for people who are unable to pay all of their tax debt at once. This program allows individuals to make smaller monthly payments until their entire debt is paid.
  • The IRS increased the threshold for streamlined installment arrangements from $25,000 to $50,000 of tax debt and increased the maximum repayment term to five to six years under its Fresh Start initiative. The IRS allows taxpayers who owe less than $50,000 to apply online. They don't need to fill out an IRS Collection Statement (Form 433A, 433B, or Form 433F).
• An Offer in Compromise allows taxpayers to permanently settle their tax debts for less than what they owe. OIC is a valuable tool for people who are in limited circumstances. It allows taxpayers to permanently settle their tax debt for less than the amount they owe.
  • The IRS extended the OIC program under its Fresh Start initiative to include a wider range of taxpayers in need. The IRS will reject any offer if the IRS believes that the liability can be fully paid either in a lump sum or by installment agreements. On its website, the IRS guides choosing a tax professional to serve as an OIC.

The IRS may offer penalty abatement to individuals who have not paid their taxes due to special hardship in very limited circumstances. The IRS might forgive penalties if the taxpayer meets very specific criteria. Interest abatement may be offered in limited circumstances and is rarely available. These programs can eliminate interest or penalties, but you still owe taxes. Be wary of tax relief companies that promise to eliminate interest or penalties. There is very little relief available. They should meet with you face-to-face to discuss your options and the fee structure.

The IRS states that you can apply to an Installment Agreement, OIC, or penalty or interest abatement by yourself. If you prefer third-party assistance in negotiating with the IRS, only certain tax professionals -- Enrolled Agents (federally-authorized tax practitioners who can represent taxpayers before all administrative levels of the IRS), Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), and attorneys have the authority to represent you. They should meet with you face-to-face to discuss your options and the fee structure.

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Before you sign any agreement, make sure to read the refund policy if you are required to pay an upfront fee for representation in tax collection matters. You should also check to make sure that the default billing rate applies to all employees of a company. This does not apply to tax professionals. Even early in your representation, a high default billing rate could quickly eat up a significant portion of your upfront payment.

The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent agency that can help you if you have tax problems you have not been able to solve yourself. If your problems are causing financial hardship for you or your business, you may be subject to adverse collection actions by the IRS.

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State Tax Relief Programs

Although it is like the IRS process, the tax settlement process with states is different. For example, penalties for taxpayers can be waived in some states but not interest. In some states, penalties cannot be waived but interest can. In some states, legitimate tax debts cannot be reduced. Contact your state comptroller for more information. Visit the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers (NASACT), nasact.org.

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Problems With Tax Relief Companies and Representatives

The IRS Office of Professional Responsibility is concerned about questionable practices in tax debt resolution. Send problems to the IRS using Form 14157, Complaint: Return Preparer. The IRS Return Preparer Office will investigate the complaint and, if necessary, send it to the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility.

Companies and individuals who:

• We guarantee that you will be free from your tax obligations.
• Falsely state the time it takes to process a request for debt relief;
• In financial statements that are submitted to the IRS, you should not include relevant asset information.

You can also file a complaint online or by telephone to the FTC: The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network. This secure online database is used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies across the U.S.

 

Taxpayer Tips

If you owe taxes or are having difficulty meeting your tax obligations:

• Read your notices from your state comptroller or the IRS. Ask these agencies about collection options.
• Avoid aggravation by not listening to businesses that claim you are eligible for a tax relief program that will resolve your tax debt. This decision can only be made by the IRS or your state's comptroller. To determine if you are eligible for an offer of compromise, read the IRS Offer in Compromise Booklet Form 656-B and then use this IRS online tool.
• If the full fee for services is not requested upfront, with no explanation as to how services will be charged or whether refunds will be given, think twice.