Thomas Bridgman, EA

Scammers have taken advantage of the huge number of new unemployment claims to slip in fraudulent claims. Taxpayers often have no warning their identity has been stolen until they receive a tax form from the unemployment office. New York residents may be extra vulnerable because the state doesn’t mail the 1099-G tax forms. Instead, unemployment recipients must log into their unemployment account to retrieve the form electronically. Of course, taxpayers who haven’t claimed unemployment won’t know that an account was set up in their name by the scammers, and would not know the password to access it. If you receive a 1099-G for benefits you did not receive or, after filing your return, an IRS letter for unreported benefits should contact the state agency to get a corrected 1099-G and omit any income you did not received when filing your tax return. You don’t need to wait to receive the corrected form before filing. Read more on irs.gov .

Even if you haven't started thinking about your 2020 return yet, now is an excellent time to check whether your tax withholding amounts are appropriate. It's much less painful to make adjustments now than it will be later in the year. (Click "read more" for the video.)

Congress passed more pandemic relief but the bill remains in limbo. Learn what's at stake for you.    

Beginning 2020, IRS has a new form, 1099-NEC , for reporting payments to independent contractors . An independent contractor is anyone whom you have paid to perform services for your business without their being on your payroll. The deadline for filing with the IRS and providing a copy to the contractor is generally January 31 (though this year we get one additional day because of the weekend), and IRS can hit you penalties if you’re late. Form 1099-MISC still exists and you may also need to file those if you made other types of reportable payments, including attorneys, rent on business property, and certain other payments. The 1099-MISC deadline remains March 1 (March 31 if filing electronically). Prior to the end of the year, you should: Make sure you have a W-9 form from any potential person or company who falls into either category (independent contractor or other payee). Plan to have your bookkeeping updated by early January so the forms can be filed before the deadline.

If you're worried because you sent Uncle Sam a payment months ago and the money is still in your account, you are not alone. The IRS is still struggling to catch up after being forced to shut down earlier this year, affecting many people. The IRS uses a “lockbox” system in which some payments are separated from the attached paperwork. The payments are processed immediately, and any accompanying return is forwarded to a different office to await processing. This explains why the IRS instructs you to use a different address for correspondence with an enclosed payment than for one without. If you accidentally mailed a payment (with or without a return) to the wrong address, it may have bypassed the lockbox and will still be sitting in a storeroom waiting to be processed. In addition, some types of returns, including 1041 returns for estates and trusts, are not part of the lockbox system and will always be processed more slowly. If your check has not been cashed, the IRS advises p

NY State has a one time grant available to TENANTS affected by Covid19 for up to 4 months of rent. Application deadline is THURSDAY July 30. This is NOT first come, first served. Homes & Community Renewal has created a dedicated call center to provide residents with help Monday through Saturday 8 am until 7 pm. Call the COVID Rent Relief Program Call Center at 1-833-499-0318 or email at covidrentrelief@hcr.ny.gov