IRS warns about e-mail and phone scams

The IRS is warning taxpayers not to respond to e-mails and phone calls they may receive which claim to come from the IRS or another federal agency. Such contacts are likely to be scams whose purpose is to obtain personal and financial information from taxpayers – information that is then used by the scammers to commit identity theft.

Typically, the scam e-mail or phone call states that the IRS needs certain information to process a tax return or refund. The e-mail contains links or attachments to what appears to be the IRS website or an IRS form. Though they appear genuine, these phonies are designed to get from taxpayers the information scammers need to steal identities. The links can even download malicious software onto the taxpayer's computer if clicked. The software is often designed to search out and send to the scammer personal and financial information contained on the taxpayer's computer that the scammer uses to commit identity theft.

The IRS reminds taxpayers that it does not send unsolicited e-mails asking for sensitive personal and financial information.

The Coming Sunset Affects More Than Tax Rates

"The Coming Sunset Affects More Than Tax Rates"

Unless Congress acts soon, the "2001 Tax Act" will expire at the end of this year, bringing back pre-2001 tax rates and rules. While the current discussions focus on the income tax rates that will rise if the law is allowed to expire, there are dozens of other major changes that will sunset too.

Here's a quick overview of what 2011 will bring unless Congress intervenes.

* The limitation on itemized deductions based on income will be reinstated in full.

* The phase-out of the deduction for personal exemptions for higher-income taxpayers will be reinstated in full.

* Married couples filing a joint return will not be entitled to twice the standard deduction amount allowed for single taxpayers. Nor will couples get the 15% tax rate on twice the amount of income as single taxpayers get. The marriage penalty, in other words, is back to pre-2001 levels.
* The child tax credit and the dependent care credit will revert to pre-2001 levels.

* The maximum rate for capital gains will revert to 20%, and dividends will be taxed at ordinary income rates as high as 39.6%.

* Among the changes to education tax breaks, the annual contribution to Coverdell education savings accounts will revert to $500.

* The estate tax will return with a maximum rate of 55% and an exclusion amount of $1 million.

Your tax planning, as challenging as it already is, should take these potential changes into account. For guidance in your year-end planning, give us a call.

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About Jose F. Padro, P.A.

Padro and Company, P.A. CPA Doral, Miami Florida – Tax Services, Business Planning & Taxes, Bookkeeping and Accounting, IRS Audit and Dispute Representation, Personal & Business Taxes.
José F. Padró has over 25 years of public accounting experience having practiced is small, mid-size and large accounting firm environments. José has a broad range of experience in taxation, financial reporting and management consulting.

Trust the Professionals at PADRÓ & Company, P.A. Our professional staff is trained to understand the intricacies of business accounting and tax laws - and how to use them to benefit your bottom line.

Padro and Company, P.A. CPA Doral, Miami, Florida
2520 N.W. 97 Ave, Suite 120, Doral, FL 33172 –
(305) 500-9361 - Fax (305) 500-9492

My Point of View of Florida Income Taxes and It's Equivalent Tax , the Real Estate Tax.

My Point of View of Florida Income Taxes and It's Equivalent Tax , the Real Estate Tax.

As Citizens of the State of Florida we have to understand that the State has
two principal tax revenue sources, the first is the Florida Sales tax and
the second is the Real estate taxes charged by the respective Counties of
course there are other methods of Tax funding but, these two are the topics
covered in this discussion.

Most of the States of the Union have a State Income Tax Revenue source in
addition to their Sales Tax Revenue Source. In our State of Florida we have
zero Income Taxes at the individual level and a small Corporate Income Tax. We must also understand that thousands of corporation have elected to
become S Corporations which are exempted for State Income Taxes.

The State of Florida government is tied to the funding sources permitted by
our constitution. So for me is evident that the Real estate Tax is the
substitution for other State Income Tax Revenue.

So those are the major funding sources in place created in our State in
addition to the so called FEES (taxes in disguise) . Our politicians must
understand that economies have contractions and budget and services must be
adjusted accordingly.

Real Estate values have decreased substantially the last couple of years, so
our income tax equivalent (Real Estate Taxes) have decreased. Florida
coffers have been depleted. It is not business as usual.

Services at the State and local levels will have to adapt to the
decrease in budgets due to decrease on tax revenues.

We want a government that we can not afford, our government structure was
created to serve us and not to hurt us. Almost every family, every
taxpayer, every small business is suffering in these economic times and we
have modified our budgets in this contraction.

If we still want a government that we can not afford, then higher taxes are
the solution. We need a government that we can afford and if that means
cutting services to accommodate the shortfall ,so let it be. We can not
mortgage the future of generations to come, it is truly irresponsible and
abuse of power

PADRO & Company, P.A.
Certified Public Accountants
TEL. 305-500-9361 FAX. 305-500-9492
2520 NW 97 Av. Street. Suite 120 Miami. FL. 33172

http://www.padrocpa.com
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Any tax advice included in this written or electronic communication was not
intended or written to be used and it cannot be used by the taxpayer, for
the purpose of avoiding any penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer by
any governmental taxing authority or agency.