Gordon F. Schafer, Jr., CPA

Underreported income and math errors are key mistakes that can trigger an audit from the IRS. Having your taxes prepared by a professional can significantly reduce this risk.

Five Reasons Why the IRS Will Audit You The IRS is constantly looking for a reason to audit you. There are several red flags that can identify your tax return as one that needs additional attention. Knowing these indicators can help you avoid the unwanted scrutiny.

There's still time to lower your tax obligation. Here are five great ideas to consider.

Lower This Year's Tax Obligation - Action to take now! Now is a great time to assess your current tax situation and address any lingering tax questions that may improve your tax picture this year. Here are five things to consider.

The gift tax is one of the most misunderstood provisions in the tax code. Here is what you need to know.

Understanding the Gift Giving Tax - Excess gift giving could cause a tax surprise Presenting a gift to a grandchild does not normally have us thinking about the taxes. However, if not careful, the over-generous gift giver could end up with a surprise tax bill and a note from the IRS.

You can legally lower your taxes by shifting a certain amount of unearned income to your children. Here are some ideas to implement this strategy.

Leveraging Your Children's Lower Tax Rate - One of the best places for parents to look for tax savings The progressive nature of income tax rates offers taxpayers the incentive to transfer assets to lower earning taxpayers. Why not your children? Here are some tips.

In a world of digital payments, how do you prove your tax deductions? Here are some tips.

No Check! Where's Your Proof? - What to do about your need for documentation Very few banks return your canceled checks. So what do you need to do if required by the IRS to prove your deductions? This often means staying ahead of the game at year end.

Scams are getting more sophisticated and the IRS is a target. Here are tips to protect yourself.

Is it really the IRS? - Four tips to ensure your security Con artists impersonate IRS agents to either intimidate people into making payments or turn over their personal information. Here are some ideas to ensure this does not happen to you.

Everyone should understand 529 savings plans. Here is what you need to know.

Understanding 529 Savings Plans - Plus a couple of great tips The tax code is filled with programs to be tax efficient when paying for educational expenses. One of the most popular is the 529 Savings Plan. Here is what you need to know.

With the mandate to eliminate paper checks, including checks used to issue tax refunds, the transition to virtual payments is causing a mess. Here is what you need to know.

Refund Delay? - Understanding IRS Notice CP53E Over 1.4 million refunds are delayed and the number is quickly increasing. Much of the delay is due to the Presidential Executive Order eliminating paper checks. Here is what you need to know.

Time to make an estimated quarterly tax payment!

It's Tax Time! Don't Forget 1st Quarter Estimated Payments. - Now is the time to pay your taxes AND make your estimated tax payment. Reminder: Tax returns AND first quarter estimated taxes are due by Wednesday, April 15th.

Early withdrawals from most retirement accounts prior to age 59 1/2 come with a steep 10% tax penalty.

Should I Tap into my Retirement Funds? When you are cash strapped, your retirement nest egg can look very tempting to solve your immediate financial problem. Is it ever a good idea?