AHLSTARZ Tax and Accounting Service -- Numbers, Simplified.

Many apologies to our patient clients in the delay of receiving your much anticipated appointment letters.

Due to recent acts of nature we were delayed by over a week in sending out our usual appointment cards. The last of the appointment letters we have chosen for this year were mailed out this afternoon. Keep an eye out for yours!

If for any reason you don't receive your appointment letter, or wish to make a change to your pre-scheduled tax appointment, please feel free to contact the office. I'll be glad to help you find an appointment that is more suited for your schedule!

Mark your calendars: the 2009 deadline for 1099 forms is around the corner!

Did you pay someone for services in amounts totaling $600 or more this year? Then you need to file a 1099-MISC for that person or persons with IRS in order to take that money as a deduction.

Below are the 1099 forms deadlines for tax year 2009:

1099 Form----------------------------------------Deadline (Due Date)

1099-MISC Copy B to Recipient--------------February 1, 2010
1099-MISC Copy A to IRS---------------------March 1, 2010

The IRS has issued a reminder to individual taxpayers who are considering buying a new car that they have until Dec. 31 to take advantage of a tax break that may not be available in 2010. Taxpayers who buy a qualifying new motor vehicle after Feb. 16, 2009, can deduct the state or local sales or excise taxes they paid on the first $49,500 of the purchase price. Qualifying motor vehicles include new passenger automobiles, light trucks, motorcycles, and motor homes.

The California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) has announced that it will not impose the personal income tax e-pay penalty against taxpayers required to make their tax payments electronically. The FTB states that since the mandatory e-pay requirements were instituted in 2009, compliance has been increasing steadily. However, rather than imposing penalties now, the FTB will continue to focus its efforts on outreach and education so that taxpayers and their representatives can implement processes and procedures to comply with the law.

The House, during the week beginning November 30, is expected to take up legislation that would extend current estate tax levels for one year. Advocates for a permanent fix to the tax said that Congress would likely revisit the issue in 2010.