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The IRS Reporting Threshold Change That Just Created a Tax Risk for Millions in 2026

January 26, 2026 by Brandon Marcus Leave a Comment

The IRS Reporting Threshold Change That Just Created a Tax Risk for Millions in 2026

Image source: shutterstock.com

If you’ve ever sold a vintage jacket on an app, picked up extra cash doing freelance work, or split dinner with friends via Venmo, you might have heard rumblings about a tax reporting change that could have snared millions of everyday Americans into unexpected IRS reporting paperwork in 2026.

The chatter about a strict new $600 rule had everyone from Etsy flippers to neighborhood babysitters biting their nails — but then Congress stepped in with a twist that changed the story entirely. And just like a tax-season plot twist, the IRS reporting threshold that once seemed so imminent has now shifted — in a big way.

The $600 Rule That Almost Was

For years, the IRS had been working toward lowering the reporting threshold for Form 1099-K, the tax document that payment processors like PayPal and Venmo send to both you and the IRS to report income received through their platforms. Under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, that threshold was slated to plummet to just $600, with no minimum transaction count attached — meaning that even a handful of casual transactions could have triggered a 1099-K form in 2026.

Tax professionals and everyday sellers alike were alarmed. Selling a couch, doing some freelance work, or even collecting contributions for a group gift suddenly looked like it could generate IRS paperwork. Millions of people stood on the brink of receiving tax forms for what they considered ordinary financial behavior — and that’s a recipe for confusion.

Enter The One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Then came a curveball: the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 — a massive tax and spending law signed July 4, 2025. Among its many provisions, it rewrote how 1099 reporting thresholds work. Instead of embracing the $600 threshold, Congress essentially hit rewind.

Under the new law, the 1099-K reporting threshold no longer drops to $600. Instead, it reverts to the old school standard that was in place before all this turmoil: you’ll receive a Form 1099-K only if you have more than $20,000 in gross payments and more than 200 transactions on a single payment platform in a calendar year.

That’s the rule that originally existed before the American Rescue Plan Act stirred the pot — and this reinstatement is retroactive for reporting years going back to 2022.

Why This Is Huge (But Not In The Way You Think)

Let’s be candid: for most folks, that old-school requirement of $20,000 and 200 transactions was already pretty high. Casual sellers, hobbyists, and part-time gigsters were rarely hitting both of those marks on a single platform in a year. So repeating that threshold makes a huge difference for day-to-day people.

Suddenly, that tiny Etsy shop selling handmade postcards — or that spinach quiche you flipped after thrift-shopping — probably won’t generate a 1099-K heading to your mailbox. But this doesn’t mean the IRS thinks the money isn’t taxable. It just means you won’t automatically get a tax form from PayPal or another processor for smaller totals.

It’s worth repeating: even if you don’t get a 1099-K, all income is still taxable. That’s tax law 101 — the presence (or absence) of a form doesn’t dictate your obligation to report income on your return.

The IRS Reporting Threshold Change That Just Created a Tax Risk for Millions in 2026

Image source: shutterstock.com

The New 1099 Thresholds For Businesses And Freelancers

But wait — the tax fun doesn’t stop with Form 1099-K. The same law made other changes to reporting forms that matter to small businesses and freelancers. Specifically, the reporting threshold for Form 1099-MISC and Form 1099-NEC — used to report payments to contractors, landlords, and miscellaneous income — has been increased. Starting in 2026, businesses generally won’t need to issue these forms unless the total payments reach at least $2,000 in a year, and this threshold will be adjusted for inflation in future years.

This is a big deal for small outfits and side hustlers. Under the old $600 rule, a small business that paid a freelancer $800 could have had to send out a 1099-NEC. Now? Not until payments hit that higher $2,000 mark. That’s less paperwork, fewer forms flying around, and fewer opportunities for innocent mistakes to turn into IRS penalties.

 

What Do You Think?

This change in tax reporting thresholds for 2026 is one of those rare moments when tax law manages to ease confusion rather than amplify it. Between reinstating the $20,000/$200 1099-K standard and raising the bar on other 1099 forms, the law reshapes how everyday earners interact with IRS reporting. We’ve covered the facts, the history, and the implications — now we want to hear from you.

Tell us what this change means to you, how it might affect your side hustle or business, or even the tax tales you’ve lived through — drop your thoughts or experiences in the comments below!

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Brandon Marcus
Brandon Marcus

Brandon Marcus is a writer who has been sharing the written word since a very young age. His interests include sports, history, pop culture, and so much more. When he isn’t writing, he spends his time jogging, drinking coffee, or attempting to read a long book he may never complete.

Filed Under: tax tips Tagged With: 2026, 2026 laws, 2026 taxes, family finances, family money, finance, finances, general finance, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, IRS reporting, Money, money issues, tax planning, tax risk, tax risks, tax tips, taxes

IRS Warning: That Venmo Payment for Your Garage Sale Just Triggered a Surprise Tax Bill

January 14, 2026 by Brandon Marcus Leave a Comment

That Venmo Payment for Your Garage Sale Just Triggered a Surprise Tax Bill

Image Source: Shutterstock.com

It’s a wonderful moment when Venmo confirms a payment has hit your bank account, especially when it’s a garage or yard sale. A stranger happily walks away with your old coffee table, and you feel like a decluttering champion who just earned a few extra bucks.

Victory, right? Not so fast.

That innocent little digital payment may have quietly waved hello to the IRS, and months later it could come roaring back as a tax surprise you never saw coming. Welcome to the modern garage sale, where folding tables, lawn signs, and peer-to-peer payment apps collide with federal tax rules in ways that catch everyday sellers completely off guard.

Why That Innocent Venmo Payment Raised A Red Flag

For decades, garage sales lived in a blissful cash-only bubble, rarely noticed by anyone outside the neighborhood. Digital payments changed that overnight, because apps like Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App leave electronic paper trails that never fade. When money flows through these platforms, it can be categorized as business income depending on how the payment is tagged or processed. Even if you were just unloading old stuff from your basement, the system may not know that. From the IRS perspective, incoming payments can look like earnings unless clearly identified otherwise.

The confusion often starts when buyers send money using the default settings or label the transaction as payment for goods or services. That single tap can flip a switch that classifies you as a seller rather than a casual declutterer. Payment platforms are required to track and report certain transactions, which means your weekend garage sale could accidentally resemble a side hustle.

How The IRS Actually Tracks Digital Payments

The IRS does not sit around spying on garage sales, but it does pay attention to reported income. Payment platforms are required to issue tax forms when accounts meet specific reporting thresholds. These forms summarize the total amount of payments received during the year that were classified as taxable transactions. Once that form exists, the IRS expects to see the same income reflected on your tax return. If it is missing, questions tend to follow.

This system does not evaluate context, fairness, or intent. It only compares reported numbers. That means selling a used couch at a loss can look identical to running a small online shop if the payments are processed the same way. Many people are stunned to learn that the IRS receives this information automatically, without any action required on their part.

That Venmo Payment for Your Garage Sale Just Triggered a Surprise Tax Bill

Image Source: Shutterstock.com

What Counts As Taxable Income And What Does Not

Here is where things get nuanced, and where many sellers panic unnecessarily. Selling personal items for less than you originally paid is generally not taxable income. That old blender you bought for eighty dollars and sold for fifteen does not create a profit, and profits are what matter for taxes. The problem is proving that loss if the IRS only sees gross payments. Without records, the system assumes the worst.

On the flip side, items sold for more than their original purchase price can be taxable. Collectibles, antiques, and high-demand items sometimes appreciate, and that gain may count as income. Regularly selling items with the intention of making money can also cross the line into business activity. Frequency, intent, and organization all matter. The tax rules themselves are not new, but the visibility created by digital payments is. What used to fly under the radar now shows up in black and white.

Smart Ways To Avoid A Garage Sale Tax Headache

The easiest way to reduce confusion is to label payments correctly. Friends-and-family options are designed for personal transactions and help distinguish casual exchanges from sales activity. Keeping simple records can also save your sanity later. Notes, screenshots, or even a quick spreadsheet showing what you sold and roughly what you paid can make a huge difference. You do not need museum-level documentation, just reasonable evidence.

If you sell items frequently, consider separating personal sales from any side business activity. Using different accounts can prevent totals from blending together into something that looks much bigger than it is. Reading platform settings carefully before your next sale is another smart move. A few minutes of prep can spare you hours of confusion during tax season. Most importantly, do not ignore tax forms if they arrive. Addressing them head-on is far less stressful than hoping they vanish.

Your Turn In The Garage Sale Spotlight

Digital payments have made selling easier, faster, and more convenient, but they have also rewritten the rules of casual selling. A simple garage sale can now brush up against federal reporting systems without warning. Understanding how these systems work puts you back in control and turns surprises into manageable paperwork instead of panic.

Everyone has a story about a sale that did not go as planned, especially when technology gets involved. Scroll down and let others know how digital payments have changed your selling experience or what lessons you learned along the way.

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Brandon Marcus
Brandon Marcus

Brandon Marcus is a writer who has been sharing the written word since a very young age. His interests include sports, history, pop culture, and so much more. When he isn’t writing, he spends his time jogging, drinking coffee, or attempting to read a long book he may never complete.

Filed Under: tax tips Tagged With: America, digital payments, garage sale, Income, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, Payments, Tax, tax bill, tax problems, taxable income, taxes, United States, Venmo, Venmo payments

I Forgot To File My Taxes

May 7, 2013 by Joe Saul-Sehy 16 Comments

Every year I meet a couple people who tell me “I forgot to file my taxes.” How do you forget to file???? Here’s the steps to make it all right with the government.

Did you file your taxes this year? Did you know that nearly 10 million U.S. citizens fail to file by April 15th each year? Some avoid filing on purpose, but many just plain forget. So don’t worry. If it slipped your mind, you’re not alone.

If you still have yet to calculate your refund/payment, do this immediately. Even though you’re late, the process is still the same. Get the appropriate forms and gather all of your tax information and either head to your accountant or calculate your taxes yourself (whatever it is that you typically do). Once you know whether you owe money into the government or if you’re getting a refund, you can take the next steps to file.

 

What Is The Penalty?

 

For most of us, we plan on receiving a refund each year. Some of us even plan on getting as much back at $4,000 or more. This shouldn’t really be your goal since you’re basically allowing the government to use your extra money interest free, but that rant is for another article I suppose. If you have always received some money back each year, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about for filing late. There is no penalty. I was actually surprised to learn this, but it makes complete sense. Why should the government charge you if they just get to keep your money a little longer. In fact, they would probably rather that you never filed your taxes!

If, however, you typically owe money into the government each year, then you will most likely have to pay in a little extra for your late payment. There are three types of penalties that you’ll have to pay: Failure to File Penalty, Failure to Pay Penalty, and Interest.

Failure to File Penalty

This penalty occurs because you did not file your taxes by the deadline and you owe money to the government. The amount of money you owe depends on how late you are to file. If you’re a month late, then you owe and additional 5% on top of what you already owe. For each month that it’s late, you have to add an additional 5%, up to a maximum penalty of 25% (if you’re 5 months late or more).

Failure to Pay Penalty

This penalty occurs when you file, but you just don’t pay the amount you owe. The penalty is 0.5% for each month that you have still not paid in full. There is not maximum penalty, so it’s definitely best to pay the full amount as quickly as you can.

Interest

In addition to the traditional penalties, the government also want’s the money back with interest. While this amount changes all the time, it is currently set at 3% interest per year, but it is calculated based on every day that your return/payment is late. Again, it’s best to pay this sooner rather than later.

Basically, to sum it up, if the government owes you money, you have nothing to worry about. Just file your taxes and you’ll receive your check shortly, with no penalty. If you owe money in, then you’ll have to pay quite a few penalties. So, rather than play the “wait and see” game, you should calculate your taxes and file them as soon as possible.

Photo: 401(k) 2013

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Joe Saul-Sehy

Joe is a former financial advisor and media representative for American Express and Ameriprise. He was the “Money Man” at Detroit television WXYZ-TV, appearing twice weekly. He’s also appeared in Bride, Best Life, and Child magazines, the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times, Detroit News and Baltimore Sun newspapers and numerous other media outlets.  Joe holds B.A Degrees from The Citadel and Michigan State University.

joesaulsehy.com/

Filed Under: Planning, Tax Planning Tagged With: Filing, Government, Internal Revenue Service, Money, Tax, Worry

Five Money-Saving Tasks That’ll Help You Cha-Ching! in the 4th Quarter

October 4, 2012 by Joe Saul-Sehy 28 Comments

I love the sound of the cash register ringing, don’t you?

If you’re going to be successful in your financial life, treat it as if it’s a business and you’re trying to hear that awesome cash register sound. If you don’t, you’ll always prioritize yourself behind more “important” activities like your job (nevermind that the job is there to help your net worth…that’s probably the subject of another post).

Every business has a mandatory list of activities that can’t be ignored. So does your financial life.

Here are five items that MUST be on that list this quarter:

1) Mutual fund capital gains. Even if you don’t have mutual funds outside of an IRA now, you should learn how these rules work. When the manager (or system, for an index fund) trades stocks or bonds inside of the fund a capital gain is generated. Someone has to pay it, and there’s no real fair method, so the mutual fund company declares a date and divides the gain among shareholders of record. Even if you didn’t sell the fund, you’re responsible for your portion of the manager’s buying and selling.

With results so far in 2012 looking up, there’s a good chance you might get hit with a tax bill this year. Avoiding this tax is legal and easy. Find the dates the fund declares capital gains and transfer your money to a different fund in the same family. This avoids fees for switching and the manager’s capital gains tax.

Grab a calculator before you move any money. You’ll still be on the hook for capital gains taxes you generate by selling as well. The cost of switching might outweigh the savings you’ll realize from avoiding any taxes created by the fund manager.

2) The lemon drop. Hoping to skim off some of that skyrocketing Apple stock? Cover a portion of your capital gain by also selling your brother in law’s “can’t lose” loser. There’s no time like now to weed your portfolio of positions that aren’t going anywhere. Although you’re only allowed to show $3k in net capital losses each year, leftovers can be carried over to deduct in future years.

3) Charitable giving. Hopefully you’ve given to your favorite community non-profits throughout the year, but if not (and especially if you itemize), you’ll want to make cash and in-kind donations in before December 31. Keep receipts for your gifts. The IRS has tightened charitable giving laws in recent years.

4) Estimate your taxes and decide when to pay property taxes. If you own a home winter taxes are deductible either in December or January, your choice. Did you receive a big bonus this year? Take the extra deduction now to help lower your tax due. If you make too much, it might be a better idea to wait until next year. High income earners aren’t allowed to claim all of their itemized deductions (ask your accountant about whether you’re subject to phaseouts).

5) Goal evaluation and setting. The 4th quarter is the perfect time to begin thinking about your short and long term goals. Did you hit your benchmark in 2012? If not, what are you going to change in 2013?

While people generally talk a good game about benchmarking, most of my clients were surprised when I pulled the actual number out of their plan to see if they’d hit the mark during a year. By sticking with actual data and avoiding the “Yeah, it feels like I had a good year” you’ll be able to make the necessary course corrections to save the right amount of money in the upcoming year.

I’ll be addressing each of these areas in more detail during the course of the quarter, but do yourself a favor and schedule these tasks now. These are five activities that you don’t want to miss!

What other events are on your 4th quarter financial calendar?

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Photo of Joe Saul-Sehy
Joe Saul-Sehy

Joe is a former financial advisor and media representative for American Express and Ameriprise. He was the “Money Man” at Detroit television WXYZ-TV, appearing twice weekly. He’s also appeared in Bride, Best Life, and Child magazines, the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times, Detroit News and Baltimore Sun newspapers and numerous other media outlets.  Joe holds B.A Degrees from The Citadel and Michigan State University.

joesaulsehy.com/

Filed Under: money management, Planning, Retirement, successful investing, Tax Planning, tax tips Tagged With: Business, Capital gain, Internal Revenue Service, investing, IRS, Mutual fund, mutual fund capital gains, Tax

HELP! I Make Too Much Money to Contribute to a Roth IRA…Now What?

March 13, 2012 by The Other Guy 22 Comments

First of all, you make how much money?

Congratulations!

If you make so much money you can’t contribute to a Roth IRA, then a certain amount of back slapping and high-fiving are in order.

If you need a refresher on the Roth IRA limits to determine if you can contribute, we’ve got your back:

If You Have Taxable Compensation and Your Filing Status Is…And Your Modified AGI Is…

Then…

married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er)

Less than $173,000

you can contribute up to the limit.

at least $173,000 but less than $183,000

the amount you can contribute is reduced.

$183,000 or more

you cannot contribute to a Roth IRA.

married filing separately and you lived with your spouse at any time during the year

 zero (-0-)

you can contribute up to the limit.

 more than zero (-0-) but less than $10,000

 the amount you can contribute is reduced.

 $10,000 or more

you cannot contribute to a Roth IRA.

single, head of household, or married filing separately and you did not live with your spouse at any time during the year

less than $110,000

you can contribute up to the limit.

at least $110,000 but less than $125,000

the amount you can contribute is reduced.

$125,000 or more

you cannot contribute to a Roth IRA.

Information courtesy of the IRS 

A couple things to point out in our table above:

– First, don’t think just because you make a lot of money and your spouse doesn’t that you can just file “married and separate.”  The IRS thought you might consider that maneuver, and now caps income at $10,000 for those who consider that loop-hole.

Also, be aware of what “Modified” AGI means.  Leave it to the government to complicate an already complex issue.

Here’s how you calculate your “Modified” AGI (also courtesy of the IRS)

Modified AGI.   Your modified AGI for Roth IRA purposes is your adjusted gross income (AGI) as shown on your return modified as follows.

  1. Subtracting the following.
    1. Roth IRA conversions included on Form 1040, line 15b; Form 1040A, line 11b; or Form 1040NR, line 16b. Conversions are discussed under Can You Move Amounts Into a Roth IRA, later.
    2. Roth IRA rollovers from qualified retirement plans included on Form 1040, line 16b; Form 1040A, line 12b; or Form 1040NR, line 17b.
  2. Add the following deductions and exclusions:
    1. Traditional IRA deduction,
    2. Student loan interest deduction,
    3. Tuition and fees deduction,
    4. Domestic production activities deduction,
    5. Foreign earned income exclusion,
    6. Foreign housing exclusion or deduction,
    7. Exclusion of qualified bond interest shown on Form 8815, and
    8. Exclusion of employer-provided adoption benefits shown on Form 8839.
Here’s the point: Knowing your Modified AGI is not as simple as just looking at your W2 to figure out if you’ve made too much money.
If you haven’t done your taxes yet, Turbo Tax or HR Block software will help you find this amount automatically.
Let’s assume–after all these funky calculations–that it’s true: you’ve earned too much money.
Here’s some good news: You, Mr. or Ms. High Wage Earner, still can contribute to a Roth IRA.
You just have to do it the right way.  Luckily for you, I’m going to show how:
  • First, open a non-deductible IRA at your favorite brokerage house (Fidelity, E-trade, Schwab, etc.).
  • Next, fund your non-deductible IRA up to your maximum IRA contribution limit ($5,000 for those under 50; $6,000 for those turning 50 in the tax year of the contribution);
  • Wait at least 30 days, or a statement cycle so you can show the money was in an IRA  – *DO NOT INVEST YOUR MONEY DURING THIS 30 DAY WAITING PERIOD;
  • Then, call your brokerage firm and perform a Roth IRA Conversion of your IRA money.  You’ll owe tax on the gain (probably just a couple cents of interest), but other than that…pretty easy!

You’ll likely have to fill out a special tax form next year (IRS Form 8606) discussing the conversion, but there will be no tax, no penalty, and now you have a Roth IRA.

A couple of rules:

  1. If you have other IRA money (other than the $5,000 you just put in), you cannot just tell the IRS you want to convert the non-taxable kind.  You have to convert IRAs pro-rata which mean only a percentage of your money will be tax free.  If you have other IRA money (not 401(k) money, IRA money), before embarking on this strategy – discuss this with a knowledgeable tax advisor who knows what they’re taking about.
  2. Unlike a normal Roth IRA contribution, you do not have immediate access to these dollars.  You can access them after 5 years – just like any other conversion monies.
  3. Don’t tempt fate and try to do this at the end of a tax year.  There are too many chances for last minute screw-ups.  Complete this process during the middle part of the year so you have plenty of time to fix problems before the year’s over.  The IRS doesn’t like multiple 1099 forms and stuff like that…as an aside, neither does your accountant.

So there…badaboom, badabing.  Now even the 1%-ers can have a Roth.  Just like Congress intended.

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Filed Under: Planning, successful investing, Tax Planning, tax tips Tagged With: Adjusted gross income, Individual Retirement Account, Internal Revenue Service, Modified AGI, Roth, Roth IRA, too much money, Traditional IRA

Unplug Grandma’s Life Support…Quick! Inherited IRA rules changing?

February 29, 2012 by The Other Guy 21 Comments

Why You Might Have the Awful Hope That Grandma Dies This Year.

According to this Wall Street Journal article, Congress is toying with the idea of getting rid of (or at least seriously modifying) Inherited IRAs.

Here’s why you should care: getting an inherited IRA is like winning the lifetime income lottery.

What is an Inherited IRA?

 

An inherited IRA is just what it sounds like – it’s an IRA that you didn’t start, i.e., you inherited it.  In most cases, when someone passes away, they’ll leave retirement accounts to their spouse, but sometimes those spouses are pre-deceased. In this case IRA assets fall down to the next (or sometimes the third) generation.

When you inherit a spouse’s IRA, the IRS allows you to convert it to your own, delaying any and all taxes until at least age 70 ½ (assuming you don’t remove the money to spend).  If your spouse is substantially younger than you, couples are allowed to treat it as an inherited IRA for tax purposes.

What are the Current Benefits of an Inherited IRA?

 

The major benefit is the ability for non-spouse beneficiaries to distribute those taxable dollars over the lifetime of the beneficiary.

Grandma is 68 and goes to what crazy uncle Jim called “that big tax shelter in the sky,” but leaves her $500,000 IRA to her 4 year old grandson.  Because the distribution is based on his life expectancy…around 80 years or so… if structured correctly it would provide him income for the rest of his life.

Apparently, the IRS and Congress think it’s too long to wait another 80 years or so to wring all the tax money from Granny’s IRA, so thye’re thinking about changing the law to require distributions from an  inherited IRA within 5 years of the original  account holder’s death.

Yikes.

That’s a change.

Thankfully, this isn’t anywhere near the President’s desk yet, but I wanted to put it on your radar screen…in case…you know…someone has a little “slip and fall.”

Don’t quote me later.

– TheOtherGuy

 

 

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Filed Under: Estate Planning, investing news Tagged With: Congress, Granny, Individual Retirement Account, inherited IRA, Internal Revenue Service, Life expectancy, rules changing, Tax

Emergency Fund or Roth IRA?

February 1, 2012 by Joe Saul-Sehy 13 Comments

If you’re teetering on the edge of a trip down investing lane–but aren’t sure that you’re ready to begin locking money away–a Roth IRA just might be like two tickets to paradise. Pack your bags, we’ll leave tonight.

I just made that up. I know it sounds familiar. Deal with it.

Unlike its nasty cousin, the “For Retirement Only With a Couple Exceptions” Traditional IRA, a Roth has some attractive properties for people who need money in a safe place but are thinking “I’d like to start slipping some cash into a retirement account.” Two tickets to paradise.

Of course, this paradise has some weeds, but what do you want? I never promised you a rose garden.

Just made that up, too. I know…it’s a gift. Thank you.

 

Paradise Ticket #1: Emergency Fund

 

While it still makes absolute sense to have “need it right now” money outside of a Roth IRA, here’s the magical property that makes this shelter a fine second tier cash reserve emergency fund: you’re allowed to take principal back out whenever you want. If you remove funds contributed during the current year, it’s as if you’d never made a contribution in the first place. If it’s beyond the first year, you may take out up to the amount you’ve contributed.

That’s awesomesaucewithacherryontop because if you need money quickly, there’s no reason why you can’t access the cash you contributed.

Before you fight me on this, let’s work through it logically:

– When you make a Roth IRA contribution, do you receive any immediate tax benefit? No.

– How can the government penalize you for something that you received no benefit from? They can’t.

You want proof? Okay, here’s the IRS applicable document, Publication 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements. Check out the chart on page 63 and then the ordering rules on page 64.

More proof? At the bottom of the page I’ve included links to two less well written articles than mine. No charge.

When will you get into trouble? If you try and take any interest the account has earned, you’ll pay penalties to receive this interest unless it’s been in the account for five years and you’re 59 1/2 (whichever is later) OR qualify for one of the few exceptions to the penalty (you’ll still pay tax on the money when you withdraw it).

 

Paradise Ticket #2: Retirement

 

If you don’t end up needing the money, because your car didn’t break down, junior didn’t need to be bailed out of jail (again), and the dog stayed out of your neighbor’s trash bins for a change, this money can be used for retirement. At some point, once you’ve completely secured the reserve, you can switch these funds into more appropriate investments for retirement.

Ultimately, of course, this is what a Roth IRA should be used for: retirement savings. By easing into the Roth IRA plan, you’ll build the account early so there’s plenty of money available when you’re ready to begin in earnest.

Like Steve McQueen you’ll have a fast Roth IRA machine and they’ll never catch you tonight.

 

The Downside

 

Oh, yeah, you weren’t thinking about having a Roth IRA as your only emergency fund, were you? A Roth IRA is, to put it bluntly, an absolutely rotten place for a first tier reserve.

Here’s just a sample of our problem:

–  Remember when I said you can get money in a hurry? It’s not like the payday loan shop down the street or Louie on the corner. If your money is at an institution close by (like a neighborhood bank), you can probably take out funds now. If not, you’ll either have to wait for money to be transferred to a non-IRA account or until they can mail you a check. That’s not instant money. It’s “we’re going on an emergency trip to visit ailing Grandma in her cottage in the woods, and I paid for it with my credit card but don’t want to pay interest on the charge” money.

– If you take out all of your principal, you’ll only have some interest in the account. This money MUST stay in a Roth IRA for five years or until 59 1/2, which ever is later (as mentioned above). To take it out early, you’ll pay an IRS penalty. Although this may be a negligible amount on a small interest amount, it’ll make your tax return more complicated.

For these two reasons, I wouldn’t start a Roth IRA as your main emergency fund. Instead, only use it as second tier money.

 

What Type of Investment Should I Use, Joe?

 

It’s your cash reserve, silly. We don’t want to use anything that fluctuates at all. I know interest rates are poor, but if you’re only beginning, you’ll need the highest paying account the bank will allow while still keeping your money safe.

Don’t lock up the funds in a CD or you won’t be able to access the money, ruining why you used this strategy in the first place. It has to be a liquid account, like a savings account.

Once you have enough, transfer your money to a higher paying money market. Often this is between $500 and $2,000.

As soon as your cash reserve emergency fund is full, begin saving money into real retirement accounts that match your long term goals. Use a 401k for tax advantages today. Open a 529 plan for your children’s college.

Before long you’ll have so much cash they’ll be lining down the block just to watch what you’ve got.

So delicious.

 

How to Get Money In There Without Stealing It

 

The only way you’ll successfully save money is if you leave it outside of those pockets of yours. You know the ones. The I-can’t-hold-cash-for-longer-than-a-couple-minutes-without-spending-it pockets. Instead, make saving a bill.

Better yet, make it an automatic payment bill.

By setting up an automatic payment into your account you won’t have to remember to fund your account. Instead, money will flow directly from a checking or savings account into the Roth IRA, building it while you focus on other areas.

If possible, set up a separate direct deposit into your first tier reserve at your bank and then an automatic payment from the first tier reserve directly into the Roth IRA reserve account. That way, you’ll never have the money in your hot little hands.

If you want money in your hands AND to make Roth IRA contributions systematically, it’s going to be much harder, and there’s a good chance you’ll fail.

You can’t always get what you want. But if you set up an automatic payment plan you just might get what you need.

 

A Good Strategy

 

Once you’ve achieved your first tier reserve ($1,000 fast if you’re a fan of the bald dude on the radio, or other similar “quick cash” amount), split your automatic investment between your first tier reserve and a Roth IRA. This will help you ease into the investment world without the fear that the money is untouchable.

I’ve used this plan with nervous beginners to help calm them into rolling toward doing the right move: investing in their 401k where the money IS untouchable. It’s a good way to ease your mind.

…and before you know it you’ll be on your way to a million dollars. Then you could buy yourself a green dress.

But not a real green dress; that’s cruel.

No, I can’t stop.

 

 

Other Documents That Totally Agree With Me:

The Motley Fool: All About IRAs

My Money Blog: Can I Really Withdraw My Roth IRA Contributions at Any Time Without Tax or Penalty?

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Photo of Joe Saul-Sehy
Joe Saul-Sehy

Joe is a former financial advisor and media representative for American Express and Ameriprise. He was the “Money Man” at Detroit television WXYZ-TV, appearing twice weekly. He’s also appeared in Bride, Best Life, and Child magazines, the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times, Detroit News and Baltimore Sun newspapers and numerous other media outlets.  Joe holds B.A Degrees from The Citadel and Michigan State University.

joesaulsehy.com/

Filed Under: money management, successful investing, Tax Planning, tax tips Tagged With: emergency fund, emergency fund Roth IRA, Internal Revenue Service, Mutual fund, Retirement, Roth IRA

How to Pay an Ugly Overdue Tax Bill

December 6, 2011 by Joe Saul-Sehy 6 Comments

I just read that Christie Brinkley owes over $500,000 in back taxes. That’s an ugly place to be. Sadly, I’ve been there before (not $500,000, but still a sizeable chunk of money). I’d like to share that story here.

When I began advising people about money, my background was similar to the many professional athletes who become financial advisors: I had no training. I was exactly “that guy” the pros and financial books warn you about when they say “don’t hire the new advisor.” Sure, I’d passed a few tests and took classes sponsored by the company I was going to work for, but I’d been an English major in college with an emphasis in creative writing. Talk about “not in Kansas anymore.” I wasn’t even on the same planet.

Why I’m An Expert In This Area

So, there I was, learning quickly. My paranoia about my lack of knowledge and the ability to “dumb down” difficult financial concepts helped me with early success in my new field—probably because I was coming at those concepts from a similar non-finance point of view. I hauled in a nice income. I had a great relationship with my clients. If I didn’t know something (which was often), I said “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.” That happened a ton.

Here’s the bad part of the story. I was a 1099 independent contractor. (For those of you unfamiliar with “1099”, it means that I didn’t actually work for the company. Because I was technically independent, zero taxes were taken out of my compensation. Without an knowledge of the full impact of not paying taxes, this was a financial meltdown ready to burst.)

Near the end of my first awesome year a friend said, “Who is your accountant?”

Me (thinking): “Dude, I should get one of those!”

So, I did. I found a guy named Tom. He was a great number-cruncher, but a horrible financial coach.

Tax guy Tom: “You owe $26,000.”

Me: “WTF?”

Tax Guy Tom (clueless): “Do you want to attach a check to the return?”

Me: “WTFFF????” I’m pretty sure I yelled. Yeah, I screamed. I should have been screaming at myself. It didn’t matter. He couldn’t believe I was dumb enough to spend every penny of the money I’d made. The funny part now is that I had used all that money to pay down debt.

I’d committed every stupid mistake in the book.

So, what did I do? I made the brilliant decision not to file my taxes, thinking that I’d find a way to catch up.

Note to the world: It doesn’t work that way. You can’t catch up.

So, Christie, I understand an overdue tax bill. I know that today you say that it’ll all be paid quickly. That’s good. If you can’t, or if any other reader is in a similar situation, here’s what to do.  This is what I should have done:

Joe’s Awesome 7 Step “Get Your Overdue Tax Bill Paid” Plan (or “Here’s What I Did”)

1) Find good tax advisors. My advisor helped me file back taxes and face the music. By avoiding the overdue tax bill, it was becoming bigger and more difficult to pay. I thought I was finding a “good” advisor when I met Tom. ….but, had I known how to ask questions, it would have gone smoother. AND I should have known to interview more than one person. I found a guy with lots of pretty letters after his name and hired the first one. I needed someone who could walk a beginner through the process of receipts and “what’s deductible and what ain’t.”

2) Communicate with the IRS. You need to face the music sooner or later. What surprised me is how easy the IRS people were to talk with. I was ashamed of my overdue tax bill, but they deal with people that have late taxes all day, every day.

Here’s a tip: the IRS phone line gets busy, so if you’re going to call, do it right after they open. You should get right through (I now call whenever I have questions or am feeling lonely). In my case, they knew promptly what programs to point me toward. Why did I call the IRS? My tax advisor told me to call them. She said it would help me stay on top of the situation. She also talked to them from time to time. (I had to sign a paper giving her the limited power to discuss my personal tax situation with the IRS first.)

3) Decide which method works best. There are two general directions you can decide between if you can’t pay the entire overdue tax at once. First, you can opt for an offer-in-compromise. This is a settlement with the IRS to pay less than your bill. I couldn’t go this route because (as my tax advisor explained), I had a high income stream and there was a good probability—in the IRS’ eyes—that they’d be able to collect the whole amount sooner or later (it was going to take me 30 years, but they don’t care. They may be nice, but those IRS zombies live forever, apparently.—I HAD to have one IRS joke in this piece….). If you owe less than $25,000, you can apply for an installment agreement, and will usually be accepted as long as you haven’t been a repeat offender. For amounts more than $25,000, the IRS is a little more like a nervous loanshark. You’ll have to fill out some extra paperwork.

4) Fill out the appropriate paperwork. Here’s a link to the IRS page describing all the appropriate tools. Before anything, you need to file the appropriate tax forms, if you haven’t already. Once that’s done, if you owe more than $25,000 on your overdue tax bill (like I did), you’ll need to fill out Form 433F, the Collection Information Statement. If you’re pursuing an installment agreement, complete Form 9465, Request for Installment Agreement. For an Offer in compromise, read IRS Booklet 646. It explains thoroughly the process of applying to reduce the amount you owe the government.

5) Be prepared to pay a fee to set up the agreement. As of this writing, direct debit and online payment plans cost $52, while payroll deduction plans run $105.

6) Wait for an answer from the IRS. They’ll respond in writing. If you called the IRS as I recommend above, you may receive an answer while you’re on the phone with the agent.

7) Realize that speed is your friend. Confronting the pain today is better than waiting. If you’ve managed to accumulate $500k in debt, you’ll owe interest and may owe penalties if you didn’t communicate effectively with the IRS.

Forms Needed:

IRS Collection Information Statement, Form 433F

IRS Installment Agreement Request, Form 9465

IRS Offer in Compromise booklet 646

Have a tax issue you’d like to discuss? While AverageJoe and TheOtherGuy aren’t tax advisors, we can point you toward resources and strategies. Use the comment section below or email me at joe (at) thefreefinancialadvisor (dot) com.

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Photo of Joe Saul-Sehy
Joe Saul-Sehy

Joe is a former financial advisor and media representative for American Express and Ameriprise. He was the “Money Man” at Detroit television WXYZ-TV, appearing twice weekly. He’s also appeared in Bride, Best Life, and Child magazines, the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times, Detroit News and Baltimore Sun newspapers and numerous other media outlets.  Joe holds B.A Degrees from The Citadel and Michigan State University.

joesaulsehy.com/

Filed Under: Debt Management, tax tips Tagged With: Christie Brinkley, installment agreement, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, Offer in compromise, Tax

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