Month: February 2021

What Taxpayers Need To Know About Claiming The Credit For Other Dependents

Tax Tip 2021-18, February 11, 2021

Taxpayers with dependents who don’t qualify for the child tax credit may be able to claim the credit for other dependents.

The maximum credit amount is $500 for each dependent who meets certain conditions. These include:

  • Dependents who are age 17 or older.
  • Dependents who have individual taxpayer identification numbers.
  • Dependent parents or other qualifying relatives supported by the taxpayer.
  • Dependents living with the taxpayer who aren’t related to the taxpayer.

The credit begins to phase out when the taxpayer’s income is more than $200,000. This phaseout begins for married couples filing a joint tax return at $400,000.

A taxpayer can claim this credit if:

  • They claim the person as a dependent on the taxpayer’s return.
  • They cannot use the dependent to claim the child tax credit or additional child tax credit.
  • The dependent is a U.S. citizen, national or resident alien.

Taxpayers can claim the credit for other dependents in addition to the child and dependent care credit and the earned income credit. They can use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant, Does My Child/Dependent Qualify for the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents?, to help determine if they are eligible to claim the credit.

More information:

Credit: IRS Tax Tips

Teacher Deductions !

Rev. Proc. 2021-15 was just issued. It expands the definition of what expenses qualify under IRC Sec.62(a)(2)(D) (ii) for the maximum $250 above line deduction for teachers. Protective items that are, or will be, used by the teacher to aid in preventing the spread of Covid-19 are now qualified expenses. This includes but is not limited to: face masks, disinfectant, soap, gloves, tape, chalk, barriers, air purifiers, etc. The expenses must paid paid or incurred after 3/12/20.

FBAR & Crypto

Update on Pending FBAR Changes

Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany – April 17, 2018: Many coins of various cryptocurrencies

Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) Filing Requirement for Virtual Currency:   Virtual currency is a digital representation of value that functions as a unit of account, a store of value, or a medium of exchange. Some virtual currencies have an equivalent value in real currency or act as a substitute for real currency. Generally, a U.S. person who has a financial interest in, or signature or other authority over, any foreign financial accounts, including bank, securities, or other types of financial accounts located in a foreign country, must file an FBAR with the FinCEN if the aggregate value of those foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year. Currently, the FBAR regulations do not define a foreign account holding virtual currency as a type of reportable account . However, FinCEN intends to propose to amend the regulations regarding FBARs to include virtual currency as a type of reportable account under 31 CFR 1010.350. FinCEN Notice 2020-2.

Thank you to NCCPAP and Bruce Oberfest, member of the Westchester/Rockland Chapter, for bringing this to our attention.