August 2017

This Quarter’s Topics

Cell Phones

Spam Calls

Local Returns

HRA & the Marketplace

Cell Phones
Good News: Your cell phone can now be included as housing allowance if you do not have a landline.  This would be your cell phone only – not your spouse’s or family’s.  This would include your plan and phone charges as well as taxes and fees.  It does not include any separate charges such as additional data fees, roaming fees, additional phones, etc.

Spam Calls
There has been an increased incidence of phone calls claiming to be from the IRS. These calls usually have a threatening component. The IRS never initiates contact by phone. If you have not received numerous correspond- dence from the IRS then you would not get a phone call. The IRS never threatens to send the police to your home or to take other types of immediate action. See this link for more information: https://www.irs.gov/uac/newsroom/scam-phone-calls-continue-irs-identifies-five-easy-ways-to-spot-suspicious-calls

Local Returns
Many taxpayers are required to file a local return in addition to their federal and state returns. These include county, city, township, school districts, etc. Some taxpayers may have to file two local returns. Most taxpayers do not file local returns at all. Because there are so many different localities and because the requirements within these localities change from year to year, we cannot track when local returns are required. So our policy is that if you send us a local return we will do our best to fill it out for you but if you do not, we will assume you do not have one or have made other arrangements to have one prepared. We prepare very few local returns as we know most of you fill these out for yourselves and we very much appreciate that!

HRA & the Marketplace
HRA’s can now be used to reimburse health insurance premiums tax free, but if you obtain your health insurance through one of the online marketplaces you will need to let the marketplace know about these reimbursements. Your HRA reimbursements may affect your subsidy level.  For more information on HRA’s see our website at: http://ssfoundation.net/pastors?qa_faqs=health-reimbursement-arrangement-hra

Sincerely in Christ,

James W. Rickard