Crystal Clear Tax Solutions, Inc

Crystal Clear Tax Solutions, Inc No annoying tax professional lingo. Just straight, authoritative and friendly expert advice. Helping you put the pieces together!

Crystal Clear Tax Solutions Inc was started in 2013. We are a Christian business focused on relationships with our clients. At Crystal Clear Tax, we always do the right thing, we are transparent, and strive to get you the best bottom line the law allows. Taxes are puzzling, let us help you put the pieces together one form at a time!

Educator Classroom Expense Deduction – Did You Know?Eligible K-12 teachers, instructors, counselors, principals and aide...
09/03/2026

Educator Classroom Expense Deduction – Did You Know?

Eligible K-12 teachers, instructors, counselors, principals and aides who pay for classroom supplies out of pocket may deduct up to $350 of qualifying expenses per year. Married couples filing jointly who are both eligible educators may deduct up to $350 each, for a combined maximum of $700.

You do not need to itemize deductions to claim this deduction. Be sure to keep receipts and other records for any classroom expenses you plan to deduct.

Major Higher Education Tax Credits Now Require Valid SSN – Did You Know?The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and L...
08/26/2026

Major Higher Education Tax Credits Now Require Valid SSN – Did You Know?

The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) help many Americans pay for higher education. For eligible students pursuing a degree or other recognized credential, the AOTC can cover up to $2,500 in tuition, required school fees and certain course materials per year. Meanwhile, the LLC can offset up to $2,000 per tax return for qualified education expenses for eligible students taking higher education courses for a variety of reasons.

Beginning with tax year 2026, the taxpayer claiming either the AOTC or LLC (and spouse, if filing jointly) must have a Social Security number (SSN) valid for work in the United States that was issued before the due date of the tax return, including extensions. If the eligible student is not the person claiming the credit (for example, if the student is that person's dependent or spouse), then the student must also have a valid SSN issued by that deadline. Other qualification requirements, such as income limits, remain in effect. A tax professional can help you determine whether the higher education expenses you pay for yourself, your spouse or a dependent qualify for a tax benefit.

Seasonal Employers - Did You Know?Summer is a peak time for many businesses to hire seasonal employees. In general, the ...
08/19/2026

Seasonal Employers - Did You Know?

Summer is a peak time for many businesses to hire seasonal employees. In general, the same federal tax rules apply to these workers as to permanent staff. Employers typically must withhold federal income tax and F**A (Social Security and Medicare) taxes and pay the employer share of F**A. Employers subject to FUTA must also pay federal unemployment tax on taxable wages.

Seasonal employers often must file Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return) for quarters in which they pay wages. However, they generally do not need to file for quarters in which they paid no wages and have no employment tax liability. If this applies, check the "Seasonal Employer" box on every Form 941 you file.

Employment taxes generally must be deposited monthly or semiweekly, based on the applicable lookback period. FUTA follows separate deposit rules and generally must be deposited when accumulated FUTA tax exceeds $500 for a quarter. Federal tax deposits must be made electronically, including through EFTPS.

Expense Deduction Rules for Personal Property Used for Business – Did You Know?Many self-employed people may qualify to ...
08/14/2026

Expense Deduction Rules for Personal Property Used for Business – Did You Know?

Many self-employed people may qualify to reduce their taxable income by deducting business expenses. In general, you must allocate expenses related to mixed-use property based on your "percentage of business use." But how is this percentage calculated?

For many types of equipment, your business use percentage may be based on a reasonable measure such as time or output. For example, if you use your computer for 30 hours a week in your freelance work and 20 hours a week for personal purposes (total of 50 hours), then your business use percentage would generally be 30/50 = 60%. Meanwhile, if you have a printer and print 400 pages for business reasons and 100 pages for personal reasons (500 pages total), then your business use percentage would typically be 400/500 = 80%. Therefore, you could generally allocate 80% of shared costs like ink and paper to business use.

On the other hand, business percentages for vehicles should be based on mileage, not time. So if you drive your car 4,500 miles this year in the course of your self-employment work, and 10,500 miles for all other purposes (total of 15,000 miles), then your business use percentage would be 4,500/15,000 = 30%. Alternatively, if eligible, you may choose to use the standard mileage rate and calculate your vehicle deduction based on your qualifying business miles instead of deducting your share of actual vehicle expenses. Be sure to keep records that support your business use percentage, such as mileage logs, usage records, or other documentation showing how the property was used for business and personal purposes.

New IRS Automatic Exemption from Penalty ProgramBeginning in summer 2026, the IRS is implementing a new system that will...
08/04/2026

New IRS Automatic Exemption from Penalty Program

Beginning in summer 2026, the IRS is implementing a new system that will waive certain failure-to-file, failure-to-pay and failure-to-deposit penalties for eligible taxpayers with a strong compliance history. To qualify for the Automatic Exemption from Penalty (AEP) program, a taxpayer generally must have met all filing and payment deadlines for the previous three years, or 12 consecutive quarters for quarterly filers.

Unlike First Time Abate, eligible taxpayers will not need to request AEP relief. The IRS will apply it automatically and send a notice. For eligible returns due on or after January 1, 2027, AEP will replace First Time Abate, although reasonable-cause relief will remain available.

Not all IRS penalties qualify for automatic relief. For example, information-return penalties and accuracy-related penalties generally will not qualify. AEP applies only to eligible penalties, not to the underlying tax or interest due.

Charitable Cash Donation DeductionsHistorically, only people who itemized deductions on their tax returns could deduct c...
07/30/2026

Charitable Cash Donation Deductions

Historically, only people who itemized deductions on their tax returns could deduct contributions to charities. However, beginning this year, taxpayers may now qualify to deduct up to $1,000 in cash donations (up to $2,000 for joint filers), regardless of whether they itemize or use a standard deduction.

Only contributions to qualified, tax-exempt charitable organizations (not individuals) are deductible. You can check the official IRS list of tax-exempt charities (link below) to verify an organization's eligibility to receive tax-deductible donations. For monetary contributions, save bank records, canceled checks and/or receipts showing each organization's name, along with the date and amount of each donation. The IRS requires a written acknowledgement from the charity for each individual contribution of $250 or more, showing both the donation amount and the value of anything you receive in return (such as tee shirts, totes, etc.).

You still need to itemize in order to deduct contributions of property, and must have detailed records showing how you determined reasonable dollar values for the donations. For valuable items like collectibles or artwork, you may need a professional appraisal.

Tax Exempt Organization Search: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/search-for-tax-exempt-organizations

Form 1099-K - Did You Know?If you receive a Form 1099-K, review it for payments that may not be taxable, such as reimbur...
07/24/2026

Form 1099-K - Did You Know?

If you receive a Form 1099-K, review it for payments that may not be taxable, such as reimbursements from friends or family. If these payments were mistakenly included, ask the payment processor to issue a corrected form. Keep in mind that some transactions involving personal items may still have tax consequences, particularly if you sold an item for more than you paid for it.

Increased Standard Mileage Rates Starting July 1, 2026Due to higher fuel prices, the IRS has increased the standard mile...
07/22/2026

Increased Standard Mileage Rates Starting July 1, 2026

Due to higher fuel prices, the IRS has increased the standard mileage rate for business driving to 76 cents per mile for mileage incurred on or after July 1, 2026. The rates for medical travel and eligible moving expenses have also increased to 23.5 cents per mile.

The charitable mileage rate remains unchanged at 14 cents per mile, while the previously announced 2026 rates continue to apply to mileage incurred before July 1.

Our Q2 newsletter is now available on the website - essential reading for clients. Highlights: HSA limits, depreciation ...
07/21/2026

Our Q2 newsletter is now available on the website - essential reading for clients. Highlights: HSA limits, depreciation updates, the IRS’s new online tool to resolve tax debt, plus articles on e-file providers, extension validity, and cost basis in a home sale. Read it now: https://wix.to/fv7nXS5 📣📄

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https://wix.to/c7n3QDPhttps://wix.to/RCyxgCnPlanning for 2026? The IRS announced that mileage rates will be divided into...
07/21/2026

https://wix.to/c7n3QDP
https://wix.to/RCyxgCn
Planning for 2026? The IRS announced that mileage rates will be divided into two distinct time frames this year. You will need to keep separate records for January 1 -June 30 and July 1 - December 31 for both business and medical purposes. Staying organized now saves time later. https://wix.to/6qTPcxD

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