Another strong warning from the IRS is alerting taxpayers to phone scams that have already resulted in 90,000 complaints and the theft of millions of dollars. Here’s how the typical scam works: The caller claims to be from the IRS and, using hostile and abusive language, demands immediate payment of taxes by a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. The IRS reminds taxpayers it will never contact you by phone about owed taxes; the first contact will be by mail. It will never ask for credit, debit, or prepaid card information in a phone call, and it will never request immediate payment over the phone.

September 15th is fast approaching and it’s the filing deadline for the various returns and form below:

2013 tax returns for calendar-year corporations (C & S-corporations) that had extensions of the March 15th deadline.

2013 partnership tax returns (multi-partnership & LLC) that had extensions of the April 15th filing deadline.

September 15 is the deadline for individuals to pay the third quarter installment of 2014 estimated income tax.

The death of a spouse can be a devastating experience, both emotionally and financially. As the survivor, you’ll have to make important decisions while you’re in what could be the most vulnerable and distracted stage of your life. The suggestions that follow might at least help ease your financial stress.

* Don’t make major decisions right away. Put off selling your house, moving in with your grown children, giving everything away, liquidating your investments, or buying new financial products.

* Get professional help. You’ll need an attorney to help interpret and explain the will and/or applicable law and implement the estate settlement; your accountant to provide financial advice and prepare the necessary tax documents; one or more insurance brokers to help with filing and collecting death benefits; and a funeral director, who in addition to the obvious services, can obtain needed copies of the death certificate.

* Gather and review any applicable documents, such as the decedent’s social security card and statements, insurance policies, loan and lease agreements, your spouse’s birth certificate, the death certificate, investment paperwork, mortgage statements and agreements, deeds, retirement plans and related statements, credit cards and credit card statements, employment and/or partnership agreements, divorce agreements, funeral directives and/or contracts, safe deposit box information, and tax returns. (You’ll need a dozen or more copies of the death certificate to provide to insurance companies, government agencies, creditors, credit card agencies, banks, and a host of others.)

* Determine who must be paid, and when. You’ll need to notify your spouse’s creditors (including joint creditors) and continue paying for mortgages, car loans, credit cards, utilities, and insurance premiums not specific to your spouse. Notify health insurance companies (including Medicare) that you’ll no longer be paying your spouse’s premiums, and cancel your spouse’s memberships and subscriptions.

* Alert the credit card agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). Request addition of a “deceased notice” and a “do not issue credit” statement to the decedent’s file. Order credit reports, which will provide a complete record of your spouse’s open credit cards.

* Determine what payments are due to you, such as insurance proceeds, social security or veteran’s benefits, and pension payouts. File claims where needed.

* Maintain your joint checking account to facilitate the deposit of incoming checks payable to your spouse.

Finally, call us as soon as you can. We’re always ready to advise and assist you, before or after life’s tragic events.

Participating in a 401(k) or similar retirement plan is a tax-advantaged way to save for retirement. If you have the option of participating in a 401(k) plan, avoid these five common mistakes.

* Failing to participate fully. Too many employees opt out of the plan or don’t contribute as much as they can afford. At a minimum, try to set aside enough to receive the full employer-matching contribution. For example, your employer might offer to match 30% of the first 3% of payroll. That match is equivalent to a 30% first-year return on the amount you contribute.

* Over-investing in company stock. Don’t invest too much of your plan contributions in company stock. Remember, even if the company is doing well now, things can change. And if the worst happens and you lose your job, you don’t want to lose your retirement savings too. (Think of Enron employees.) If your employer uses company stock for the matching contribution, you may have no choice. But at least you can select other investments for your own contributions.

* Failing to diversify. Choose a well-diversified mix of investments in the plan. Then continually monitor and rebalance your investments as they grow. Coordinate your investment choices with your non-401(k) savings to make sure you have an appropriate mix. Seek professional advice if you need it.

* Borrowing from your plan. Take a loan from the plan only as a last resort. Remember, these savings are for your retirement, not to fund everyday needs. When you borrow from the plan, you’re losing the tax-deferred growth on those funds.

* Withdrawing your savings if you change jobs. It’s tempting to cash out your savings if you change jobs. But if you do, you’ll owe taxes and probably a penalty. More important, you’ll lose the future tax-favored growth that you might need in retirement. Instead, arrange a direct rollover into an IRA or your new employer’s plan.

In September the IRS will be sending a survey to 10,000 employers to collect information on tax compliance issues. The survey will ask employers about the time, money, and other resources they spend in dealing with compliance requirements, such as income tax withholding, processing Forms W-2, and filing taxes. The IRS says it will use the data collected to reduce employer compliance burdens. The survey is voluntary; employers who receive a survey and choose not to respond will not be penalized.

September 15 is an important tax filing deadline for partnerships and corporations. It’s the filing deadline for 2013 tax returns for calendar-year corporations that received an automatic extension of the March 17 filing deadline. It’s also the filing deadline for 2013 partnership tax returns that received an extension of the April 15 filing deadline. If you need assistance, contact our office.

It’s difficult enough to think about taxes under normal circumstances. Finding yourself amid a divorce action can make this task even more daunting. A little planning, however, may ease this burden. Consider, for example, the following ideas about your tax filing status if your divorce isn’t final by December 31, 2014.

Advantages of filing a joint tax return. It is often better, tax-wise, to file a joint return because of certain benefits that are available to joint filers. Benefits such as the earned income credit, the credit for the elderly, and certain other tax credits and deductions are reduced or unavailable for married taxpayers who file separate returns.

Advantages of filing a separate tax return. Filing a separate return may make sense in a situation where your spouse isn’t cooperating with you. This could especially be true if your bank requires a tax return before they’ll approve a loan. Another reason for filing a separate tax return may be that you suspect that your spouse has unreported income. Filing separate returns in these situations may be a practical solution.

Sometimes it makes sense to file a separate return because you’ll owe less tax. An example is where medical expenses are not deductible because your joint income is too high. With a separate return, you may be able to claim a deduction.

Can you change your mind about your filing status after your return has been filed? You can change from separate to joint filing status by filing an amended return. However, once a joint return has been filed, you may not change to separate filing status after the return’s due date.

The bottom line: You should calculate your tax liability under both joint and separate filing choices to see which results in a lower tax. Numerous other tax and financial issues could be affected by your divorce. If you’d like tax planning assistance, give us a call. We can work with your attorney to help you make informed choices that take taxes into account.

Once you have filed your 2013 tax return, you may still have a few tax questions. The IRS provides these answers to commonly asked questions.

* How can I check the status of my refund?

You can go online to check on your refund. Go to www.irs.gov and click on “where’s my refund?” Or call 1-800-829-4477 for automated refund information available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

* What records should I keep?

Keep receipts, canceled checks, or other substantiation for any deductions or credits you claimed. Also keep records that verify other items on your tax return (W-2s, 1099s, etc.). Keep a copy of the tax return, along with the supporting records, for seven years.

* What if I discover that I made a mistake on my return?

If you discover that you failed to report some income or claim a deduction or credit to which you are entitled, you can correct the error by filing an amended tax return using Form 1040X.

* What if my address changes after I file?

If you move or have an address change after filing your return, send Form 8822 “Change of Address” to the IRS. You should also notify the Postal Service of your new address so that you’ll receive any refund you’re due or notices sent by the IRS.

For answers to other tax questions you may have, give us a call.

If you itemize tax deductions on your income tax return, you can deduct the mortgage interest and property taxes paid for your vacation home. A boat or RV can qualify as a vacation home if it has sleeping quarters, cooking facilities, and a bathroom. If a vacation home also serves as a part-time rental, you can control your tax deductions by changing the number of days you use it yourself.

If your child has a job this summer, encourage him or her to set up an IRA. The amount that can be contributed is $5,500 or the child’s earnings, whichever is less. If you wish, you can even provide the cash for the IRA and let your child spend his or her earnings. Roth IRAs are generally a smarter choice for children than traditional IRAs.