The Firm of Gardner & Billing, CPAs PLLC

IR-2018-01, Jan. 04, 2018                                                                             WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service announced today that the nation’s tax season will begin Monday, Jan. 29, 2018 and reminded taxpayers claiming certain tax credits that refunds won’t be available before late February. The IRS will begin accepting tax returns on Jan. 29, with nearly 155 million individual tax returns expected to be filed in 2018. The nation’s tax deadline will be April 17 this year – so taxpayers will have two additional days to file beyond April 15.  Many software companies and tax professionals will be accepting tax returns before Jan. 29 and then will submit the returns when IRS systems open. Although the IRS will begin accepting both electronic and paper tax returns Jan. 29, paper returns will begin processing later in mid-February as system updates continue. The IRS strongly encourages people to file their tax returns electronically for faste

Montana Department of Revenue has rolled out their new website and announced several cost saving measures that could impact the way you have traditionally completed your filings. _____________________________________ *2018 Income Tax Filing Options*   No Printed Booklets To save taxpayer dollars and administer tax law within state budget constraints, the Montana Department of Revenue no longer prints and distributes income tax booklets. E-Filing Options We encourage Montana income taxpayers to file electronically. People can visit revenue.mt.gov to find free e-filing options. New this year, Montana has joined the Free File Alliance, a coordinated effort by the IRS, state tax departments like the Montana Department of Revenue, and software vendors to offer free electronic filing options. This free electronic filing alternative replaces e-filing through the TransAction Portal (TAP) offered in previous years. Download forms through MyRevenue For taxpayers who prefer filing on pape

 (ATLANTA – January 5, 2018) – The federal government today announced reduced annual fees for commercial carriers required by law to participate in the Unified Carrier Registration Plan (UCR). The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which has oversight of UCR, published the final rulemaking ( https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/newsroom/fees-unified-carrier-registration-plan-and-agreement ). The new fees go into effect immediately.   The UCR Act, established in 2005, requires motor carriers involved in interstate commerce, and other businesses subject to The Act, to submit annual fees based on fleet size to supplement funding for state highway motor carrier registration and safety programs. The fee reduction for 2018, totaling about 9%, was based on a recommendation from the UCR Board of Directors following several years of higher than expected collections. “We’re pleased with the outcome of FMCSA’s rulemaking on this matter,” said UCR Board Chair Avelino Gutierrez, director

The 2017 Montana legislature passed House Bill 466 which makes DIESEL purchased at the pump (within 50 miles of applicant’s agricultural operation) with a credit or debit card, eligible for a partial refund of the Montana tax to persons qualified for the refund based on agricultural use.   Because the refund application requires you to submit the original of the purchase, you will need to keep the receipt you print out from the pump.   Keeping the receipt will be a bit of a hassle, but will make a big difference on your refund. MCA 15-70-430 allows an estimated (standard deduction) amount of fuel eligible for refund based on applicant’s agricultural income. The department may request state or federal income tax information from the applicant or the department of revenue to determine eligibility. To qualify, at least 30% of an applicant’s gross earned income must be from operations directly associated with farming and/or ranching. **Effective January 1, 2018, credit