Latest news with #MerkleRetirementPlanning
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Haven't filed your taxes yet? Here are some helpful tips
DES MOINES, Iowa — The countdown is on for Americans to file their taxes, as federal taxes are due on Tuesday. While the IRS says more than 101,000,000 Americans have already filed for the 2025 season, some will wait until tax day. If you're someone who hasn't filed yet, you still have time to do so. Mail-in taxes need to be postmarked by Tuesday, and you have until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday to file online. But, if people think they won't be able to file in time, experts say you can request an extension. More thunderstorms expected in Iowa Monday, later this week 'If you do feel like, for whatever reason, you just can't file your taxes by the end of the day tomorrow, you can file an extension. Now, filing an extension is rather easy as well. The IRS, you can go to their direct pay service and if you owe taxes you can pay, and then just click the box that says I want to file an extension and that will automatically file an extension for you. This means you still have to file your taxes, but you have an extra six months to file your taxes,' said Loren Merkle, Founder and CEO of Merkle Retirement Planning. Failure to file or request an extension can result in fees, penalties, and interest on taxes. Merkle says if your taxes are simple and you feel confident in filing them on your own, it's easy to do so online. 'To make it simple, if you do file taxes on your own, the IRS has created a free website for you to file directly with them, it's called IRS Free File. They do make it pretty simple. While you don't get advice and consultation of using a CPA or tax preparer if you're doing it yourself and you're confident in what you're doing it's a free service,' said Merkle. While Federal taxes are due Tuesday, Iowa state tax returns are due April 30. Iowa News: Iowa State University Insect Zoo to close Local parents pushing for change in student abuse investigations in Iowa school districts Haven't filed your taxes yet? Here are some helpful tips Man who shot at Iowa police officers sentenced after pleading guilty WATCH: Which Hawkeyes and Cyclones are bound for NFL? Draft Day Preview Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local expert offers advice on tax filing, avoiding scams
DES MOINES, Iowa — Tax season has arrived, and the IRS expects to process more than 140 million individual tax returns throughout the country this season. If you haven't yet filed, there's some advice from a financial expert to keep it as simple as possible. 'Even though most people have their W-2s by now, there's a lot of people out there still waiting for their 1099. So at this point in time, what you want to do is as you receive these documents, put them in a file, collect them and then organize them. It will make it much easier as you hand those documents to your tax preparer,' said Loren Merkle, founder of Merkle Retirement Planning. Mayor Boesen talks difficult decisions as work to cut $17M from Des Moines' budget progresses While tax refunds can provide a financial boost for Americans, scammer activity also increases during filing season. The IRS received nearly 300,000 complaints of identity theft in 2023. But Merkle says there are ways to protect yourself from these scams.'So it's important to understand if you're contacted by what seems to be an IRS agent and you don't feel comfortable, it doesn't feel right. Just thank them for the call, hang up and then call the IRS directly,' said Merkle. The IRS will rarely ask for any immediate payments. The deadline to file your federal income taxes is April 15th. The deadline for filing state taxes in Iowa is April 30th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
