With about weeks to go to file your 2012 tax return, you probably have questions. Whether you prepare your own tax return or pay someone to do it for you, we are here to help. Every day until April 15, members of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants have agreed to answer tax questions from USA TODAY readers. Submit your questions to taxadvice@usatoday.com. Today’s question:

Q. I won a free cruise in 2011, which I took in 2012. I understand I should receive a 1099 for the cruise, but I can’t get the cruise line to send me the 1099. What if I don’t have the 1099 by next month? How do I file my taxes with that taxable freebie paperwork?

Also, when I originally won the cruise I inquired about what the 1099 amount might be – my “cruise director” indicated about $2000 – which is several hundred dollars more than a comparable room on the cruise if I just paid upfront. Plus the room had a lifeboat hanging over the window, so we didn’t even get a room with a view, which is how the rooms are priced. If I want to dispute the value of the 1099 (if I ever see it), how do I do this with the IRS and still get my taxes resolved on time?

A: Assuming the cruise line is the organization that offered the free cruise promotion and not someone else, they are required to issue a 1099 to you and send a copy to the IRS by Feb. 28. The 1099 should be for the actual value of the benefit you received. That could be subject to interpretation as it will probably be reported as the “brochure” price for the type of room you had, as opposed to any discounted price you may have received if you paid for the cruise. If you don’t get the 1099 by the time the return is due, you will have to file for an extension and use your best estimate as to the value of the cruise to determine your tax liability. Not sure you will get anywhere with the IRS as it is the cruise’s responsibility to determine the value. Hope this helps.

Ken Rubin, CPA,
RubinBrown, St. Louis

For more information:

Publication 530: Tax information for homeowners

Publication 936: Home mortgage interest deduction

Publication 523: Selling your home

PREVIOUS QUESTIONS:

Q. My husband and I refinanced our home in November and paid close to $10,000 in closing costs. Is any of that deductible? I never received a tax form, just our HUD settlement statement. Please help as we don’t want to lose out on any deductions.

A: There are several items on a closing statement from the refinancing of a residence that may be deductible.

Often, interest expenses for the period between refinancing and the first mortgage payment are included on the closing statement. These should be reported on theForm 1098 you received from the lender but it is always a good idea to double-check.

TAX TIPS: Seven ways for homeowners to save

The refinance statement may also include mortgage points. On a refinance, points are deductible over the term of the loan.

The statement may also include real estate taxes, which may be deductible.

Normally all other costs are added to the basis of the residence, which can help when you sell the house.

Teri E. Newman, CPA,
Plante Moran, Chicago

Q: I’m a 14-year-old boy, and through my website and Amazon.com selling business I have taken in a fair amount of money in the last year—but I have never payed taxes and don’t know how. Is there something I should do specifically since I’m under 18?

A: Generally, a dependent child must file a return if any of the following apply:

• Unearned income (such as interest and dividends) over $950

• Earned income (such as salaries and self-employment) over $5,950

• Gross income (earned plus unearned) more than the greater of (1) $950 or (2) earned income plus $300 (not to exceed $5,950).

A 14-year-old is normally still a dependent of their parents. An Internet sales business would be earned income for the 14-year-old. He should consider filing a Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business, as part of his Form 1040, Individual Income Tax Return.

His earned income would equal his gross sales less his expenses, if any. Some possible expenses may include his cost of advertising and any fees paid to Amazon. If his earned income is greater than $5,950, he is required to file a tax return.

He may also be required to file a Sales and Use Tax Return. He should check with his State Department of Revenue.

For more information:

Do I need to file a return?

Publication 929: Tax Rules for Children and Dependents

S. Miguel Reyna, CPA
Reyna CPAs, Dallas

Q: Can I roll over a Roth IRA to a Roth 401(k)? If I can’t, am I able to withdraw my Roth IRA funds without penalty or income tax on earnings if I use it for a down payment on a first-time home?

A: A Roth IRA can only be rolled over to another Roth IRA and is not permitted to be rolled over or transferred to a Roth 401(k).

First, withdrawals from a Roth account up to the amount of account owner contributions are not taxed and are not subject to the 10% penalty regardless of your age or how long you’ve owned the account. Any withdrawals that exceed the owner’s contributions are subject to taxation and a 10% penalty unless they are qualified distributions.

For a withdrawal to be qualified two tests must be met:

• The owner must be 59 1/2 or older, or an exception applies – and the first-time home purchase is an exception.

• Five-year test: Owner must have owned the account (or any other Roth account) for at least five years

Since you are using the withdrawn funds for a first time home purchase, you pass the first test. ;Therefore, if you also pass the five-year test, the withdrawal would be “qualified” and you would not be assessed taxes or penalties.

However, if you fail the 5-year test, you would owe ordinary income taxes on the earnings portion of the withdrawal but the 10% penalty would be waived (up to a maximum of $10,000 of earnings withdrawn).

Terry L. Seaton CPA
Seaton Financial Advisors, St Augustine, Fla.

For more information:

Chart: Types of allowable rollover transactons

Tax Topic: Rollovers of retirement plan distributions

Differences between a Roth IRA and designated Roth account

Q: Are costs from an auto accident that was ruled not my fault deductible? The offending party and/or his insurance company has not paid for medical costs due to the lack of insurance or ability to pay. I have over $20,000 dollars which I paid in 2012. Thanks

A: The Internal Revenue Code does provide for a deduction for medical expensesincluding costs associated with an accident like yours. Sorry to hear that you had an auto accident with injuries that required medical attention. You can deduct all of your medical expenses incurred during a tax year that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income if you are itemizing.

For example, let’s say that your adjusted gross income for the year is $80,000. That would mean the threshold for you to have the benefit of deducting your medical expenses would be $6,000, ( $80,000 x 0.075). So the first $6,000 of your $20,000 of expenses would not be deductible, but the remaining $14,000 would.

Added to these costs could be other medical expenses such as co-pays, dental, optical, prescriptions, physical therapy and most other health-related costs. You would add the deductible medical expenses to your other itemized deductions such as mortgage insurance, real estate taxes, state and local income taxes, and charities to determine the total itemized deductions that you would claim.

Karl L. Fava, CPA
Business Financial Consultants, Dearborn, Mich.

For more information:

Publication 502: Medical and Dental expenses

Medical and Dental expenses: What can I deduct and what can’t I deduct

Q: I am a graduate student in literature. I know that I can deduct school fees and course materials. What I am not sure is if I can deduct books (and other items such as relevant electronics like laptops) that are not specifically assigned for a class but will benefit me in my academic pursuits, which I equate with my career as I intend to teach and research on a college level.

A: The treatment of higher-education expenses on your income tax return is one of the most complex areas of the tax law. There are several deductions and credits that may be available and typically, only one can be claimed at a time.

You should review IRS Publication 970 to determine whether the Lifetime Learning Credit, tuition and fees deduction, or some other provision applies to you.

TAX TIPS: Get the latest tax news and advice

If you are claimed as a dependent by your parents, you must also determine who can claim the deduction or credit. Also see Form 8917.

The qualifying expenses are generally limited to tuition and related expenses that are required to be paid to the university as a condition of enrollment. See the examples on page 34 of Publication 970 to see how strict these rules are.

Optional expenditures, even though helpful for your studies, such as a computer, generally are not deductible.

Annette Nellen, CPA
San Jose State University, San Jose, Calif.

For more information:

Overview: Tax benefits for education: Credits, Deductions, Savings Plans, Scholarships

Publication 970: Tax benefits for Education

Q: My son, 24, and daughter, 22, have full-time jobs and still live with me. Can I claim them as dependents, or does it depend on their income?

A: To claim a child as a dependent, the child must be under the age of 19, a student under the age of 24, or permanently and totally disabled regardless of age.

In addition, the child must have lived with you for more than half the year and cannot have provided more than half of his or her own support during the year.

It sounds like your children do not qualify based on the age test.

The Qualifying Child section of IRS Publication 501 gives all the details of the requirements that must be met in order to claim a child as a dependent.

Clare Levison, CPA
Blacksburg, Va.

For more information:

Who can I claim as a dependent?

Six important facts about dependents and exemptions

Top frequently asked questions for filing requirements, status, dependents, exemptions

Q: I have closed one IRA account and rolled it over to another account. I received a Form 1099-R, which is showing in box 2a the full amount taxable. How can I handle this?

A: I am assuming that your new IRA is also a traditional IRA and that you didn’t instead roll over to a Roth IRA. If you did change to a Roth, then the full amount is taxable as Box 2a declares.

If your new IRA is a traditional IRA, then as long as you deposited the rollover proceeds from your old account into your new account within 60 days of receiving it, you will not have to pay taxes on the amount shown in box 2a.

You should have received a Form 5498 from your new IRA account provider showing that you deposited the proceeds into an IRA there. Keep this form with your other tax information.

Here’s how to handle it on your tax return: Report the amount listed in box 1 of Form 1099-R on line 15a of Form 1040, or line 11a of Form 1040A. On line 15b or 11b of the correct form, put a zero and write the word “rollover” next to line 15b or 11b. That should take care of it.

Kelley Long, CPA
Shepard Schwartz & Harris, Chicago

For more information:

IRS Publication 590: Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)

Chart: Types of allowable rollover transactions

Tax Topic: Rollovers of retirement plan distributions

SOURCE: USA Today Article

From CBS.com

(MoneyWatch) So you’ve prepared your tax return and found that you owe. What should you do if you can’t pay?

One thing you should do no matter what is to file your tax return on time. But if you don’t make any arrangements to pay what you owe, the IRS is legally required to take steps to collect what you owe, which include:

• Use your past and future refunds to offset your bill
• File a federal tax lien against your property
• Place a tax levy against your salary
• Seize your financial accounts
• Serve you with a summons to appear before the IRS to provide information as to why you cannot pay

Needless to say, there are better alternatives. For starters, consider seeking a loan. You could ask for a loan from a relative, a friend or a bank (though approval may be tough given your financial situation). You could tap a home equity line of credit, if that is available. Current interest rates on home equity credit lines are low and repayment terms are flexible.

You can also pay your taxes using a credit card. Using this option is just another form of borrowing, but it will avoid the IRS penalties for not paying at all. The downside is that you’ll pay convenience fees of about 2 percent to 4 percent of the amount charged. And if you don’t pay your credit card balance in full and on time, you could end up paying expensive interest on the balance you carry at a rate that is higher than the IRS interest rate for installment payments.

Online installment payments

If you owe less than $25,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest and you have filed all required tax returns in a timely manner, you may be eligible to complete and submit an Online Payment Agreement or OPA.

Taxpayers or their representatives can apply online and receive immediate approval. Because there may be situations when you need to speak with the IRS before they can determine your eligibility for an installment agreement, the OPA application also includes an address and a toll-free phone number to contact them.

When submitting an Online Payment Agreement, there are basically two payment options available:

60 to 120 Day Extension: if approved, you could get an extension for up to 120 days to pay. If you go this route, you’d generally pay less in penalties and interest than if using a longer term installment agreement.

Monthly Payment Plan: If you can’t pay in full within 120 days, you may be permitted to use the web-based Online Payment Agreement to apply for and receive immediate approval to make monthly installment payments. There are a few conditions. First, you must have filed all of your prior years’ tax returns and pay a user fee of $105 ($52 if payments automatically deducted from a bank account). You’ll also pay the IRS interest on the unpaid balance, which is currently an annual rate of about 3 percent.

When you request a short term extension or a payment plan, the IRS will send written confirmation so you’ll know your request has been approved.

You’ll pay penalties and interest on the taxes you owe until a payment agreement is paid off. However, depending on your individual circumstances, the IRS could offer a payment plan at a reduced interest rate. Also, as a condition of the installment agreement, any future tax refunds will be automatically applied against the amount you owe until the balance is paid off.

Since the IRS charges a user fee for setting up a payment plan, it may not be the best option for amount owed is less than $2,000 and you know you can pay it off in less than 120 days. If this is the case, then consider the other alternatives mentioned above. Also keep in mind that if you opt for a payment plan that is longer, you’ll have to pay all future taxes in full and on time.

© 2013 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved.

There’s a lot of talk right now regarding Americans paying their “fair share” to the tax man. While many issues are up for debate, most parties agree the tax code needs some work. But as you gather documentation to do your 2012 taxes, forget about future tax policy. The most important thing is to make existing tax breaks work in your favor. Nobody should pay more taxes than they have to – and if the IRS provides a legal deduction, it’s not sneaky or unfair to take them up on the offer.

The problem is that a convoluted tax code prevents many Americans from finding some deductions even when they’re entitled to them. Here are five commonly overlooked deductions that may be worth noting.

• “Catch-up” retirement deductions: The IRA contribution limit for younger Americans is $5,000 for tax year 2012, but you get up to $6,000 if you’re 50 and older. This deduction is designed to help those closer to retirement catch up if they’re behind – and considering that some polls estimate half of Americans have zilch in retirement savings, you can understand why many need to catch up.

• Job-hunting costs: Did you pay fees to an employment placement agency during your job search or join a professional organization to network? Are you out of pocket for travel to an interview, even if it was just gas and mileage, or spend hundreds on high-priced résumé stationery and work samples? These are applicable expenses that can be added to your itemized deductions.

Best of all, you don’t have to be unemployed to qualify for many job-hunting tax breaks: Just looking for a job in your present field of employment allows you to reap these benefits. Make sure you’re being reasonable, and that these costs are 100% related to a job search. In other words, a trip to the Super Bowl is not a tax write-off just because you fill out an application at Starbucks while you’re in New Orleans.

• Interest on student loans paid by someone else: Since it’s your name on the loan, it’s your deduction, even if your parents co-signed and they’re making the payments. The only way your parents can claim the interest is if you’re still a dependent on their tax return or if the original loan was wholly in their names.

• Glasses and contacts: Prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses are in the same category of itemized deductions as a wheelchair or a hearing aid. While it might not seem like a medical expense to buy reading glasses with pink plastic frames, the IRS will cut you a break. Considering what some of us pay for designer eyewear, this can add up.

• Out-of-pocket charity expenses: It’s easy to include the documentation from cash donations. But what about the little things, such as paint and poster board for a school fundraiser, or the ingredients in your famous green bean casserole, which is served at the local soup kitchen each Sunday? Don’t forget the driving; while commuting to and from a charity office doesn’t count, delivering meals or chauffeuring other volunteers can be deducted at a rate of 14 cents per mile.

A qualified tax adviser will know more itemized deductions, and don’t forget that the IRS offers tax tips on its website, such as this page on overlooked tax credits.

Jeff Reeves is the editor of InvestorPlace.com and the author of The Frugal Investor’s Guide to Finding Great Stocks.

Link to full article here.

Click here for the full posting on the IRS website.