Anyone have good advice on a CPA in Virginia that specializes in marine and/or working foreign, I’m already starting to cringe thinking about how much I’m going to get reamed!
I use Colleen Emery with Transport Workers Tax. She is somewhat conservative, but when Marty Kapp’s clients were ducking for cover a few years back, I had nothing to worry about. She’s up in Columbia, MD area.
I use the 1040EZ…I soon hope to use the regular 1040A and ask a CPA questions of how to reduce my tax liability.
The Broke Cadet
Good luck, they are few and far between I have found. Some will say they know about all the stuff a Mariner can write off but I would say 90% do not.
Example is driving to work. Most think Mariners fall under the DOT guidelines where you can only deduct this for one year, not true. ONLY ONE knew about and how to fill out the form you will need for working overseas to get your TAX CREDIT. All the others tried to make it a tax deduction.
Turbo Tax is the way I go and fill out my own stuff. I’m held responsible anyways no matter who fills out my forms so why not do it myself and save all that money. It only takes about 4hrs the 1st time you do it then less then 2hrs the following year because you know what to do.
I will shoot you a PM because there are things I don’t want to post on an open forum and maybe it will help you.
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Ioven tax in philly does a decent job.
Death and Taxes… The company I work for takes out the fed taxes(Union dues?..lol) but not the state. I called them and they will not take it out of my pay. So now I have to pay my state taxes in Alabama even though I did not work on alabama dirt. Damm I need to move to a free state or get an “address” elsewhere!
Hell, the state is just gonna spend the money I give them on brown party liquor anyway…
[QUOTE=Rebel_Rider1969;154928]Death and Taxes… The company I work for takes out the fed taxes(Union dues?..lol) but not the state. I called them and they will not take it out of my pay. So now I have to pay my state taxes in Alabama even though I did not work on alabama dirt. Damm I need to move to a free state or get an “address” elsewhere!
Hell, the state is just gonna spend the money I give them on brown party liquor anyway…[/QUOTE]
The GOM companies I have worked for do the same for out of state employees. I file quarterly estimates to the state I reside in.
Same here. If I don’t there is a penalty that is a few hundred dollars.
Yes there’s law against “garnishing” a seaman’s wages, in this case withholding state taxes if you live in another state.
I refuse to pay quarterly as a matter of principle.
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[QUOTE=z-drive;154943]I refuse to pay quarterly as a matter of principle.[/QUOTE]
How do you avoid paying a penalty for not filing quarterly?
I just pay the penalty. Usually in the ballpark of $100 or so IIRC for me. Price I am willing to pay to keep my money in my bank and just pay when it’s due.
Your lucky day…got the card in my wallet
Ruth Carmody
Tidewater Accounting and Bookkeeping Services
609 Independence Parkway
Chesapeake VA
757-436-3150
Got the info from another mariner, supposedly she’s good.
I might have to check that out as well. Im courious to see just how much im missing out on by having my taxes done by a normal tax preparer.
Anyone now of one in North Carolina?
TBA Tax Services (516) 825-6685 Tax Preparation Service 475 West Merrick Road, Valley Stream, NY 11580
Well familiar with merchant marine tax prep. Can do remotely.
I would rather pay the extra cost of a CPA, as compared to a tax preparer. Between income tax, personal property taxes on homes, cars and boats, sales taxes, and county taxes…Virginia has me over a stump!
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Since you are working overseas, why don’t you “move” overseas and pay no state tax? I don’t know Virginia law, but in most states as long as you do the things that are necessary to establish residence somewhere else, and spend less than 180 days in state, you are not subject to state tax. You can still have a “seasonal home” in the state.
Just make sure you briefly move to a state with no tax, get a driver’s license, and register to vote, before you move overseas. Make sure you register as an expat with the US Embassy in your new country of residence. It would probably be a good idea to move your bank accounts out of the state where you will no longer be paying taxes. In general, do everything you can to reduce your footprint in the high tax state. Obviously, if you have a wife and kids living in the high tax state, you will not be able to avoid paying the state tax.
[QUOTE=tugsailor;155000]Since you are working overseas, why don’t you “move” overseas and pay no state tax? I don’t know Virginia law, but in most states as long as you do the things that are necessary to establish residence somewhere else, and spend less than 180 days in state, you are not subject to state tax. You can still have a “seasonal home” in the state.
Just make sure you briefly move to a state with no tax, get a driver’s license, and register to vote, before you move overseas. Make sure you register as an expat with the US Embassy in your new country of residence. It would probably be a good idea to move your bank accounts out of the state where you will no longer be paying taxes. In general, do everything you can to reduce your footprint in the high tax state. Obviously, if you have a wife and kids living in the high tax state, you will not be able to avoid paying the state tax.[/QUOTE]
My dream would be to move to Nevada…so all that money I’d be saving tax wise could go into a casino when I’m off.
[QUOTE=ForkandBlade;154997]I would rather pay the extra cost of a CPA, as compared to a tax preparer. Between income tax, personal property taxes on homes, cars and boats, sales taxes, and county taxes…Virginia has me over a stump![/QUOTE]
The personal property taxes are ridiculous. I bought a nice car that holds its value well and they tax the crap out of it every year.