Take a look at our newsletter this month.
SPRING 2020
LEGAL ANSWERS ALL THE ANSWERS TO YOUR LEGAL QUESTIONS
chicagotaxteam.com | (312) 664-6649 |150 N. Michigan Ave. #1120, Chicago, Illinois 60601
DID YOU MISS THE BULLS? TRY THE BLACKHAWKS!
Suite Night Out Is Back
Do you remember my last newsletter, when I told you all about the ticket giveaway I was planning? Well, as some of you know firsthand, it went off without a hitch! I had a blast watching the Bulls game from the center court suite with five lucky IRS Protection Plan members and hanging out with a handful of our Trust Radio Network trusted professionals before tipoff. The only downside of the Suite Night Out was that the Bulls lost. So, to ease my heartbreak, I’ve decided to host Suite Night Out round two, this time with the Blackhawks! If you want to get in on seeing the Hawks battle the Predators with me on Friday, Feb. 21, today is your lucky day. If you’re already an IRS Protection Plan member, all you need to do to get your name in the hat for a free ticket is call my office. If you’re not a member yet, just sign up in the next few weeks (don’t forget to mention the Suite Night Out), and you’ll be entered to win! Remember, signing up not only gets you a shot at a Hawks ticket but also all the perks of the plan. That includes having your yearly tax returns taken care of, unlimited telephone consultations with me and my team about tax problems or other legal matters, and the reassurance that we’ll always have an active power of attorney to monitor your case.
“If you want to get in on seeing the Hawks battle the Predators with me on Friday, Feb. 21, today is your lucky day.”
I hope you’ll join me at one of these incredible events this month. Watching the Hawks (hopefully) smash the Predators will be a great time, and participating in Hustle Chicago will be just as fun — how often do you get to climb stairs with 4,000 other people to improve your health and the health of the city?
After I watch the Hawks game (and hopefully see you there), I have another big event to tackle with my team this month on Sunday, Feb. 23: Hustle Chicago. This charity event used to be called Hustle Up Hancock, because participants have to hustle their way up all 94 floors of the Hancock Building to raise money for the Respiratory Health Association. The RHA offers education, conducts research, and works on public policy all with the aim of fighting lung disease and air pollution. It’s a great cause, and my staff and I are proud to participate in the event every year. Yes, it’s exhausting, but it’s totally worth it to see the life-changing money raised by the end of the day. This year, we’d love it if you’d hustle with us! I know 94 flights sounds intimidating, but there’s a 52-floor “half climb”option too. To register, just head to RespHealth.org and join Team Opem.
If you’re already planning to be at Hustle Chicago with another team, don’t hesitate to say hello. I’d love to see you! And if you have a tax problem you want to talk about while we hustle, I can help with that, too.
–Steven Leahy
1
1
(312) 664-6649
HOME SWEET HOME CHICAGO
As you may know, I am a frequent guest on David Hochberg’s Home Sweet Home Chicago (HSHC), where I answer listener questions about IRS issues, Bankruptcy matters, and foreclosure cases. HSHC has been airing every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. on WLS 890 AM. BIG NEWS! HSHC has moved to WGN Radio 720. The show follows the
popular longtime Lou Manfredini’s HouseSmarts Radio Show. The audience for the show has GROWN. We reach more people, and that means we can help more people. I hope you join the show at the new station. EVERYONE in Chicago knows WGN Radio!
Meet Attorney Raffy A. Kaplan
Attorney Kaplan was our guest on the Trust Radio Network in December 2019. Attorney Kaplan’s practice focuses on helping people overcome their student loan problems. I have been working with people with debt issues for a long time, and I learned so much from her about this ongoing problem. Generally, bankruptcy isn’t a big help because, most often, student loans are NOT dischargable. But Ms. Kaplan has
found other ways to help those with unmanageable student loans. If you didn’t listen to the show (shame on you) you can go to watchtalkradio.com to see or hear the show. If you need help with student loans, or know someone who does, give Attorney Kaplan a call at (312) 294-8989. One of our Trusted Professionals, Attorney James Morici (personal injury attorney), held his annual holiday party at Gibson’s Steak House. Jim brought a very special guest to the dinner, Pat Hughes, the radio announcer of the Chicago Cubs. Now, if you know me at all, you know I am a HUGE Cubs fan. So, I was honored to have my picture taken with him. If you are injured on the job or in an accident, I recommend you talk to Attorney Morici. Years ago, before I was an attorney, Jim represented me. I love the guy.
Attorney JimMorici holiday party at Gibson’s Steak House with Pat Hughes.
2
chicagotaxteam.com
4 Ways to Avoid an Audit Your chances of being audited by the IRS are low, but the possibility always exists. The time, place, and manner of the audit are negotiable, but by far the easiest way to deal with an audit is to prevent one in the first place. As we move into tax season, here are a few ways to do just that: to the government, and if you don’t report it when you file, there will be a mismatch in documentation and your chances of an audit will increase. AVOID CLAIMING LARGE CHARITABLE DONATIONS
AVOID UNSCRUPULOUS TAX PREPARERS
The IRS doesn’t have to work very hard to audit you if you claim large charitable donations. All they have to do is request substantiation by mail. This ease of auditing makes you a target to the IRS when you claim large donations. AVOID TAKING A REPEATED LOSS ON A HOME-BASED BUSINESS If a business loses money three out of five years, the IRS classifies that business as a hobby, and once your business has been put in this category, you are no longer eligible to benefit from deductions meant to stimulate business activity.
FILE ON TIME Filing on time means your return will be
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. When specific tax professionals are consistently generating large refunds, the IRS will audit all of their clients, not just one. Be careful who you hire. Being audited by the IRS can be a lengthy, painful, and costly experience. At the Law Offices of Steven A. Leahy, we deal with the intricacies of the IRS on a regular basis, and we are ready to help you make it through the process as painlessly as possible.
processed alongside the rush of returns being filed around tax time. If you file late, your taxes will be looked over by a person who has more time to slow down and take an actual look at the details. This heightens your risk of an audit. REPORT ALL INCOME Once a company has paid you over $600, they are required to issue either a 1099 or a W-2. The company that issued payment will then report those documents Don't forget to listen to the "IRS Radio Hour" every SUNDAY AT 5 P.M. ON AM 560 THE ANSWER
SUDOKU
Could you use some professional advice?
Tune in to AM 560 The Answer every Saturday at 8 p.m. to listen to "Trust Radio Network," a radio show offering tips, tricks, and lessons directly from trusted professionals in law, finance, real estate, medicine, and more!
ANSWER
3
(312) 664-6649
Phone: (312) 664-6649 chicagotaxteam.com 150 N. Michigan Ave. #1120 Chicago, Illinois 60601
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
I N S I D E
1 2
Suite Night Out Is Back!
Home Sweet Home Chicago
Meet Attorney Raffy A. Kaplan
3
4 Ways to Avoid an Audit
Sudoku
4
Give the Gift of Life
Give the Gift of Life
With all the cards, chocolates, and expensive dinners, it’s easy to get cynical about Valentine’s Day. However, National Donor Day also falls on Feb. 14, and it can refocus our attention back on the real meaning of the day: love.
Department of Motor Vehicles. You’ll need official identification to register. Registration is not permanent and you will always have the option to change your mind. Once registered, you will not need to carry your donor card with you, as your status exists in the registry.
JOIN A DONOR DASH.
In the U.S., 20 people die each day while waiting for an organ transplant. Losing loved ones is one of the most painful aspects of the human experience,
Donor Dash fundraising events pop up all over the country on National Donor Day. These noncompetitive 5K running and walking events are designed to bring donors and recipients together and keep hope alive for those who are currently waiting for a donation. To learn more, or to register for an event, check out DonorAlliance.org.
and while it is unavoidable, organ donation offers a pathway to help prevent that loss and keep more love in the world.
PARTICIPATE IN #STARTTHECONVERSATION.
In the spirit of that love, here are a few ways you can get
Donor Alliance, a nonprofit that works to promote organ donation, began the #StartTheConversation campaign as a way to help spread awareness about organ and tissue donation. Starting the conversation can be as simple as sharing that you registered with your friends and family or as personal as sharing a story about how organ donation has touched your life or the lives of your loved ones. Don’t let another Valentine’s Day come and go in a tide of cellophane, candy hearts, and cheesy cards. This year, get involved in National Donor Day. After all, what better way is there to express the value of love than giving the gift of life?
involved with National Donor Day this Feb. 14.
REGISTER AS AN ORGAN DONOR.
Signing yourself up is easy and can be done either online or in person at your local
4
chicagotaxteam.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker