Privacy Notice - Smoker Smith & Associates

CPAs, unlike providers of personal financial services, who are required by law to inform their clients of their policies regarding privacy of client information, have been and continue to be bound by professional standards of confidentiality that are even more stringent than those required by law. At Smoker, Smith & Associates, we have always protected our client’s right to privacy and will continue to use our best efforts to do so in the future. We have adopted a privacy notice similar to that as required by financial services to inform you of our practices with regard to your personal financial information.

Types of Nonpublic Personal Information We Collect

We collect non-public personal information about you that is directly provided to us by you or obtained by us only following your direct written authorization. No other or additional non-public personal information will be collected by Smoker, Smith & Associates absent your written direction or approval.

Parties to Whom we Disclose Information.

For a current and former client we do not disclose non-public personal information obtained in the course of our services for you except as may be required and permitted by law without your written direction. Thus, we may disclose confidential information made in response to a valid Order of Court or authorized agency of the government and always work to establish a legal means to limit such disclosure to only that segment of personal financial information which must be legally required to be disclosed.

We also may disclose information to our employees and in very limited situations and to unrelated third parties who need to know the information for the purpose of assisting us in providing professional services to you. To the extent reasonably possible, we will notify you in advance and disclose to you any non-public personal information provided to any third parties for such purposes. In all such situations, and at all times, we stress the confidential nature of the information being shared to both employees and third parties.

All disclosure of information to persons other than employees or consultants to Smoker, Smith & Associates is performed by the method of transmission as requested by the client. If facsimile is requested, such is sent only after the fax number is verified to be correct and the fax machine is in secure information with appropriate disclosures regarding IRS Circular 230. If transmission is by mail, normally certified mail or nationally recognized delivery service will be utilized requiring a signature from the receiving party. If information is desired to be transmitted electronically, various and appropriate security devices and practice to prevent improper obtainment or interception of information.

Protecting the Confidentiality and Security of Current and Former Clients’ Information

We retain records relating to professional services that we provide so that we are better able to assist you with your professional needs and, in some cases, to comply with professional guidelines. Such records are retained, however, for so long as necessary to fulfill the stated purposes of our engagement and thereafter either destroyed or returned to the client as directed. In order to guard your nonpublic personal information, we maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with our professional standards.

WE DO NOT DISCLOSE ANY NONPUBLIC PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU TO ANYONE FOR ANY PURPOSE THAT IS NOT SPECIFICALLY PERMITTED BY LAW OR SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED BY YOU.

Smoker, Smith & Associates retains the right and obligation to update this privacy policy at any time without advance notice. If you have any questions regarding this privacy policy, our professional ethics and/or the ability to provide you with quality financial services, please contact us immediately.

John Peters, President - ACCUWRITE Forms & Systems Inc.

Jori and the Smoker Smith team have been a very valued partner of ACCUWRITE Print + Promo for over 30 years. Jori's expertise on taxes and planning have been invaluable to us for decades. Her recommendations have been spot on and I would personally recommend her and SSA to anyone, large or small. If Jori says she can handle a client and their needs - she can. And beyond her expertise and advise, her availability and personal service is absolutely the best!

- John Peters, President - ACCUWRITE Forms & Systems Inc.

David L. Morgan, DDS, Owner– Dental Associates of Hershey

As our practice has evolved and grown, the expertise of Smoker, Smith and particularly Jori Culp and Brion Smoker has been invaluable. My questions are always addressed promptly and anything I need to change is brought to my attention rather than me needing to inquire about it. Personalized service with top notch expertise.

- David L. Morgan, DDS, Owner - Dental Associates of Hershey

Norman Twain - Norman Twain Productions

I first met Smoker, Smith and Associates, specifically Jori Culp and Dave Reinhart, as a recommendation for somebody in Pennsylvania to do a state incentives certification on a film I was doing. They couldn't have been more precise or more efficient in the work they did for my company, and since that time, not only have we become friends, but have had an excellent working relationship with regard to all of my production companies, tax needs and on various LLCs. We have also been extremely happy in my wife's and my own personal income taxes as well. Additionally, they now represent my daughter and son-in-law as their tax representative. What could be more of a recommendation than entrusting ones daughter to them!

- Norman Twain - Norman Twain Productions

> See all testimonials....

Reminders & Updates

2023 Standard Mileage Rates

Purpose	Rates per Mile
Business	65.5 cents
Medical/Moving	22 cents
Charitable	14 cents

2022 Standard Mileage Rates

Purpose	Rates 1/1 to 6/30/22	Rates 7/1 to 12/31/22
Business	58.5 cents	62.5 cents
Medical/Moving	18 cents	22 cents
Charitable	14 cents	14 cents

Check It Out!

Check out the article in PICPA CPA Now by Greg Kashella, published November 2021, Enhanced Financial Statement Disclosures for Small Businesses.

https://www.picpa.org/articles/cpa-now-blog/cpa-now/2021/11/19/financial-statement-disclosure-enhancements-for-small-businesses

Check out the article in the Central Penn Business Journal, Women Who Lead, March 2019 article featuring our partner Jori Culp

http://www.cpbj.com/article/20190306/CPBJ01/303069999/women-who-lead-jori-m-culp-cpa?fbclid=IwAR1QS3LqoY_P5jEkST4y0QOhRYFYvqzr3UunTpTTFF5PKLUqEfT3JSxd-Tw

Tax-Related Identity Theft

The IRS combats tax-related identity theft with aggressive strategies of prevention, detection and victim assistance. To find out more about tax-related identity theft call our office or visit https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-protection for information and guidance.

Remember that the IRS will never contact you by electronic means. This includes emails, phone calls, text messages, or social media channels. If you are ever in doubt whether contact by someone claiming to be from the IRS is legitimate, call our office first for verification.

Weekly Tax Brief

What are the tax implications of winning money or valuable prizes?

If you gamble or buy lottery tickets and you’re lucky enough to win, congratulations! After you celebrate, be aware that there are tax consequences attached to your good fortune.

Winning at gambling

For tax purposes, it doesn’t matter if you win at the casino, a bingo hall or elsewhere. You must report 100% of your winnings as taxable income. They’re reported on an “Other income” line of your 1040 tax return. To measure your winnings on a particular wager, use the net gain. For example, if a $40 bet at the racetrack turns into a $130 win, you’ve won $90, not $130.

You must separately keep track of losses. They’re deductible, but only as itemized deductions. Therefore, if you don’t itemize and instead take the standard deduction, you can’t deduct gambling losses. In addition, gambling losses are only deductible up to the amount of gambling winnings. So you can use losses to “wipe out” gambling income but you can’t show a gambling tax loss.

Maintain good records of your losses during the year. Keep a detailed diary in which you note the date, place, amount and type of loss, as well as the name of anyone who was with you. Save all documentation, such as checks or credit slips.

Note: Different rules apply to people who qualify as professional gamblers.

Winning the lottery

Of course, the chances of winning big in the lottery are slim. But if you don’t follow the tax rules after winning, the chances of hearing from the IRS are much higher.

Lottery winnings are taxable. This is the case for cash prizes and for the fair market value of any noncash prizes, such as a car or vacation. Depending on your other income and the amount of your winnings, your federal tax rate may be as high as 37%. You may also be subject to state income tax.

You report lottery winnings as income in the year, or years, you actually receive them. In the case of noncash prizes, this would be the year the prize is received. With cash, if you take the winnings in annual installments, you only report each year’s installment as income for that year.

If you win more than $5,000 in the lottery or certain types of gambling, 24% must be withheld for federal tax purposes. You’ll receive a Form W-2G from the payer (lottery agency, casino, etc.) showing the amount paid to you and the federal tax withheld. (The payer also sends this information to the IRS.) If state tax is withheld, that amount may also be shown on Form W-2G.

Since your federal tax rate can be up to 37%, which is well above the 24% withheld, the withholding may not be enough to cover your federal tax bill. Therefore, you may have to make estimated tax payments — and you may be assessed a penalty if you fail to do so. In addition, you may be required to make state and local estimated tax payments.

We can help

If you’re fortunate enough to hit a sizable jackpot, there are other issues to consider, including estate planning. This article only covers the basic tax rules. Contact us with questions. We can help you minimize taxes and stay in compliance with all the requirements.

339 West Governor Road, Suite 202, Hershey, PA 17033

Phone: (717) 533-5154 • Toll-Free (888) 277-1040

Fax: (717) 533-1442 • info@smokersmith.com