On March 25, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order that will change how the federal government handles payments, phasing out the use of paper-based payments such as checks and money orders and mandating the use of electronic payments where allowable by law.

The IRS has announced that the 1.1 million taxpayers who have unclaimed tax refunds for tax year 2021 have until April 15, 2025 to submit their returns.

In March 2025, the IRS announced that interest rates will remain the same for the second quarter of 2025, which begins April 1, 2025.

Each year, the IRS releases its “Dirty Dozen,” a list of tax scams that taxpayers should be wary of.  The list highlights common scams that put people at risk of losing money, personal information, data, and more.

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) requirement that companies and business owners complete annual Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting has been hotly contested for several months. Since late last year, various lawsuits have been filed and injunctions implemented and rescinded within weeks. Most recently, in the case of Smith vs. the U.S. Department of Treasury, adjudicated in the Eastern District Court of Texas, the court ruled the previous injunction should be removed and a new reporting deadline established.

President Donald Trump recently announced new tariffs on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico, citing economic and national security concerns. A 10% tariff on all Chinese goods took effect on February 4, while proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports have been delayed for 30 days as negotiations continue. The full impact on businesses remains uncertain, but higher costs and supply chain disruptions are likely. With over 40% of U.S. imports coming from these three countries, industries that rely on foreign materials and goods are watching closely.

In late January 2025, the state of New Jersey took a step toward streamlining the property tax relief process for senior citizens and disabled homeowners.  Instead of separate applications for ANCHOR, Senior Freeze, and the upcoming Stay NJ benefit, seniors aged 65 years and older and disabled homeowners will now only have to take care of one application with a single deadline for all programs.

In mid-December, the IRS announced the new optional standard mileage starts that will be in effect starting January 1, 2025. The rates are used to calculate the deductible costs of operating a vehicle for business, charitable, medical, or moving purposes.

The $600 threshold for Form 1099-K reporting for third-party settlement organizations (TPSOs) has been delayed again. The IRS made  the announcement on November 26th with the issuance of Notice 2024-85. This change means that TPSOs will only be required to report transactions when the total payment amounts exceed $5,000 in 2024, more than $2,500 in 2025, and more than $600 in 2026 and beyond.

As the end of 2024 approaches, now is the time for individuals to fine-tune financial strategies and explore opportunities to reduce federal income taxes due at year end. There are several steps which can be taken in the closing weeks of the year to help reduce 2024 income taxes.