This post was originally published on Defender Network
By Laura Onyeneho | Houston Defender | Word In Black
(WIB) – The economic downturn from the pandemic was a rude awakening for many millennials and Gen-Zers. It was an even harsh reminder of how fleeting financial security can be. One day you have a job, and the next day you are unemployed with no emergency funds for additional support.
With the growing investor confidence and the shift in attitude on how to make and invest money, there is just one thing that young people forget when they make all of this money. That is TAXES!
Peter Njoku is a Houston-based Certified Public Accountant and founder of PKN Accounting and Tax Service PLLC. Here are his top 4 mistakes young people make when it comes time to file taxes:
- Not indicating that you work multiple jobs– I have seen folks who work multiple jobs and don’t indicate on their W-4s that they do. They come crying to me when they owe taxes.
- Don’t mix a business account with a personal account– Folks with businesses use a personal account to manage all revenue and expenses. (For example) Travel nurses working as independent contractors not forming an LLC to protect their personal assets from legal issues
- Not reading IRS or State Comptroller letters– Not having the courage to read letters regarding their federal and state tax situation will get you into serious problems. Your notice or letter will explain the reason for the contact and give you instructions on how to handle the issue. Respond to minimize additional interests and penalty charges.
- Keep records of your past tax forms– Not keeping tax support documents for at least 3 years to substantiate IRS inquiries.
- Not filing with a professional– Procrastinating on filing taxes and not sitting with a professional to determine a proper tax strategy on time.
Support for this Sacramento OBSERVER article was provided to Word In Black (WIB) by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. WIB is a collaborative of 10 Black-owned media that includes print and digital partners.