Tax Tips for Summertime Activities

For many people, summertime means change. Whether it's a life change, like a marriage, or a typical summer event, like sending the kids to camp, things people do in summer can affect their income taxes. Here are a few summertime activities and tips on how taxpayers should consider them during filing season. You may find them helpful for yourself and/or for your child(ren).

Getting married
Summer is wedding season, and newlyweds can make tax filing easier by doing a few simple things. First, report any name change to the Social Security Administration. Next, notify the United States Postal Service, employers, and the IRS of any address change. To officially change their mailing address with the IRS, taxpayers must compete Form 8822, Change of Address, and mail it to the correct address for their area. Be sure to also update any beneficiary forms you have on file.

Traveling for business
Kids may have the summer off, but parents generally don't. Business travel happens year-round. Tax deductions are available for certain people who travel away from their home or main place of work for business reasons. Whether a business traveler is away for a few nights or all summer long, it is important for them to remember the rules related to business travel. Last month in our July newsletter we discussed business travel. Please let us know if you would like another copy of that newsletter.

Sending kids to summer camp
If you sent a child to summer camp, the cost may count toward the Child and Dependent Care Credit.

Working part time

• While summertime and part-time workers may not earn enough to owe income tax, they should file a tax return to get any refund they may be owed.
• Some taxpayers earn summer income as a gig economy worker.
• If taxpayers are paid through payment apps and receive more than $600, they may receive an IRS Form 1099-K reporting their earnings.

Home improvements
If taxpayers make qualified energy-efficient improvements to their home after Jan. 1, 2023, they may qualify for a tax credit up to $3,200. They can claim the credit for improvements made through 2032.

If taxpayers make energy improvements to their home, tax credits are available for a portion of qualifying expenses. The credit amounts and types of qualifying expenses were expanded by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. These types of projects include Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit for things like water heaters, exterior windows and doors, and heating and air conditioning installations. Residential Clean Energy Credits are available for taxpayers who install solar, wind and geothermal power generation; solar water heaters; or fuel cells and battery storage.

Summarized from irs.gov