01/05/2022
The IRS is cracking down on payments received through apps, such as Cash App, Zelle or Paypal, to ensure those using the third-party payment networks are paying their fair share of taxes. This policy shift will mainly impact business owners using third-party payment network providers.
Payments of $600 or more for goods and services through a third-party payment network, such as Venmo, Cash App, Paypal or Zelle will now be reported to the IRS. Third-party payment networks will be required to send users Form 1099-K for transactions made, by mail or electronically. The new tax reporting requirement will impact 2022 tax returns filed in 2023.
Say, for example, you split a dinner with a friend of yours, and she just Venmo'd you the amount. You don’t have to include that, of course, as part of your taxable income.
We strongly recommend deducting business expenses and separating personal and business accounts. It’s unlikely the IRS will take a heavy-handed approach and audit everyone the first year this is enacted.
For small businesses, there’s no reason to panic. This will be a little bit of a learning year for everyone, and over time we can expect the IRS to use the information on 1099-K's. That’s the reason they expanded them to begin with, in order to try to identify tax payers who really might not be reporting all their income.
The new tax rule will be a good motivator for everyone to get their books in order. Therefore, hire a tax expert if you start to feel overwhelmed.
Just to be on the safe side, it might be in your best interest to create a personal account, create a separate business account. And that way, you know you’ve kept those amounts separately, and you don’t have to worry about reconciling those differences at the year end.
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