San Mateo, CA:  Here's the scenario:  Your efiled tax return gets rejected by the IRS because your social security number has already been used on a filed tax return--now what?  (this will be the subject of a future article!).Well, let's back up a little bit---what can YOU DO NOW to protect yourself from tax scammers stealing your social security number?  Answer: IRS ID THEFT PIN PROGRAM.Taxpayers can go online, verify their ID to the IRS and obtain a 6 digit PIN number that must be recorded on their efiled tax return in order to get processed.  Without the PIN number, the efiled return is automatically rejected.Thus, scammers that steal your ID and social security number to file a fraudulent return and get federal tax credits using your name will be BLOCKED immediately from doing so.Fo... 05/31/2023

San Mateo, CA: You went to your mailbox and there it was.  The letter you have been dreading, but haven't really thought about for a few (or more) years.  The IRS is sending you "greetings" in the form of a CP14.  Now what do you do?The CP14 is an official notice that you owe money to the IRS.  It is also the first "shot across the bow" of your boat in an effort to get your attention.The IRS does not wish to chase you to get you to pay them.  They have MILLIONS of taxpayers that owe them money, so the easier you make it on them, GENERALLY, the easier they make it on you.When you get your CP14, a few things to do: read the notice carefully from start of finish.  The notice was explain how much you owe and how to pay the IRS. the notice will give you a due date for the payment.  Realize i... 05/28/2023

SAN MATEO, CA: If you owe back taxes or even worse, DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU OWE OR WHY YOU OWE IT, it's time to get professional help.  The IRS has recently announced that they have finally worked through the COVID backlog, have hired hundreds of new IRS employees, and are ready to collect the money you owe.  Announced 5/7/2023:According to IRS Deputy Commissioner for Collection and Operations Support Darren Guillot at an American Bar Association conference, the IRS is caught up on its mail backlog and plans to resume sending CP14 balance due notices. It’s anticipated that 5-8 million taxpayers will begin receiving notices at the end of the month. Get ahead of the coming wave.  Be proactive, not reactive, in solving your tax issues now.Kevin RegoLaw Office of Kevin Regowww.regotaxlaw.com 65... 05/09/2023

San Mateo, CA: The IRS recently updated the national standard amounts for many of the expenses households can use when submitting an Offer in Compromise.  It is important to know these amounts since they greatly affect the reasonable collection potential (RCP) of your offer. The National Standards are the amounts allowed by IRS for food, clothing and other items. You are allowed the total National Standard amounts for your family size and income level, without the IRS questioning the amount you actually spend. Note: Alaska and Hawaii have their own National Standards tables. The Local Standards are the amounts allowed for housing and utilities and transportation. The Local Standards are limited to the amounts you actually spend per month or the standard amounts, whichever is less. Natio... 05/08/2023

San Mateo, CA: Generally, a new tax season brings on a renewed effort by scammers to separate you from your hard-earned money.  Taxes are fresh on the mind of many taxpayers as they prepare for their annual tax return.The IRS reminds us all to be aware that criminals continue to make calls posing as IRS agents in the hopes of stealing your money or personal information.  It bears repeating that the IRS will never:1. Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a pre-paid debit card, gift card, or wire transfer.  The IRS will first mail a bill (and probably SEVERAL LETTERS--some certified) to a taxpayer that owes money to the government.  It will not be a surprise phone as first contact.2. Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law enforcement ... 02/17/2023

San Mateo, CA: Fresh off the IRS presses! Darren Guillot, Deputy Commissioner, Small Business/Self Employed Division, Collection & Operations Support announced today in a post that the IRS's two year pilot program for streamlined collections implemented during COVID will be made permanent. During the pandemic, flexible installment agreement terms were implemented by the IRS in an effort to help taxpayers who owed back federal taxes.  The maximum amount of the total tax debt and the payment terms were increased in an effort to get more delinquent taxpayers back into tax compliance. The program was such a success, that now the IRS is making the pilot program a permanent part of their collection alternatives. What this means to you, the taxpayer who owes back taxes: Individuals who owe $25... 01/20/2023

Learn about 1031 Exchanges and the Power of Exchange.Learn about:1031 Exchange Overview What is a 1031 Exchange (IRS Section 1031)?Potential Tax Savings with a 1031 Exchange 1031 Exchange Basics How do I know that I can trust then Qualified Intermediary with my money?Rules for Identifying Replacement Property(ies)4 Basic Rules for Exchanges 280(a) Equity Share Co-OwnershipSec 121 and 131 What is a Reverse 1031 Exchange 01/13/2023

Single Family Homes Update for the City of San Mateo The numbers for single family homes in the city of San Mateo for 2022 are finally in! Even though interest rates went up, we still ended up at some pretty significant prices for the city San Mateo.Watch my video for my recap of trends and statistics in the real estate market.     01/11/2023

Condo and Townhomes Sales in 2022 on the San Francisco CA Peninsula.  How did they fair?How did condos and townhomes do in 2022? I'm going to show you here. The reason I say condos and townhomes is because in most multiple listing services, they don't make a clear distinction between condominiums and townhomes. I think of a condominium as an apartment-style complex where you're walking down the hallway to get to your unit. Townhomes typically are properties that maybe have their own entrance where you're walking into your own entrance as opposed to down a long hallway. But there's no clear distinction in the multiple listings between the two of them. Therefore, we group them together when we're looking at statistics. What you see here is for 2022, the average condo price ended up at jus... 01/10/2023

How many Buyers pay ALL Cash? We've seen a pretty consistent percentage between 14-18% over the past few years of ALL Cash buyers on the San Francisco, CA Peninsula.  01/10/2023

My New listing at 135 12th Avenue in San Mateo. It's For Sale! Property WebsiteRemodeled and Expanded with luxurious amenities throughout. 3 Bed3 Bath2,431 sqftOffered at $2,250,000🍭Click here to see home video Property Website 01/04/2023

Pacifica is a beautiful coastal city located in San Mateo County, California. The city is situated on the Pacific Ocean, about 15 miles south of San Francisco.Pacifica has a rich history dating back to the 1700s when the Ohlone Native American tribe inhabited it. A developer who hoped to create a resort community on the coast named Pacifica "Pacifica" in the 1850s. It officially incorporated Pacifica in 1957.One of the main attractions of Pacifica is its beautiful coastline. Pacifica is well known for its rocky coastline, beautiful beaches, and scenic views. The climate in Pacifica is typically cool and foggy, with temperatures ranging from the mid-40s to the mid-60s throughout the year.Traffic in Pacifica can be heavy, particularly during rush hour and on weekends when tourists flock t... 01/02/2023

San Mateo, CA: Since early 2018, the IRS has been using a little known tax liability enforcement tool authorized under Internal Revenue Code 7345(a) to get the attention of  taxpayers who owe money to the IRS but are not cooperating. Section 7345(a) provides that if Treasury Department receives certification by the Commissioner that an individual has a seriously delinquent tax debt, such certification must be transmitted to the State Department for action with respect to denial, revocation, or limitation of a passport.   That's right---the IRS reports seriously delinquent taxpayers to the US Department of State who then take action against the taxpayer's passport status.  What that effectively means is that the Department of State will generally deny an application for issuance or renew... 12/21/2022

Convential wisdom is that December is the worst month to sell a home. While it is correct that there are fewer homes for sale in December, the number of serious buyers looking to buy only drops slightly.  This means that a higher percentage of homes sell in December and for more money, dispelling the myth of December being a bad month to sell. The chart below illustrates this point. Conventional wisdom is that December is the worst month to sell a home.  This may be true in areas with extreme weather during winter; think subzero temperatures, snow, ice, etc.  It is just not the case along the San Francisco Peninsula. The moderate weather on the peninsula makes shopping for a home comfortable at any time of the year. While it is correct there are fewer homes for sale in December, what th... 10/02/2022

Top Reasons Homeowners Are Selling Their Houses Right Now Some people believe there’s a group of homeowners who may be reluctant to sell their houses because they don’t want to lose the historically low mortgage rate they have on their current home. You may even have the same hesitation if you’re thinking about selling your house. Data shows 51% of homeowners have a mortgage rate under 4% as of April this year. And while it’s true mortgage rates are higher than that right now, there are other non-financial factors to consider when it comes to making a move. In other words, your mortgage rate is important, but you may have other things going on in your life that make a move essential, regardless of where rates are today. As Jessica Lautz, Vice President of Demographics and Behavioral Ins... 10/02/2022

Without a doubt, the world and the real estate market are going through very uncertain times. Interest rates are rising, the stock market is going down and inflation is kicking in. I don’t have a crystal ball, so I can’t tell you what will happen, but what I can tell you after selling real estate for 18 years is that I can handle it! Recently, I proved that I can handle it on a condo I was selling. Buyer #1  The sale started off normal for a softening real estate market. After being on the market for a couple weeks with no offers, we did a price reduction and three days later we were in contract. I became suspicious when the buyer’s initial deposit was not in escrow and then on day 3 the buyer’s agent informed me that the buyer changed their mind after ensuring me the deposit was coming... 08/31/2022

If you’re a homeowner or are planning to become one soon, you’re probably looking for clear information about today’s housing market. One of the biggest questions people are asking right now is: what’s happening with home prices? Part of the challenge is that it can be hard to understand what experts are saying when the words they use sound similar. Let’s break down the differences among those terms to help clarify what’s actually happening today.𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is when home prices increase.𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is when home prices decrease.𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is when home prices continue to appreciate, but at a slower or more moderate pace.The best way to make sure you get what you need is to work with an expert. If you have questions about what's happening with home prices or the housing market, I  woul... 08/30/2022

918 Beach Park Blvd #52, Foster Ciy is For Sale Waterfront lifestyle where there is always something to do at home!Resort-style living every day!Open House Dates:July 16, 2-4pmJuly 17, 2-4pmOffered at $950,000Property Website About 918 Beach Park #52:  2 Bed/2 Bath Condo situated directly on the lagoon offering exotic views day and night! Single story end unit with two patios each off the main living area. One is fenced in for a little privacy but view not obstructed and the other is wide open serving as your outdoor sanctuary. In fact, you might feel like you are on vacation every day! Both, beautifully create an amazing indoor-outdoor connection with their own vibe. Gorgeous Kitchen: w/new stainless-steel appliances, wine cooler, granite countertops and inset shelving. Living/Dining a... 07/12/2022

The IRS is expanding its endeavors into the artificial intelligence universe by using "voice bots" as an option to answer taxpayers' questions when calling the IRS.Let's be honest, the IRS could probably use the robotic help since a recent Taxpayer Advocate survey found that the IRS answers only about 1 in 10 phone calls into their call centers.  A 10% answer rate is dismal at a best.The voice bot system has been in use since January and has answered some 3 million phone calls from taxpayers.  Currently, the voice bots are used to answer more "routine" questions and ID verifications on interactive voice responses.  In addition, the bots have been deployed to answer frequently asked questions about Economic Impact Payments and Advanced Child Tax Credit issues for taxpayers.The IRS sees t... 07/05/2022

Wouldn't it be nice if it was that simple?You get into a little tax trouble because you failed to make quarterly payments on your business income, you had an unexpected bonus at year's end,  or a serious medical issue arose with you or your family causing a disruption in your income---These are all things I see frequently in my clients' lives.  Wouldn't it be nice if you could just call the IRS and ask for the "Fresh Start Initiative" or get yourself on the "pay pennies on the dollar" tax payment plan?Well, it would be nice, but it doesn't work that way.  If it was that easy, NONE OF US would be paying our full tax liablity each year.  We would all be paying a fraction of our tax liability like these national tax resolution companies promise on late-night TV!The IRS works on a system ca... 07/01/2022