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Texas Tax Amnesty Program

The Texas Tax Amnesty Program begins May 1, 2018, and runs through June 29, 2018.  This Program could apply to sales tax, franchise tax, or other taxes assessed by the Texas Comptroller.    It provides delinquent taxpayers with relief from penalties and interest on previously unreported taxes due for periods before January 1, 2018. The program gives taxpayers the opportunity to "wipe the slate clean" by filing past due reports, or amending reports that underreported taxes, without paying penalties and interest. Penalties and interest can be very substantial, so this is a program that should be given serious consideration by anyone who is eligible for it. The program does not apply to periods already under audit. If you believe that you may qualify for this valuable program, the Dove Law Firm can assist you through the amnesty process.

Tarrant County's Elder Financial Fraud Unit

Financial exploitation of the elderly is a serious problem, with one in twenty older adults victimized each year according to the Department of Justice.  In May of 2017, the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney created a new special prosecution team -- the Elder Financial Fraud Unit -- to serve as a community resource addressing the special needs of elderly victims through a program of aggressive prosecution, education and deterrence. The unit consists of two experienced prosecutors, two investigators and one support staff member, all of whom are focused exclusively on financial crimes against the elderly. By the end of 2017, 79 cases were filed. The unit also partnered with Guardianship Services to create the the Financial Exploitation Prevention Center of Tarrant County, whose mission it is to connect Tarrant seniors with the vast network of resources available to them. If you, or anyone you know, has been a victim of elder financial fraud, there are resources availa

Arlington Aging Well Expo

Come visit with representatives of the Dove Firm at Arlington's annual "Aging Well" expo, this Wednesday, March 21st, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Arlington Convention Center. The expo, which is free, will be packed with local professionals, and will feature health and wellness screenings, a variety of informative presentations, and door prizes. You can learn all about health, wellness, volunteering, and housing opportunities available to senior citizens. Look for our booth -- we'd love to meet you! More information can be found at the Aging Well Expo website:   http://www.arlington-tx.gov/agingwell/  

Tax Reform Withholding Changes Take Effect

The Treasury Department’s new tax withholding tables, based upon the recently passed tax reform bill, went into effect for all employers on February 15, 2018. That means that about 90% of all employees will see a decrease in tax withholding from their paychecks, resulting in an increase in take-home pay. The amount of the tax savings will of course vary from individual to individual, but as an example, a single taxpayer earning $50,000 a year will see his/her take-home pay go up by a little under $200 a month because of the lower withholding called for by the tax law changes.

ABLE Program Update

The federal ABLE (“Achieving a Better Life Experience”) Program, signed into law in December, 2014, was created to encourage and assist individuals and families in saving funds for the purpose of supporting individuals with disabilities. The Texas ABLE program, enacted a year later and administered by the Texas Comptroller’s Office, is not yet open for enrollment, but the Texas Comptroller announced on February 16, 2018, that significant progress had been made on implementing the program. The program manager is completing the marketing, enrollment, and record-keeping websites and developing program material. No date has yet been announced as to when the Texas program will be open for enrollment. In the meantime, however, eligible Texas residents can open an account in any state with an active ABLE program that accepts out-of-state residents. Over twenty states currently have active ABLE programs, and most of those programs will accept Texas residents. Of further note, there have been som