Monday, July 14, 2014

Citrix ShareFile Now Integrates With QuickBooks Online, Xero, FreshBooks and Basecamp in Partnership with GetApp

GetApp announced today new Citrix ShareFile Integrations designed to improve workflow for users of several popular online accounting software and project management apps. The new integrations enable QuickBooks Online, FreshBooks, Xero and Basecamp users to store and retrieve files directly from ShareFile so those files can be securely shared, stored, tracked, edited and annotated from anywhere in the world.

The growing popularity of Software as a Service (SaaS) applications continues to drive the adoption of ShareFile, a secure file sharing and syncing solution popular among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The introduction of these new integrations, which are available immediately for all ShareFile SMB users, further improves workflow capabilities and makes it easier for companies to migrate their offices to the cloud. 

The new integrations with market-leading accounting apps QuickBooks Online, FreshBooks and Xero allow users to export documents such as invoices automatically into the designated ShareFile folders of their choosing. The integration with Basecamp ensures that project management files--which for certain industries like construction can be too large for email or flash drives--can be stored automatically within ShareFile folders and accessed from anywhere. With ShareFile, users have a safe and secure copy of their documents that can be synced to their desktop, shared securely with colleagues and clients, and even edited and annotated on the go with ShareFile mobile apps.

"From document creation to execution, ShareFile empowers users to swiftly take care of business whenever and wherever. To that end, we continue to invest in integrations that help our customers be more productive," said Grady Slane, Product Marketing Manager, Citrix.

Citrix leveraged GetApp Integrations capabilities to develop rapidly and to automate these valuable integrations to customer workflows that help eliminate wasted effort while increasing productivity. GetApp provides an integrations Platform as a Service (iPaaS) that delivers value by integrating cloud-based business software fast without the usual cost and time associated with developing and maintaining them.

"Integrations development was a logical direction for GetApp to head, since we've spent the last five years building relationships with each industry's business software leaders," said Christophe Primault, GetApp's CEO. "As the SaaS marketplace continues to get more competitive, we provide solutions for these software companies to generate more qualified leads, one of which is through our iPaaS. We're excited that the household name ShareFile is one of our first customers in this new business venture."

For more information about Citrix ShareFile, please visit: http://www.sharefile.com.
Citrix® and Citrix ShareFile® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. and/or one or more of its subsidiaries, and may be registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries.

About GetApp
GetApp is the largest independent online marketplace that helps small to mid-sized businesses and start-ups discover, evaluate and manage the perfect business apps for their needs. Its mission is to support millions of users in their "best app" research with comprehensive directories, interactive search tools, side-by-side comparison tables, user reviews and app evaluation resources.
Posted on 1:28 PM | Categories:

India: MakeMyReturns.com launches India's first tax filing mobile app

MakeMyReturns.com, has announced the launch of a new app which can be used by mobile phone and tablet users for filing their income tax returns. Different from the already existing income tax calculator apps that are available, this is the first tax filing app which has been launched by a tax filing company in India.
Speaking about the idea behind launching such an app, Mr. Vikram Ramchand, founder at MakeMyReturns.com says, "The mobile landscape in India has been witnessing a drastic change especially with the advent of smartphones. A lot of internet consumption now takes place on mobile phones itself. Hence, this app will give taxpayers the freedom to file their returns from just about anywhere as they don't necessarily have to log in to a computer or physically go to a chartered accountant".
The app is very easy to use and can be downloaded by any android or iphone user. One simply has to download the app from the Google play store or Apple store. Once downloaded, the user has to create his/her account, fill in their personal information, salary details, home loan information if any, interest income if any, check their deductions and finally file their returns. With all the necessary information in place, the entire process only takes about 10 minutes to complete. In case of any issues while filing, one can also report the issue directly to the customer service department by using the app itself.
As safety and security is one of the common concerns of people, Make My Returns reassures that every return that is filed with them goes through the most secure and technologically advanced servers. After filing their returns, they can keep a track of all the sections and maintain a summary of their tax filing on the app itself. Every customer is also given customer service assistance right till the end of the process irrespective of whether they choose to opt to self-file their income tax returns free of cost or ask for expert/premium assistance.
Make My Returns has always believed simplifying taxes for the tax payer. Hence, in the long run the company plans to launch several new features in addition to their existing products which will change the way tax filing is done in India. One of their latest features enables the user to interact with a dedicated chartered accountant that works like a direct one-on-one conversation.Further adding to it Mr. Ramchand says, "In the long term, we are planning to automate our platform to the extent that a person would need only his/her PAN (Permanent Account Number) to use the system which will automatically pull up all the data required for filing their returns, which will make life much easier for any tax payer".
Posted on 7:11 AM | Categories:

Top 10 Reasons to Visit IRS.gov this Summer

If you need tax help or information, your best option is to visit the IRS.gov website. Our many online tools and services make it easy for you to do business with the IRS. Here are ten good reasons to visit IRS.gov this summer:

1. Use IRS Free File.  If you still need to file your 2013 tax return, you can e-file for free by using IRS Free File through Oct. 15. If you earned $58,000 or less you can prepare and e-file your taxes using tax software for free. If you made more, you can use Free File Fillable Forms to e-file for free. This option is the electronic version of IRS paper forms. 
2. Check on your refund.  The Where’s My Refund? tool is a fast and easy way to check on your tax refund. Use the IRS2Go mobile app to access it or click on the ‘Refunds’ tab on IRS.gov.
3. Try IRS Direct Pay.  If you owe taxes, pay with IRS Direct Pay, our safe, easy and free way to pay from your checking or savings account. Just click on the ‘Pay Your Tax Bill’ link on the IRS home page.
4. Apply for an IRS payment plan.  If you can’t pay all your taxes at once, apply for an IRS Online Payment Agreement. A direct debit payment plan is a great way to pay. It has a lower set-up fee, you won’t miss a payment and you won’t get an IRS reminder to send a check each month.
5. Correct your tax withholding.  If you got a big refund or owed a large amount of tax when you filed your tax return, then you may need to change your tax withholding. To make a change, complete and give your employer a new Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate. The IRS Withholding Calculator tool can help you fill out a new Form W-4.
6. Get health care tax information.  The IRS website also has information about the Affordable Care Act tax provisions at IRS.gov/aca. You can visit this site for educational material that describes how the health care law tax provisions affect individuals and businesses. The pages provide information about tax provisions that are in effect now and those that will go into effect in 2015 and beyond. You can find information about the law and its provisions, legal guidance, the latest news, frequently asked questions and links to additional resources.
7. Get a tax transcript.  If you apply for a loan or student financial aid, you may need a tax transcript. Visit IRS.gov and use the Get Transcript tool.
8. Check out a charity.  You must donate to a qualified charity if you want to deduct the gift on your tax return. Use the IRS Select Check tool to see if a charity is qualified.
9. Get answers to tax questions.  The Interactive Tax Assistant covers many common tax topics. Type in your question or search terms and it can lead you step-by-step to the answer. The IRS Tax Map gives you a single point of access to tax law information by subject. It integrates tax topics, forms, instructions and publications into one research tool.
10. Get forms and publications.  View, download and print federal tax forms and publications anytime you want.

Posted on 7:01 AM | Categories:

tax efficient withdrawals in retirement

Over at Bogleheads we came across the following discussion: 

tax efficient withdrawals in retirement

Postby SGM » Sun Jul 13, 2014 9:51 pm
I had been thinking taxable, then traditional then Roth withdrawals in retirement. Probably not taking Roth withdrawals until my 80s or 90s or not at all. I had pretty much been thinking of marginal tax rates, but that leaves out some potential tax free withdrawals from traditional IRAs. I will be in a high tax bracket in retirement.

Some IRA funds can be removed at the zero tax rate. If you have a lot of income that is fully taxable it doesn't work out.
Standard deduction for over 65 is 7,750 and personal exemption is 3,750. Withdraw 11,750 at the zero rate.
Then withdraw from traditional IRA up to the top of the 15% bracket. Some of that is taxed at 10%.

It seems to me this would allow a portfolio to last longer than taking all from taxable and when that is depleted take all withdrawals up to 15% tax rate from traditional IRAs until depleted and the balance of spending money from Roths. When the traditional IRA is completed all withdrawals are from Roths.

It also seems that this would be true if most of the income is from long term capital gains and qualified dividends or muni bonds. Unqualified dividends and other fully taxed income in larger amounts would make this approach less advantageous or not advantageous at all as they would fill up the zero, 10% and 15% brackets. For higher incomes the withdrawals would be advantageous unless the withdrawals put you in a higher bracket, kick in extra Medicare costs, or put you into the alternative minimum tax range or if you have already filled those lower levels with fully taxable income.

I am wondering if this makes sense to others, and if anyone has looked at a spreadsheet for calculating this. I don't really want to plug these numbers into a tax program as I am looking at differences over 30 to 35 years out and there are multiple scenarios that would be more easily handled by a spreadsheet.
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Re: tax efficient withdrawals in retirement

Postby Watty » Sun Jul 13, 2014 10:05 pm
If you have not already seen it, then take a look at this wiki


For people in high tax brackets there are tax effecient mutual funds and muni bond funds that will help control the taxes.
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Re: tax efficient withdrawals in retirement

Postby livesoft » Sun Jul 13, 2014 10:10 pm
You are thinking correctly that withdrawing simultaneously rather than sequentially from multiple types of accounts may give you the lowest overall tax cost. Perhaps not so obvious is that sometimes withdrawing a portion from a Roth earlier rather than saving those withdrawals until the end can also reduce taxes.

Some discussion on all this was in this ZERO taxes thread: viewtopic.php?t=87471 where an example of using the Optimal Retirement withdrawal calculator ( http://www.i-orp.com new features added in past 2 weeks! ) was shown along with some turbotax discussion.
It's all about short-term opportunistic rebalancing due to a short-term change in one's asset allocation, uh, I mean opportunistic rebalancing, uh I mean rebalancing, uh I mean market timing.
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Re: tax efficient withdrawals in retirement

Postby DSInvestor » Sun Jul 13, 2014 10:13 pm
If you have assets in taxable and are not receiving social security or pension income to leave your 0% tax bracket wide open, you may want to consider Roth conversion to consume the 0% tax bracket rather than withdrawal from your Traditional accounts. Any QDI and LTCG thrown off by the assets in taxable will be taxed at 0% up to the top of the 15% bracket. State taxes may apply though.
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Re: tax efficient withdrawals in retirement

Postby sscritic » Sun Jul 13, 2014 10:16 pm
SGM wrote:I will be in a high tax bracket in retirement.

I don't think of 15% as high.
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Posted on 4:11 AM | Categories: