Bank finance articles and tips

If you are a taxpayer who owes back taxes, no matter what the reasons, you do have options available to you when dealing with the Internal Revenue Service commonly referred to as the IRS.

The first option to consider would be the IRS installment agreement, if the amount owed is less than $25,000 then this agreement would be the logical approach. IRS charges between $43 and $105 to process the agreement. In majority of the cases the agreement approval is automatic.

This agreement allows you to pay your full debt in smaller, more manageable amounts. The amount of your installment payments will be based on the amount you owe and your ability to pay that amount within a defined period not to exceed five years.

People get IRS problems for the smallest things-neglecting to file taxes on time, not filling out the tax forms appropriately, rounding up the indicated income amounts, you name it. But perhaps the worst "small" thing a person can do that can get him into a lot of snowballing tax problems is to ignore a notice that lands on his doorstep. The IRS is reaching out to you: don't ignore them.

But what do you do when you open that notice and find out there's been an irregularity with your tax returns?

Financial advisers, and the financial institutions which they are affiliated with, are helping themselves to your money with your full consent. It's called trailing commissions. (Sometimes it maybe described as ongoing fees paid on a percentage basis). Every financial product from superannuation, home loans, managed funds, life insurance and investment loans, pay out trailing commissions. These fees and commissions come straight out of your investment portfolio. Initial commissions are relatively large amounts. Renewal or 'trail' commissions are usually paid as well as or instead of Initial commissions; these are regular monthly/quarterly/annual payments. Each payment of trail commission is a relatively small amount in itself but as they are paid throughout the life of the policy they become substantial in totality.The Australian Government has identified through recent cases and surveys the impact of commissions on investment decisions. With high profile cases of investors losing significant amounts of wealth due to commission driven practices, it is important for the public to be aware of the amounts paid.