Cassandra Lenfert, CPA, CFP®
Financial Advisor & Certified Public Accountant
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Co-authored Articles (16)
How to Find a Federal Tax ID / EIN Number
Learn how to lookup an unknown tax ID number, whether it’s your own or somebody else’s Every individual and business in the US has a unique tax ID number—this is how the IRS identifies each taxpayer. But what happe...
How to Fill Out a W-9 Tax Form
Learn how to correctly complete a business tax form A W-9 Form is a common IRS document. If you were hired by someone as an independent contractor or received certain types of income, you would have to fill out a W-9 For...
How to Get Copies of Old W-2 Forms
Request your W-2 from past years through the IRS or a previous employerThere are several reasons why you might need to get copies of old W-2 forms. Maybe you need old W-2 copies because you are facing an audit or, more h...
How to
Write a Letter to the IRS
The IRS is one of the most feared government agencies. However, you have nothing to fear when you need to write them a letter. Format a business letter and remember to get to the point. People usually write the IRS to pr...
How to
Fill Out a W‐4
Most people receive W-4 forms from their employers when they begin working. Payroll departments use the information employees provide on their W-4 forms to determine how much money should be withheld from their paychecks...
Contacting the IRS: Tips to Quickly Get the Help You Need
Learn how to connect with someone at the IRS when you need tax help It's not always easy to do your taxes on your own and sometimes you run into a problem. You'd feel more confident if you could get an answer straight fr...
How to
Create a Budget Spreadsheet
A budget spreadsheet is used to help you control your expenses. You will be surprised at how easy it is to keep your finances in line with this tool. You can use this budget spreadsheet as a guide to pay off bills, save ...
How to
Obtain a Tax ID Number for an Estate
When a person passes away and the process of handling their estate begins, the first thing those responsible for the estate should do is determine if the estate needs a separate tax identification number for tax purposes...
How to
Get a Copy of Your W‐2 from the IRS
Employers must provide wage and tax statements, or W-2s, to their employees each year. This form isn't sent directly to the IRS, however. Employers first send the form to the Social Security Administration (SSA), which t...
How to
Get Tax Deductions on Goodwill Donations
Goodwill is a large non-profit organization in the United States and Canada with a mission of "enhancing the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families..." Goodwill thrift stores accept donations of clothes,...
How to
File a Complaint With the IRS
To file a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you must contact either the (also available by phone at (800) 366-4484) or the (also available by phone at (877) 777-4778). A complaint against someone worki...
How to
Request a Duplicate W‐2
The U.S. Wage and Tax Statement, commonly known as a W-2 form, is issued to employees before Jan. 31 showing the previous calendar year's wages and tax withholdings. Although a government form, employers complete the W-2...
How to
Calculate Asset Market Value
An asset is anything a company owns that has a positive monetary value. Assets include things like cash, real estate, inventory, and equipment, but also include less tangible things, such as goodwill and reputation. Whil...
How to
Calculate Federal Tax Withholding
Calculating federal tax withholding can be surprisingly frustrating — even though it's something the majority of people have to do regularly. Luckily, with the right guidance, this yearly ritual doesn't have to be ...
How to
Prepare a W‐2 for an Employee
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires that employers file a W-2 for each of their employees. On this form, you report the wage or salary the employee was paid during the year. You also specify the amount of federal...
How to
File Taxes if You Worked in 2 Different States
Filing taxes can be complicated, especially when you work in two different states. This circumstance can affect the way you file your taxes. While your federal tax return won’t be affected much, filing your state retur...
