5 Tax Season Tips for Independent Insurance Agents

Before we know it, we’ll be in the thick of tax season. What is considered a hectic time of year for even the most basic filer can seem downright daunting to those with small businesses. Independent insurance agents often have very technical tax filings that can make the April 15^th deadline loom larger than it does for most.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Filing your taxes can be relatively simple when you prepare ahead of time and understand the types of deductions that your personal business situation allows. Read on for our top five tax season tips for independent insurance agents.

1. Prepare to be prepared

The last couple of years has been a tax prep anomaly. The worst is over and the 2023 deadline is April 15. As of now, there are no signs of an extension like in previous years. The IRS seems to be operating as normal for the 2023 filing season.

2. Track what documents you need

With the independent agent life comes a lot of paperwork. Managing it all and trying to keep a running list of requirements in your head for tax season can be nearly impossible. Giving yourself time to document the paperwork you’ll need to file taxes can help alleviate that yearly burden.

Save yourself the stress and start documenting the paperwork you will need to hunt down at the beginning of the year. H&R Block has a convenient printable list that you can start checking off to make sure you have everything you need to optimize your tax return.

3. Learn about tax season deductions

Insurance agents are usually self-employed and/or independent contractors. This unique business situation allows for tax deductions that may not be available to the average office worker. There are several beneficial deductions for independent insurance agents to know about as the tax season approaches, including expenses incurred for marketing and even insurance conferences that you attend throughout the year.

As an additional quick tip: You are unlikely to find a fully comprehensive list of deductions online, so looking into working with a tax professional may be in your best interest to take advantage of all the deductions you are owed.

4. Know what’s changing in 2023

If there is one constant in life, it’s that tax requirements, deductions, and credits are never constant, and they change annually.

Know what’s changed by following the latest updates from the IRS, including information on the child tax credit and the recovery rebate credit.

 

5. Be on high alert for scams

While you should always make it a practice to be on high alert for any potential phishing activity, tax season is prime time for scammers. You need to communicate sensitive information throughout the entire process and adding the stress of tax time to the mix can make people less aware of fraudulent emails meant to look like official communications from the IRS, your tax preparation program, or even your accountant. According to the IRS site, “the IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text message or social media channels to request personal financial information.”

Keep up to date with the latest tax season scams on the IRS website, and learn about how to decipher whether that caller is really the IRS or if you should hang up. One of the safest methods to avoid being scammed is to never give out personal information if you are the one being contacted. Let the caller know that you are going to hang up and call them back with an official phone number from their website.

GAINSCO tax time tip

Many of our agents require a 1099-NC form for filing purposes. If your commission payments meet a certain threshold and you are designated as the sole proprietor and or individual, GAINSCO will send you a 1099-NEC to both you and the IRS.

To see if you meet the specific payment threshold, or to request a 1099 directly, please contact your GAINSCO sales leader. For more independent agent tips, see our latest blog posts on our website or follow us on LinkedIn.

 

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