YTH: /miTH/ (noun) – a widely held but false belief or idea

Many myths about the IRS and the tax code have been amplified online in recent years. Here are several myths that if you believe them, could leave you with an expensive tax surprise.

Myth #1: Retirement money is always tax free.

You have retired and withdraw from a 401(k) fully expecting that you won’t owe income taxes. Unfortunately, money withdrawn at any age from a 401(k) – or your traditional IRA – incurs income taxes at your current tax rate.

Lesson Learned: Understand how money in each of your retirement accounts is taxed when withdrawn. Some will have income taxes, some could incur early withdrawal penalties, while some incur no tax at all!

Myth #2: The government won’t find out about a big gambling win.

Gambling winnings are considered taxable income to the feds and most states. The IRS generally wants about a quarter of your winnings from sweepstakes, casinos, bingo, keno, online sports betting, and the like. Casinos and other betting entities also inform the IRS of your winnings over certain thresholds. So it is always best to keep track of your winnings.

Lesson Learned: Gambling winnings fall under tax rules just like other forms of income. Deducting gambling losses is possible, but it has limits that are subject to strict rules. For example, you must itemize deductions on your tax return if you don’t declare yourself a self-employed professional gambler.

Myth #3: Government benefits like unemployment and Social Security aren’t taxable.

Unfortunately, unemployment and Social Security benefits are usually taxable. Unemployment benefits are taxed at your normal tax rate as income at the federal level and in some states. Social Security is taxed, but in a much more confusing way. Supplemental Security Income payments, on the other hand, are not taxable.

Lesson Learned: Plan ahead to mitigate the tax shock. You can have taxes withheld from your unemployment benefits so you don’t have to pay a lump sum when you file your return. With Social Security benefits, understand when and how they can be taxed, since up to 80% of these benefits could be subject to income tax by the federal government.

Myth #4: I work from home and can write off my office expenses.

You can only deduct home office expenses if you operate a business out of your home. If you’re an employee, you’re out of luck. If you do run a business exclusively out of your home, there are still hurdles to clear before you qualify to use the home office deduction.

Lesson Learned: Tax rules can be complicated, even for something that seems as simple as a home office deduction.

If there’s one common theme here, it’s that tax laws can be complex even when they seem simple on the surface. When in doubt ask for help.