HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN Monday, April 15, 2019 VOL. 100 | NO. 105 | $1.00 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1919 An Edition Of The Sun A change of heart THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Child Tax Credit changed considerably in 2018. The standard deduction nearly doubled for 2018, leaving many taxpayers wondering whether it’s financially worth it to itemize on their tax returns anymore. Got your taxes ready? File now to avoid fees; plan now to reduce tax By PHIL ATTINGER STAFF WRITER KIM LEATHERMAN/STAFF SEBRING — If you’re a taxpayer who waits until the last minute before the tax Bonnie Bernardini and Dave Bernardini with their Mustang, which shows the “Donate Life” logo Bonnie Bernardini made, along with the filing deadline, today is the last minute. date of Dave Bernardini’s heart transplant. Those who don’t file by today and don’t file for an extension, could face a penalty from the Internal Revenue Service and Bernardini going strong after transplant interest on unpaid taxes, said Renée Bennett of MECPA L.L.C., individual and By KIM LEATHERMAN business accountant and tax consultant STAFF WRITER services. However, Bennett said getting started LAKE PLACID — Dave Bernardini, now with a review of your withholding you could say, has had a change of and exemptions could help you to avoid heart — for the better. The 72 year-old owing tax next April 15 or paying too former Pennsylvania police officer much tax during the year. turned 2 years old this week. How is Tax season is always a stressful time, that possible? Two years ago, on April Bennett said, not the least for people 13, Bernardini was given the gift of who’ve worked for her firm: In addition life in the form of a heart transplant. to being up on the latest tax laws and Bonnie and Dave Bernardini have computer software, they need to be able been married for 14 years. The couple to do it all by hand — on paper — in case met when they were both police power fails or computers crash. officers in Pennsylvania. They eventu- “IRS deadlines don’t stop just because ally moved to Florida to get out of the the computers do,” Bennett said. snow and retire. Even during retire- For the last couple of years, because of ment, they were both very active and federal holidays or April 15 falling on a loved to travel, especially on cruises weekend, that deadline has been adjust- and rode motorcycles. ed, but not this year. “I have always been very active,” This year, it’s absolute, Bennett said: Dave said. “I walked every day. The Postmarked or filed electronically by April only thing that wasn’t right was my 15. heart. I was healthy otherwise.” COURTESY PHOTO Even if a household files an extension In the summer of 2004, Dave or gets the return postmarked in time, the underwent a heart valve replacement Bonnie and Dave Bernardini as Dave is being taken to the operating room for his heart IRS will want reasons for why the income and bypass, ablation and received a transplant. tax return couldn’t be filed electronically. pacemaker. exam with Dr. Debra Dowd, she loving each other through sickness Bennett recommends those filing by “Everything seemed fine for about a mail to make a return receipt request. year,” Bonnie said. “During a routine diagnosed Dave with congestive heart and health and even death. They have Without it, the taxpayer has no good disease.” done it all and have come out on the proof he or she mailed the return before After trying to get the right treat- other side. When Dave was in the the deadline. ment plan, Dr. Dowd referred Dave to hospital, Bonnie was able to stay with The taxpayer will have until Oct. 15 to the Orlando Transplant Institute, now him by residing in the Bartch House avoid a filing fee, but might still have a AdventHealth Transplant Institute. He for transplant patients and their late filing fee, a late payment fee or a fee was to be seen for a consultation for families. for payment errors, if all of the docu- a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) Friends from their Covered Bridge ments don’t match up. heart pump. At one point, Dave said neighborhood helped the couple Those penalty payments have gone up, his heart was only operating at 5%. too. Jackie and Randy Bennett and too, Bennett said. How much depends on “I didn’t like the idea of the LVAD Anne Marie Nord helped the couple how much tax the person has paid and/ for me,” Dave said. “I told the doctors keep their house and plants in order. or owes. that I wanted to go home and think The most important thing for the about it. They told me, ‘if you leave Bernardinis was their cat. They knew What do I owe? you will not be coming back.’ They it was in good care. said the only alternative was a heart That is subjective, Bennett said, During the 52-day stay at the transplant. They sent me straight to hospital, Dave was called twice for dependent on their family and household the hospital and they did tests for situation. a transplant. On April 9, they had a COURTESY PHOTO the next two weeks to get me on the false alarm, which is a possibility in The new tax laws, with significant re- transplant waiting list.” ductions in tax credits, won’t actually take Dr. Nirav Raval, left, and Dave Bernardini. They truly meant their vows of HEART | 6A full effect until the 2019 returns, Bennett said, due April 15, 2020. There have been tax credit reductions for lower income families and a reduction in what people can do to reduce their tax burden. April is National Donate Life month For example, people with five in the house may not be able to take a $4,000 By KIM LEATHERMAN exemption for each person. STAFF WRITER “That’s gone now,” Bennett said. DID YOU KNOW? In its place is an increased standard Kidneys are the most needed SEBRING — April is deduction and the tax credits available organs with 80% followed by National Donate Life month for dependents. liver patients at 12%, the heart and this year’s theme is That may close the gap for some people rounds out the and heart “life is a beautiful ride.” The whose income has increased, but not The wait time for a kidney is purpose of the designation everyone. It’s a “mixed bag,” Bennett said. 3-5 years is to bring awareness for Each case is subject to its own conditions, About 114,000 people are on the the need of organ donation who lives in the household and who is a waitlist for an organ and to celebrate those who Every day, 22 people die while dependent of the taxpayer. have received their organ on the waiting list transplants. What about 2019? Every 10 minutes, someone is added to the waiting list Spring is the perfect time to gift the gift of life. If a person had enough tax withheld April 22-26 is National Pediatric Renewal and birth are from paychecks to cover 85 percent of Transplant Week reminders of what donating their tax burden by Jan. 15, 2019, they There are about 2,000 children COURTESY PHOTO an organ to someone who could expect to do well on their returns. on the pediatric waiting list Nearly 2,000 children received may not live to see another These employees at LifeLink of Florida are celebrating Blue and life-saving transplants in 2018 Green Day, which was April 12, when everyone wears the donation TAXES | 2A LIFE | 6A colors of green and blue. Classifieds ......................B3-7 Local Sports ....................A7-8 Viewpoints ....................... A4 Good morning To Comics .................News Wire Lottery ................Sports Wire Weather ...............Sports Wire Brianna Adkins Highlands Health................ B1 Obituaries ........................ A6 facebook.com/ twitter.com/ Thanks for reading! newssun.com newssun TheNewsSun A2 | HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN | April 15, 2019 www.highlandsnewssun.com Motorcyclist airlifted to hospital Pet of the week By KIM LEATHERMAN Name: Athos STAFF WRITER Breed: Border Collie mix Sex: Male AVON PARK — Florida Info: Athos is a three- Highway Patrol respond- year-old male Border ed to a serious wreck Collie mix. He would be a on Saturday afternoon great family dog, rescued that sent one person to from Animal Services. a local hospital and saw Adoption fees: one drive air lifted to Dogs: $75 Tampa General Hospital Adoption fees for dogs with serious injuries. include: Animal testing The crash took place on (parvo and heartworm), Saturday afternoon near spay or neuter, vaccina- Morningside Drive, south tions, microchip and a of Avon Boulevard. lifetime membership to The FHP wreck report obedience classes. COURTESY PHOTO shows a Judy Watkins, 72 Cats: $40 Athos is a three-year-old male of Dania Beach, Florida, Adoption fees for cats Border Collie mix. He would was driving a 2013 Ford include: Animal testing be a great family dog, rescued Escape northbound on (feline leukemia-AIDS), from Animal Services. Morningside Drive. Curtis spay or neuter, microchip Ludden, 51, of Avon Park HIGHLANDS COUNTY FIRE RESCUE and vaccinations. vaccination clinic, It is was driving southbound The Humane Society open from 10 a.m. — on Morningside Drive The scene of a wreck at Morningside Drive in Avon Park on Saturday. of Highlands County, 3 p.m. No appointment at the same time on a violation, the front of from the scene to Tampa Several fi rst response 7321 Haywood Taylor needed.