If there is one question we get more than any other it's, "How do I lower my taxes?" So, we did a #podcast on that exact topic. This week's episode focuses on maximizing tax deductions, which can potentially lower your tax bill. The topics include recent rule changes for meals and entertainment, dues, and automobile deductions. We also [...]
Do you receive income other than regular wages during the year? Notably, you may be required to pay quarterly installments of “estimated tax” for this year, especially if you are self-employed or retired and living mainly on investment income. The due date for the next installment—the third one for the 2023 tax year—is September 15, [...]
In a new IRS Fact Sheet (FS-2023-18, 8/8/23), the IRS has announced that it is close to going paperless. The IRS still receives about 76 million paper tax returns and forms and 125 million pieces of correspondence, notice responses and non-tax forms each year. It also has more than one billion historical documents, which costs [...]
We get a lot of questions throughout the year on common personal tax return questions, like what is and isn't deductible or home gain exclusions. If that sounds like you, we have the podcast for you. If you have questions about the Form 1040 aka the US Individual Income #tax return, then we have answers. [...]
Thanks to Alabama Act 2023-554 in the last legislative session, Alabama will start reducing the state’s portion of sales tax on food/groceries (“grocery tax”) on September 1, 2023 from 4% to 3%. In September 2024, the state’s portion will go from 3% to 2%, assuming the ETF grows by more than 3.5%. In total, that [...]
When you exchange real property used for business or held as an investment solely for other business or investment property that is the same type or “like-kind”, it is known as a like-kind exchange under United States tax law. It is also known as a 1031 exchange. The swap transactions, when structured properly, allows for [...]
The new SECURE 2.0 law creates a band-new tax credit for small businesses that encourages retirement saving by spouses of military personnel. Call to arms: A qualified employer with 100 or fewer employees last year is eligible for a $200 credit if a military spouse participates in a defined contribution plan such as a 401(k). [...]
First, Congress approved the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act in 2019, affecting qualified retirement plans and IRAs. Now the president has signed into law “SECURE Act 2.0” as part of a spending measure. Following are several key provisions in this new legislation. RMD age threshold: Generally, participants in qualified plans and [...]
What is the NIIT? It sounds like some sort of federal agency or maybe a new form of artificial intelligence. But actually NIIT stands for “net investment income tax.” This tax generally applies to higher-income taxpayers, but it could easily sneak up on others if they are not careful. Background: The NIIT is equal to [...]
A Section 529 plan is a tax-favored way to save for a child’s higher education. Now the new law called SECURE 2.0 provides an option for using 529 account funds for retirement savings. Background: Named after the tax code section authorizing its use, Section 529 plans are educational savings plans, generally operated by individual states, [...]