While the climate for tax reform remains uncertain, individual taxpayers and small-business owners are advised to act based on the current laws of the land, unless there is a definite change. Keeping that in mind, here are seven ideas to consider as we head into summer. 1. Harvest capital gains or losses. The maximum tax rate [...]
A 401(k) plan can be a win-win situation for employees and employers. Just take a quick look at the payoff. *For employees: You can defer up to $18,000 of salary to your account in 2017 ($24,000 if you are age 50 or older), before any employer-matched contributions. Contributions may grow without any tax erosion until [...]
Tax Window, You See What I Did There? Perhaps you own a vacation home that you and your family use personally. Key tax break: There is a unique tax window of opportunity for short-term rentals. If the rental for the year lasts 14 days or less (this is the key amount of time), [...]
Do you travel in your vehicle on behalf of a charity? In lieu of keeping track of actual expenses, you can use the standard mileage rate of 14 cents per mile, plus related tolls and parking fees, to figure out the deduction. Unlike the standard mileage rates for business, moving or medical expense travel, this [...]
Consider estate-planning implications If you are getting remarried, you may face some special estate-planning challenges, especially if you have children from a prior marriage. The following 10 tips may help. 1. Talk with one another. Do not start off a marriage by hiding financial interests or concerns from one another. For instance, if you intend to [...]
The IRS recently released its annual list of "Dirty Dozen” tax scams to watch out for in 2017. Here is a rundown gleaned from the IRS’ summary. 1. Phishing: Be on guard against fake e-mails or websites looking to steal personal information. Do not click on e-mails claiming to come from the IRS. 2. Telephone scams: [...]
For a small-business owner who works out of his or her personal residence, a home-office deduction can provide significant tax savings, year in and year out. But keeping detailed records is critical. Although you may elect to use a simplified method for deducting home-office expenses on your 2015 tax return, the actual expense method usually [...]
How will you ever save enough money to pay for your children’s college educations? There are no absolute guarantees, but Section 529 plans may help you set aside funds, up to generous limits. Here are the answers to several common questions on this subject. What exactly is a Section 529 plan? Named after the tax [...]
Even though you just put your 2016 tax return to bed, you cannot rest easy. It is already time to pay attention to your tax liability for 2017. Significantly, you may be required to pay installments of “estimated tax” for this year, especially if you are self-employed or retired. The next due date for quarterly [...]
Benefit from a rollover to an IRA If you receive a distribution from an employer’s retirement plan, such as a 401(k), you are generally required to pay ordinary income tax on the payout. However, with a timely maneuver, you can continue to postpone paying the tax until you are ready to make withdrawals. Basic rules: [...]