Plus NEW mileage rates! Summer is coming to a close next month and the back-to-school advertising blitz is underway. Hidden in some of those school expenses are tax deductions you can take advantage of. Here are some ways you can save: Watch for tax deductions on the supply list. Schools often send a list of requested …
Category: Deductions
Great Charitable Deduction Ideas
Even though the higher standard deduction limits make charitable deductions harder to find, there are still great options to find tax breaks within your charitable giving. Here are five tips to use charitable tax breaks: Qualified charitable distributions. If you’re age 70½ or older, you can transfer up to $100,000 (or a total of $200,000 for …
Commonly Overlooked Deductions
Don't forget these ideas to lower your taxes The tax code is about 75,000 pages long, so it’s not surprising there are many overlooked money-saving deductions hidden within it. Check out this list of commonly overlooked deductions. You might wind up with a bigger refund than you expected. State sales tax alternative. You can choose to …
Your Home. A Bundle of Tax Benefits.
There are many tax benefits built into home ownership. Here's a summary of the most common. It may be worth a quick review to ensure you are maximizing your home ownership tax benefits. Common deductions Interest deductibility. Mortgage interest is one of the few allowed deductible interest expenses. It is limited to the first $750,000 dollars …
Vehicle Donations: Do it Right!
A little mistake could cost you plenty At the end of the year you will be inundated with commercials to donate a vehicle to charity. While it is one of the biggest contributions a taxpayer can make, if not done carefully, the tax deduction of a donated vehicle could be a lot lower than you …
Research Your Preferred Charities
Summertime often sees an increase of natural disasters, with hurricane season soon after. You may want to help, but you want to make sure the organizations are not a scam. And while fewer taxpayers itemize deductions, those that do want to ensure there deductions are legitimate. Here are some tips on how to research these …
Maximize the Child & Dependent Care Credit
Tip Category: Deductions The Child & Dependent Care Credit provides a reduction in taxes to offset the cost of daycare when you are employed. The maximum amount of the credit is $3,000 for one dependent or $6,000 for two or more qualifying persons.* To take advantage of the credit here is what you need to know. …
Elections. Elections. Elections.
Tax savings can be found in the elections you make! Tip Category: Deductions Every year is an election year when it comes to making decisions on your annual income tax return. Here are four common examples that can create tax savings opportunities if you elect the correct option. 1. Tax filing status. Typically, filing a joint …
How to Maximize Deductions for Assisted Living
Tip Category: Deductions It's possible that someone in your family will need assisted living care at some point in their life. This care can be at an assisted living facility, a nursing home, or in their own home. Often, assisted living care is expensive and not fully reimbursable by typical health insurance policies. Thankfully, there is …
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Understanding Tax Terms: Head of Household
Tip Category: Deductions The tax term head of household is one of the more misunderstood tax phrases inside the U.S. tax code. However, if your situation warrants head of household status, there are two big tax benefits: First, a higher standard deduction. Second, lower effective tax rates for virtually every income level. This is great, but …
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