Most income you receive is taxable income that is reported to the federal and state tax authorities. However, renting out your home or vacation property on a short-term basis can be done tax-free if you follow the rules. The rule: If you receive rental income for less than 15 days per year, that income is generally …
Category: Income
Understanding Tax Terms: Applicable Federal Rates
Your grandson needs a car, but cannot afford the payments. As a favor, you provide the $25,000 to purchase the car. You tell your grandson to pay you back when he can, but there is no loan document. The IRS sees this payment during an audit and asks where your interest income is for this …
Continue reading Understanding Tax Terms: Applicable Federal Rates
Using Losers to Make Winners
With the uncertainty in the marketplace, now is a good time to review the rules surrounding investment losses. This knowledge can help minimize your tax obligation next year. This is because investment gains and income can be subject to a variety of federal tax rates as high as 37%. This, plus the 3.8% net investment …
Summer Tax Tips for Everyone
Summer is usually the time for relaxing, but it can also be a time for tax savings, especially if you’re still reeling from an unexpectedly large tax bill in April. Here are four timely tips: Rent your home. If you rent out your main home or a vacation home part of the time, you may be …
Common Overlooked Taxable Events
Here are seven tax topics that seem innocent but can cause problems if not handled correctly. 1. Gambling winnings. If you receive a tax form at a casino for your winnings, that information is sent to the tax authorities. Since the form typically only contains the amount you won, save copies and records of any gambling …
Review and Correct Your 1099s NOW!
What to do to fix this thorny problem It's sometime in February and you realize the Form 1099 you received is in error. In fact, it overstates your income by several thousand dollars. What should you do? Gather your facts. Put yourself in the shoes of the vendor, bank or investment company representative. Gather evidence they …
Taxable or Not Taxable?
Some of these items may surprise you. Tip Category: Your Income There are a number of areas in the tax code that cause confusion as to the taxability of money received. Here are some of the most common areas of confusion. Unemployment compensation. Unemployment compensation is typically required to be reported as taxable income. So you …
Understanding Tax Terms: Wash Sales
Surprise! Your stock loss is not deductible. Tip Category: Your Income You may be considering booking stock losses due to recent market drops. Selling losers can be a great strategy when these losses can offset other gains and up to $3,000 of your ordinary income. However, there is a little-known rule called the wash sale rule …
The $500,000 Homeowner Tax Break
Understand the rules now to avoid a tax surprise later Tip Category: Your Income There is large tax break that allows you to exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 married) in capital gains on the sale of your personal residence. But making the assumption that this gain exclusion will always keep you safe from tax can be …
The Paycheck Tax Tip
A great place to lower your taxes Tip Category: Your Income The tax code has plenty of ways to reduce your taxable income, and many take place on your paycheck. If you haven’t already done so, now is a great time to conduct a thorough review of your paystub. Here are some tips: Review insurance …
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