Information is key when using this tax planning strategy You own some stock that has increased in value. To avoid a possible taxable gain by selling the stock, you wish to give it directly to a child or grandchild. This simple idea has some interesting tax consequences to consider. Value of the gift When you …
Category: Planning
Reminder: Second Quarter Estimated Taxes Are Due
Now is the time to make your estimated tax payment If you have not already done so, now is the time to review your tax situation and make an estimated quarterly tax payment using Form 1040-ES. The second quarter due date is now here. Due date: Monday, June 15, 2026 You are required to withhold …
Continue reading Reminder: Second Quarter Estimated Taxes Are Due
Lower This Year’s Tax Obligation
Action to take now! Now is a good time to assess your current situation and address any lingering tax moves that may improve your tax picture for 2026. Here are five things to consider: 1. Check your withholdings. Review your taxable income and the amount of tax you’ve paid to Uncle Sam so far this year. …
Understanding the Gift Giving Tax
Excess gift giving could cause a tax surprise In an effort to keep taxpayers from transferring wealth from one generation to the next tax-free, there are specific limits to the amount of gifts one may give to any one person each year. Amounts in excess of this limit are subject to filing an annual gift …
Understanding 529 Savings Plans
Plus a couple of great tips The tax-advantaged options to help pay for education are vast…and a bit confusing. A great place to start is understanding one of the most popular – the 529 college savings plan. The basics With a 529 plan, anyone can open a college savings plan for any current or future …
Do You Need to File a Tax Return?
Getting this wrong can cost you One of the more common tax questions is whether you need to file a federal tax return this year. The answer is: it depends. But not filing a tax return when you should can cost you plenty, especially with the passage of a major piece of tax legislation like …
Plan Your 2026 Retirement Contributions
As part of your planning for next year, now is the time to review funding your retirement accounts in 2026. Recent cost of living calculations means much higher contribution limits for next year. So plan now to take full advantage of this tax benefit. Here are annual contribution limits for the more popular programs: How …
Borrowing Money from Your 401(k)
Review this tip before you act! For years you have put away money from your pay into your employer-provided 401(k) retirement savings account. Your employer may have even matched 50% of your contributions or contributed 3% of your pay to the account as part of a safe harbor program. Now you want to take some …
Year-End Tax Planning Tips: 2025 EDITION
There's still time to act At the end of each year there are a number of things to consider that may have a positive impact on your tax obligation. Here is a list of ideas that may be worth a quick review while there is still time. And especially this year with recent tax law …
Check for Itemizing Now
Itemizing deductions may be back for you With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB Act) many who took a standard deduction may now need to consider a potential change to itemizing. If this could be you, it is better to know this now, when you can still take tax advantage of …
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