Tip Category: Planning 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 fifteen ideas that may be worth a quick review. 1. Make last minute charitable donations. Pay attention to your itemized deduction limit to ensure your deduction …
Tag: investing
Those Pesky Records!
What do I need to keep? Each of us needs to keep records that substantiate our tax return or other important life events for as long as they are needed. So what does this mean? The basic retention period. Federal tax return substantiation is generally three years from the later of the tax return filing due …
Estate Taxes: What EVERYONE Should Know
Tip Category: Planning Most taxpayers ignore the federal estate tax, thinking they will never be touched by it. Unfortunately, you do this at your own peril. Why? Because states often have this tax AND politicians have a habit of frequently changing the rules. The most recent change is scheduled to take place after 2025. The best …
Understanding Tax Terms: Basis
Covering the bases on basis Tip Category: Miscellaneous Basis is a common IRS term, but probably does not enter into your everyday conversation. This IRS term is important because it impacts the taxes you pay when you sell, exchange or give away property. What basis is The IRS describes basis as: The amount of your …
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 …
Five Big Tax Mistakes
Don't let them happen to you! Tip Category: Planning Every year taxpayers are hit with tax surprises that could be avoided if they just knew the rules. Here are five big ones that are easy to avoid with some simple planning. Mistake #1. Withholding too little. This results in a tax surprise when filing your income tax …
Roth versus Traditional IRA: Which is Better?
Tip Category: Planning For most taxpayers, you have until April 15th of the following year to contribute up to $7,000 ($8,000 if age 50 or over) into a Traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. Is an IRA an option worth considering for you? If so, which is better? Traditional IRA A Traditional IRA is an individual …
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Understanding the Home Gain Exclusion
When is a tax planning session essential? Tip Category: Deductions One of the biggest tax benefits available today is the exclusion of gains when you sell your qualified home. Here is what you need to know. The tax benefit explained For those who qualify, a married couple can exclude up to $500,000 ($250,000 for unmarried taxpayers) …
Tax Tips to Aid in Retiring Early
Thinking about retiring early? Here are things to consider. Tip Category: Retirement Wouldn’t it be nice to check out of the workforce early and not need to worry about having enough money for retirement? While good financial planning can help you get there, leveraging the tax code as part of your retirement plan is also a …
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