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Tax Planning AFTER April 15th
It is a common belief that once April 15th is past, you can breathe a sigh of relief, and not think about taxes again until next year. But that is not true, since there can be a great deal of value in tax planning throughout the year. Tax problems may have been avoided if you…
Read More 5 Ways to Play the New Tax Law
Written by Joe Erickson, CPA The new tax law—known officially as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and signed into law in December 2017—took effect at the beginning of the 2018 tax year. Among its major adjustments, the TCJA almost doubled the standard deduction, lowered tax brackets, repealed the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate,…
Read MoreIRA and Retirement Plan Limits for 2018
IRA contribution limits The maximum amount you can contribute to a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA in 2018 is $5,500 (or 100% of your earned income, if less), unchanged from 2017. The maximum catch-up contribution for those age 50 or older remains at $1,000. You can contribute to both a traditional IRA and a…
Read MoreA Quick Look at the Presidential Candidates' Tax Proposals
Though tax policies haven’t received top billing in this year’s presidential election dialogue, they’re still part of the conversation. Here’s a quick review of each candidate’s tax proposals based on information released by their campaigns. Keep in mind that regardless of who wins in November, any changes to tax policy would require congressional action. Note:…
Read MoreFederal Income Tax Returns Due for Most
The federal income tax filing deadline for most individuals is Monday, April 18, 2016. That’s because Emancipation Day, a legal holiday in Washington, D.C., falls on Friday, April 15, this year. If you live in Massachusetts or Maine, you have until Tuesday, April 19, to file your return because Patriots’ Day, a legal holiday in…
Read MoreMo Money Preparers Plead Guilty – Is this a real company name?
Yes it is. Apparently there is a real company franchise called Mo Money Tax (apparently with about 300 stores and 18 states) and they were caught with tax return fraud. The owners of this particular franchise plead guilty to falisying paystub (W2) information in order to defraud the IRS. They each face a maximum sentence…
Read MoreEstate, Gift, and GST Taxation and Trusts
How are trusts treated for federal estate, gift, and GST tax purposes? A trust is created when you (the grantor) transfer property to a trustee for the benefit of a third person (the beneficiary). The act of transferring property to a trust is generally treated no differently than if it were transferred to an individual…
Read MoreIncome Tax Key Numbers
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Read More2015 Year-End Tax Planning Basics
The window of opportunity for many tax-saving moves closes on December 31, so it’s important to evaluate your tax situation now, while there’s still time to affect your bottom line for the 2015 tax year. Timing is everything Consider any opportunities you have to defer income to 2016. For example, you may be able to…
Read MoreCharitable Giving
Charitable giving can play an important role in many estate plans. Philanthropy cannot only give you great personal satisfaction, it can also give you a current income tax deduction, let you avoid capital gains tax, and reduce the amount of taxes your estate may owe when you die. There are many ways to give to…
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