IRS: Time To Gear Up!
In a December 2024 release, the IRS said it was continuing to improve taxpayer services to help people prepare for tax season with more digital tools and options available. Even though you’re working with a tax pro, there are things you can do in advance to help yourself. The IRS’s Get Ready page on IRS.gov offers practical […]
Is Your Side Hustle a Business or a Hobby?
Your side hustle brings in a bit of money, but you still consider it a hobby. Which is it — business or recreation? It is important to make the right choice when you file your taxes. Below are some of the factors to consider, all of which should be weighted equally, in trying to decide […]
Important Tax Tips for 2024
The U.S. tax code is complicated and often hard to understand, with many provisions, credits and disallowances. Let’s review a few credits that many people are interested in, as well as how to respond to the IRS if you get married — or get a taxes-due notice. The Employee Retention Credit The ERC was implemented […]
The IRS Announces Inflation Changes for 2025
The following is not a comprehensive list of all changes, but a summary of key adjustments that will affect a wide range of taxpayers: Unchanged for tax year 2025 Not everything changes. By statute, certain items that were indexed for inflation in the past are currently not adjusted: Again, this is just a summary. […]
What is Probate?
In legal terms, probate is the general administration of your estate — with or without a will. Your will should contain the name of your executor. If it doesn’t, then an administrator will need to carry out the probate process instead. This might result in your assets being used to pay the liabilities for your […]
Exploding Some Estate Tax Myths
If you own property and assets or have loved ones who depend on you to provide income or care, you should have an estate plan. However, some people hesitate to create one, fearing that taxes will eat up the lion’s share of their estate. But even though estate taxes are real and rates are high, […]
529 Plans: Know the Basics
There are two kinds of 529 plans: prepaid tuition plans and savings plans. Prepaid tuition plans (available in only nine states) allow you to pay current tuition rates for future attendance at designated colleges and universities; they are a way to lock in a lower cost for college attendance. The savings plans allow you to […]
Working in Retirement: Does It Affect Your RMDs?
You may have many questions about working after retirement. Can you still contribute to retirement accounts? How does working affect your required minimum distributions? Let’s start with contributing to retirement accounts. You should be able to contribute to your employer’s qualified retirement plan regardless of your age. In some instances, you can also contribute to […]
How To Avoid Too Much Tax Withheld
Imagine the IRS offering an apology with your tax refund: Sorry, here’s your money back. In the 2022 tax season, more than 110 million taxpayers received a tax refund — and bragged about it! The average refund was $3,252. Instead of having the money sit in IRS coffers all year, that money could have been […]
Do Cash-Outs Come With A Tax Break?
First you need to understand what a cash-out refinance is. In such a refinance, you swap your existing mortgage loan for a new mortgage in which you borrow a higher amount. You use the found cash to pay for whatever you’d like. For example, say you owe $150,000 on your current mortgage. You might refinance […]
