Vacation Home: How Is Your Tax Bill Affected If You Rent It Out?
If you’re fortunate enough to own a vacation home, you may want to rent it out for part of the year. What are the tax consequences? The tax treatment can [...]
How to Pay Retiree Health Costs Tax-Free
If you own a small business, you may have set up a defined benefit pension plan for you and your employees that will provide a specific amount of retirement income based [...]
Let’s Dig into the Details of the Home-Sale Gain Exlcusion
Before you sell your home, consider the tax consequences. There are some subtle nuances to the home-sale gain exclusion. (See "Home-Sale Gain Exclusion: Timing Counts" at right.) Here are some scenarios that you [...]
Home-Sale Gain Exclusion
In many areas, residential real estate markets have surged, and some are still surging. In these sellers' markets, big home-sale gains are likely. That's great news if you're a seller — [...]
Planning for Year-End Gifts With the Gift Tax Annual Exclusion
As we approach the holidays and the end of the year, many people may want to make gifts of cash or stock to their loved ones. By properly using the [...]
Scholarships Are Usually Tax Free But May Result in Taxable Income
If your child is fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship, you may wonder about the tax implications. Fortunately, scholarships (and fellowships) are generally tax free for students at elementary, [...]
5 Possible Tax Aspects of a Parent Moving Into a Nursing Home
If you have a parent entering a nursing home, you may not be thinking about taxes. But there are a number of possible tax implications. Here are five. 1. Long-term [...]
Should You Consider an Employer Roth 401(k) Account?
Nowadays, many employer retirement plans give employees the option of contributing to designated Roth accounts (DRAs). According to a 2020 survey, 75% of employer plans now offer DRAs, which are also [...]
There’s currently a “Stepped-Up Basis” If You Inherit Property — But Will It Last?
If you’re planning your estate, or you’ve recently inherited assets, you may be unsure of the “cost” (or “basis”) for tax purposes. The current rules Under the current fair market [...]
Can Taxpayers Who Manage Their Own Investment Portfolios Deduct Related Expenses
Do you have significant investment-related expenses, including the cost of subscriptions to financial services, home office expenses and clerical costs? Under current tax law, these expenses aren’t deductible through 2025 [...]
Qualifying for Tax Breaks for a Dependent Parent
For many families, the tables may turn, and adult children provide financial support for their parents. For example, you might have moved your in-laws from a long-term care facility into your [...]
Spotlight on Executive Compensation in Divorce
Executive compensation can become an issue for private companies and their owners, especially if an owner is getting divorced. Owning a business complicates the divorce process. When either spouse owns a private business interest, [...]
Notify the IRS if You Change Your Address
It's important to notify the IRS if you move and change your address. Under tax law regulations, a taxpayer's last known address is the one that appears on the tax return you [...]
IRS Audits May Be Increasing, So Be Prepared
The IRS just released its audit statistics for the 2020 fiscal year and fewer taxpayers had their returns examined as compared with prior years. But even though a small percentage [...]
Eligible Businesses: Claim the Employee Retention Tax Credit
The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) is a valuable tax break that was extended and modified by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), enacted in March of 2021. Here’s a [...]