Year-End Strategies to Lower Your Personal Tax Bill
The countdown to year end has begun. Have you positioned yourself to minimize your 2018 tax bill? The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) made sweeping changes to the federal [...]
Plan Now to Reduce AMT Exposure
First the bad news: Despite passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the individual alternative minimum tax (AMT) is still in place. But there's some good news: The [...]
How the Tax Law Hits Charitable Giving
For charitable donors, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) giveth and it taketh away. Here's what charity-minded individuals need to know. Increased Charitable Deduction Limit Under prior law, deductions [...]
Tax Law Ends Alimony Deductions after 2018
In divorce situations, an ex-spouse may be legally obligated to make payments to the other party. Since payments are often substantial, locking in tax deductions for the payer has often [...]
Tax Law Allows Employees to Defer Income from Equity-Based Pay
Equity-based compensation can be a great way to reward and retain valued employees, especially for companies with limited cash on hand. And the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) makes [...]
Tax-free Fringe Benefits Help Small Businesses and Their Employees
In today’s tightening job market, to attract and retain the best employees, small businesses need to offer not only competitive pay, but also appealing fringe benefits. Benefits that are tax-free [...]
Tax Planning for Investments Gets More Complicated
For investors, fall is a good time to review year-to-date gains and losses. Not only can it help you assess your financial health, but it also can help you determine [...]
Calculating Deductions for Business Interest Expense
One of the most complicated provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is the new limitation on deductions for business interest expense. At face value, this limitation seems [...]
Tax Reform: Which Changes Are Temporary vs. Permanent?
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) includes a bevy of important tax changes for individuals and businesses. However, it's sometimes hard to keep track of which changes are permanent [...]
Plan Now to Reduce AMT Exposure
First the bad news: Despite passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the individual alternative minimum tax (AMT) is still in place. But there's some good news: The [...]
Play Your Tax Cards Right With Gambling Wins and Losses
If you gamble, be sure you understand the tax consequences. Both wins and losses can affect your income tax bill. And changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) [...]
New Law, New Limit on Deductions for Business Interest Expense
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) imposes a new limitation on deductions for business interest expense. This is a permanent change for tax years beginning in 2018 and beyond. [...]
The TCJA Prohibits Undoing 2018 Roth IRA Conversions, but 2017 Conversions Are Still Eligible
Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA can provide tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals in retirement. But what if you convert your traditional IRA — subject to income taxes [...]
Do you still need to worry about the AMT?
There was talk of repealing the individual alternative minimum tax (AMT) as part of last year’s tax reform legislation. A repeal wasn’t included in the final version of the Tax [...]
Why the “Kiddie Tax” is More Dangerous Than Ever
Once upon a time, some parents and grandparents would attempt to save tax by putting investments in the names of their young children or grandchildren in lower income tax brackets. [...]