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The IRS expects that more than 70% of taxpayers will receive a refund in 2017.¹ What you do with a tax refund is up to you, but here are some ideas that may make your refund twice as valuable. Double your savings Perhaps you’d like to use your tax refund to start an education fund for your children or grandchildren, contribute to a retirement savings account for yourself, or save for a rainy day. A
If you transfer money or property to anyone in any year without receiving something of at least equal value in return, you may need to file a federal gift tax return (Form 709) by the April tax filing deadline. If you live in one of the few states that also impose a gift tax, you may need to file a separate gift tax return with your state as well. Not all gifts, however, are treated
In general, when you sell your home, any amount you receive over your cost basis (what you paid for the home, plus capital improvements, plus the costs of selling the home) is subject to capital gains taxes. However, if you owned and used the home as your principal residence for a total of two out of the five years before the sale (the two years do not have to be consecutive), you may be able
Tax filing season is here again. If you haven’t done so already, you’ll want to start pulling things together — that includes getting your hands on a copy of last year’s tax return and gathering W-2s, 1099s, and deduction records. You’ll need these records whether you’re preparing your own return or paying someone else to do your taxes for you. Don’t procrastinate The filing deadline for most individuals is Tuesday, April 18, 2017. That’s because
Every year, the Internal Revenue Service announces cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans, thresholds for deductions and credits, and standard deduction and personal exemption amounts. Here are a few of the key adjustments for 2017. Retirement plans Employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b), and most 457 plans can defer up to $18,000 in compensation in 2017 (the same as in 2016); employees age 50 and older can defer up to an additional
When you claim a federal income tax deduction for charitable contributions, you must substantiate the contributions by maintaining certain records. The records must establish the charity to whom the gift was made, the amount of cash or the type and value of other property donated to charity, whether anything was received in consideration for the contribution, and certain other requirements. The records needed generally depend on the type and value of the property donated; there
A number of changes went into effect this year as a result of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015 and other recent legislation. One of the changes added tougher compliance rules for those claiming the Child Tax Credit.
“Houston, we have a problem.” Who could ever forget those famous words as one catastrophe after another unfolded for the astronauts in the movie, Apollo 13? After considering a recent client related situation, it hit me – America, we have a problem! OK, I know that’s the number one topic these days – the problems facing America. Bear with me for just a moment; here’s one that I bet you have not considered. It is
Suppose you have an old house on your property, but you would really like to tear it down and build a new one. The demolition will cost $10,000 and you just really do not want to spend the money. A good friend offers you advice, or maybe the idea just pops into your head. I will allow the local fire department to burn it down – a training exercise. I will receive a tax deduction, help
For 2016, the individual tax filing deadline is not Friday April 15 as you might think. It is actually Monday, April 18. Why? As it turns out, April 15 is a legal holiday in Washington, DC – Emancipation Day. Therefore Federal individual returns and Form 4868 automatic extension requests are not due until Monday, April 18. Be careful! All states might not follow the Federal due date!