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Year End Tax Planning Moves
The following are some tax planning moves that can be implemented before the end of the year.   Defer Income to Next Year – If possible, defer income to next year. You’ll defer the tax on the income for one year and depending on your tax situation next year, you may end up paying less tax on that income next year. Accelerate Expenses to this Year – Pay as much business and tax deductible personal expenses as you can such as charitable contributions before the end of the year to reduce your taxable income. That includes paying us ...
Retirement Savings the Earlier the Better
Generally, teenagers and young adults do not consider the long-term benefits of retirement savings. Their priorities for their earnings are more for today than that distant and rarely considered retirement. Yet contributions to a retirement plan early in life can enjoy years of growth and provide a substantial nest egg at retirement. Due to its long-term benefits of tax-free accumulation, a nondeductible Roth IRA may be the best option. During most individuals’ early working years, their income is usually at its lowest, allowing them to qualify for a Roth IRA at a time where the need for a tax ...
Will the Interest on Your Vehicle Loan be Deductible
Whether or not the interest you pay on a loan to acquire a vehicle is deductible for tax purposes depends how the vehicle is being used (for business or personal purposes), the tax form on which the expenses are being deducted, and the type of loan. If the loan were a consumer loan secured by the vehicle, then the following rules would apply: If the vehicle is being used partially for business and the expenses are being deducted on your self-employed business schedule such as Schedule C, then the business portion of the interest will be deductible as business interest, ...
How Long Are You on the Hook for a Tax Assessment
A frequent question that we are asked is: how long does the IRS have to question and assess additional tax on my tax returns? For most taxpayers who reported all their income, the IRS has three years from the date of filing the returns to examine them. This period is termed the statute of limitations. But wait – as in all things taxes, it is not that clean cut. Here are some complications: You file before the April due date – If you file before the April due date, the three-year statute of limitations still begins on the April due ...
Home Affordable Modification Program HAMP and Its Tax Consequence
To help financially distressed homeowners lower their monthly mortgage payments, the Dept. of the Treasury and the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) established HAMP. In appropriate cases, HAMP has been offering the Principal Reduction Alternative (PRA) as part of a HAMP loan modification since the last quarter of 2010. Current plans call for HAMP to continue accepting new borrowers through the end of 2013. Mortgage Reduction – Where the borrower satisfies certain conditions during a trial period, the principal of the borrower's mortgage may be reduced over three years by a predetermined amount called the “PRA Forbearance Amount.” ...