Author Archives: Site Administrator
Should you make a “charitable IRA rollover” in 2016?
Last year a break valued by many charitably inclined retirees was made permanent: the charitable IRA rollover. If you’re age 70½ or older, you can make direct contributions — up to $100,000 annually — from your IRA to qualified charitable organizations without owing any income tax on the distributions. Satisfy your RMD A charitable IRA… Read More »
To deduct business losses, you may have to prove “material participation”
You can only deduct losses from an S corporation, partnership or LLC if you “materially participate” in the business. If you don’t, your losses are generally “passive” and can only be used to offset income from other passive activities. Any excess passive loss is suspended and must be carried forward to future years. Material… Read More »
There’s still time for homeowners to save with green tax credits
The income tax credit for certain energy-efficient home improvements and equipment purchases was extended through 2016 by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (the PATH Act). So, you still have time to save both energy and taxes by making these eco-friendly investments. What qualifies The credit is for expenses related to… Read More »
3 mutual fund tax hazards to watch out for
Investing in mutual funds is an easy way to diversify a portfolio, which is one reason why they’re commonly found in retirement plans such as IRAs and 401(k)s. But if you hold such funds in taxable accounts, or are considering such investments, beware of these three tax hazards: High turnover rates. Mutual funds with high turnover rates… Read More »
Throw a company picnic for employees this summer and enjoy larger deductions
Many businesses host a picnic for employees in the summer. It’s a fun activity for your staff and you may be able to take a larger deduction for the cost than you would on other meal and entertainment expenses. Deduction limits Generally, businesses are limited to deducting 50% of allowable meal and entertainment expenses…. Read More »
Finding the right tax-advantaged account to fund your health care expenses
With health care costs continuing to climb, tax-friendly ways to pay for these expenses are more attractive than ever. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) all provide opportunities for tax-advantaged funding of health care expenses. But what’s the difference between these three accounts? Here’s an overview: HSA. If… Read More »
Combine business travel and a family vacation without losing tax benefits
Are you thinking about turning a business trip into a family vacation this summer? This can be a great way to fund a portion of your vacation costs. But if you’re not careful, you could lose the tax benefits of business travel. Reasonable and necessary Generally, if the primary purpose of your trip is… Read More »
How summer day camp can save you taxes
Although the kids might still be in school for a few more weeks, summer day camp is rapidly approaching for many families. If yours is among them, did you know that sending your child to day camp might make you eligible for a tax credit? The power of tax credits Day camp (but not… Read More »
Putting your home on the market? Understand the tax consequences of a sale
As the school year draws to a close and the days lengthen, you may be one of the many homeowners who are getting ready to put their home on the market. After all, in many locales, summer is the best time of year to sell a home. But it’s important to think not only… Read More »
Why it’s time to start tax planning for 2016
Now that the April 18 income tax filing deadline has passed, it may be tempting to set aside any thought of taxes until year end is approaching. But don’t succumb. For maximum tax savings, now is the time to start tax planning for 2016. More opportunities A tremendous number of variables affect your overall… Read More »