While in the mode of holiday shopping, consider these 3 tax-smart purchases. Make Charitable Contributions Consider making charitable contributions before year-end both to obtain the maximum tax deduction and to fulfill any charitable programs or commitments you may have established for the year. Pay Tax-Deductible Expenses Consider paying tax-deductible expenses prior to year-end. Some common …
Here’s what individuals and families need to know about tax changes for 2012. From personal deductions to tax credits and educational expenses, many of the tax changes relating to individuals remain in effect through 2012 and are the result of tax provisions that were either modified or extended by the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization …
The purpose of life insurance is to provide a source of income, in case of death, for your children, dependents, or other beneficiaries. Life insurance can also serve certain estate planning purposes, which we won’t go into here. Buying life insurance is contingent upon whether anyone is depending on your income after your death. If …
Millions of Americans forfeit critical tax relief each year by failing to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a federal tax credit for low-to-moderate-income individuals who work. Taxpayers who qualify and claim the credit could owe less federal tax, owe no tax, or even receive a refund. The EITC is based on the amount …
Do You Qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit? Read More »
A tax deduction reduces the amount of your taxable income and generally reduces the amount of taxes you may have to pay. If you are able to itemize your deductions on your tax return instead of claiming the standard deduction, you may be able to claim certain miscellaneous deductions. Here are some things you should …
Millions of Americans have hobbies such as sewing, woodworking, fishing, gardening, stamp and coin collecting, but when that hobby starts to turn a profit, it might just be considered a business by the IRS. Definition of a Hobby vs a Business The IRS defines a hobby as an activity that is not pursued for profit. …
Accelerating Income In most years, taxpayers adopt a strategy of deferring income, but with the Bush-era tax cuts set to expire on December 31, 2012, income tax rates and capital gains taxes set to rise, and a 0.9 percent Hospital Insurance (HI) tax applicable to earnings of self-employed individuals or employee wages in excess of …
There are a number of end of year tax strategies businesses can use to reduce their tax burden for 2012. Here’s the lowdown on some of the best options. Purchase New Business Equipment Section 179 Expensing. Business should take advantage of Section 179 expensing this year for a couple of reasons. First, is that in 2012 …
Of all the retirement plans available to small business owners, the SIMPLE plan is the easiest to set up and the least expensive to manage. These plans are intended to encourage small business employers to offer retirement coverage to their employees. SIMPLE plans work well for small business owners who don’t want to spend a …
If you’re a small business owner with fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees you may be eligible for the small business health care credit that went into effect in 2010. What is the Small Business Health Care Credit? The small business health care tax credit, part of the Affordable Care Act enacted in 2010, is …
Claiming the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit Read More »