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Here’s how to take a page from the ultra-wealthy playbook and make full use of Roth Individual Retirement Accounts
We’ve all heard the term “the rich get richer.” According to a report released from ProPublica, it turns out that one of the ways that truism is perpetuated is through the strategic use of tax-sheltered Roth individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The good news is that the same approach is available to the man on the street. The only thing you need is the know-how.
Contemplating Refinancing Your Home Mortgage? Things You Should Consider
With home mortgage rates at historic lows, it may be appropriate for you to consider refinancing your current mortgage. However, refinancing may not always be the greatest idea, even though mortgage rates are low, and even when your friends, relatives, and coworkers are bragging about the low interest rates they got with their refinance. This is because a number of issues must be considered when refinancing.
Back-Door Roth IRAs
Many individuals who are saving for retirement favor Roth IRAs over traditional IRAs because the former allows for both accumulation of account earnings and post-retirement distributions to be tax-free. In comparison, contributions to traditional IRAs may be deductible, earnings are tax-deferred, and distributions are generally taxable. Anyone who has compensation can make a contribution to a traditional IRA (although the deduction may be limited). However, not everyone is allowed to make a Roth IRA contribution.
The Treasury Green Book of Biden Proposed Tax Changes
The U.S. Treasury has released the Biden administration’s 2022 Fiscal Year Budget, which includes a general explanation of the administration’s 2022 revenue proposals. The publication is commonly referred to as the Green Book and outlines the Biden administration’s tax proposals. Keep in mind that these are proposals and will have to be passed by Congress. The Green Book proposals include both domestic and international taxes; however, this article will only cover domestic tax issues that deal with individuals and small businesses
Did You Get a Letter from the IRS? Don’t Panic.
Now that most tax refunds are deposited directly into taxpayers’ bank accounts, the dream of opening your mailbox and finding an IRS refund check is all but a thing of the past. However, since the IRS now does most of its auditing through correspondence, an IRS letter can likely increase your heart rate and, in some cases, ruin your day.
August 2021 Due Dates
Due dates for August 2021 for individuals and businesses.
IRS Unveils Online Tool to Register for Monthly Child Tax Credit Payments
As we noted in prior articles, Congress has made substantial changes to the child tax credit (CTC) for 2021.
Tax Issues Related to Renting Your Vacation Home
Do you own a second home at the beach, in the mountains, or some other getaway location, or are you thinking about buying one? If so, then you may have thought about the possibility of renting it out. Though many people would never consider inviting renters into their vacation home, preferring to keep it for themselves and their family, doing so can offset some of the expenses related to the property, and you may even reap a tax benefit at the same time.
Taxes and Divorce
If you are recently divorced or are contemplating divorce, you will have to deal with or plan for significant tax issues such as asset division, alimony, and tax-return filing status. If you have children, additional issues include child support; claiming of the children as dependents; the child, child care, and education tax credits; and perhaps even the earned income tax credit (EITC).
3 Reasons Paying Your Bills Early Will Benefit You
If there’s anything we all learned from 2020, it’s that things can change in a heartbeat and that the unexpected can create real havoc. Though there’s nothing you can do to stop fate’s freight trains from barreling down the tracks, there are steps you can take to minimize the stress you feel in its aftermath. One of those steps is both simple and remarkable in the power of its impact: Start paying your bills ahead of time, before they are due.
Tax Deductions Related to Charity Auctions
It is common practice for charities to hold auction events where attendees will bid upon and purchase items. The questions often arise whether (1) the money spent on the items purchased constitutes a charitable donation and (2) what kind of charitable deduction the individual who contributed the item is entitled to.
2021 – the Year of Substantial Tax Breaks for Families with Children and Lower-Income Taxpayers
This is an overview of the several tax benefits that were included in the American Rescue Plan Act recently passed by Congress that will impact families with children and lower-income taxpayers during 2021. These include increased child care benefits plus an increased child tax credit, including advanced monthly payments for some.
The IRS is Resuming Collection & Enforcement Activities That Were Paused During COVID-19
The IRS is reporting that it is resuming “certain collection and enforcement processes that had been suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.” On June 15, 2021, this process kicked off as the IRS started contacting taxpayers who have not responded to prior balance due notices.
July 2021 Due Dates
July 2021 Due Dates
Haven’t Received Your Tax Refund Yet?
You are not alone. We have been hearing from clients who are still waiting on refunds from returns filed early in the year. In normal times, unless there is an error, the IRS will issue most refunds in less than 21 calendar days. However, 2021 is far from being a normal year for a number of reasons.
Don’t Lose Your Passport Because of Unpaid Federal Debt
The U.S. Department of State generally will not renew a passport or issue a new passport to taxpayers after receiving a certification of “seriously delinquent” tax debt from the IRS, and they may revoke or place limitations on current passports. Generally, you can use your passport until you’re notified by the U.S. Department of State that it’s taking action to revoke or limit your passport.
Unpaid Debt Taking Your Tax Refund?
We all look forward to receiving our tax refunds, but what if you were expecting a refund and it never arrived? It may be because you have outstanding federal or state debts—and not just tax-related debts. The Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS) issues federal tax refunds, and Congress authorizes BFS to reduce your refund through its Treasury Offset Program (TOP) to pay the following…
Did You File Before Congress Passed the Unemployment Tax Exclusion? Here is How the IRS is Handling the Situation
Normally, unemployment insurance benefits are fully taxable for federal purposes. However, earlier this year, about the middle of the tax filing season, Congress, as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, decided that each individual who received unemployment benefits could exclude the first $10,200 of those benefits from taxation if their modified AGI was less than $150,000.
June 2021 Due Dates for Individuals & Businesses
June 2021 Individual Due Dates June 1 - Final Due Date for IRA Trustees to Issue Form 5498 Final due date for IRA trustees to issue Form 5498, providing IRA owners with the fair market value (FMV) of their IRA accounts as of December 31, 2020. The FMV of an IRA on the...
Owe Taxes and Can’t Pay by the Due Date?
The vast majority of Americans get a tax refund from the IRS each spring, but what if you are one of those who end ends up owing?