Tax Brackets, Deductions, and Exemptions for 2016

Brian SingletonBlog, Watch Your Wallet

More than 50 tax provisions, including the tax rate schedules, and other tax changes are adjusted for inflation in 2016. Let's take a look at the ones most likely to affect taxpayers like you. The tax rate of 39.6 percent affects singles whose income exceeds $415,050 ($466,950 for married taxpayers filing a joint return), up from $413,200 and $464,850, respectively. The other marginal rates--10, 15, 25, 28, 33 and 35 percent--and related income tax thresholds--are found at IRS.gov. The standard ... Read More

Leaving a Business: Which Exit Plan is Best?

Brian SingletonBlog, Watch Your Wallet

Selecting your business successor is a fundamental objective of planning an exit strategy and requires a careful assessment of what you want from the sale of your business and who can best give it to you. There are four ways to leave your business: transfer ownership to family members, Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP), sale to a third party, and liquidation. The more you understand about each one, the better the chance is that you will leave your business on … Read More

Tax Rules for Children with Investment Income

Brian SingletonBlog, Watch Your Wallet

Children who receive investment income are subject to special tax rules that affect how parents must report a child’s investment income. Some parents can include their child’s investment income on their tax return while other children may have to file their own tax return. If a child cannot file his or her own tax return for any reason, such as age, the child’s parent or guardian is responsible for filing a return on the child’s behalf. Here’s what you need … Read More

Eight Ways Children Lower your Taxes

Brian SingletonBlog, Watch Your Wallet

Got kids? They may have an impact on your tax situation. Here are eight tax credits and deductions that can help lower your tax burden. Dependents: In most cases, a child can be claimed as a dependent in the year they were born. Be sure to let us know if your family increased this year and we’ll take a look at whether you can claim the child as a dependent this year. Child Tax Credit: You may be able to … Read More

Claiming an Elderly Parent as a Dependent

Brian SingletonBlog, Watch Your Wallet

Are you taking care of an elderly parent or relative? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 44.7 million people age 65 and older in the United States in 2013, more than 15 percent of the total population. Whether it’s driving to doctor appointments, paying for nursing home care or medical expenses, or handling their personal finances, dealing with an elderly parent or relative can be emotionally and financially draining, especially when you are taking care of your own … Read More