Many parents are looking for ways to save for their child’s education and a 529 Plan is an excellent way to do so. Even better, is that thanks to the passage of tax reform legislation in 2017, 529 plans are now available to parents wishing to save for their child’s K-12 education as well as college or vocational school. You may open a Section 529 plan in any state, and there are no income restrictions for the individual opening the … Read More
Selling your Small Business
Selling a small to medium-sized business is a complex venture, and many business owners are not aware of the tax consequences. If you’re thinking about selling your business the first step is to consult a competent tax professional. You will need to make sure your financials in order, obtain an accurate business valuation to determine how much your business is worth (and what the listing price might be) and develop a tax planning strategy to minimize capital gains and other … Read More
Health Flexible Spending Arrangements in 2016
Eligible employees should begin planning now to take full advantage of their employer's health flexible spending arrangement (FSA) during 2016. FSAs provide employees a way to use tax-free dollars to pay medical expenses not covered by other health plans. Because eligible employees need to decide how much to contribute through payroll deductions before the plan year begins, many employers this fall are offering their employees the option to participate during the 2016 plan year. Interested employees wishing to contribute during the ... Read More
2015 Tax Provisions for Individuals: A Review
What individuals and families need to know about tax provisions for 2015.
Tax Benefits for Higher Education
Many tax benefits are available to help you pay higher education costs, whether for your children or yourself. Let’s take a look at what’s available and how you can take advantage of these benefits to ease the financial burden of paying for education. Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (Section 530 Programs) Starting in 2013, you can contribute up to $2,000 to a Coverdell Education Savings account (a Section 530 program formerly known as an Education IRA) for a child under 18. … Read More
Leaving a Business: Which Exit Plan is Best?
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
Is Your Gift Taxable?
If you gave money or property to someone as a gift, you may owe federal gift tax. Many gifts are not subject to the gift tax, but there are exceptions. Here are eight tips you can use to figure out whether your gift is taxable. 1. Most gifts are not subject to the gift tax. For example, there is usually no tax if you make a gift to your spouse or to a charity. If you make a gift to … Read More
Tax Rules for Children with Investment Income
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
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
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