According to one recent study, the average retirement age in the United States was 62 years old as of 2017. Currently, the minimum age necessary to collect Social Security is 62, while 66 is largely considered to be "full retirement age" in many industries. The vast majority of people who will retire this year will [...]
Article Summary: Filing OptionsMarried Filing JointlyUnpleasant ConsequencesPleasant ConsequencesMarried Filing SeparatelyNotifying SSA, IRS, employersOther Issues to Consider A taxpayer’s filing status for the year is based upon his or her marital status at the close of the tax year. Thus, if you get married on the last day of the tax year, you are treated as [...]
Article Highlights: Limit on Tax Allowed as an Itemized DeductionStates’ Attempted Workarounds Supreme Court RulingFinal RegulationsNotice 2019-12 The Treasury Department and the IRS have essentially shot down efforts by several states to help their residents circumvent the $10,000 cap on the itemized deduction for state and local taxes (SALT). When the Tax Cuts and Jobs [...]
It’s a common conundrum: You want to file your taxes on time, but you anticipate or already know that you will owe money you can’t afford to pay right now. As a result, you put off filing your tax return under the assumption that the IRS can only bill you if they receive your latest [...]
Article Highlights: For-Profit BusinessesNot-for-Profit BusinessesNine Determining FactorsProfit Presumption Taxpayers are often confused by the differences in tax treatment between businesses that are entered into for profit and those that are not, commonly referred to as hobbies. Recent tax law changes have added to the confusion. The differences are: Businesses Entered Into for Profit – For [...]
Article Highlights: Household Employee DefinitionEmployee Control FactorsSelf-employed or EmployeeWithholding RequirementsReporting Requirements Taxpayers often will hire an individual or firm to provide services at the taxpayer’s home. Because the IRS requires employers to withhold taxes for employees and issue them W-2s at the end of the year, the big question is whether or not that individual [...]
Article Highlights: Primarily Business Primarily VacationSpecial CircumstancesForeign Conventions, Seminars and MeetingsCruise ShipsSpousal Travel Expenses Note: effective for years 2018 through 2025, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 suspended the deduction of miscellaneous itemized expenses that must be reduced by 2% of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income. Employee business expenses, including travel expenses, fall [...]
Article Highlights: Donor-Advised FundItemized or Standard DeductionsSponsoring OrganizationsTax BenefitsBunching StrategyHigh Income YearsDonating Appreciated Assets If you would like to make a substantial tax-deductible charitable donation this year, but have the ability to spread the actual distribution of funds to specific charities over a number of years, a donor-advised fund (DAF) may fill that need. There [...]
Article Highlights: EmployeesSelf-Employed IndividualsIndividuals with Sources of Income Without WithholdingQuarterly PaymentsUnderpayment PenaltySafe Harbor Payments June 15th falls on the weekend this year, so the due date for the second installment of estimated taxes is the next business day, June 17, which is just around the corner. So, it is time to determine if your estimated [...]
Article Highlights: Child Age LimitsEmployment-Related ExpenseMarried Taxpayer Earnings LimitsDisabled or Full-Time-Student SpouseExpense Limits Summer has just arrived, and there is a tax break that working parents should know about. Many working parents must arrange for care of their children under 13 years of age (or any age if disabled) during the school vacation period. A [...]
