You traveled to Aspen to sign a contract with a client on Thursday, but you stayed until Sunday to enjoy some time on the ski slopes to celebrate the deal. Before you write the entire trip off as a business expense, there are a few circumstances that need to be examined before determining deductibility. For more information on trips that mix business with pleasure, read this C.P.A. Insight.
If you won a week at a vacation property in Florida in your church’s silent auction, you are allowed to enjoy your vacation, but you are not allowed to consider your bid as a charitable donation on your taxes. For more information on how the IRS views charitable use of vacation homes, read this C.P.A. Insight.
Recent surveys show that while couples agree investment and retirement plans need adjustment because of the the market’s downturn, they do not agree on how their plans should be adjusted. For more information on what you and your spouse should consider when evaluating your financial future, read this Financial Strategy.
Executors of a Will are required to administer an estate with the highest degree of trust and honesty. It can be a daunting task, depending on the complexity of the estate. For more information on some of the duties/requirements of an executor, read this Financial Strategy.
If you are a non-spouse beneficiary of an IRA, the IRS has very specific rules as to how the IRA must be treated to avoid immediate taxation. Tax planning is a must as once mistakes have been made, they cannot be undone, which could result in loosing thousands of dollars to taxes. For more information on how an inherited IRA should be treated, read this C.P.A. Insight.
It is no surprise that investors are worried about inflation in the current economic environment, as many of the moves by the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve could lead to above average inflation if left in place too long. For information on how to protect your portfolio against the prospects of future inflation, read this Financial Tip of the Week.
Remember your childhood when you traded one baseball card for another? That was OK, but if you traded your bicycle for a baseball card there were consequences? This experience is similar to how the IRS treats like-kind exchanges, except now your trade is brokered by lawyers, C.P.A.s and intermediaries. For more information on Section 1031 like-kind exchanges, read this C.P.A. Insight.
If you have a complex financial life, or if you are unsure of your ability to recognize a good investment, you should seek the advice of a financial adviser. A financial adviser should look at your whole financial picture taking into account your taxes, insurance and estate plans. For more information on when you should seek an adviser’s help, read this Financial Strategy.
With so many retirement account balances down, the President passed the Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008. This Recovery Act makes it allowable for taxpayers to forego taking a Required Minimum Distribution for 2009. For detailed information on which taxpayers this affects and who it benefits, read this C.P.A. Insight.
The IRS wants you to pay your share of taxes as you earn your money. For individuals whose total tax obligation is more than $1,000, they must pay at least 90% of their taxes to avoid possible penalties and interest. To learn how to pay this obligation through withholding or estimated payments, read this C.P.A. Insight.