About three months before your birthday, taxpayers should receive their "Earnings and Benefits Estimate Statement" from the Social Security Administration. This annual report will give you an idea of how much you may receive in Social Security when you retire. For a description of the information you will find on this statement, read this Financial Strategy.
If you own a residential rental or commercial building, you may be eligible for substantial tax breaks for depreciating your property through a cost segregation analysis. For more information on how different types of buildings are depreciated and what items may qualify for accelerated depreciation methods, read this C.P.A. Insight.
A Qualified Personal Residence Trust can be used as part of your overall estate plan to transfer the family home to your children or grandchildren, without incurring federal estate tax. However, there are some tax considerations for your heirs if they choose to sell the property in the future. For more information on Qualified Personal Residence Trusts, read this C.P.A. Insight.
If you hire contractors for your business, you should review the list of determining factors provided by the IRS to help you classify workers either as employees or independent contractors. When reviewing the checklist, the IRS will make its decision on the whole picture of the professional relationship, not just a single factor. For more information on classifying workers, read this C.P.A. Insight.
Those who are self-employed, partners in a partnership or LLC and 2% or more shareholders in an S corporation can likely add a tax deductible long-term care insurance policies to their health insurance benefits program. For more information on the IRS’ requirements for the policy to be qualified for favorable tax treatment, read this C.P.A. Insight.
Taxes play a very important role in shaping a divorce settlement. Some items, like alimony or cash settlements, are taxable to the spouse who receives it, while child support payments are not. For more information on important divorce tax issues, read this C.P.A. Insight.
You filed your tax return, but you found an income statement you forgot to include. Your situation need not be a nightmare. You simply need to file a 1040x, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. This form will allow you to amend your both your income and deductions. For more information on when to file an amended return, read this C.P.A. Insight.
If you owe taxes this year and cannot afford to pay the full amount, there are options that you can take to ensure that you will not incur late filing penalties. The best option is to pay as much as you can by the deadline. While you will still incur late payment fees, you will not be penalized for filing late. For more information about this option and to learn more about the possibility of an Installment Agreement, read this C.P.A Insight.
If your thoughts of spring include a tax refund check, you may opt to use your windfall to benefit your future, rather than spend it now. Some uses you may consider include adding your refund to your retirement savings or investing in continuing education. For more ideas on how to make your refund work for you, read this C.P.A. Insight.
If you take a distribution from a retirement account before you reach the age of 59 1/2, generally, you will have to pay a 10% early distribution penalty. However, if you take an early distribution to pay for unreimbursed medical expenses or qualified higher education expenses, you may be able to avoid the early withdrawal penalty. For other common exceptions in which you may not be subject to the 10% penalty, read this C.P.A. Insight.
