If you are receiving a tax refund, consider directing your refund into your retirement account. This option is available to all individual filers no matter which 1040 form they file. For more information on the direct deposit of your refund, read this C.P.A. Insight.
Investors who are seeking income producing investments during a time when interest rates are low may turn to master limited partnerships. It is important to remember master limited partnerships are businesses first, and they expose the investor to more than investment or market risk. For a detailed explanation of master limited partnerships, read this Investment Whys.
When discussing the initial mandatory IRA withdrawal, one can easily become confused by the rules and regulations on when the withdrawal should occur. Assets such as qualified retirement plans, 403(b) Plans, IRAs, SEPs, SIMPLE IRAs and section 457 Plans are all included in calculating a mandatory withdrawal. For more information about your first mandatory IRA withdrawal and to learn how your withdrawal is calculated, read this Financial Strategy.
IRS notices are common; however, most taxpayers dread receiving one. A notice usually covers very specific issues and contains instructions on how to deal with it or a number to call if you have any questions. For more information about IRS notices and what to do if you receive one, read this C.P.A. Insight.
Taxpayers who took energy saving steps in 2009 or this year may be eligible for greater tax savings. The Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit, a tax credit for making energy efficient improvements to homes, has been increased as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
If you find yourself waiting on a 1099 form before you attempt to calculate your income tax return, you may be able to proceed without the missing form. In many cases, it is possible to find the necessary information using other sources. For more information on the different types of 1099 forms and where you might find accurate information if your form is missing, read this C.P.A. Insight.
When gathering your previous year’s tax information or planning for the current year’s taxes, it is important to consider how you keep your personal records. Some basic records that everyone should keep include: W-2 Forms, bank statements, invoices, insurance records and various investment information. For more information on which records are vital to keep and organize for the tax season, read this C.P.A. Insight.
When creating a budget, you need to separate your expenditures into required or optional categories. This article contains a sample list of mandatory and discretionary expenses.
Creating a budget should allow you to see precisely where your money is spent each month. The basic steps include recording all of your income, and then divide your expenses into mandatory and discretionary. For more guidance on creating a budget, read this C.P.A. Insight.
About 75% of the businesses in our country are structured as sole proprietorships, unincorporated businesses that consist of one individual owner. This business structure is the simplest and least expensive to form and dissolve; however, it opens the owner to unlimited personal liability and debts of the business are debts of the owner. For more information on sole proprietorships, read this C.P.A. Insight.
