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.
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.
Gifting is a way to reduce your estate by passing on property to others while you are still alive. Individuals are allowed to gift up to $13,000 in property to an individual per year. You may make as many $13,000 annual gifts as you wish to any number of individuals, without being required to file a gift tax return. For more information on the basics of gifting, read this Financial Strategy.
If you used your credit card to pay your federal individual income taxes, your credit card company likely charged you a fee close to 2.5% of your total payment. The good news is that the IRS has announced this convenience fee is deductible. For more information on how to deduct these fees, read this C.P.A. Insight.
If you have had the unfortunate experience of watching one of your securities investments plummet to worthlessness, you may be eligible for a tax deduction. However, the IRS has a strict definition of "worthless." For more information on what qualifies a stock to be worthless and how a taxpayer can take advantage of a loss of a stock that has a miniscule amount of value, read this C.P.A. Insight.
If you are like many, you already know how you plan to spend your tax refund, but the question many still have is, "How long do I have to wait?" The IRS offers two ways, by Internet and phone, that allows taxpayers to check the status of their refund. For more information on the IRS’ turnaround time, read this C.P.A. Insight.
After all your business trips to New Jersey you finally have enough frequent flyer miles for a roundtrip ticket to Hawaii. Now the question is, "Are those frequent flyer points considered taxable income?" For more information on the IRS’ treatment of frequent flyer miles, read this C.P.A. Insight.
A successful estate plan takes more than good intentions. If you do not have a Will in place, a nameless, faceless court will decide how your assets will be distributed. This is one of many pitfalls you could face if you do not revisit your estate plan, as your family situation or federal and state laws change. For more information on areas you should consult your estate planning attorney or tax adviser on, read this Financial Strategy.
Of the two sure things in life, death and taxes, you might be surprised to know taxes have nearly an equally lengthy history. The United States was founded in large part to avoid taxes; however, once the Constitution gave Congress the authority to tax in 1789, citizens have weathered scores of changes. For more on the history of U.S. taxation, read this C.P.A.Insight.
