Year-end tax and financial to-do list for individuals
With the dawn of 2019 on the near horizon, here’s a quick list of tax and financial to-dos you should address before 2018 ends: Check your FSA balance. If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for health care expenses, you need to incur qualifying expenses by December 31 to use up these funds or […]
Disaster relief payments help employees and can save taxes
In the aftermath of Hurricanes Florence and Michael this fall, employers are asking how they can help their employees during these difficult times. One option that employers have is to make disaster relief payments to their employees. A disaster relief payment is any amount paid to or for the benefit of an individual to reimburse […]
Could ‘bunching’ medical expenses into 2018 save you tax?
Some of your medical expenses may be tax deductible, but only if you itemize deductions and have enough expenses to exceed the applicable floor for deductibility. With proper planning, you may be able to time controllable medical expenses to your tax advantage. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) could make bunching such expenses into […]
Tax law makes planning for investments more complicated
For investors, fall is a good time to review year-to-date gains and losses. Not only can it help you assess your financial health, but it also can help you determine whether to buy or sell investments before year end to save taxes. This year, you also need to keep in mind the impact of the […]
Charitable IRA rollovers may be especially beneficial in 2018
If you’re age 70½ or older, you can make direct contributions — up to $100,000 annually — from your IRA to qualified charitable organizations without owing any income tax on the distributions. This break may be especially beneficial now because of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) changes that affect who can benefit from the […]
Back-to-school time means a tax break for teachers
When teachers are setting up their classrooms for the new school year, it’s common for them to pay for a portion of their classroom supplies out of pocket. A special tax break allows these educators to deduct some of their expenses. This educator expense deduction is especially important now due to some changes under the […]
3 traditional midyear tax planning strategies that hold up post-TCJA
With its many changes to individual tax rates, brackets and breaks, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) means taxpayers need to revisit their tax planning strategies. Certain strategies that were once tried-and-true will no longer save or defer tax. But there are some that will hold up for many taxpayers. And they’ll be more […]
WOTC is a win-win for employers and employees alike
Employers can get credit where credit is due. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is a valuable and beneficial tool for employers to receive a tax credit for hiring certain workers who face significant barriers to employment. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit generally is based on wages paid to eligible employees during their first year of […]
The time for 2018 tax planning is now
Now that the April 17 individual income tax filing deadline has come and gone, it may seem too early to begin thinking about taxes again. But for maximum tax savings, now is the time to start tax planning for 2018. It’s especially critical to get an early start this year because the Tax Cuts and […]
Time to begin year-end payroll planning
Preparations are underway for numerous holiday events and outings, but for small business owners, other year-end activities take center stage. The following are some steps that must be taken by business owners who handle their payroll functions in-house: Have employees confirm their address and Social Security numbers. Use the Social Security Administration’s Social Security Number […]