Weekly Tax Brief

Take advantage of the gift tax exclusion rules

Details: Published: 14 October 2019 14 October 2019

As we head toward gift-giving season, you may be considering giving cash or securities to your loved ones. Taxpayers can transfer amounts free of gift taxes to their children or others each year through the use of the annual federal gift tax exclusion. Contact us with questions.

Watch out for tax-related scams

Details: Published: 11 October 2019 11 October 2019

Victims of tax-related scams can be contacted through regular mail, phone calls and email. If you receive a text, letter, email or phone call purporting to be from the IRS, keep in mind that the tax agency never calls taxpayers demanding immediate payment using a specific method of payment (such as a wire transfer or prepaid debit card). The IRS generally mails bills or notices to taxpayers and gives them time to respond with questions or appeals. The tax agency also doesn’t threaten taxpayers with arrest. In addition, the IRS doesn’t initiate contact by email, text message or social media channels to request information. Contact us if you have questions about a letter, email or call from the IRS.

Uncle Sam may provide relief from college costs on your tax return

Details: Published: 07 October 2019 07 October 2019

We all know college is expensive. Fortunately, there are two sizable federal tax credits for higher education costs that you may be able to claim. The American Opportunity credit generally provides the biggest benefit to most taxpayers. It offers a maximum benefit of $2,500. But it phases out based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). For 2019, the MAGI phaseout ranges are between $80,000 and $90,000 for single taxpayers, and between $160,000 and $180,000 for married joint filers. There’s also the Lifetime Learning credit, which equals 20% of qualified education expenses for up to $2,000 per tax return. There are requirements to qualify for both credits. Contact us for more information.

2019 Q4 tax calendar: Key deadlines for businesses and other employers

Details: Published: 04 October 2019 04 October 2019

Here are a few key tax-related deadlines for businesses and other employers during Quarter 4 of 2019. Contact us for more about the filing requirements and to ensure you’re meeting all applicable deadlines.

How to treat your business website costs for tax purposes

Details: Published: 30 September 2019 30 September 2019

Most businesses have a website. But determining the proper tax treatment for the costs involved in developing a website isn’t easy. The IRS hasn’t yet released official guidance, so you must apply existing guidance that’s available on other costs to the issue of website development costs. The exact treatment of website design costs depends on whether they’re software or hardware and whether they’re part of a start-up business. If you hire third parties to set up and run your website, payments are currently deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses. Contact us if you have questions or want more information about planning for website costs.

Getting a divorce? There are tax issues you need to understand

Details: Published: 23 September 2019 23 September 2019

In addition to the difficult personal issues that divorce entails, several tax concerns need to be addressed to ensure that taxes are kept to a minimum and that important tax-related decisions are properly made. For example, if you sell your personal residence or one spouse remains living there while the other moves out, you’ll want to make sure you’ll be able to avoid tax on up to $500,000 of gain. You also must decide how to file your tax return for this year (single, married filing jointly, married filing separately or head of household). There are several other issues you may have to deal with. We can help you work through all of the financial issues involved in divorce.

Getting a divorce? There are tax issues you need to understand

Details: Published: 23 September 2019 23 September 2019

Expenses that teachers can and can’t deduct on their tax returns

Details: Published: 03 September 2019 03 September 2019

As teachers head back to school, they often pay expenses for which they don’t receive reimbursement. Fortunately, they may be able to deduct some of them on their tax returns. You don’t have to itemize your deductions to claim this “above-the-line” tax break.

What to do if your business receives a “no-match” letter

Details: Published: 30 August 2019 30 August 2019

In recent months, many businesses and employers have received “no-match” letters from the Social Security Administration (SSA). These letters alert employers if employees’ names and Social Security numbers (SSNs) don’t match the data reported on W-2 forms, which are given to employees and filed with the IRS. If you receive a no-match letter, check to see if your information matches the name and SSN on the employee’s Social Security card. If the information matches, ask him or her to check with the local Social Security office to resolve the issue.

Taking distributions from your traditional IRA

Details: Published: 26 August 2019 26 August 2019

If you’re like many people, you’ve worked hard to accumulate a large nest egg in your traditional IRA (or a SEP-IRA). It’s critical to carefully plan for withdrawals. For example, if you need to take money out of your traditional IRA before age 59-1/2, the distribution will generally be taxable. In addition, distributions before age 59-1/2 may be subject to a 10% penalty tax. (However, several exceptions may allow you to avoid the penalty tax but not the regular income tax.) And once you reach age 70-1/2, distributions from a traditional IRA must begin. If you don’t withdraw the minimum amount each year, you may have to pay a 50% penalty tax on what should have been taken but wasn’t.

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