Year-end Tax Tip. Avoid taxes on an #RMD with a #charitabledonation. Seniors who have a traditional 401(k) or #IRA account must take a required minimum distribution each year once they reach age 70 1/2. Those who don’t need this money for living expenses may want to consider having it sent directly to a charity as a qualified charitable distribution. “If you take it out as a qualified charitable distribution, it doesn’t increase your adjusted gross income,” says Mike Piershale, president of Piershale Financial Group in Crystal Lake, Illinois. “It can also hold down the amount of# that is taxed.”
Tag Archives: income tax
Simple Ways to Save Money #4
One of the best ways to save money is to set a goal. Start by thinking of what you might want to save for—anything from a down payment for a house to a vacation—then figure out how long it might take you to save for it.
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Year-End Tax Tip
Year-end Tax Tip. Make 401(k) and HSA contributions. People can make tax-deductible contributions to traditional IRAs up to April 15 of next year. However, the door closes on Dec. 31 for 401(k) and health savings account contributions.
I Wonder…?
You can always deduct standard business expenses, but can you deduct hidden and unusual expenses to reduce your tax burden? With imagination and proactive tax planning, the answer to that question is: “Yes you can!”
Common Sense…
IF YOU THINK YOU’RE PAYING TOO MUCH IN FEDERAL INCOME TAX, YOU PROBABLY ARE! The old paradigm was “Those who can afford the expense, hire Enrolled Agents and Tax Consultants. The new paradigm is, is that you really can’t afford not to. We seek a second opinion on legal and medical matters, but not so much in the area of income tax, the largest burden your government places upon you…Why?
Simple Ways to Save Money #3
Sometimes the hardest thing about saving money is just getting started. It can be difficult to figure out simple ways to save money and how to use your savings to pursue your financial goals.
Tip 3: Now that you’ve made a budget, create a savings category within it. Try to put away 10–15 percent of your income as savings. If your expenses are so high that you can’t save that much, it might be time to cut back. To do so, identify non-essentials that you can spend less on, such as entertainment and dining out.
Tip: Considering savings a regular expense, similar to groceries, is a great way to reinforce good savings habits.
Simple Ways to Save Money #2
Sometimes the hardest thing about saving money is just getting started. It can be difficult to figure out simple ways to save money and how to use your savings to pursue your financial goals.
Tip 2: Once you have an idea of what you spend in a month, you can begin to organize your recorded expenses into a workable budget. Your budget should outline how your expenses measure up to your income—so you can plan your spending and limit overspending. In addition to your monthly expenses, be sure to factor in expenses that occur regularly but not every month, such as car maintenance.
Simple Ways to Save Money #1
The first step to saving money is to figure out how much you spend. Keep track of all your expenses—that means every coffee, newspaper, and snack you buy. Ideally, you can account for every penny. Once you have your data, organize the numbers by categories, such as gas, groceries, and mortgage, and total each amount. Consider using your credit card or bank statements to help you with this. If you bank online, you may be able to filter your statements to easily break down your spending.
Thomas Vincent Cuomo, EA, CTC – When is a Charitable Contribution Appraisal Required?
A commonly overlooked requirement of taking a tax deduction for donating clothing and household goods to charity is the substantiation requirement, for both what is donated and the value placed on the donation. Because the IRS has encountered so much abuse in this area, it has increased the donation verification requirements over the years, and taxpayers risk losing the deduction if their donations are not correctly documented and reasonably valued.
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Thomas Vincent Cuomo, EA, CTC – Hobby or Business?
Millions of people enjoy hobbies that are also a source of income. From catering to cupcake baking, crafting homemade jewelry to glass blowing — no matter what a person’s passion, the Internal Revenue Service offers some tips on hobbies.
Taxpayers must report on their tax return the income earned from hobbies. The rules for how to report the income and expenses depend on whether the activity is a hobby or a business. There are special rules and limits for deductions taxpayers can claim for hobbies. Here are five tax tips to consider: Continue reading