At some point you may be on the receiving end of a debt collectors call. It could happen any time you are behind on paying your bills or when there is an error in billing. In the U.S. there are strict rules in place that forbid any kind of harassment. If you know your rights, [...]
There are nearly 1,000 different tax forms used by the IRS to report tax obligations. It's no wonder the IRS faces thousands of tax returns with errors each year. Here are some of the most common tax mistakes: Wrong names and Social Security numbers. Taxpayers regularly make common tax mistakes by entering incorrect information for their [...]
It's hard enough to watch your child leave for college. Now you also have to say goodbye to the college tuition tax deduction for tuition and fees. Congress decided not to extend this $4,000 deduction for 2017, leaving many parents worried that college will now be more expensive. But it isn't as bad as it [...]
Renting an apartment, condo or house; leasing a piece of equipment; renting business property; leasing a car: all involve the common practice of renting something that is owned by someone else. To make sure you always have a good experience, here are some hints on how to be a smarter renter Read all agreements. Read [...]
Imagine your college-aged son has an accident while away at school and ends up in the emergency room. When you call the hospital, you are medical denied information about his care because you do not have the proper forms signed. HIPAA not so hip Due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), you [...]
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a great way to pay for medical expenses, and since unused funds roll over from year to year, the account can also provide a source of retirement funds in addition to other plans like 401(k)s or IRAs. But be aware that HSAs have significant disadvantages when compared to other retirement [...]
A marriage is worth celebrating, but bringing up the marriage penalty may bring down the celebration. The marriage penalty occurs in the tax code when you pay more tax as a married couple than you would as two single filers making the same amount of money. This occurs throughout the federal tax code. The following [...]
When it comes to paying bills, many people can’t imagine returning to paying and sending bills via the U.S. Postal Service. But, the “turn it on and forget it” nature of automatic payments can create zombie payers who no longer challenge or review the details and amounts of bills. Here are some ideas to keep [...]
Yes, that’s correct, there are some forms of income you receive that may be tax-free. Here is a list of ten common sources of tax-free income. Gifts. Gifts you receive are not taxable income to you. In fact, they are not subject to gift tax to the person giving the gift as long as the [...]
With U.S. equity valuations near historically high levels, now might be an opportune time to take advantage of the tax benefits of donating long-term appreciated stock to a qualified charity. Donate stock you've held for at least one year provides greater tax benefits than writing a check to your favorite cause. Higher deduction Your charitable [...]
