Getting audited by the IRS is no fun. Some taxpayers are selected for random audits every year, but the chances of that happening to you are very small. You are much more likely to fall under the IRS's gaze if you make one of several common mistakes. That means your best chance of avoiding [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Your chances of being audited are probably lower than you think. A look at the latest IRS statistics for 2016 reveals some interesting and reassuring facts about the risk of an IRS audit. Audits are becoming less common. The number of individual tax returns the IRS audited fell to a 12-year low last year, to [...]
Many people choose to work into their retirement years. If this is something you’re considering, here are some tips to make sure you get the greatest benefit from your efforts. Consider delaying Social Security. You can start receiving Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but if you continue to work, it may [...]
You've spent years saving for retirement, but now it's time to plan the best way to manage your retirement savings withdrawals. Here is a potential method to help maximize your funds using a tax-advantaged strategy. First, look at Social Security and pensions. You can use these funds for daily living much the same as you [...]
You may already have big plans for spending your tax refund. Many think of this extra money in black and white terms — you either do something responsible with it or you frivolously spend every last cent of it. Here are a few suggestions for making the most of your tax refund while still having [...]
With the new administration in Washington D.C., tax changes are likely in our future, but the details of those changes are unknown. What we do know about 2017 core tax rates and inflation-adjusted figures will come in handy when you file your 2017 tax return in early 2018. Standard deduction increases. The 2017 standard deduction [...]
Tax filing season officially begins this month. Did you know due dates for certain returns have been changed? Why are the dates changing? One reason is to bring due dates into a more logical order. For example, in prior years, if you were a partner in a partnership, you may have had to extend your [...]
