Let’s say you own highly appreciated land that’s now ripe for development. If you subdivide it, develop the resulting parcels and sell them off for a hefty profit, it could trigger a large tax bill. In this scenario, the tax rules generally treat you as a real estate dealer. That means your entire profit — including […]
These laws can complicate things, as beneficiaries might move at any time. Bear in mind, too, that states may have broad definitions for the term “beneficiary” in this context. They could ensnare not only mandatory beneficiaries but also discretionary or contingent remainder beneficiaries living there. However, in 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow […]
If you’re age 50 or older, you can probably make extra “catch-up” contributions to your tax-favored retirement account(s). It is worth the trouble? Yes! Here are the rules of the road. The deal with IRAs Eligible taxpayers can make extra catch-up contributions of up to $1,000 annually to a traditional or Roth IRA. If you’ll […]
Once a business is up and running, one fundamental aspect of operations that’s easy to take for granted is billing. Often, a system of various processes is put in place and leadership might consider occasional billing mistakes to be part of the “cost of doing business.” However, to keep your company financially fit, it’s imperative to […]
If you’re planning your estate, or you’ve recently inherited assets, you may be unsure of the “cost” (or “basis”) for tax purposes. How do the rules work? Under the current fair market value basis rules (also known as the “step-up and step-down” rules), an heir receives a basis in inherited property equal to its date-of-death […]
Many retirees have seen their social security benefits increase in 2023 due to a cost-of-living adjustment that was higher than in the past years. Further increases are expected for 2024. While more benefits are welcome, they could mean more income taxes on those benefits for some recipients. The Social Security Administration (SSA) estimates that more […]
“Thousands of people have lost millions of dollars and their personal information to tax scams,” according to the IRS. The scams may come in through email, text messages, telephone calls or regular mail. Criminals regularly target both individuals and businesses and often prey on the elderly. Important: The IRS will never contact you by email, […]
If you own a successful small business with no employees, you might be ready to set up a retirement plan. Now a 401(k) might seem way out of your reach — only bigger companies can manage one of those, right? Not necessarily. Two ways to contribute With a solo 401(k), the self-employed can make large […]
Should you transfer wealth during your lifetime or transfer it to heirs after your death? Answering this question can be complicated because many factors are involved. For example, you might want to take advantage of the inflation-adjusted $12.06-million gift and estate tax exemption now, since the exemption amount is scheduled to be cut approximately in […]
If you own or manage a business with employees, there’s a harsh tax penalty that you could be at risk for paying personally. The Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (TFRP) applies to Social Security and income taxes that are withheld by a business from its employees’ wages. Sweeping penalty The TFRP is dangerous because it applies […]









