Tax Planning

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Summertime can mean hiring time for many types of businesses. With legions of working-age kids and college students out of school, and some spouses of business owners looking for part-time or seasonal work, companies may have a much deeper hiring pool to dive into this time of year. If you’re considering hiring your children or spouse, […]

If you’re age 65 and older and have basic Medicare insurance, you may need to pay additional premiums to get the level of coverage you want. The premiums can be costly, especially for married couples with both spouses paying them. But there may be an advantage: You may qualify for a tax break for paying […]

High-income taxpayers face a regular income tax rate of 35% or 37%. And they may also have to pay a 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT) that’s imposed in addition to regular income tax. Fortunately, there are some ways you may be able to reduce its impact. Affected taxpayers The NIIT applies to you only […]

If you’re looking to save for your child’s or grandchild’s education, you may have several options, including 529 plans, Coverdell education savings accounts (ESAs) and IRAs. But one of the best ways to invest for college is to open a custodial account under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) or the Uniform Transfers to […]

If you’re claiming deductions for business meals or auto expenses, expect the IRS to closely review them. In some cases, taxpayers have incomplete documentation or try to create records months (or years) later. In doing so, they fail to meet the strict substantiation requirements set forth under tax law. Tax auditors are adept at rooting […]

In recent years, many workers have become engaged in the “gig” economy. You may think of gig workers as those who deliver take-out restaurant meals, walk dogs and drive for ride-hailing services. But so-called gig work seems to be expanding. Today, some nurses have become gig workers and writers in Hollywood who recently went on […]