Resources & Tips

For the last several years, taxpayers have been allowed to take an itemized deduction for state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes. Although this break hasn’t yet been extended to 2014, it is available for 2013. It can be valuable if you reside in a... Continue Reading

In estate planning, how someone owns assets and arranges to transfer them after death can make a big difference to his or her heirs. This article looks at three options: joint tenancy with the right of survivorship; an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT); and a credit shelter... Continue Reading

Recently released IRS final regulations for the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) employer shared-responsibility provision provide some short-term relief for midsize and large employers. Under the ACA, the shared-responsibility provision (commonly referred to as “play-or-pay”)... Continue Reading

To support a charitable deduction, you need to comply with IRS substantiation requirements. This generally includes obtaining a contemporaneous written acknowledgment from the charity stating the amount of the donation, whether you received any goods or services in consideration... Continue Reading

If your use of a home office is for your employer’s benefit or because you’re self employed, you may be able to deduct a portion of your mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance, utilities and certain other expenses, as well as the depreciation allocable to the office space.... Continue Reading

With the well-publicized security breach at major retailer Target recently, identity theft is likely on your mind. And stolen credit isn’t your only risk. In an increasingly common scam, identity thieves use victims’ personal information to file fraudulent tax returns... Continue Reading

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), beginning in 2013, taxpayers with FICA wages over $200,000 per year ($250,000 for joint filers and $125,000 for married filing separately) had to pay an additional 0.9% Medicare tax on the excess earnings. Unlike regular Medicare taxes, the... Continue Reading

Now that we’re in the new year, it’s time for an estate plan checkup. Why? First, various exclusion, exemption and deduction amounts are adjusted for inflation and can change from year to year, so it’s a good idea to see if they warrant any updates to your estate plan: 2013 2014... Continue Reading

Many valuable tax breaks expired at the end of 2013. But Congress probably will revive at least some of them, likely retroactively to Jan. 1, 2014. The question is exactly which breaks they’ll extend and when they’ll pass the necessary legislation to do so. Here are several that... Continue Reading