Withdrawing funds from your retirement accounts must be done carefully to avoid a potential 10% early withdrawal penalty. Unfortunately, each retirement account type has different rules. Here are some tips for Roth IRAs. Roth IRA basics Roth IRA accounts differ from other IRAs in that your contributions...
There are a number of areas in the tax code that cause confusion as to the taxability of money received. Here are some of the most common areas of confusion. Unemployment compensation. Unemployment compensation is typically required to be reported as taxable income. Because of the pandemic,...
You may be considering booking stock losses due to recent market drops in order to save on your bill from Uncle Sam. Selling losers can be a great strategy when these losses can offset stock gains and up to $3,000 in excess stock losses can...
You’ve got it all planned out. Your retirement savings accounts are full, you have started receiving Social Security benefits and your pension is ready to go. Everything is planned. What could go wrong? Here are five surprises that can turn your plan on a dime. 1....
If you have not already done so, now is the time to review your tax situation and make an estimated quarterly tax payment using Form 1040-ES. The 1st AND 2nd quarter due date is now here. Due Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2020 You are required to pay, or withhold...
Every year taxpayers are hit with tax surprises that could be avoided if they just knew the rules. Here are five big ones that are easy to avoid with some simple planning. Mistake #1. Withholding too little. This results in a tax surprise when filing your income...
The kids are out of school and summer is well underway. Make sure you understand the rules regarding the tax deductibility of summer activities and related daycare expenses through the use of the Child and Dependent Care Credit. Collecting those receipts now can save plenty...
Wouldn’t it be nice to check out of the workforce early and not have to worry about having enough money for retirement? While good financial planning can help you get there, leveraging the tax code as part of your retirement plan is also a good...
Most taxpayers ignore the federal estate tax, thinking they will never be touched by it. Unfortunately, you do this at your own peril. Why? Because states often have this tax AND politicians have a habit of frequently changing the rules. The best approach for all...
With the tax filing extension giving you until July 15th to file your return, it is easy to overlook ways to avoid receiving a letter from the IRS. Here are some of the most common tax filing mistakes: Forgetting a W-2 or 1099. The IRS does an...
