There is a lot of confusion about home equity loans following the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) last year. The act changed the rules on whether the interest on these loans is deductible. So is it? The short answer: Not unless you’ve...
If you’ve ever had to care for a sick, elderly or disabled person, you know it can be difficult financially as well as emotionally. A recent study found that many caregivers are forced to make financial sacrifices, including delaying retirement, in order to help their...
It seems like there’s a tax statute that touches on nearly every aspect of our lives. But that’s not all. Tax laws also include the lives of our furry friends. That’s right, even your pets can show up in your tax return in surprising ways. Your...
Only about a third of Americans file income tax returns using itemized deductions. Unfortunately many of those who don't itemize are overpaying their taxes. Don't wait until tax time to figure out if itemizing your deductions yields a lower tax bill. Start now to review...
Volcanoes, earthquakes, and sonic booms. Fires, floods, and storms. Terrorism, vandalism, and car accidents. All of these fall under the U.S. tax code definition of “Casualty Losses,” and your losses due to these events may be tax-deductible. Tax Code Definition According to the IRS, a casualty loss...
Every industry and profession has common terms that are used so often those of us in the business often forget that most people do not have the depth of understanding that a person working within the tax code might have. One of these areas is...
The tax code is about 75,000 pages long, so it’s not surprising there are many overlooked money-saving deductions hidden within it. Check out this list of commonly overlooked deductions. You might wind up with a bigger refund than you expected. State sales tax alternative You can choose...
November and December seem to be the months we are rained upon with charitable organization solicitations. Some of the groups, such as the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, United Way, and the American Cancer Society are household names. Others are less known. Here are...
A common misconception in tax filing has been that if you use the Standard Deduction versus itemizing your deductions you have few additional benefits available to reduce your tax bill. This is often not the case. Standard or Itemize? Every taxpayer can take the Standard Deduction to...
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) credit was originally established in 1975 to give low and medium income taxpayers a break on their Social Security taxes while providing an incentive to work. Unfortunately, the EITC is often the subject of missed opportunity as the IRS...
