Everybody wants to pay as little in taxes as possible. Most people use software or hire an accountant to help them find all the deductions they can subtract from their taxable income and all the credits they can subtract from their final bill. But most tax breaks require you, the taxpayer, to plan ahead. Even […]
President Biden’s proposed infrastructure plan does not explicitly raise estate taxes. Instead, it ends the step-up in basis that wealthy taxpayers often use to minimize the tax on inherited wealth. The step-up in basis allows heirs to calculate their capital gains rate using the fair market value of assets at the time they are transferred […]
Payday is coming early this year for an estimated 39 million households. The IRS recently announced they will begin issuing payments in advance for child tax credit (CTC) starting July 15th. In general, taxpayers receive the child tax credit when they file a tax return. The amount received is based on the number of qualifying […]
Countries around the globe are trying to stem the so-called “rush to the bottom,” which has multinational companies moving their corporate headquarters so they can lower their tax bills. Countries like Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Ireland are some popular destinations for corporations looking for tax havens. The result of this tax strategy is a […]
You may have heard credit shelter trusts called by their other monikers: bypass, family or exemption trusts. Assets placed in a CST are generally held apart from the estate of the surviving spouse — they pass tax-free to the remaining beneficiaries at the death of the surviving spouse. But the CST can benefit the surviving […]
The filing date for the federal income tax has been postponed until May 17. The IRS has announced that individual taxpayers can also postpone federal income tax payments for the 2020 tax year due on April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This postponement applies to […]
This has been a difficult year for everyone, and the last thing anyone wants to think about is owing an unexpected tax penalty. Unfortunately, self-employed individuals and small-business owners who are required to pay estimated taxes may find themselves in that position if they did not pay their estimated tax for 2020. The IRS requires […]
Have you witnessed your mom, dad or grandparents having trouble managing money on a day-to-day basis? Are you worried that they may become vulnerable to scams or identity theft? What would happen if you had to suddenly take over management of your parent’s finances—paying bills and managing their money? There’s not only the day-to-day management […]
A deferred annuity is a contract between you and a life insurance company. Funds are exchanged for a promise to provide a competitive rate of interest with a minimum interest rate guarantee while guaranteeing the principal investment as well. The benefit payments don’t start until perhaps 10 or 20 years down the road. The longer […]
If you run a business, you need to know about the following forms. Form W-2: Employers must complete a Form W-2 for each employee. These wages and taxes are reported annually on the W-2. However, W-2s aren’t filed directly with the IRS. Instead, employers file W-2s with the Social Security Administration (typically by Jan. 31), […]