Entries by Mike

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What Is an RMD?

Required minimum distributions (RMDs) are required distributions from qualified retirement plans. RMDs are commonly associated with traditional IRAs, but they also apply to 401(k)s and SEP IRAs. The tax code does not allow taxpayers to keep funds in their qualified retirement plans indefinitely. Eventually, assets must be distributed, and taxes must be paid on those […]

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September 2017 Individual Due Date Reminders

September 1 – 2017 Fall and 2018 Tax Planning Contact this office to schedule a consultation appointment. September 11 – Report Tips to Employer If you are an employee who works for tips and received more than $20 in tips during August, you are required to report them to your employer on IRS Form 4070 […]

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Preparing for Your Child’s Future Education

Figuring out how to pay for your child’s trade school or college education can be challenging, and the earlier you create your plan and begin executing it, the greater your chances are of having the needed money set aside to pay for it.  The government provides a variety of tax incentives to help defray the […]

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Gambling and Tax Gotchas

Gambling is a recreational activity for many taxpayers, and as one might expect, the government takes a cut if you win and won’t allow you to claim a loss in excess of your winnings. In fact, there are far more tax issues related to gambling than you might expect, and they may be impacting your […]

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Tax Breaks for Military Personnel

Military service members have special obligations and take risks while performing their service to our country, which impact their tax situation. As a result, they are entitled to a number of special tax breaks. The following are the predominant tax breaks available to military personnel: Residence or Domicile – A military service member does not […]

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Taking Advantage of Tax-Free Gifting

If you are fortunate enough to have a large estate – one large enough to be subject to the estate tax upon your death – you might be considering ways to give away some of your wealth to your family and loved ones now, thereby reducing the estate tax when you pass on. Frequently, taxpayers […]

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Elusive Employee Business Expense Tax Deduction

One major difference between being an employee and being self-employed is how you deduct the expenses you incur related to your work. A self-employed individual is able to deduct expenses on his or her business schedule, while an employee is generally limited to deducting them as itemized deductions. That means self-employed individuals benefit by deducting […]

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August 2017 Individual Due Dates

August 10 – Report Tips to Employer If you are an employee who works for tips and received more than $20 in tips during July, you are required to report them to your employer on IRS Form 4070 no later than August 10. Your employer is required to withhold FICA taxes and income tax withholding […]