Oct. 15 is the deadline for individual taxpayers who extended their 2019 tax returns. If you’re finally done filing last year’s return, you might wonder: Which tax records can you toss once you’re done? Now is a good time to go through old tax records and see what you can discard. A common rule of […]
Author Archive | James B. Reynolds
There May be Relief from Tax Liability for “Innocent Spouses”
If you file a joint tax return with your spouse, you should be aware of your individual liability. And if you’re getting divorced, you should know that there may be relief available if the IRS comes after you for certain past-due taxes. When a married couple files jointly, each spouse is liable for the tax […]
Why it’s important to plan for income taxes as part of your estate plan
The current federal estate tax exemption ($11.58 million in 2020) means that many people aren’t concerned with estate tax. But they should still plan to save income taxes. For example, be careful making lifetime transfers of appreciated assets. It’s true that the assets and future appreciation generated by them are removed from your estate. But […]
Can Investors Who Manage Their Own Portfolios Deduct Related Expenses?
In some cases, investors have related expenses, such as the cost of subscriptions to financial periodicals and clerical expenses. Are they tax deductible? Currently, they’re only deductible if you can show that your investment activities rise to the level of carrying on a trade or business. In that case, you may be considered a trader, […]
Tax implications of working from home and collecting unemployment
COVID-19 has resulted in many changes in our lives, and some of them have tax implications. For example, many employers have required employees to work from home. Unfortunately, employee business expense deductions (including expenses to maintain a home office) are disallowed from 2018 through 2025. However, if you’re self-employed and work from a home office, […]
Homebuyers: Can you Deduct Seller-paid Points?
Despite the pandemic, the National Association of Realtors reports that existing home sales and prices are up nationwide, compared with last year. If you’re a homebuyer, you may wonder if you can deduct mortgage points paid on your behalf by the seller. Yes, you can, subject to some important limitations. For example, the rule allowing […]
Back-to-School Tax Breaks on the Books
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, students are going back to school this fall, either remotely, in-person or a combination. In any event, parents may be eligible for certain tax breaks to help defray the cost of education. For example, with the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), you can save a maximum of $2,500 for each full-time […]
Will You Have to Pay Tax on Your Social Security Benefits?
If you’re getting close to retirement, you may wonder: Will my Social Security benefits be taxed? It depends on your other income. If you’re taxed, up to 85% of your payments could be hit with federal income tax. If you file a joint tax return and your “provisional income,” plus half your Social Security benefits, […]
What Happens if an Individual Can’t Pay Taxes
While you probably don’t have a problem paying your tax bills, you may wonder: What happens if you (or someone you know) can’t pay taxes on time? It’s important to file a properly prepared return even if full payment can’t be made. Include as large a partial payment as you can. You may be able […]
More Parents May Owe “Nanny Tax” This Year Due to COVID-19
Due to COVID-19, many parents are hiring nannies and babysitters because daycare centers and summer camps have closed. This may result in federal “nanny tax” obligations. You may be liable for federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare (FICA) tax and federal unemployment tax. (Even if you don’t employ a nanny, you may owe nanny […]
