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Author Archive | James B. Reynolds

Can taxpayers who manage their own investment portfolios deduct related expenses? It depends

Do you have significant investment-related expenses, including subscription costs and home office expenses? Under current tax law, these expenses aren’t deductible through 2025 if they’re considered investment expenses for the production of income. But they’re deductible if they’re considered trade or business expenses. The U.S. Tax Court has developed a 2-part test that must be […]

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IRS Audits May be Increasing so be Prepared

The IRS just released audit statistics for the 2020 fiscal year and fewer taxpayers had their returns examined compared with prior years. Overall, just 0.5% of individual returns were audited. Historically, this is very low. However, even though a small percentage of returns are being audited these days, that will be little consolation if yours […]

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Tax-favored Ways to Build Up a College Fund

If you’re a parent with a college-bound child, you may want to save with tax-favored vehicles. For example, if used to finance college, eligible families don’t have to report the interest on Series EE U.S. savings bonds for federal tax purposes until the bonds are cashed in. And interest on “qualified” Series EE (and Series […]

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Retiring Soon? 4 Tax Issues You May Face

If you’re getting ready to retire, you’ll soon experience changes that may have tax implications. For example, if you sell your principal residence to downsize and you have a gain from the sale, you may be able to exclude up to $250,000 of the gain from your income ($500,000 if filing jointly). You may have […]

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Plan ahead for the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax

High-income taxpayers face a 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT) that’s imposed in addition to regular income tax. The NIIT applies only if modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeds: $250,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly and surviving spouses; $125,000 for married taxpayers filing separately; and $200,000 for unmarried taxpayers and heads of household. The amount […]

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