If you are a non-spouse beneficiary of an IRA, the IRS has very specific rules as to how the IRA must be treated to avoid immediate taxation. Tax planning is a must as once mistakes have been made, they cannot be undone, which could result in loosing thousands of dollars to taxes. For more information on how an inherited IRA should be treated, read this C.P.A. Insight.
It is no surprise that investors are worried about inflation in the current economic environment, as many of the moves by the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve could lead to above average inflation if left in place too long. For information on how to protect your portfolio against the prospects of future inflation, read this Financial Tip of the Week.
Remember your childhood when you traded one baseball card for another? That was OK, but if you traded your bicycle for a baseball card there were consequences? This experience is similar to how the IRS treats like-kind exchanges, except now your trade is brokered by lawyers, C.P.A.s and intermediaries. For more information on Section 1031 like-kind exchanges, read this C.P.A. Insight.
If you have a complex financial life, or if you are unsure of your ability to recognize a good investment, you should seek the advice of a financial adviser. A financial adviser should look at your whole financial picture taking into account your taxes, insurance and estate plans. For more information on when you should seek an adviser’s help, read this Financial Strategy.
With so many retirement account balances down, the President passed the Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008. This Recovery Act makes it allowable for taxpayers to forego taking a Required Minimum Distribution for 2009. For detailed information on which taxpayers this affects and who it benefits, read this C.P.A. Insight.
The IRS wants you to pay your share of taxes as you earn your money. For individuals whose total tax obligation is more than $1,000, they must pay at least 90% of their taxes to avoid possible penalties and interest. To learn how to pay this obligation through withholding or estimated payments, read this C.P.A. Insight.
Gifting is a way to reduce your estate by passing on property to others while you are still alive. Individuals are allowed to gift up to $13,000 in property to an individual per year. You may make as many $13,000 annual gifts as you wish to any number of individuals, without being required to file a gift tax return. For more information on the basics of gifting, read this Financial Strategy.
If you used your credit card to pay your federal individual income taxes, your credit card company likely charged you a fee close to 2.5% of your total payment. The good news is that the IRS has announced this convenience fee is deductible. For more information on how to deduct these fees, read this C.P.A. Insight.
If your loved ones’ financial situation would be severely impacted if you were to die, chances are you need some life insurance. Life insurance can also be used to cover short-term expenses such as funeral arrangements, taxes and debts. For more information on using life insurance as part of your estate plan, read this Insurance Know-How.
If you have had the unfortunate experience of watching one of your securities investments plummet to worthlessness, you may be eligible for a tax deduction. However, the IRS has a strict definition of "worthless." For more information on what qualifies a stock to be worthless and how a taxpayer can take advantage of a loss of a stock that has a miniscule amount of value, read this C.P.A. Insight.