December 19, 2019 / by Brett Hess / Newsletter, Tax
The number of people engaged in the “gig” or sharing economy has grown in recent years, according to a 2019 IRS report. And there are tax consequences for the people who perform these jobs, such as providing car rides, renting spare bedrooms, delivering food, walking dogs or providing other services. Basically, if you receive income […]
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Can you deduct charitable gifts on your tax return?
January 21, 2020 / by Brett Hess / Small Business, Tax
Many taxpayers make charitable gifts — because they’re generous and they want to save money on their federal tax bills. But with the tax law changes that went into effect a couple years ago and the many rules that apply to charitable deductions, you may no longer get a tax break for your generosity. Are […]
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4 new law changes that may affect your retirement plan
January 7, 2020 / by Brett Hess / Newsletter, Tax
If you save for retirement with an IRA or other plan, you’ll be interested to know that Congress recently passed a law that makes significant modifications to these accounts. The SECURE Act, which was signed into law on December 20, 2019, made these four changes. Change #1: The maximum age for making traditional IRA contributions […]
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Do you have a side gig? Make sure you understand your tax obligations
December 19, 2019 / by Brett Hess / Newsletter, Tax
The number of people engaged in the “gig” or sharing economy has grown in recent years, according to a 2019 IRS report. And there are tax consequences for the people who perform these jobs, such as providing car rides, renting spare bedrooms, delivering food, walking dogs or providing other services. Basically, if you receive income […]
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Small businesses: Stay clear of a severe payroll tax penalty
November 6, 2019 / by Brett Hess / Newsletter, Tax
One of the most laborious tasks for small businesses is managing payroll. But it’s critical that you not only withhold the right amount of taxes from employees’ paychecks but also that you pay them over to the federal government on time. If you willfully fail to do so, you could personally be hit with the […]
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When is tax due on Series EE savings bonds?
October 16, 2019 / by Brett Hess / Tax
You may have Series EE savings bonds that were bought many years ago. Perhaps you store them in a file cabinet or safe deposit box and rarely think about them. You may wonder how the interest you earn on EE bonds is taxed. And if they reach final maturity, you may need to take action […]
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Take advantage of the gift tax exclusion rules
October 16, 2019 / by Brett Hess / Newsletter, Tax
As we head toward the gift-giving season, you may be considering giving gifts of cash or securities to your loved ones. Taxpayers can transfer substantial amounts free of gift taxes to their children and others each year through the use of the annual federal gift tax exclusion. The amount is adjusted for inflation annually. For […]
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Capital gains tax can take a bite out of your investments.
October 16, 2019 / by Brett Hess / Newsletter, Tax
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Uncle Sam may provide relief from college costs on your tax return
October 14, 2019 / by Brett Hess / Newsletter, Tax
We all know the cost of college is expensive. The latest figures from the College Board show that the average annual cost of tuition and fees was $10,230 for in-state students at public four-year universities — and $35,830 for students at private not-for-profit four-year institutions. These amounts don’t include room and board, books, supplies, transportation […]
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2019 Q4 tax calendar: Key deadlines for businesses and other employers
September 10, 2019 / by Brett Hess / Deadlines, Tax
Here are some of the key tax-related deadlines affecting businesses and other employers during the fourth quarter of 2019. Keep in mind that this list isn’t all-inclusive, so there may be additional deadlines that apply to you. Contact us to ensure you’re meeting all applicable deadlines and to learn more about the filing requirements. October […]
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Expenses that teachers can and can’t deduct on their tax returns
August 27, 2019 / by Brett Hess / Newsletter, Tax
As teachers head back for a new school year, they often pay for various expenses for which they don’t receive reimbursement. Fortunately, they may be able to deduct them on their tax returns. However, there are limits on this special deduction, and some expenses can’t be written off. For 2019, qualifying educators can deduct […]
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