Purchasing a home is an expensive proposition that leaves many would-be buyers feeling cash-strapped. If that’s you, you might be thinking about taking some money out of your traditional IRA to help fund the purchase. But should you? After all, a 10% penalty normally applies to IRA withdrawals before age 59 1/2. The good news is that there’s an exception to the penalty for certain home purchases, subject to a lifetime limit of $10,000.
A Tax Break for Educators
Teachers who are getting ready for a new school year often pay for some of their classroom supplies out-of-pocket. They may be able to get some of that cost back by taking advantage of a special tax break for educators.
Get a Jump on Tax Planning
Summer is a good time for some tax planning that could lower your 2024 tax bill. Since the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which increased the standard deduction, fewer people benefit from itemizing deductions. You can use this IRS Interactive Tax Assistant to find your 2024 standard deduction.
How to Keep Control Over Inventory
Many businesses need to have some inventory available. However, having too much inventory is expensive, not just to purchase but also to store, safeguard, and insure. So, keeping your inventory as lean as possible is critical.
How to Deduct Business Travel
Before traveling for business, it’s important to know what’s tax deductible. Through 2025, employees aren’t permitted to deduct unreimbursed business expenses, including travel expenses, but self-employed people may deduct business travel expenses on Schedule C. Businesses may deduct employees’ travel expenses if they provide advances or reimbursements to employees or pay the expenses directly.