Taxes

A Strategy to Raise Your Medical Expense Deduction

With a bit of planning, you may be able to boost your itemized medical expense deduction when you file your 2024 tax return next year. Only eligible expenses exceeding 7.5% of your adjusted gross income are deductible.

It’s not an easy hurdle to clear short of a major medical disaster, which, of course, you want to avoid. But you can use a strategy called “bunching” medical expenses to exceed the 7.5% threshold.

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Have You Recently Reviewed Your Life Insurance Needs?

At one time, life insurance played a much more significant part in an estate plan than it does now. Why? Families would often use life insurance payouts to pay estate taxes. But with the federal gift and estate tax exemption at $13.61 million for 2024, far fewer families currently are affected by the estate tax.

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Russo CPA tax tips: tax break refunds

Returning an Erroneous Refund

Mistakes happen. What if you receive a refund from the IRS that you’re not entitled to? Or what if you receive one that’s more than you’re entitled to?

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A hand checking off boxes.

Report Name Changes before Filing Taxes

All names on a taxpayer’s tax return must match Social Security Administration records because a name mismatch can delay a tax refund. Here’s what you should do if anyone listed on their tax return has changed their name:

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Traveling for Business in 2024? What’s Deductible?

If you and your employees will be traveling for business this year, there are many factors to keep in mind. Under the tax law, certain requirements for out-of-town business travel within the United States must be met before you can claim a deduction. The rules apply if the business conducted reasonably requires an overnight stay.

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RUSSO CPA Tax Tips, how filing status affects your tax return 2022

There May Still Be Time to Lower Your Tax Bill

If you’re preparing to file your 2023 tax return, you may still be able to lower your tax bill – or increase your refund. If you qualify, you can make a deductible contribution to a traditional IRA right up until the original filing deadline, April 15, 2024, and see tax savings on your 2023 return.

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How to Secure a Tax Benefit with the QBI Deduction

QBI may sound like the name of a TV quiz show. But it’s actually the acronym for “qualified business income,” which can trigger a tax deduction for some small business owners or self-employed individuals. The QBI deduction was authorized by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), and it took effect in 2018.

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Tracking Down Donation Substantiation

If you’re like many Americans, your mailbox may have been filling up in recent weeks with letters from your favorite charities acknowledging your 2023 donations. But what happens if you haven’t received such a letter for a contribution? Can you still claim a deduction on your 2023 income tax return for the gift? It depends.

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The Kids Are More Than Alright: 3 Tax Benefits of Employing Your Kids

Tax Advantages of Employing Your Kids

Do you run a small business? Got kids under 18? Now is the time to put them on the payroll. Employing your kids is a winning triple play that benefits your children, your business, and your family’s financial wellbeing. Discover the tax advantages of employing your kids, then see 4 must-follow tips if you put the kids to work!

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