In recent years, the residential real estate market has surged in many areas. That means many homes have greatly appreciated, and the $250,000 home sale gain exclusion ($500,000 for joint filers) isn’t always sufficient to protect a home sale from federal income taxes.
Use It or Lose It: Your 2024 Gift Tax Annual Exclusion
As the year winds down, you may want to combine estate planning with tax savings by taking advantage of the gift tax annual exclusion. It allows you to give cash or property up to a specified amount to an unlimited number of family members and friends each year without gift tax implications.
How Can You Build a Golden Nest Egg if You’re Self-Employed?
If you own a small business with no employees (other than your spouse) and want to set up a retirement plan, consider a solo 401(k) plan. This option is also for self-employed individuals or business owners who wish to upgrade from a SIMPLE IRA or Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan.
Should Your Company Offer Fertility Benefits?
Most businesses today understand all too well that they must craft a robust and varied benefits package to draw good job candidates and retain valued employees.
But beyond basics such as health insurance and a retirement plan, there are so many options. Well, you can add one more to the list: fertility benefits.
Why an LLC Is Perfect for Your Small to Medium Business
Choosing the right business entity is a crucial decision for any business. The entity you pick can affect your tax bill, your personal liability, and other issues. A limited liability company (LLC) is an attractive choice for many businesses. It can be structured to resemble a corporation for owner liability purposes and a partnership for federal tax purposes. This duality may provide the owners with several benefits.
Cash or Accrual Accounting: What’s Best for Tax Purposes?
Your businesses may have a choice between using the cash or accrual method of accounting for tax purposes. The cash method often provides significant tax benefits for those that qualify. However, some businesses may be better off using the accrual method. Therefore, you need to evaluate the tax accounting method for your business to ensure that it’s the most beneficial approach.
Medicare Premiums May Lead to Tax Savings
If you pay premiums for Medicare health insurance, you may be able to combine them with other qualifying expenses and claim them as an itemized deduction for medical expenses on your tax return. This includes amounts for “Medigap” insurance and Medicare Advantage plans, which cover some costs that Medicare Parts A and B don’t cover.
Extended Return? Don’t Wait—File It Before the Deadline!
If you requested an extension to file your 2023 tax return, you probably know that the extended deadline is coming up soon, on October 15. If you have the information you need, consider filing now. There’s no advantage to waiting, and last-minute filing may lead to worry.
An Employee Benefit with Possible Magnetic Power
Employers seeking to attract new recruits and retain talent should consider offering educational assistance programs to their employees. The plans aren’t new, but they temporarily offer greater flexibility in how they work.
Strategic Planning for Businesses Needs to Include Innovation
When the leadership teams of many companies engage in strategic planning, they may be inclined to play it safe. And that’s understandable; sticking to strengths and slow, measured growth are often safe pathways to success.