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It’s not unusual for a partner to incur expenses related to the partnership’s business. This is especially likely to occur in service partnerships such as an architecture or law firm. For example, partners in service partnerships may incur entertainment expenses in developing new client relationships. They may also incur expenses for: transportation to get to and from client meetings, professional publications, continuing education and home office. What’s the tax treatment...
Read moreOne of the most effective ways to provide for your children in your estate plan is to set up trusts for them. Trusts offer many benefits, including the flexibility of when and how to make distributions, protection of assets from beneficiaries’ creditors and protection of assets from being divided as part of a beneficiary’s divorce. They may also help protect the funds from depletion by a beneficiary with a substance...
Read moreVacation homes in upscale areas may be worth way more than owners paid for them. That’s great, but what about taxes? Here are three scenarios to illustrate the federal income tax issues you face when selling an appreciated vacation home. Scenario 1: You’ve never used the home as your primary residence In this case, the home sale gain exclusion tax break (up to $250,000 or $500,000 for a married couple)...
Read moreIt’s not uncommon for people to address the fact that they may one day become physically incapacitated and unable to make critical medical decisions themselves. They do this by including health care powers of attorney or advance directives in their estate plans. But what if your family has history of mental illness? Is there a way to memorialize your wishes in the event a psychiatric episode renders you unable to...
Read moreEstate planning has a language all its own. While you may be familiar with common terms such as a will, a trust or an executor, you may not be as certain about others. For quick reference, here’s a glossary of key terms you may come across when planning your estate: Administrator. An individual or fiduciary appointed by a court to manage an estate if no executor or personal representative has...
Read moreThe tax filing deadline for 2023 tax returns is April 15 this year. If you need more time, you can file for an extension until October 15. In either case, once your 2023 tax return has been successfully filed with the IRS, there may still be some issues to bear in mind. Here are three considerations. 1. Waiting for your refund? You can check on it The IRS has an...
Read moreA living will could provide peace of mind for both you and your family should the unthinkable occur. Yet many people neglect to draft this important estate planning document. Will vs. living will It’s not uncommon for a living will to be confused with a last will and testament, but they aren’t the same thing. These separate documents serve different, but vital, purposes. A last will and testament is what...
Read more6 major payroll taxes every employer should keep an eye on Employers must never lose sight of their payroll tax responsibilities, whether federal, state or local. Here’s a quick review of the six major payroll taxes.
Read moreIf your business doesn’t already have a retirement plan, it might be a good time to take the plunge. Current retirement plan rules allow for significant tax-deductible contributions. For example, if you’re self-employed and set up a SEP-IRA, you can contribute up to 20% of your self-employment earnings, with a maximum contribution of $69,000 for 2024 (up from $66,000 for 2023). If you’re employed by your own corporation, up to...
Read moreIf your business doesn’t already have a retirement plan, it might be a good time to take the plunge. Current retirement plan rules allow for significant tax-deductible contributions. For example, if you’re self-employed and set up a SEP-IRA, you can contribute up to 20% of your self-employment earnings, with a maximum contribution of $69,000 for 2024 (up from $66,000 for 2023). If you’re employed by your own corporation, up to...
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