Though the markets have been up strongly this year, your investment portfolio could have a few lemons in it. Using the tax strategy of tax-loss harvesting, you may be able to turn those lemons into lemonade. Here are five tips: Tip #1: Separate short-term and long-term Your...
Market values of homes are skyrocketing and higher property tax bills are soon to follow. Prepare now to knock your property taxes back down to earth. What is happening Property taxes typically lag the market. In bad times, the value of your home goes down, but the...
Each of us needs to keep records that substantiate our tax return or other important life events for as long as they are needed. So what does this mean? The basic retention period. Federal tax return substantiation is generally three years from the later of the tax...
If you have not already done so, now is the time to review your tax situation and make an estimated quarterly tax payment using Form 1040-ES. The third quarter due date is now here. Due date: Wednesday, September 15th, 2021 Remember, you are required to withhold at...
Lending to friends and relatives can be tricky, and not only because of the stress it can place on your relationships. There are tax issues involved as well. If you have to lend money to someone close to you, here are some tips to do...
What follows is a true story. A story with a sad ending. But one that has a lesson for everyone. Stick with the story, with a high degree of certainty most tax surprises can be identified with a little help. The ingredients Background. Back in the 1970s, U.S....
There are a lot of positive things about getting married, but the IRS' marriage penalty isn't one of them. The marriage penalty occurs when you pay more tax as a married couple than you would as two single filers making the same amount of money....
If you work remotely in another state or are thinking about changing your residence from one state to another, you may be caught in the middle of a major state tax audit. If you keep a home in your original state or you later decide...
As your children grow older, you can easily be surprised by a larger tax bill. To help ease the possible burden, consider these tax implications as your dependent children age. A higher tax bill in your future At age 6: Loss of excess Child Tax Credit. In 2021,...
Mutual funds benefit from the long-standing belief that they allow investors to diversify their holdings without buying individual stocks. But to the unwary investor, tax surprises are abound. From a tax planning viewpoint, here are some great mutual fund tips. Most of these tips assume...
