When it comes to funding education expenses with a 529 plan, both prepaid tuition plans and savings plans offer attractive benefits. Which one is right for you?
Author Archive | James B. Reynolds
Charitable IRA rollovers may be especially beneficial in 2018
With the TCJA’s near doubling of the standard deduction, making a direct charitable IRA rollover can be particularly powerful for taxpayers old enough to be eligible.
Tax planning for investments gets more complicated
With more tax rate thresholds to keep in mind, year-end tax planning for investments is especially complicated in 2018. Find out what your rate might be for short- and long-term capital gains, dividends (whether qualified or not) and the NIIT
The tax deduction ins and outs of donating artwork to charity
Donating artwork is a great way to share enjoyment of the work with others. But to maximize the tax benefit, too, you must plan your gift carefully and follow all the rules.
You might save tax if your vacation home qualifies as a rental property
For owners of vacation homes, now is a good time to review year-to-date rental vs. personal use of the home. Adjusting use between now and year end might be beneficial. Here’s why.
Do you need to make an estimated tax payment by September 17?
Two of the 2018 estimated tax payment deadlines for individuals have already passed; the third one is coming up very soon. Here’s how to determine if you need to make a payment.
Back-to-school time means a tax break for teachers
When elementary and secondary school teachers are setting up their classrooms for the new school year, it’s common for them to pay for some classroom supplies out of pocket. A special tax break allows these educators to take an above-the-line deduction for up to $250 of these expenses. The deduction is especially important now due […]
Play your tax cards right with gambling wins and losses
If you gamble, play your tax cards right with your wins and losses. Changes under the TCJA could have an impact. You must report 100% of your winnings as taxable income, but you might pay a lower rate on them because of TCJA rate reductions. Gambling losses are still allowed as an itemized deduction (up […]
Keep an eye out for extenders legislation
The pieces of tax legislation garnering the most attention these days are the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law last December and the possible “Tax Reform 2.0” that Congress might pass this fall. But what happens with “extenders” legislation is also important. It affects whether the above-the-line deduction for tuition and related expenses, […]
The TCJA prohibits undoing 2018 Roth IRA conversions, but 2017 conversions are still eligible
Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA can provide tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals in retirement. But conversions are subject to income tax. Before the TCJA, if you discovered a conversion would be too costly tax-wise, you could undo it using a “recharacterization” and avoid the tax hit. Effective with 2018 conversions, the TCJA […]
