Have you inherited assets or are you planning your estate? You may not understand how tax “basis” works. Under the tax code “step-up” rules, an heir receives a basis in inherited property equal to its date-of-death value. For example, if your grandfather paid $500 for shares of an oil stock in 1940 and it’s worth […]
Author Archive | James B. Reynolds
Paperwork you can toss after filing your tax return
Once you file your 2022 tax return, you may wonder what tax papers you can throw away. You may have to produce records if the IRS audits your return. It’s a good idea to keep the actual returns indefinitely. But what about supporting records such as receipts and canceled checks? In general, except in cases […]
The Tax Rules for Donating Artwork to Charity
If you’re an art collector, you may wonder about the tax breaks available for donating a work of art to charity. Several different tax rules may come into play. Your deduction for a charitable contribution of art is subject to be reduced if the charity’s use of it is unrelated to the purpose or function […]
Some taxpayers qualify for more favorable “head of household” tax filing status
When preparing your tax return, we’ll check one of the following statuses: Single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household (HOH) or qualifying widow(er). Filing as HOH is more favorable than filing as single. For example, the 2023 HOH standard deduction is $20,800 while it’s $13,850 for singles. To be eligible, you must […]
Two important tax deadlines are coming up — and they don’t involve filing your 2022 tax return
April 18 is the deadline for filing your 2022 tax return. But a couple other tax deadlines are coming up and they’re important for certain taxpayers: 1) April 1 is the last day to begin receiving required minimum distributions (RMDs) from IRAs, 401(k)s and similar workplace plans for taxpayers who turned 72 during 2022. 2) […]
The 2022 gift tax return deadline is coming up soon
Did you make large gifts to your children, grandchildren or other heirs last year? If so, it’s important to determine whether you’re required to file a gift tax return by April 18 (Oct. 16 if you file for an extension). The annual gift tax exclusion has increased in 2023 to $17,000 but was $16,000 for […]
Claiming losses on depreciated or worthless stock
Have you bought stock that later became worthless? At least you can claim a deduction on your tax return. You can claim a capital loss equal to your basis in the stock, which is generally what you paid for it. The stock is treated as if it was sold on the last day of the […]
Awarded money in a lawsuit or settlement? It’s only tax-free in certain circumstances
You generally must pay federal tax on all income you receive but there are some exceptions. For example, compensatory awards and judgments for “personal physical injuries or physical sickness” are free from federal income tax under the tax code. This includes amounts received in a lawsuit or a settlement and in a lump sum or […]
There still may be time to make an IRA contribution for last year
If you’re getting ready to file your 2022 tax return, and your tax bill is higher than you’d like, there might still be an opportunity to lower it. If you qualify, you can make a deductible contribution to a traditional IRA right up until this year’s April 18 filing deadline and benefit from the tax […]
Child Tax Credit The rules keep changing but it’s still valuable
Over the years, the Child Tax Credit (CTC) rules have changed significantly. For 2022 and 2023, the CTC applies to taxpayers with children under the age of 17 (who meet certain other requirements). The CTC is currently $2,000 for each qualifying child. A $500 credit for other dependents is available for dependents other than qualifying […]
