Tax Tips
Tax Credits for Electric Vehicles: The Latest from the IRS
The IRS recently issued new guidance on electric vehicles. There are four ways you can potentially benefit from a federal tax credit for an EV you place in service in 2023 or later: 1. Purchase an EV, and claim the clean vehicle credit.2. Lease an EV, and benefit from...
Using Family Loans to Secure Better Home Loan Interest Rates
Here’s some information on how you can help a family member buy a home by making a loan to them while ensuring that you and the family member benefit from a tax-smart loan structure. First, with the current national average interest rates for 30-year and 15-year...
Basic Estate Planning
Previously, we discussed tax issues that arise when a financially comfortable loved one has passed away. We also covered some of the non-tax issues you will have to deal with as the executor of the estate. You need an estate plan, regardless of whether or not...
Know the $75 Rule for Business Expenses
The $75 rule applies to certain business expenses where you do not need a receipt. But we emphasize that this rule does NOT apply to all tax deductions. Many taxpayers mistakenly apply the $75 rule to all their tax deductions, which can result in a significant loss...
If I Hire My Kids, Can I Give Them Tax-Free Education Benefits?
Working at a tender age is an American tradition. If your children work in your business, consider giving them education fringe benefits. Doing this right creates• tax deductions for the business, and• tax-free fringe education benefits for the child. You can...
Business Gym for Your Employees, and Maybe You Too
To be tax-deductible, your gym or other athletic facilities must be primarily for the benefit of your employees—other than employees who are officers, shareholders, or other individuals who own a 10 percent or greater interest in the business, or other highly...
Take Advantage of the Once-in-a-Lifetime IRA-to-HSA Rollover
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are designed for use alongside high-deductible health plans, assisting you in covering your medical expenses. They can also function as an incredible retirement account due to their triple tax benefit: • You can deduct contributions from...
Shutting Down a C Corporation
There are several tax implications that you need to be aware of when shutting down a C corporation. Complete liquidation of a C corporation is when it ceases to be a going concern, winds up its affairs, pays its debts, and distributes its remaining assets to...
Holding Real Property in a Corporation: Good or Bad Idea?
As the real estate market has cooled off in many parts of the country, investing in property may seem wise in the long run. But taxes can be a significant concern. Owning real estate in a C corporation may not be wise when considering taxes because it puts you at...
The Cleaning Lady and Your Home-Office Deduction
If you have an office in your home that qualifies for the home-office deduction and you employ a cleaning lady who maintains both your home and your home office, there are a couple of tax considerations to keep in mind. The amount you pay your cleaning lady for her...
One Ugly Rule for S Corp Owners Deducting Health Insurance
When your S corporation covers or reimburses your more-than-2-percent-shareholder-employee health insurance expenses, it classifies the payments as box 1 W-2 wages but not box 3 or box 5 wages. When calculating the amount eligible for the Form 1040 self-employed...
Avoid This Family-Member S Corporation Health Insurance Mistake
There are two important issues related to health insurance deductions for S corporations. First, if you own more than 2 percent of an S corporation, there are three steps you need to follow to claim a deduction for health insurance: • Step 1. The cost of the...
Helicopter View of 2023 Meals and Entertainment
As you may already know, there have been some major changes to the business meal deduction for 2023 and beyond. The deduction for business meals has been reduced to 50 percent, a significant change from the previous 100 percent deduction for business meals in and...
Are You a Regular Investor or a Tax-Favored Securities Trader?
As we navigate the recent volatility in the stock market, you may want to think about the possible favorable federal income tax treatment the tax code gives to a securities trader. Securities Trader Suppose you can qualify as a securities trader for federal income...
SECURE 2.0 Act Creates New Tax Strategies for RMDs
As you are likely aware, if you have an IRA or other tax-deferred retirement account, you must start taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) once you reach a certain age. The SECURE 2.0 Act raises the age at which RMDs must first be taken, from age 72 to age 75,...
Plan Your Passive Activity Losses for Tax-Deduction Relevance
In 1986, lawmakers drove a stake through the heart of your rental property tax deductions. That stake, called the passive-loss rules, causes myriad complications that now, 37 years later, are still commonly misunderstood. The Trap In 1986, lawmakers made you...
When Cancellation of Debt (COD) Income Can Be Tax-Free
Sometimes debts can pile up beyond a borrower’s ability to repay, especially if we are heading into a recession. But lenders are sometimes willing to cancel (forgive) debts that are owed by financially challenged borrowers. While a debt cancellation can help a...
Is Airbnb Rental Income Subject to Self-Employment Tax?
Do you owe self-employment tax on Airbnb rental income? That’s a good question. In Chief Counsel Advice (CCA) 202151005, the IRS opined on this issue. But before we get to what the IRS said, understand that the CCA’s conclusions cannot be cited as precedent or...
How to Section 1031 Exchange into a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST)
As you likely know, the Section 1031 tax-deferred like-kind exchange is one of the greatest wealth-building mechanisms for real estate investors. With Section 1031, you can avoid taxes on all your property upgrades during your lifetime and then pass the property to...
$80 Billion to the IRS: What It Means for You
You may have noticed that the IRS is in a bad way. It has a backlog of millions of unprocessed paper tax returns, and taxpayers can’t get through to the agency on the phone. Congress noticed and took action by passing a massive funding of the IRS in the recently...
