Creating a Budget When Income is Irregular
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who are self-employed — or if you have a side gig or work on commission — the idea of creating a monthly personal budget may seem daunting. The main reason: Most budgeting systems and expert advice tell you to start your budget by pinpointing your “regular monthly…
10 Tax Elections to Save Money on Your 2019 Return
2020 is a presidential election year. You’ll have an opportunity to cast a vote for your favored presidential candidate in November, but you can make several other key “elections” this year when filing your 2019 tax return. These elections may be influenced by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), as well as the year-end…
Why Is the Valuation Date so Important?
When one considers how the value of an asset will be determined, it’s common to think about which method the appraiser will use or whether discounts may apply. A critical factor that might not immediately come to mind is the appraisal date. This article explains why the “as-of” date matters and how the purpose of…
The Questions Surrounding Social Security Seem to Never End
Members of the Baby Boomer generation continue to join the retirement ranks. As they arrive, or get close to their mid-sixties, they have many questions: How does the future of the system look? How are benefits affecting personal circumstances, such as divorce, remarriage or the availability of private pensions? Here are the answers to these…
New Tax Law Provides 10 Key Breaks for Individual Taxpayers
A recent spending package signed into law by President Trump on December 20 retroactively resurrects and/or extends several key tax breaks through 2020. It also provides tax relief for victims of federally declared disasters. Here are ten breaks that can benefit eligible individuals. Reduced Threshold for Medical Expense Deductions The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act…
How to Manage Your High-Deductible Health Insurance Plan
High-deductible health plans can leave you with painfully expensive out-of-pocket costs. But that’s not always the case. With the right handling, these plans bring advantages that you might not expect. If you’re willing to do some smart planning and research, financial remedies are available. Here’s your prescription for savings. If you currently have a high-deductible…
Red Flags for IRS Tax Auditors
No one wants to see an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit letter in the mail — or in the worst case, an auditor show up at his or her door. The IRS can’t audit every American’s tax return, so it relies on guidelines to select the ones most deserving of its attention. Here are six…
FAQs About Self Employment Tax
What Is SE Tax? SE tax is the way the US Treasury Department collects Social Security and Medicare taxes on non-wage income from business-related activities. For 2019, the SE tax rate is 15.3% on the first $132,900 of net SE income. The rate has two components: 12.4% for the Social Security tax, and 2.9% for…
Annual Tax Planning
With the year coming to a close and the income tax deadline around the corner, now is the time to focus on the complex task of tax planning. GRF’s annual tax planning webinar and learn how you should position your assets for the best tax advantage. Seasoned tax professionals guide participants through the tax strategies…
Navigating the New Meals and Entertainment Deductions under TCJA
By Marc Neri, EA, CVA | Supervisor, Tax It is common for businesses to dine and entertain clients, vendors, and potential employees as part of their efforts to maintain beneficial business relationships. While these expenses are both common and allowable, the related tax benefits may be long gone thanks to tax reform.1 In 2017, Congress…