Blog
The new 0.9% Medicare tax: Watch out for withholding issues
Under the health care act, starting in 2013, taxpayers with earned income over $200,000 per year ($250,000 for joint filers and $125,000 for married filing separately) must pay an additional 0.9% Medicare tax on the excess earnings. Employers are required… View More
Tax consequences to consider before putting your home on the market
When you sell your principal residence, you can exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 for joint filers) of gain if you meet certain tests. Gain that qualifies for exclusion also is excluded from the new 3.8% Medicare contribution tax. Losses on… View More
Work Opportunity credit for certain 2013 new hires can save you tax
If you’re considering expanding your staff, hiring from certain disadvantaged groups before the end of 2013 can save you tax. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extended the Work Opportunity credit for hires from most eligible groups through 2013…. View More
Planning to make a large cash gift for high school graduation? Consider paying some college tuition instead
With commencement ceremonies for high school seniors coming up, many parents and grandparents are contemplating making cash gifts the student can use for college expenses. But if gift and estate taxes are a concern, consider a potentially more tax-efficient gift:… View More
Why 2013 may be the year to make that car or boat purchase you’ve been thinking about
For the last several years, taxpayers have been allowed to take an itemized deduction for state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 has extended this break —… View More
Alternative-asset IRAs: Handle with care
Most IRA owners invest their funds in traditional assets, such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds. But some intrepid investors have enjoyed impressive, tax-deferred returns — or even tax-free returns in the case of a Roth IRA — by using… View More
Be prepared for the health care act’s “play or pay” provision
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010’s shared responsibility provision, commonly referred to as “play or pay,” is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2014. It doesn’t require employers to provide health care coverage, but it in some… View More
Portability doesn’t preclude the need for marital transfers and trusts
Exemption portability, made permanent by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, provides significant estate planning flexibility to married couples if sufficient planning hasn’t been done before the first spouse’s death. How does it work? If one spouse dies and… View More
April 15 has passed — now what?
With the 2012 tax filing season behind us, it’s time to start thinking seriously about 2013 tax planning — especially if you’re a higher-income taxpayer, because you might be subject to one or more significant tax increases this year: Taxpayers… View More
The perils of filing for an extension
Now that the 2012 tax return deadline is nearly upon us, if you haven’t filed your return yet, you may be thinking about an extension. This allows you to delay filing your return until the applicable extension deadline: Individuals —… View More
