Bartering might seem like something that happened only in ancient times, but the practice is still common today. And the general definition remains the same: the exchange of goods and services without the exchange of money. Because no cash changes hands in a typical barter transaction, it’s easy to forget about taxes. But, as one […]
Important Tax Dates For 2017
While April 15 (April 18 this year) is the main tax deadline on most individual taxpayers’ minds, there are others through the rest of the year that are important to be aware of. To help you make sure you don’t miss any important 2017 deadlines, here’s a look at when some key tax-related forms, payments […]
Make Sure The IRS Won’t Consider Your Business To Be a “Hobby”
If you run a business “on the side” and derive most of your income from another source (whether from another business you own, employment or investments), you may face a peculiar risk: Under certain circumstances, this on-the-side business might not be a business at all in the eyes of the IRS. It may be a […]
When An Elderly Parent Might Qualify As Your Dependent
It’s not uncommon for adult children to help support their aging parents. If you’re in this position, you might qualify for the adult-dependent exemption. It allows eligible taxpayers to deduct up to $4,050 for each adult dependent claimed on their 2016 tax return. Basic qualifications For you to qualify for the adult-dependent exemption, in most […]
Tangible Property Safe Harbors Help Maximize Deductions
If last year your business made repairs to tangible property, such as buildings, machinery, equipment or vehicles, you may be eligible for a valuable deduction on your 2016 income tax return. But you must make sure they were truly “repairs,” and not actually “improvements.” Why? Costs incurred to improve tangible property must be depreciated over […]
Do You Need To File A Gift Tax Return?
Last year you may have made significant gifts to your children, grandchildren or other heirs as part of your estate planning strategy. Or perhaps you just wanted to provide loved ones with some helpful financial support. Regardless of the reason for making a gift, it’s important to know under what circumstances you’re required to file […]
The “Manufacturers’ Deduction” Isn’t Just For Manufacturers
The Section 199 deduction is intended to encourage domestic manufacturing. In fact, it’s often referred to as the “manufacturers’ deduction.” But this potentially valuable tax break can be used by many other types of businesses besides manufacturing companies. Sec. 199 deduction 101 The Sec. 199 deduction, also called the “domestic production activities deduction,” is 9% […]
Taxability of Social Security Benefits
For those of you who have asked about the federal tax treatment of social security benefits, here’s some interesting information. The Adjusted Base Amount The portion of social security benefits that you must include in gross income depends on whether your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), as described below, increased by one-half of the social […]
Crowdfunding Tax Issues
According to crowdexpert.com, an estimated $34 billion was raised by crowdfunding in 2015. This number is expected to have increased in 2016. Crowdfunding is a way to raise money from a large group of people and is most often done online. Common crowdfunding websites such as Kickstarter or GoFundMe allow for people all around the […]
Fraudulent IRS Telephone Calls
As tax season approaches we wanted to remind taxpayers to be aware of potential scams involving fake IRS telephone calls. A common scam is someone impersonating the IRS and demanding payment for a tax bill. Here is a list of ways to determine if you are dealing with a scammer. The IRS will never: Make […]