What the Affordable Care Act Means for You
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has ushered in the most sweeping regulatory changes to the U.S. health care system since Medicare and Medicaid were passed about 50 years ago. It raises a full range of health care issues, and will continue to do so as provisions take effect through 2020. However, along with potentially increasing […]
Is Your Will Up To Date?
When was the last time you reviewed your will? People generally make wills to guarantee the proper disposition of their money and property, which is why it’s a good idea to consult your CPA when it’s time to create or update your will. We recommend that you revisit your will every time you experience a […]
How Do New Estate Tax Rules Affect You?
You may have heard that there are new rules on estate taxes as a result of the new tax law enacted in early 2013. Effective Jan. 1, 2013, the top tax rate on estates rose to 40% from 35%, but no tax will be imposed on the first $5.25 million of an estate (adjusted for […]
Does the Investment Income Tax Apply to You?
As of Jan. 1, 2013, there is a 3.8% net investment income tax on some categories of passive investment income for individuals, trusts and estates that exceed certain income thresholds. As a result, it is in your best interest to identify these income sources and adopt strategies to lower your modified adjusted gross income or […]
What You Should Know about Changes in Education Provisions in the Tax Law
Are you making the most of tax benefits designed to offset some of the high costs of education? The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which settled the year-end fiscal cliff debate, extended the American Opportunity Tax Credit through 2017.The credit provides a tax break of up $2,500 for qualified college expenses. The Act also […]
A Simplified Home Office Deduction
Do you work at home or have a home-based business? If so, you should be aware that the IRS has created a simpler option for calculating the deduction for the business use of your home. The new option makes recordkeeping easier because, instead of maintaining records of specific home office expenses, you can use a […]
Take the Uncertainty Out of Health Care Reform
If you’re not sure what the new health care law means to you, you’re not alone. A poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed that just over a third of the public had tried to find out more information about the law—the Affordable Care Act—in recent months. About half of the respondents to the survey […]
Did You Hire a Veteran Prior to Jan. 1, 2014?
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit offers employers a tax credit for hiring members of certain groups, including many veterans and those who have received vocational rehabilitation. The maximum credit can be as high as $9,600, depending on the employee, but it only applies to hires who begin work before January 1, 2014. Tax credits are […]
How Will the End of Some Popular Credits and Deductions Affect Your Business?
Did you know that bonus 50% first-year depreciation will no longer be available to your business in 2014 and beyond? And that the Section 179 expensing limit, which allows you to deduct qualified costs immediately instead of expensing them over time, will tumble to $25,000 from $500,000, where it’s been for the last four years? […]
The End of the Line for Some Popular Credits and Deductions
Did you know that while many tax rules are permanent, others are written to expire at some point in the future? These expiring items are often granted a temporary extension, but a significant number of popular “extenders” terminated at the end of 2013, including both credits and deductions. A number of credits for qualified energy […]