Filing taxes for the first time doesn’t have to be intimidating. Doing it right does require a certain amount of focus and organization, however. Taking these steps will help you to ensure that your first tax return is accurate and complete.
Prior to 2014, taxpayers who wished to claim the home office deduction had to fill out a lengthy form (Form 8829) and often make complex calculations in order to do so. In an effort to lighten the burden on small, home-based businesses, however, the IRS introduced a simplified method for taking the home office deduction, which became available for the first time for the tax year 2013. This new, simplified method makes it easy to claim the home office deduction to which you’re entitled.
The gift tax is a tax levied on the transfer of property from one person to another in exchange for nothing or for less than the property’s full value. While this seems to cover many transactions that most of us make many times throughout the year, the exceptions to the gift tax actually make taxable gifts fairly rare.
When you receive money from a lawsuit or settlement, it’s important to consider your tax liability before you start spending it. The IRS rules make distinctions between different types of awards when determining what you must claim as income and what you can leave out.
Starting your own business can be exciting and rewarding. It is critically important, however, to understand all of your tax and recordkeeping obligations. Use this guide to help you make sure you are ready for tax season.
One of the first things you will need to do is decide what type of business you will establish. Each carries its own legal and tax requirements. For detailed information on the types of business taxes to which you may be subject, see http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Business-Taxes.
If you have access to a 401(k) plan, contributing at least the amount for which your employer will provide matching funds is one of the best ways to save for retirement. That has been true for some time. However, the IRS has just given you more incentive to pack money into your 401(k).
How to claim your Social Security benefits can be a critical and complex decision. Making this choice without understanding the factors that can influence the amount you will ultimately be able to collect in Social Security benefits can cost you tens of thousands of dollars in retirement. Before you make a choice about claiming benefits, it is wise to speak with a retirement planning professional to be sure you are making the most advantageous choice.
Boelman Shaw Tax & Financial Planning offers a specialized blend of expertise in multiple aspects of financial planning. We provide our Des Moines area clients with well-rounded advice to create an optimized financial plan that provides for the needs of individuals and their families. We advise families just starting their financial journey with their first steps toward securing their child’s college tuition and individuals nearing retirement who worry that they have not saved enough. Wherever you are on your financial path, we can help.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 70% of people will need long-term care at some point in their lives. Despite this fact, the vast majority of Americans have not planned for this very likely expense. Many are under the misconception that their health insurance or Medicare will cover it. In fact, Medicare only covers a narrow range of costs. While it will pay for medically necessary skilled care, the choice of setting is limited, and it will not pay for assistance with daily tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, and personal care. Medicare provides no funding for assisted living facilities. Private health insurance generally does not cover long-term care costs. Providing long-term care has become a critically important, but still widely overlooked, aspect of financial planning.
Social responsibility is a rising phenomenon in the financial planning and investment world. Its roots can be traced to 18th-century religious movements, such as the Quakers, who would in no way participate in the slave trade, and the Methodists, whose founder chided followers to avoid doing harm by avoiding industries such as tanning and chemical production. In the 1920s, socially responsible investing (SRI) tended to be more about avoiding “sin” stocks, such as tobacco and alcohol. Today, however, SRI is becoming a common way for people with a wide range of values to express themselves in the marketplace.