Will You Have to Pay Tax on Your Social Security Benefits?
Posted August 25, 2020 / No comments
If you’re getting close to retirement, you may wonder: Are my Social Security benefits going to be taxed? And if so, how much will you have to pay? It depends on your other income. If you’re taxed, between 50% and 85% of your benefits could be taxed. (This doesn’t mean you pay 85% of your
Read MoreThe President’s action to defer payroll taxes: What does it mean for your business?
Posted August 17, 2020 / No comments
On August 8, President Trump signed four executive actions, including a Presidential Memorandum to defer the employee’s portion of Social Security taxes for some people. These actions were taken in an effort to offer more relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The action only defers the taxes, which means they’ll have to be paid in the future.
Read More5 good reasons to turn down an inheritance
Posted August 13, 2020 / No comments
You may use a qualified disclaimer to refuse a bequest from a loved one. Doing so will cause an asset to bypass your estate and go to the next beneficiary in line. What are the reasons you’d take this action? Here are five reasons: 1. Gift and estate tax savings. This is often cited as
Read MoreWhat does the executive action deferring payroll taxes mean for employers and employees?
Posted August 13, 2020 / No comments
On August 8, 2020, President Trump signed an executive memorandum that defers an employee’s portion of Social Security and Medicare taxes from September 1 through December 31, 2020. At this point, the taxes are just deferred, meaning they’ll still have to be paid at a later date. However, the action directs U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven
Read MoreBecause of COVID-19, college-aged children need a basic estate plan
Posted August 9, 2020 / No comments
It’s August, and that means it’s time to get ready to go back to school for many students. If your child recently graduated from high school and is heading to college in the next few weeks, besides assembling the essentials — such as clothing, toiletries, bedding and a laptop — consider having your child “pack”
Read MoreForecasting financial results for a start-up business
Posted August 9, 2020 / No comments
There’s a bright side to today’s unprecedented market conditions: Agile people may discover opportunities to start new business ventures. Start-ups need a comprehensive business plan, including detailed financial forecasts, to drum up capital from investors and lenders. Entrepreneurs may also use forecasts as yardsticks for evaluating and improving performance over time. However, forecasting can be
Read MoreWill your organization’s health insurance still be “affordable” next year?
Posted August 8, 2020 / No comments
The IRS recently announced 2021 indexing adjustments for some critical percentages under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This makes now a good time to review whether your organization is an applicable large employer (ALE) under the ACA and, if so, whether the health care coverage you offer employees will still be considered “affordable” as defined
Read MoreThe rules have changed regarding your IRAs, RMDs and estate plan
Posted August 8, 2020 / No comments
Many people’s estates typically include IRAs. Be aware that two major laws passed into law recently, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, have had a direct effect on IRAs. In a nutshell, the CARES Act waives required minimum distribution (RMD) rules
Read MoreIRS guidance provides RMD rollover relief
Posted July 2, 2020 / No comments
The CARES Act was enacted in an attempt to mitigate the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other things, it extends favorable tax treatment to qualified individuals who take so-called “coronavirus-related distributions” (CRDs) from IRAs, 401(k) plans and certain other retirement plans. Specifically, the CARES Act waives the 10% early distribution penalty for CRDs
Read MoreSome people are required to return Economic Impact Payments that were sent erroneously
Posted June 30, 2020 / No comments
The IRS and the U.S. Treasury had disbursed 160.4 million Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) as of May 31, 2020, according to a new report. These are the payments being sent to eligible individuals in response to the economic threats caused by COVID-19. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that $269.3 billion of EIPs have
Read More