The Home Gain Exclusion: Make Sure You Qualify!

    The home gain exclusion is one of the most generous tax breaks available to taxpayers, providing the ability to exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 married) in capital gains on the sale of your personal residence. Here is what you need to know. Background As long as you own and live in your home…

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Don’t Run the Risk of a High Tax Bill! Know when you should ask for professional help.

  Before taking action talk to your tax adviser. How many times have you seen this legal disclaimer? Unfortunately, all too often taxpayers do not follow this advice and then must pay the price with an unnecessarily high tax bill. Here are some of the most common situations that can save you money by seeking…

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Is a Tax Time Bomb Lurking in Your Paycheck?

      Does your paycheck look a little higher than normal? If so, it could be a tax time bomb.   The Problem A payroll tax deferral beginning September 1 was recently signed via a presidential executive order. The potential deferral of your portion of Social Security as an employee could raise your take…

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A Gift of Stock: Information is key when using this tax planning strategy

  You own some stock that has increased in value. To avoid a possible taxable gain by selling the stock, you wish to give it directly to a child or grandchild. This simple idea has some interesting tax consequences to consider.   Value of the Gift When you gift stock there are not one, but…

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Tax-Free Roth IRA Withdrawal Options: What every Roth IRA account holder should know

  Withdrawing funds from your retirement accounts must be done carefully to avoid a potential 10% early withdrawal penalty. Unfortunately, each retirement account type has different rules. Here are some tips for Roth IRAs. Roth IRA basics Roth IRA accounts differ from other IRAs in that your contributions are made in after-tax dollars. If you…

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Watch Out! 7 Vacation Costs That Sneak Up on You

Going on vacation is a time to get away, relax and enjoy new experiences. But if you don’t pay close attention, extra costs can sneak up on you like tiny money-stealing ninjas. Here are seven sneaky vacation costs to watch out for: Covert airfare increases. Airline pricing algorithms are programmed to store your browsing history…

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You Know You Need Tax Planning If…

Effective tax planning helps you make smart decisions now to get the future outcome you desire – but you need to make sure you don’t miss anything. Forget to account for one of these situations and your tax plans will go off the rails in a hurry: Getting married or divorced. One plus one does…

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How to Raise a Financially Savvy Child

If you have children (or grandchildren) you have an opportunity to give them a jump-start on their journey to becoming financially responsible adults. While teaching your child about money and finances is easier when you start early, it’s never too late to impart your wisdom. Here are some age-relevant suggestions to help develop a financially…

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Hey Alexa. Are you Making Me Dumb? 3 Concerns To Consider While Living With A Smart Speaker

Smart speakers like the Amazon Echo and Google Home are popping up everywhere. According to a Nielsen study from last September, nearly one of every four U.S. households has a smart speaker – 40 percent of those homes have more than one. For some, the speaker is an easy way to play music, for others…

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Oh No! Your Tax Refund is Now a Bill

If you are anticipating a nice refund this year, it may be a good idea to prepare yourself for a possible letdown. Many taxpayers will receive a smaller-than-expected refund and might even owe taxes to be paid by April 15. If this happens to you, here are some of the likely reasons: Higher take-home pay.…

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