Tips to Maximize the Value of a Car Donation: A little mistake could cost you plenty

At the end of the year you will be inundated with commercials to donate a vehicle to charity. While it is one of the biggest contributions a taxpayer can make, if not done carefully, the tax deduction of a donated vehicle could be a lot lower than you think. The Rule When you donate a…

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Five Tax-Loss Harvesting Tips

Though the markets have been up strongly this year, your investment portfolio could have a few lemons in it. Using the tax strategy of tax-loss harvesting, you may be able to turn those lemons into lemonade. Here are five tips: Tip #1: Separate short-term and long-term Your investments are divided into short-term and long-term buckets.…

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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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Are You Sharing Too Much Information Online?

In today’s digital age, it is impossible to avoid the internet. Even if you don’t have a computer and actively avoid social media, there is information about you in some corner of the web. Here are some tips to help you manage your digital footprint: Actively manage your security settings. Every app, social media site…

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It’s Tax-Planning Time

Now is the ideal time to schedule a tax-planning session. Your tax return outcome is still fresh, and it’s early enough in the year to make corrective action to take advantage of the numerous new tax law changes taking place in 2018. Here’s a brief overview of some of the new tax issues that you…

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Depreciation Made Easy for 2017

If your eyes glaze over when you read the word “depreciation” you are not alone. While depreciation is simply deducting the cost of business equipment over time, special tax provisions allow flexibility in how much can be expensed in a given year. The first solution is the Section 179 deduction. You are able to write…

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Questions To Ask Before Signing A Business Loan

Questions to ask before signing a business loan.

  Are you thinking of taking out a loan to buy new machinery or additional inventory for your business? Before you sign that loan document or credit application, consider the following questions before signing a business loan. What’s the true cost of borrowing? The interest rate on your business loan may be variable, fluctuating over…

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Get Familiar With These Estate Planning Documents

Estate Planning

Basic estate planning begins with completing documents that allow your last wishes to be carried out as you choose. But are you familiar with the documents you’ll need? Here’s a list of common estate planning documents and their purpose. Advance Directive. Your instructions for end-of-life and quality of life wishes regarding medical treatments. Share your…

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Reduce Fraud In Your Business With Prevention Strategies

Fraud

When it comes to fraud, the old adage about a small amount of prevention being worth a large amount of cure is spot on. Investing in prevention methods can be more cost-effective than spending time and money on clean-up after a fraud has been detected. Here are suggestions to help prevent fraud in two key…

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Last-Minute Moves That Can Lower Your Tax Bill

Last Minute Moves to Lower Your Tax Bill by Dana McGuffin CPA

Only one month to go until tax filing day! That means you still have time to trim your 2015 tax bill. Here are last-minute moves to consider and deductions to remember. Maximize your 2015 IRA contribution. You have until April 18 (or April 19 if you live in Maine or Massachusetts) to make deductible 2015…

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