Tax Deductions and Retirement
Found 35 Articles.
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The Most Overlooked Deduction
Those who inherit IRAs often are not aware of a deduction they can take to shelter IRA distributions from income taxes. Even most tax experts do not understand “income in respect of a decedent.” Most skip over the topic in school and expect not to run into it. But with so many people owning valuable […]
New Rules for Donating Used Cars
Plans need to be revised by taxpayers who intended to reap big tax breaks by donating used cars, boats, or planes to charity. Congress rewrote the law in 2004, and the IRS recently issued rules explaining the new law. Under the old law, a taxpayer could donate a used car to charity and deduct the […]
Get a Jump on Charitable Giving
Charitable giving tends to be clustered in the last couple of months of the year. But if you want to maximize charitable giving and your after-tax wealth, begin your charitable gift planning now. Instead of rushing the process in the busy year-end period, take the time today to plan the best way to make gifts […]
How to Reduce Taxes by Passing Up Some Deductions
In early October, Congress voted to extend for another year the higher exemption amounts for the AMT that were enacted in the 2003 tax law. The exemptions were to expire at the end of 2004. Yet, many of you still are likely to be snared by the AMT. You need to carefully review your finances […]
How to Maximize Retirement Community Deductions
A portion of long-term care expenses are deductible as medical expenses. The question taxpayers often ask is what portion of the fees paid to retiree communities, such as assisted living facilities or nursing homes, can be deducted. The Tax Court recently stepped into this issue and set some new rules. When someone enters a nursing […]
The Overlooked Triple Tax-Saving Estate Planning Tactic
Estate planners agree that one of the most underused strategies is the charitable remainder trust. That might change. New trends are making CRTs more attractive. Taxpayers with appreciated property should take a fresh look at CRTs as part of their retirement and Estate Planning strategies. In a CRT, an individual transfers appreciated property to the […]
How to Maximize Shelter and Growth in Second Homes
Stocks and second home sales both soared during the 1990s. They parted ways in the 2000s. While stocks turned south, prices of second homes continued to climb. It is no coincidence. More people are turning to second homes as investment alternatives. The National Association of Realtors reports that purchases of second homes for investment purposes […]
New Rules On Tax Free Home Sales
The IRS recently made it easier to cash out a principal residence tax free by plugging gaps and uncertainties in the 1997 rules on tax-free gains. The IRS filled the gaps in ways that are generous to taxpayers. Previously, anyone with a deductible home office had to separate the tax basis and sale proceeds of […]
