Tax Prep Checklist – What To Bring

The following is a condensed checklist of items that you should look for and bring with you to your appointment this year. Gather everything on this list that applies to you — you’ll need this information to complete your taxes.

Preparation Checklist for Financial 1 Tax | View or Download PDF

Personal Information

  Your Social Security number or tax ID number
  Your employer identification number (EIN), if you own a business
  Your spouse’s full name, social security number or tax ID number, and date of birth
  Identity Protection PIN — if the IRS has issued one to you, your spouse, or your dependent
  Your bank routing and account numbers — if you want to receive your refund by direct deposit or pay your balance electronically
  Foreign reporting and residency information — if this applies to you

Income & Expenses

Personal income:

This includes W-2 income, self-employed 1099 income, and any other income you receive, including dividends and interest. If you have a 401(k) through your employer, your contributions will be captured by your W-2. If you have a traditional IRA, make sure you get a record of those contributions. They reduce your taxable income now in exchange for paying taxes on that money later, when you eventually withdraw from the fund.

  W-2’s from Employers
  1099 INT (Bank Interest)
  1099 DIV (Dividend Interest)
  1099B (Investment Statements / Capital Gains / Losses)
  IRA, 401(k), 403(b), TSP or Employer Retirement Plan statements
  1099R (Pension and Retirement Income) – Did you withdraw money from your retirement account this year? Make sure you have a 1099-R form showing that income. Remember, if you withdrew from a Roth IRA, you don’t have to pay taxes on those funds.
  SSA (Social Security Income)
  1099G (State Tax Refund from Prior Year)
  Unemployment Compensation
  1099 MISC (Self Employed, Independent Income)

Business income and expenses:

In some cases, your business will need to file its own tax return even if you pay those taxes personally. If you own all or part of a business, you’ll need the following information.

  1099s for your business income, including 1099-Ks if applicable
  Balance sheet
  Profit and loss statement
  Receipts or other documentation for expenses (such as detailed mileage logs)
  Documentation of any sales tax you collected (or should have collected), organized by state

Real estate business income and expenses:

If you have properties that you rent out, you’ll want to bring this information too.

  Any rental income and related expenses
  Property tax bills and proof of payment
  Receipts for maintenance, repairs, and improvement costs
  Mortgage interest statements (Form 1098)

Estimated Tax Payments & Credits

Estimated tax payments:

If you made estimated tax payments, be sure you have your 1040-ES forms on hand. Those are direct credits against this year’s tax liability. Don’t pay those taxes twice!

  Estimated tax payments you paid throughout the year. Make sure you have the documentation you need to show how much you paid and when.

Personal credits:

A credit is an amount you subtract from the tax you owe. This can lower your tax payment or increase your refund. If you qualify for any of the following IRS tax credits, be sure to gather the documentation you’ll need.

Deductions Checklist:

A deduction is an amount you subtract from your income when you file so you don’t pay tax on it. By lowering your income, deductions lower your tax. For most people, the standard deduction will save you more money but if you have enough individual deductions, listing them out (itemizing) may reduce your tax liability.

The Standard deduction is $14,600 per person, or $29,200 per couple.
(If your total deductions are less, do not itemize).

Personal deductions (non-itemized):

The IRS allows the following deductions whether or not you’re claiming the standard deduction.

  Alimony payments
  Business use of your car
  Business use of your home
  Money you put in an IRA
  Money you put in health savings accounts
  Penalties on early withdrawals from savings
  Student loan interest
  Teacher expenses
  Work-related education expenses — for some military, government, self-employed, and people with disabilities
  Moving expenses — for military service members

Itemized deductions:

The IRS allows these deductions only if you’re itemizing your deductions instead of claiming the standard deductions. For most people, the standard deduction will save you more money but if you have enough individual deductions, listing them out may reduce your tax liability. If you’re itemizing your deductions, be sure to gather your receipts.

  Deductible taxes — Income tax, sales tax, real estate tax, and personal property taxes paid during the year

• State and local income tax OR local general sales taxes
• State and local real property taxes
• State and local personal property taxes (such as vehicle registration fees)

  Home mortgage interest
  Capital losses
  Donations to charity – Make sure you get receipts for any charitable contributions you’ve made throughout the year.
  Medical and dental expenses over 7.5% of your adjusted gross income
  Gains from sale of your home
  Canceled debt on home
  Bad debts
  Gambling losses
  Losses from disasters and theft
  Opportunity zone investment
Miscellaneous itemized deductions

If you have questions on any of these, don’t hesitate to send us a message or call at 410-908-9293.

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At Financial 1, we offer practical strategies to help grow your assets and build wealth. We believe in thinking “out of the box” and we are not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom in our approach to accounting, tax planning and preserving wealth. Below are useful strategies to help you get started.

Watch These Videos:

Each one is less than 3 minutes!

The post Videos: Tax Tips and Strategies appeared first on Financial 1 Tax.

Tatyana Bunich CEP.RFC. | Contact us: 410-908-9293

Income tax is a large revenue source for the United States government. While tax rates have changed many times, since the 1860’s, the United States has used a “progressive” tax code. A progressive tax code means that people who make more money are taxed at a higher rate than those who make less money. Our progressive tax system works by placing earners through different brackets according to how much money they make. The dollar amounts define your tax brackets and there are differing tables depending on your filing status (single, married, etc.). This matters in determining your marginal tax rate.

Filing 2019 Income Taxes

Understanding Marginal Tax Rates

Determining your tax bracket is not as simple as just adding up your total income and checking a tax table. Taxpayers need to calculate their taxable income (which can be sometimes referred to as their “adjusted gross income”) and then adjust their income for any deductions, adjustments and exemptions they are allowed to find their final taxable amount.

Once you determine your final taxable income amount, it’s critical to know that not all of your income was taxed at the same rate. So, for example if you are married filing jointly, your first $19,400 is taxed at 10%. If these same tax filers have a final taxable income of $95,000, then these taxpayers are in a “marginal tax bracket” of 22%. The key thing to note is that in this example, the last dollar earned is taxed at that 22% tax rate.

2019 Tax Law Updates

For 2019, Form 1040 has been slightly redesigned. There is time to look into tax planning ideas for your 2020 taxes, but here are some things that 2019 tax filers should review. They include:

• Tax brackets have been slightly adjusted.
• The standard deductions have risen from 2018.
• There are still caps to state and local tax (SALT) deductions.
• There are new deduction rates for medical expenses.
• Capital gains will still impact your income.
• There is still a 3.8% Medicare Investment Tax.
• Charitable donations are still deductible.
• You might still be able to contribute to retirement plans (or take an RMD) if appropriate.

2019 Tax Tables and Tax Rates

There are still seven federal income tax brackets for 2019. The lowest of the seven tax rates is 10% and the top tax rate is still 37%. The income that falls into each is scheduled to be adjusted in 2020 for inflation. For 2019, use the chart in this report to see what bracket your final income falls into.

TAX TIP: If you are not sure how best to file, ask your tax preparer or review IRS Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax, which is a complete tax resource. It contains helpful information such as whether you need to file a tax return and how to choose your filing status.

2019 Standard Deduction Amounts

Most taxpayers claim the standard deduction. For 2019, the standard deduction has slightly increased. The amounts are now $12,200 for single filers and $24,400 for those filing jointly ($18,350 for head of household filers). If you are filing as a married couple, an additional $1,300 is added to the standard deduction for each person age 65 and older. If you are single and age 65 or older, an additional deduction of $1,650 can be made.

Increased Child Tax Credit

For 2019, the maximum child tax credit is $2,000 per qualifying child. Up to $1,400 of the Child Tax Credit is refundable; that is, it can reduce your tax bill to zero and you might be able to get a refund on anything left over.

There is also a non-refundable credit of $500 for dependents other than children. The modified adjusted gross income threshold at which the credit begins to phase out is $200,000 and $400,000 if married filing jointly.

State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction

2019 also continues the changes to state and local tax deductions that cap a taxpayer’s state and local tax (SALT) deduction at $10,000. This includes both state income and property taxes. This change affected a large number of taxpayers who live in states with high property taxes and those who pay larger state income tax bills.

Medical Expense Deduction

In late December 2019, legislation retroactively made the 7.5% threshold available to taxpayers in 2019 and 2020. The 10% threshold amount was postponed until 2021.

Investment Income

Long-term capital gains are taxed at more favorable rates compared to ordinary income. For qualified dividends, investors will continue to be taxed at 0, 15 or 20%.

One tax strategy is to review your investments that have unrealized long-term capital gains and sell enough of the appreciated investments in order to generate enough long-term capital gains to push you to the top of your federal income tax bracket. This strategy could be helpful if you are in the 0% capital gains bracket and do not have to pay any federal taxes on this gain. Then, if you want, you can buy back your investment the same day, increasing your cost basis in those investments. If you sell them in the future, the increased cost basis will help reduce long-term capital gains. You do not have to wait 30 days before you buy back this investment—the 30-day rule only applies to losses, not gains.

Note: This non-taxable capital gain for federal income taxes might not apply to your state.

TAX TIP: Remember that marginal tax rates on long-term capital gains and dividends can be higher than expected. The 3.8% surtax can raise the effective rate to 18.8% for single filers with income from $200,000 to $434,550 and 23.8% for single filers with income above $434,550. It can raise the effective rate to 18.8% for married taxpayers filing jointly with income from $250,000 to $488,850 and to 23.8% for married taxpayers filing jointly with income above $488,850.

Calculating Capital Gains and Losses

With all of these different tax rates for different types of gains and losses in your marketable securities portfolio, it’s probably a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the rules:

• Short-term capital losses must first be used to offset short-term capital gains.
• If there are net short-term losses, they can be used to offset net long-term capital gains.
• Long-term capital losses are similarly first applied against long-term capital gains, with any excess applied against short-term capital gains.
• Net long-term capital losses in any rate category are first applied against the highest tax rate long-term capital gains.
• Capital losses in excess of capital gains can be used to offset up to $3,000 ($1,500 if married filing separately) of ordinary income.
• Any remaining unused capital losses can be carried forward and used in the same manner as described above.

TAX TIP: Please remember to look at your 2018 income tax return Schedule D (page 2) to see if you have any capital loss carryover for 2019. This is often overlooked, especially if you are changing tax preparers.

Please double-check your capital gains or losses. If you sold an asset outside of a qualified account during 2019, you most likely incurred a capital gain or loss. Sales of securities showing the transaction date and sale price are listed on the 1099 generated by the financial institution. However, your 1099 might not show the correct cost basis or realized gain or loss for each sale. You will need to know the full cost basis for each investment sold outside of your qualified accounts, which is usually what you paid for it, but this is not always the case.

3.8% Medicare Investment Tax

The year 2019 is the seventh year of the net investment income tax of 3.8%. It is also known as the Medicare surtax. If you earn more than $200,000 as a single or head of household taxpayer, $125,000 as married taxpayers filing separately or $250,000 as married joint return filers, then this tax applies to either your modified adjusted gross income or net investment income (including interest, dividends, capital gains, rentals, and royalty income), whichever is lower. This 3.8% tax is in addition to capital gains or any other tax you already pay on investment income.

A helpful strategy has been to pay attention to timing, especially if your income fluctuates from year to year or is close to the $200,000 or $250,000 amount. Consider realizing capital gains in years when you are under these limits. The inclusion limits may penalize married couples, so realizing investment gains before you tie the knot may help in some circumstances. This tax makes the use of depreciation, installment sales, and other tax deferment strategies suddenly more attractive.

Medicare Health Insurance Tax on Wages

If you earn more than $200,000 in wages, compensation, and self-employment income ($250,000 if filing jointly, or $125,000 if married and filing separately), the Affordable Care Act levies a special 0.9% tax on your wages and other earned income. You’ll pay this all year as your employer withholds the additional Medicare Tax from your paycheck. If you’re self-employed, plan for this tax when you calculate your estimated taxes.

If you’re employed, there’s little you can do to reduce the bite of this tax. Requesting non-cash benefits in lieu of wages won’t help—they’re included in the taxable amount. If you’re self-employed, you may want to take special care in timing income and expenses (especially depreciation) to avoid the limit.

Charitable Gifts and Donations

When preparing your list of charitable gifts, remember to review your checkbook register so you don’t leave any out. Everyone remembers to count the monetary gifts they make to their favorite charities, but you should count noncash donations as well. Make it a priority to always get a receipt for every gift. Keep your receipts. If your contribution totals more than $250, you’ll also need an acknowledgement from the charity documenting the support you provided. Remember that you’ll have to itemize to claim this deduction, but when filing, the expenses incurred while doing charitable work often is not included on tax returns.
You can’t deduct the value of your time spent volunteering, but if you buy supplies for a group, the cost of that material is deductible as an itemized charitable donation. You can also claim a charitable deduction for the use of your vehicle for charitable purposes, such as delivering meals to the homebound in your community or taking your child’s Scout troop on an outing. For 2019, the IRS will let you deduct that travel at .14 cents per mile.

Child and Dependent Care Credit

Millions of parents claim the child and dependent care credit each year to help cover the costs of after-school daycare while working. Some parents overlook claiming the tax credit for childcare costs during the summer. This tax break can also apply to summer day camp costs. The key is that for deduction purposes, the camp can only be a day camp, not an overnight camp. So, If you paid a daycare center, babysitter, summer camp, or other care provider to care for a qualifying child under age 13 or a disabled dependent of any age, you may qualify for a tax credit of up to 35% of qualifying expenses of $3,000 for one child or dependent, or up to $6,000 for two or more children.

Contribute to Retirement Accounts

If you haven’t already funded your retirement account for 2019, consider doing so by April 15, 2020. That’s the deadline for contributions to a traditional IRA (deductible or not) and a Roth IRA. However, if you have a Keogh or SEP and you get a filing extension to October 15, 2020, you can wait until then to put 2019 contributions into those accounts. To start tax-advantaged growth potential as quickly as possible, however, try not to delay in making contributions. If eligible, a deductible contribution will help you lower your tax bill for 2019 and your contributions can grow tax deferred.

To qualify for the full annual IRA deduction in 2019, you must either: 1) not be eligible to participate in a company retirement plan, or 2) if you are eligible, there is a phase-out from $64,000 to $74,000 for singles and from $103,000 to $123,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly. If you are not eligible for a company plan but your spouse is, your traditional IRA contribution is fully-deductible as long as your combined gross income does not exceed $193,000. For 2019, the maximum IRA contribution you can make is $6,000 ($7,000 if you are age 50 or older by the end of the calendar year). For self-employed persons, the maximum annual addition to SEPs and Keoghs for 2019 is $56,000.

Although contributing to a Roth IRA instead of a traditional IRA will not reduce your 2019 tax bill (Roth contributions are not deductible), it could be the better choice because all qualified withdrawals from a Roth can be tax-free in retirement. Withdrawals from a traditional IRA are fully taxable in retirement. To contribute the full $6,000 ($7,000 if you are age 50 or older by the end of 2019) to a Roth IRA, you must earn $122,000 or less a year if you are single or $193,000 if you’re married and file a joint return.

If you have any questions on retirement contributions, please call us.

Roth IRA Conversions

A Roth IRA conversion is when you convert part or all of your traditional IRA into a Roth IRA. This is a taxable event. The amount you converted is subject to ordinary income tax. It might also cause your income to increase, thereby subjecting you to the Medicare surtax. Roth IRAs grow tax-free and qualified withdrawals are tax-free in the future, a time when tax rates might be higher.

Whether to convert part or all of your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA depends on your particular situation. It is best to prepare a tax projection and calculate the appropriate amount to convert. Remember—you do not have to convert all of your IRA to a Roth. Roth IRA conversions are not subject to the pre-age 59½ penalty of 10%.

Many 401(k) plan participants can convert the pre-tax money in their 401(k) plan to a Roth 401(k) plan without leaving the job or reaching age 59½. There are a number of pros and cons to making this change. Please call us to see if this makes sense for you.

Required Minimum Distributions (RMD)

If you turned age 70½ during 2019, you still have until April 1, 2020, to take out your first RMD. This is a one-time opportunity in case you forgot the first time. The deadline for taking out your RMD in the future will be December 31 of each year. If you do not pay out your RMD by this deadline, you may be subject to a 50% penalty on the amount you were supposed to take out. Starting in 2020 the SECURE Act changed the starting RMD age to 72. If you have any questions on your Required Minimum Distributions please call us.

Other Overlooked Tax Items and Deductions

Reinvested Dividends – This isn’t a tax deduction, but it is an important calculation that can save investors a bundle. Former IRS commissioner Fred Goldberg told Kiplinger magazine for their annual overlooked deduction article that missing this break costs millions of taxpayers a lot in overpaid taxes.

Many investors have mutual fund dividends that are automatically used to buy extra shares. Remember that each reinvestment increases your tax basis in that fund. That will, in turn, reduce the taxable capital gain (or increases the tax-saving loss) when you redeem shares. Please keep good records. Forgetting to include reinvested dividends in your basis results in double taxation of the dividends—once in the year when they were paid out and immediately reinvested and later when they’re included in the proceeds of the sale.

If you’re not sure what your basis is, ask the fund or us for help. Funds often report to investors the tax basis of shares redeemed during the year. Regulators currently require that for the sale of shares purchased, financial institutions must report the basis to investors and to the IRS.

Student-Loan Interest Paid by Parents – Generally, you can deduct interest only if you are legally required to repay the debt. But if parents pay back a child’s student loans, the IRS treats the transactions as if the money were given to the child, who then paid the debt. So as long as the child is no longer claimed as a dependent, the child can deduct up to $2,500 of student-loan interest paid by their parents each year. (The parents can’t claim the interest deduction even though they actually foot the bill because they are not liable for the debt).

Charitable Gift Directly made from IRA – Individuals at least 70½ years of age can still exclude from gross income qualified charitable distributions (QCD) from IRAs of up to $100,000 per year. Please remember to double check on what counts as a qualified charity and distribution before using this tax strategy.

Helpful Tax Time Strategies

Although many deductions were eliminated under the new laws, it might still be helpful to write down or keep all receipts you think are even possibly tax-deductible. Sometimes, taxpayers assume that various expenses are not deductible and do not even mention them to their tax preparer. Don’t assume anything—give your tax preparer the chance to tell you whether something is or is not deductible.

Be careful not to overpay Social Security taxes. If you received a paycheck from two or more employers and earned more than $132,900 in 2019 you may be able to file a claim on your return for the excess Social Security tax withholding.

Don’t forget items carried over from prior years because you exceeded annual limits, such as capital losses, passive losses, charitable contributions and alternative minimum tax credits.

Check your 2018 tax return to see if there was a refund from 2018 applied to 2019 estimated taxes.

Calculate your estimated tax payments for 2020 very carefully. Many computer tax programs will automatically assume that your income tax liability for the current year is the same as the prior year. This is done to avoid paying penalties for underpayment of estimated income taxes. However, in some cases this might not be a correct assumption, especially if 2019 was an unusual income tax year due to the sale of a business, unusual capital gains, the exercise of stock options, or even winning the lottery! A qualified tax preparer could be able to help you with a tax projection for 2020.

Remember that IRS.gov is a valuable online resource for tax information.

Always double check your math where possible and remember it is always wise to consult a tax preparer before filing.

Proactive Tax Planning for 2020

As you know, with the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), tax brackets, thresholds, and tax rates changed for many filers in 2018. In 2019, taxpayers are still adjusting to some of these changes. For 2020, we will continue to keep our clients updated on any new tax law changes and strategies that could potentially be helpful. For now, please review the 2020 tax tables and it’s never too early to start thinking ahead.

Click tables to view larger

Items Taxpayers Should Consider to Proactively Tax Plan for 2020

1. Prepare a 2020 tax projection – Taxpayers already know the 2020 rates and by reviewing their 2019 situation and all 2020 expectations of income, a qualified tax preparer could be able to help you with a tax projection for 2020.

2. New contribution limits for retirement savings – For 2020, the contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan is increased from $19,000 to $19,500. The limit on annual contributions to an IRA remains $6,000 ($7,000 for those 50 or older). The catch-up contribution limits for those 50 and over remain unchanged at $1,000.

3. Explore if a potential Roth IRA conversion is helpful for your situation – A Roth IRA can be beneficial in your overall retirement planning. Investments in a Roth IRA have the potential to grow tax-free and they don’t have required minimum distributions during the lifetime of the original owner. Also, Roth IRA assets may pass to your heirs tax-free. Roth conversions include complex details and are not right for everyone, so please call us to see if this makes sense for you.

4. Take advantage of annual exclusion gifts – For 2020, the maximum amount of gift tax exemption is $15,000. This means you can give up to that amount to a family member without having to pay a gift tax. Ideas for gifting can include, contributing to a working child (or grandchild’s) IRA, or gifting to a 529 plan, which is a tax-sheltered plan for college expenses.

5. Consider bunching your charitable donations into a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) – Now is the time to explore if it is helpful for your tax situation to deposit cash, appreciated securities or other assets in a Donor Advised Fund, and then distributing the money to charities over time. Up to 60% of your adjusted gross income can be deductible if given as donations to typical charities.

6. Look into Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) – In general, to qualify to contribute to a health savings account in 2020, you must have a health insurance policy with a deductible of at least $1,350 for single coverage or $2,700 for family coverage. You can contribute up to $3,550 to an HSA if you have single coverage or up to $7,100 for family coverage in 2020, which is slightly more than the 2019 limits. If you’re 55 or older anytime in 2020, you’ll continue to be able to contribute an extra $1,000. HSA’s include complex details and are not right for everyone, so please call us to see if this makes sense for you.

The New SECURE Act and Proactive Tax Planning for 2020

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, was passed by the Senate on December 19, 2019. This bill increased access to retirement plans and also includes some reforms to Defined Contribution (DC) Plans, Defined Benefit (DB) plans, Investment Retirement accounts (IRAs) and 529 plans. Open Multiple Employer Provisions (MEP’s) will be effective January 1, 2021, but many of the other provisions in the law become effective January 1, 2020. The SECURE Act also brought changes for retirement plan holders. We will try to help you with updates as your situation requires this year.

Among the many changes the SECURE Act included, we feel there are three major areas that could affect many client’s retirement planning strategy. These are:

1. One of the most impactful provisions of the SECURE Act is the “death” of the stretch IRA as an estate planning tool for most non-spousal beneficiaries.

If the original owner of an IRA passes away after December 31, 2019, fewer beneficiaries will be able to extend distributions from the inherited IRA over their lifetime. Many will instead need to withdraw all assets from the inherited IRA within 10 years following the death of the original account holder. Exceptions to the 10-year distribution requirement include assets left to a surviving spouse, a minor child, a disabled or chronically ill individual, and beneficiaries who are less than 10 years younger than the decedent. Please note that this new rule will only apply to IRAs inherited after the January 1st, 2020 effective date. All existing inherited IRAs are grandfathered in under the old rules. This NEW change will result in us taking a look at all clients that have accumulated retirement assets to discuss potential strategies that could be best for their situation.

2. Another notable change is the RMD age moved from 70½ to 72.

The Act states that this change applies beginning with IRA account owner who will attain age 70½ on or after January 1, 2020. This was in response to the fact that Americans are currently working and living longer. Congress updated RMD rules to reflect changes in life expectancies.

3. Allowing anyone with earned income the ability to contribute to an IRA after age 70½.

The SECURE Act permanently removes the age limit at which an individual can contribute to a traditional IRA. Previously, an individual could only contribute to ROTH IRAs after age 70½, as they have no age limit. Starting in 2020, the SECURE Act allows anyone that is working and has earned income to contribute to a traditional IRA regardless of age.

Another notable change the SECURE Act will bring is to 529 Plans. These tax-advantaged 529 plans will be allowed to help pay off qualified student loan repayments (up to $10,000 lifetime).

Many provisions of the SECURE Act will be subject to the interpretation of the IRS or other authorities. As always, clients should consider consulting with their personal tax advisor regarding their specific situation.

Determining the most efficient ways to either withdraw or pass to your beneficiaries your accumulated wealth is always an important decision. Our goal is to remain aware of changes that affect our clients and then share those changes with them.

We firmly believe in proactive tax planning and we will review the SECURE Act for proactive tax planning opportunities and share our findings with our clients.

Our goal is to work with clients to explore efficient ways to drawdown retirement savings and transfer wealth. If you would like to discuss your retirement plan and withdrawal strategy, please call us. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to assist you in addressing your financial goals.

Conclusion

Filing your 2019 taxes will continue to include the new tax rates set forth with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) enacted in 2018 (currently set to expire after 2025). An essential part of maintaining your overall financial health is attempting to keep your tax liability to a minimum.

When filing your 2019 taxes, the rules and laws currently in place did not vary too much from your 2018 taxes. One of our primary goals is to keep you informed of the changes that will be affecting investors like you. We believe that taking a proactive approach is better than a reactive approach — especially regarding income tax strategies!

How long should I keep my records?

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal or investment planning advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor.

Registered Representative offering securities and advisory services through Independent Financial Group, LLC (IFG), a registered broker dealer and a registered investment adviser. Member FINRA/SIPC. Financial 1 Wealth Management Group and IFG are unaffiliated entities. Note: The views stated in this letter are not necessarily the opinion of through Independent Financial Group, LLC (IFG), and should not be construed, directly or indirectly, as an offer to buy or sell any securities mentioned herein. Information is based on sources believed to be reliable; however, their accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. Please note that statements made in this newsletter may be subject to change depending on any revisions to the tax code or any additional changes in government policy. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please note that individual situations can vary. Unless certain criteria are met, Roth IRA owners must be 59½ or older and have held the IRA for five years before tax-free withdrawals are permitted. Additionally, each converted amount is subject to its own five-year holding period. Investors should consult a tax advisor before deciding to do a conversion. Sources: www.IRS.gov, turbotax.com. Contents Provided by The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors, Inc 2020© All rights reserved. Reviewed by Keebler & Associates

The post Filing 2019 Income Taxes and Planning for 2020 appeared first on Financial 1 Tax.

Welcome to 2020! We hope that you and your family had an enjoyable holiday season. Each New Year symbolically offers the opportunity to make a fresh start for everyone.

Once again, our primary goal this year is to continue our tradition of helping clients work toward achieving their personal financial goals. To make that process more efficient, we send our clients the attached convenient 2020 CHECKLIST so they can identify any items they anticipate needing our help with this year.

We take pride in our ability to understand and effectively respond to our clients’ needs and concerns and enjoy providing timely information and holistic service to our clients. One of our company’s main objectives is to always offer our clients a first-class experience.

We are always available to provide the proper attention that our clients and their finances deserve by offering a strong and frequent line of service, commitment and communication.

We would like the opportunity to help you in 2020. After reviewing the checklist, if you see any items you’d like to discuss or receive a second opinion, we would like to extend to you a complimentary financial check-up. We would appreciate the opportunity to review your tax plan, estate plan, investment plan, retirement plan and protection plan to make sure they are all coordinated in your best interest.

If you are interested in our services, please call us at (410) 908-9293 to schedule an appointment. You can also easily schedule your appointment online!

Looking Ahead to 2020

2019 was another strong year for investors, but the daily headlines kept investors on the edge of their seats. Trade wars, recession fears, geopolitical unrest, interest rate concerns and U.S political division all kept us wondering how each one would affect equity markets. The year also included its share of volatility in the U.S. equity markets which left many investors nervous. Despite a backdrop of concern, during the year, many indexes continued to set new highs. For 2020, investors should consider the mantra of “proceed with caution.”

In our second year of The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, taxpayers are still adjusting to new tax forms. The direction of interest rates, stock market volatility, a Presidential election and the continuation of potential trade wars could provide disruption for investors in 2020. Having a solid foundation, design and strategy is critical to the outcome of your financial plans. Keeping your plan up to date is always wise and will be especially integral. We are staying updated on the issues that may affect your personal situation. Our prime mission is to provide our clients with guidance and support on the road to their financial goals.

This is a good time to review and discuss your plans with us. We can help you determine if you’re still on track to meet your long-term objectives, confirm your time horizons and your risk tolerance. If you have any questions or concerns, please call our offices and we’d be happy to assist you.

Specific Areas to Watch in 2020

Interest Rate Changes

In 2019, the Fed lowered interest rates for the first time in a decade. In July, September and October, the Federal Reserve lowered its key interest rate by 0.25% (0.75% total). Fed Chair Powell, said that the October decision to lower rates was intended to, “provide some insurance against ongoing risks.” At the December 2019 meeting, the Fed signaled that it was likely to hold rates steady in 2020. Low interest rates can make equities look attractive for investors seeking returns. For 2020, we will continue to keep a close eye on interest rate changes.

Trade War Fears

In December, China and the U.S. agreed to work towards a trade agreement. The uncertainty around the trade relationship between the U.S. and China has dampened global growth, according to Paul Gruenwald, Chief Economist at S&P Global Ratings. This trade war, which has lasted for almost two years, has weighed heavily on global economic growth, according to the International Monetary Fund. Analysts worry that tariffs could result in higher prices on goods and therefore affect consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of the U.S. economy. In 2020, investors need to stay watchful on U.S. and China trade negotiations.

Stock Market Valuations

Analysts theorize that valuations are one of the key predictors of equity returns. For the last decade, equities have climbed higher. Investors who need access to their money in the next 10 years should understand that current valuations could lead to a period of lower returns and therefore need to plan accordingly. Risk is a part of investing and investors need to balance current conditions with their personal tolerance for risk. Although equity prices can continue to rise, we must understand that its near impossible to accurately predict short term moves and we need to continue to carefully monitor equity markets.

Your Personal Situation

Your personal situation is our highest concern. We make it a priority to keep our clients informed throughout the year. If you’d like to schedule a complimentary consultation, please call our office and we will be glad to schedule time with you. Please keep in mind that each individual or household situation is different and we want to help you with your personal financial goals in 2020.  Contact us

Here is a checklist of events and information that can help us advise you in 2020.

Please help us identify which items you would like us to address with you this year.

  Do you anticipate changes to your investment goals?
  Has your risk tolerance changed?
  Have your 2020 income or savings needs changed?
  Do you plan on retiring or changing jobs?
  Will there be a change in your marital status?
  Do you plan on moving, refinancing or selling/transferring a major asset such as a home or business?
  Did you recently receive or anticipate receiving a gift or inheritance?
  Will you have any changes in your income needs +/- (i.e. vacation, assisted living needs, selling home, child/grandchild assistance)?
  Do you expect any additional family members or dependents?
  Do you anticipate any additional dependents such as an elderly parent or other family member? Will they require assisted living?
  Do you have a child/grandchild you will be assisting with their educational cost needs through a 529 plan?
  Do you anticipate any major transfer of wealth?
  Do you plan on gifting to heirs or donating money to charity?
  Do you need to adjust your estate plan?
  Do you maximize your ability to use retirement plans?
  Do you want to explore converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA?
  Do you or a dependent family member have a severe illness?
  Do you anticipate any life, financial, or employment (retiring) changes that may require you to make adjustments to your life and health insurance policies?
  Did you contribute to an IRA? If not, would you like to discuss contributing to an IRA before April’s tax deadline?
  Is there anything else we should know to help you plan for 2020?

Important Birthdays

50 — Allows for catch-up contributions to IRAs and qualified retirements plans.
55 — If you are retired, allows you to take distributions from your 401(k) without the 10% penalty
59½ — Allows you to take distributions from an IRA, annuity, or other retirement plan without penalty
60 — Allows for start of widow/ widower benefits from Social Security
62 — Allows for starting early Social Security benefits
65 — Allows for enrollment in Medicare and the government drug plan
65-67 — Allows for full retirement benefits from Social Security
70 — Start date for enhanced Social Security benefits if you deferred claiming benefits previously.
72 — Mandatory required minimum distribution from retirement accounts must be taken no later than April 1st of the year after the year you turn 72.

If you have an important birthday in 2020, please let us know!

Registered Representative offering securities and advisory services through Independent Financial Group, LLC (IFG), a registered broker dealer and a registered investment adviser. Member FINRA/SIPC. Financial 1 Wealth Management Group and IFG are unaffiliated entities. The views expressed are not necessarily the opinion of Independent Financial Group and should not be construed, directly or indirectly, as an offer to buy or sell securities mentioned herein. All indexes are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. Unmanaged index returns do not reflect fees, expenses, or sales charges. Index performance is not indicative of the performance of any investment. This article is for informational purposes only. Economic forecasts set forth may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal or investment planning advice as individual situations will vary. For specific advice about your situation, please consult with a lawyer or financial professional. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Sources: cnbc.com/2019/11/25. The information in this article provided by The Academy of Preferred Financial Advisors, Inc.

The post Welcome to 2020 appeared first on Financial 1 Tax.

One of our major goals is to help our clients identify opportunities that coordinate tax reduction with their investment portfolios. In order to achieve this goal, we stay current on ever-changing tax reduction strategies. On November 8, voters elected Donald Trump to serve as the 45th President of the United States. Comprehensive tax reform was one of his priorities, however, his ideas and proposal will not affect 2016 tax returns. This special report covers the details of numerous year-end tax strategies for 2016.

Remember— every situation is different and not all strategies will be appropriate for you. Please discuss all tax strategies with your tax preparer prior to making any final decisions.

Income Tax Rates for 2016

Tax brackets changed slightly for 2016. For example, for the 2015 tax year, the top of the 15% federal income tax bracket for married couples filing jointly was $74,900. In 2016, that figure increased to $75,300. Below is a table of federal income tax rates for 2016.

Click table to enlarge.

Year End Tax Planning For 2016

As you read through this report you will find some key aspects of the current 2016 tax laws and how they may apply to your situation. The current Presidential election of Donald Trump brings forward some proposals that were announced on the campaign trail, but these are far from being law and will not affect 2016 tax returns. Late-breaking rules and decisions in Washington, D.C. always make it difficult to plan ahead and this year investors must still wait to see if there are any final opportunities or challenges.

The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act (PATH Act) passed in late 2015 changed, revised and also made permanent some tax breaks that were previously in need of extension. Despite all the uncertainty surrounding future tax rules, there are many year-end tax moves that focus on income and expenses you can make to lessen your tax liability. To the extent that income or expenses can be moved or recognized in either 2016 or 2017 can make a difference for many investors. Year-end tax planning is often about determining the best year to earn additional income or to incur more tax deductions. Now is the time to focus on how to optimize your situation between these two years.

The goal of this report is to share strategies that could be effective if considered and implemented before year-end. Choosing the appropriate strategies will depend on your income as well as a number of other personal circumstances. As with all tax strategies, it is always in your best interest to discuss your personal situation with your tax preparer before making any moves or final decisions.

Things To Review Before Year-end

While everyone’s situation is unique, please begin your final year-end planning now!

Consider All of Your Retirement Savings Options for 2016

If you have earned income or are working, retirement savers should consider contributing to retirement plans. This is an ideal time to make sure you maximize your intended use of retirement plans for 2016 and start thinking about your strategy for 2017. For many investors, retirement contributions represent one of the smarter tax moves that they can make. Here are some retirement plan highlights:

Higher 401(k) contribution limits. The elective deferral (contribution) limit for employees under the age of 50 who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan is $18,000. The catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and over who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan is an additional $6,000 ($24,000 total). As a reminder, these contributions must be made in 2016.

IRA contribution limits unchanged. The limit on annual contributions to an Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA) remains unchanged at $5,500. The additional catch-up contribution limit for individuals aged 50 and over is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains $1,000 (for a total of $6,500). IRA contributions can be made all the way up to the April 17, 2017 filling deadline (the 15th is on a Saturday).

Higher IRA income limits. The deduction for taxpayers making contributions to a traditional IRA is phased out for singles and heads of household who are covered by a workplace retirement plan and have modified adjusted gross incomes (AGI) of $61,000 and $71,000 for 2016. For married couples filing jointly, in which the spouse who makes the IRA contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the income phase-out range is 98,000 to $118,000 for 2016. For an IRA contributor who is not covered by a workplace retirement plan and is married to someone who is covered, the deduction is phased out in 2016 as the couple’s income reaches $184,000 and completely at $194,000 for 2016. For a married individual filing a separate return who is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is $0 to $10,000 for 2016. Please keep in mind, if your earned income is less than your eligible contribution amount, your maximum contribution amount equals your income.

Increased Roth IRA income cutoffs. The AGI phase-out range for taxpayers making contributions to a Roth IRA is $184,000 to $194,000 for married couples filing jointly in 2016. For singles and heads of household, the income phase-out range is $117,000 to $132,000 in 2016. For a married individual filing a separate return, the phase-out range is $0 to $10,000 for 2016. Please keep in mind, if your earned income is less than your eligible contribution amount, your maximum contribution amount equals your income.

Larger saver’s credit threshold. The AGI limit for the saver’s credit (also known as the Retirement Savings Contribution Credit) for low- and moderate-income workers is $61,500 for married couples filing jointly in 2016, $46,125 for heads of household, $30,750 for all other filers.

Be careful of the IRA one rollover rule. IRA investors were always limited to one rollover per year, per IRA. Investors are still limited to make only one rollover from all of their IRAs to another in any 12-month period. A second IRA-to-IRA rollover in a single year could result in income tax becoming due on the rollover, a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty, and a 6 percent per year excess contributions tax as long as that rollover remains in the IRA. Individuals can only make one IRA rollover during any one-year period, but there is no limit on trustee-to-trustee transfers. Multiple trustee-to-trustee transfers between IRAs and conversions from traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs are allowed in the same year. If you are rolling over an IRA or have any questions on this, please call us.

Roth IRA Conversions

Some IRA owners are considering converting part or all of their traditional IRAs to a Roth IRA. This is never a simple and easy decision. Roth IRA conversions can be helpful, but they can also create immediate tax consequences and can bring additional rules and potential penalties. It is best to run the numbers with a qualified professional and calculate the most appropriate strategy for your situation. Call us if you would like to review your Roth IRA conversion options.

Capital Gains and Losses

Looking at your investment portfolio can reveal a number of different tax saving opportunities. Start by reviewing the various sales you have realized so far this year on stocks, bonds and other investments. Then review what’s left and determine whether these investments have an unrealized gain or loss. (Unrealized means you still own the investment and haven’t yet sold it, versus realized, which means you’ve actually sold the investment.)

Know your basis. In order to determine if you have unrealized gains or losses, you must know the tax basis of your investments, which is usually the cost of the investment when you bought it. However, it gets trickier with investments that allow you to reinvest your dividends and/or capital gain distributions. We will be glad to help you calculate your cost basis.

Consider loss harvesting. If your capital gains are larger than your losses, you might want to do some “loss harvesting.” This means selling certain investments that will generate a loss. You can use an unlimited amount of capital losses to offset capital gains. However, you are limited to only $3,000 if married filing jointly ($1,500 if married filing separately) of net capital losses that can offset other income, such as wages, interest and dividends. Any remaining unused capital losses can be carried forward into future years indefinitely.

Be aware of the “wash sale” rule. If you sell an investment at a loss and then buy it right back, the IRS disallows the deduction. The “wash sale” rule says you must wait at least 30 days before buying back the same security in order to be able to claim the original loss as a deduction. The deduction is also disallowed if you bought the same security within 30 days before the sale. However, while you cannot immediately buy a substantially identical security to replace the one you sold, you can buy a similar security—perhaps a different stock in the same sector. This strategy allows you to maintain your general market position while utilizing a tax break.

Sell worthless investments. If you own an investment that you believe is worthless, ask your tax preparer if you can sell it to someone other than a related party for a minimal amount, say $1, to show that it is, in fact, worthless. The IRS often disallows a loss of 100% because they will usually argue that the investment has to have at least some value.

Always double check brokerage firm reports. If you sold a stock in 2016, the brokerage firm reports the basis on an IRS Form 1099-B in early 2017. Unfortunately, sometimes there could be problems when reporting your information, so we suggest you double-check these numbers to make sure that the basis is calculated correctly and does not result in a higher amount of tax than you need to pay.

Zero Percent Tax on Long-term Capital Gains

You may qualify for a 0% capital gains tax rate for some or all of your long-term capital gains realized in 2016.

The strategy is to figure out how much long-term capital gain you might be able to recognize to take advantage of this tax break. The 0% long-term capital gains tax rate is for taxpayers who end up in the 10% or 15% ordinary income tax brackets, which is up to $37,650 for single filers and $75,300 for joint filers. If your taxable income goes above this threshold, then any excess long-term capital gains will be taxed at a 15% capital gains tax rate and/or 20% capital gains tax rate, depending on how high your taxable income is for the year.

NOTE: The 0%, 15% and 20% long-term capital gains tax rates only apply to “capital assets” (such as marketable securities) held longer than one year. Anything held one year or less is considered a “short-term capital gain” and is taxed at ordinary income tax rates.

If you are eligible for the 0% capital gains tax rate, it might be a good time to consider selling some appreciated investments to take advantage of it. Sell just enough so your gain pushes your income to the top of the 15% tax bracket, then buy new shares in the same company. The “wash sale” requirement to wait 30 days does not apply for gains. With “gains harvesting,” you can actually sell the stock and buy it back on the same day. Of course, there will be transaction costs such as commissions and other brokerage fees. At the end of the day you will have the same number of shares, but with a higher cost basis. Please remember, you must also review your state income tax rules to determine whether or not these gains will be tax-free at the state level.

This strategy might be helpful if in 2016 you are temporarily unemployed, are someone whose income varies from year to year or are between the ages of 55 and 70 and may soon be transitioning into retirement or already retired.

If you’re ineligible for the 0% capital gains tax rate but you have adult children in the 0% bracket, consider gifting appreciated stock to them. Your adult children will pay a lot less in capital gains tax than if you sold the stock yourself and gifted the cash to them (make sure the Kiddie tax doesn’t apply—e.g. students up to age 23).

Medicare Tax

In 2016, a 3.8% Medicare surtax on “net investment income” remains in place for wealthy taxpayers. The 3.8% Medicare surtax is on top of ordinary income and capital gains taxes, meaning long-term capital gains and qualified dividends may be subject to taxes as high as 23.8%, while short-term capital gains and other investment income (such as interest income) could be taxed as high as 43.4%!

The Medicare surtax is imposed only on “net investment income” and only to the extent that total “Modified Adjusted Gross Income” (“MAGI”) exceeds $200,000 for single individuals and $250,000 for taxpayers filing joint returns. Not all income is subject to this Medicare Tax. For example, interest and dividends are included and wages are not. Check with your tax preparer if you are subject to this tax and we can discuss future planning.

Taxation of Social Security Income

Social Security income may be taxable, depending on the amount and type of other income a taxpayer receives. If a taxpayer only receives Social Security income, this income is generally not taxable (and it is possible that the taxpayer might not even need to file a federal income tax return).

If a taxpayer receives other income in addition to Social Security income, then up to 85% of the Social Security income could be taxable. There is a “floor” ($32,000 married filing jointly; $0 married filing separately; $25,000 all other taxpayers) whereby a portion of Social Security benefits become taxable and the 85% inclusion kicks in once provisional income goes above a “ceiling” ($44,000 married filing jointly; $0 married filing separately; $34,000 all other taxpayers). For married taxpayers filing a joint return and for married persons filing separately who do not live apart from their spouses for the whole year, the “provisional income” threshold is $0. A complicated formula is necessary to determine the amount of Social Security income that is subject to income tax. (We suggest using the worksheet in IRS Publication 915 to make this determination.)

Finally, it is important to note that Social Security income is included in the calculation of “Modified Adjusted Gross Income” (“MAGI”) for purposes of calculating the 3.8% Medicare surtax on “net investment income” (as discussed earlier). Therefore, taxpayers having significant net investment income might have more reason to defer Social Security benefits.

Itemized Deductions & Exemptions

Taxpayers are entitled to take either a standard deduction or itemize their deductions on IRS Form 1040, Schedule A. Itemized deductions include, but are not limited to, mortgage interest, certain types of taxes, charitable contributions and medical expenses. Unfortunately, itemized deductions are subject to several limitations. For example, in 2016 medical expenses are deductible only to the extent that they exceed 10% of AGI this year. However, if you or your spouse are over 65, the deduction limit is still at 7.5% until December 31, 2016.

Consider “bunching” your deductions. Many taxpayers don’t have enough itemized deductions to reduce their taxes more than if they take the standard deduction. If you find you often miss the threshold by only a small amount per year, it may be best to “bunch” your deductions every other year, taking a standard deduction in the alternate years. The standard deduction for 2016 is $6,300 for singles, $6,300 for married persons filing separate returns, $9,300 for heads of households and $12,600 for married couples filing jointly.

Charitable Giving

This is a great time of the year to clean out your garage and give your items to charity. Please remember that you can only write off these donations to a charitable organization if you itemize your deductions. Sometimes your donations can be difficult to value. You can find estimated values for your donated clothing at http://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/itsdeductible/.

Send cash donations to your favorite charity by December 31, 2016, and be sure to hold on to your cancelled check or credit card receipt as proof of your donation. If you contribute $250 or more, you also need a written acknowledgement from the charity.

If you plan to make a significant gift to charity this year, consider gifting appreciated stocks or other investments that you have owned for more than one year. Doing so boosts the savings on your tax returns. Your charitable contribution deduction is the fair market value of the securities on the date of the gift, not the amount you paid for the asset, and therefore you avoid having to pay taxes on the profit!

Do not donate investments that have lost value. It is best to sell the asset with the loss first and then donate the proceeds, allowing you to take both the charitable contribution deduction and the capital loss. Also remember, if you give appreciated property to charity, the unrealized gain must be long-term capital gain in order for the entire fair market value (FMV) to be deductible. (The amount of the charitable deduction must be reduced by any unrealized ordinary income, depreciation recapture and/or short-term gain.)

The laws allowing taxpayers age 70½ and older to transfer up to $100,000 directly from their IRA over to a charity, satisfying all or part of the required minimum distribution (RMD) were made permanent in 2015. If you want to do this please make sure it is done before year end.

Other Year-End Tax Strategies and Ideas

Make use of the annual gift tax exclusion. You may gift up to $14,000 tax-free to each person in 2016. These “annual exclusion gifts” do not reduce your lifetime gift tax exemption. (NOTE: The annual exclusion gift is doubled to $28,000 per recipient for joint gifts made by married couples or when one spouse consents to a gift made by the other spouse.)

Help someone with medical or education expenses. There are opportunities to give unlimited tax-free gifts when you pay the provider of the services directly. The medical expenses must meet the definition of deductible medical expenses. Qualified education expenses are tuition, books, fees, and related expenses but not room and board. You can find the detail qualifications in IRS Publications 950 and the instructions for IRS Form 709, which are available for free at www.irs.gov.

Contribute to a 529 plan on behalf of a beneficiary. This qualifies for the annual gift-tax exclusion. Withdrawals (including earnings) used for qualified education expenses (tuition, books and computers) are income tax free. The tax law even allows you to give the equivalent of five years’ worth of contributions up front with no gift-tax consequences. Non-qualifying distribution earnings are taxable and subject to a 10% tax penalty.

Make gifts to trusts. These gifts often qualify for the annual exclusion ($14,000 in 2016) if the gift is direct and immediate. A gift that meets all the requirements removes the property from your estate. The annual exclusion gift can be contributed for each beneficiary of a trust. We are happy to review the details with your estate planning attorney.

If possible, prepare a tax projection for 2016 and 2017 to determine if you will have a change in your tax situation. Then consider the following strategies if they apply to your situation.

Click table to enlarge.

It is important to note that some itemized deductions (such as state income taxes, real estate taxes and miscellaneous itemized deductions) are not allowed when computing the “Alternative Minimum Tax” (“AMT”). If you are subject to the AMT, it is often best to delay payment on the disallowed deductions and push them off until 2017 or later tax years (when AMT is no longer an issue). It is always possible you might be able to use the deductions next year. Therefore, we suggest that you talk with your tax preparer about AMT prior to using any of the deduction and exemption strategies we have mentioned.

Popular PATH Act Permanent “Extenders”

American Opportunity Tax Credit. The PATH Act made the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) permanent. The AOTC is equal to 100% of the first $2,000 of qualified tuition and related expenses, plus 25% of the next $2,000 of qualified tuition and related expenses.

Teachers’ classroom expense deductions. The PATH Act permanently extended the above-the-line deductions of up to $250 for elementary and secondary school administrators’ and teachers’ classroom expenses. Eligible educators (such as teachers, administrators and others) may claim this above-the-line deduction in lieu of a miscellaneous itemized deduction.
State and local sales tax deduction. The PATH Act made permanent the itemized deduction for states and local general sales taxes. That deduction may be taken in lieu of state and local income taxes when itemizing deductions.

PATH Act “Extenders” Expiring at the End of 2016

Tuition for fee deductions. The PATH Act extended the above-the-line deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses for two years, for expenses paid before January 1, 2017. The maximum amount of the tuition and fee deductions is $4,000 for an individual whose AGI for the tax year does not exceed $65,000 ($130,000 in the case of a joint return) or $2,000 for other individuals whose AGI does not exceed $80,000 ($160,000 in the case of a joint return).

Mortgage insurance premium deductions. The PATH Act extended the treatment of qualified mortgage insurance premiums as qualified residence interest proactively for two years, to apply to amounts paid or accrue through 2016 and not properly allocable to a period after December 31, 2016.

President-elect Trump’s Tax Positions

While campaigning for the position of President, Donald Trump shared some views of his tax position. President-elect Trump stated that comprehensive tax reform to significantly lower individual and business tax rates was one of his top priorities. According to CCH’s Tax Briefing, his proposals included a simpler tax system with 3 tax brackets: 12, 25 and 33%. He also shared that he would recommend no change in capital gains rates and a repeal of the 3.8% Medicare Tax. Another item discussed was capping deductions at $100,000 for single filers and $200,000 for joint returns. Many experts feel that tax reform will advance in 2017. Remember, ideas and proposals are far from actual laws, but with a Republican Senate and House, change is considered possible and as things become finalized we will keep you updated.

Conclusion

One of our primary goals is to keep clients aware of tax law changes and updates. This report is not a substitute for using a tax professional. Please note that many states do not follow the same rules and computations as the federal income tax rules. Make sure you check with your tax preparer to see what tax rates and rules apply for your particular state.

Two life events that could affect your tax situation are marriage and retirement. Marital status (single, married or divorced) for the entire tax year is determined on December 31st. Because the income tax brackets vary depending upon filing status, a marriage penalty or a marriage benefit may result for any particular couple. Retiring taxpayers may want to take a look at a number of different provisions at year-end in anticipation of retiring, at the point of retirement, or after retirement. Many of these provisions have opportunities and deadlines keyed to the tax year. One thing to watch closely by year-end is the Minimum Distribution Requirements. Most retirement arrangements (other than Roth IRAs) require that participants begin to take annual payments of benefits in the year they turn age 70½. While distributions generally must be made at the end of the calendar year, distributions for the first year can be delayed until April 1 of the succeeding year. If you have questions about your Required Minimum Distributions, please call us.

There are many other additional tax reduction strategies that will vary depending on your financial picture. We encourage all of our clients and prospects to come in so that we can review your particular situation and hopefully take advantage of those tax rules that apply to you.

Financial 1 WMG 2016 Client Advocate Program

If you are currently not a client of Financial 1 Wealth Management Group, we would like to offer you a complimentary, one- hour, consultation with one of our professionals. Please call, 410.908.9293.

As always, we appreciate the opportunity to assist you in addressing your financial matters and look forward to seeing you soon!

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal or investment planning advice.  ­We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor.

Financial 1 Wealth Management Group
10211 Wincopin Circle
Suite 620
Columbia, MD 21044-3431

This article is for informational purposes only. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal or investment planning advice as individual situations will vary. For specific advice about your situation, please consult with a lawyer or financial professional. A Roth IRA distribution is qualified if you’ve had the account for at least five years and/or the distribution is made after you’ve reached age 59 ½. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Please note that rebalancing investments may cause investors to incur transaction costs and, when rebalancing a non-retirement account, taxable events will be created that may increase your tax liability.

The post Year-End Tax Moves for 2016 appeared first on Financial 1 Tax.