The stimulus plan and you. Another example of why it’s better to be lucky than good. Inflation is good for borrowers.
[Read more…] about 3 interesting things I saw this week – March 18, 2021Tax Planning
Tax Efficient Donations Under the New Tax Law
Did you spend a couple hours this past tax season digging up receipts only to find that you didn’t have enough deductions to itemize? You weren’t alone. Because of the near doubling of the standard deduction as a result of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA), the number of households itemizing deductions went from 47 million in 2017 down to an estimated 18 million for 2018. (Source: Joint Committee on Taxation)
It remains to be seen what impact this may have on charitable contributions. Charities are concerned the loss of tax efficient donations may reduce their 2019 fundraising as many people come to realize they did not get a tax benefit for their generosity.
Are you in a position where you’re no longer able to deduct your donations? There may still be a way you can give to your favorite charities and be rewarded by the IRS.
[Read more…] about Tax Efficient Donations Under the New Tax LawThe HSA as a Retirement Account
If you are in a High Deductible Health Insurance Plan (HDHP), you have access to one of the best retirement savings vehicles available today, the Health Savings Account. Yes, you read that correctly, in my opinion, your Health Savings Account, or HSA, is best thought of as a retirement account. [Read more…] about The HSA as a Retirement Account
Miscellaneous End of Year Tax Stuff (short)
One of the big tax law changes for 2018 is the doubling of the standard deduction. If you find yourself among the millions of Americans that who have itemized deductions in the past but will no longer need to, think about pulling some of your normally deductible activities forward into 2017. This way you may be able to one last time get the tax benefits you would otherwise lose. A couple of end of year tax ideas: [Read more…] about Miscellaneous End of Year Tax Stuff (short)
Harvesting Investment Gains
Many investors and financial advisors now employ a tax management strategy known as tax-loss selling or harvesting losses. Alternatively, some investors could also take advantage of harvesting gains but many of them don’t. I find this is usually because they don’t know about it or think they wouldn’t qualify for a 0% capital gains tax. [Read more…] about Harvesting Investment Gains
Leverage the Tax Benefits of Your Donations With NAP Credits
If you had to spend $1,000 would you rather give it to the government or to charity? [Read more…] about Leverage the Tax Benefits of Your Donations With NAP Credits
Take the Loss and Save Money
As humans, it’s difficult for us to admit failure. Nowhere is this more evident than when looking at investments. I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard someone tell me that they don’t want to sell a poor performing investment until it gets back to even. Selling an investment at a loss doesn’t always mean you’re giving up on it. And, in taxable portfolios, it can be a sound tax planning strategy. [Read more…] about Take the Loss and Save Money
Save Money When Making Gifts
Your adult child is just starting out on their own and you want to give them $10,000. Also, your church has just started a building fund and you want to donate $10,000 to it as well. You have $10,000 in cash and 10,000 worth of stock that you paid $5,000 for years ago. Should you give the cash to your child and the stock to the church? Cash to the church and stock to your child? Does it make any difference?
From a financial standpoint, there is a right and wrong way to make a gift. Make it the right way and, aside from the cost of the gift, you could save a significant amount of money. Make it the wrong way, and well… [Read more…] about Save Money When Making Gifts