Recent Developments

The “wash sale” rule: Don’t let losses circle the drain

Stock, mutual fund and ETF prices have bounced around lately. If you make what turns out to be an ill-fated investment in a taxable brokerage firm account, the good news is that you may be able to harvest a tax-saving capital loss by selling the…

Explore SEP and SIMPLE retirement plans for your small business

Suppose you’re thinking about setting up a retirement plan for yourself and your employees. However, you’re concerned about the financial commitment and administrative burdens involved. There are a couple of options to consider. Let’s take a look at a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) and a…

What tax documents can you safely shred? And which ones should you keep?

Once your 2024 tax return is in the hands of the IRS, you may be tempted to clear out file cabinets and delete digital folders. But before reaching for the shredder or delete button, remember that some paperwork still has two important purposes: Protecting you…

An essential tax deadline is coming up — and it’s unrelated to your 2024 return filing

Tuesday, April 15 is the deadline for filing your 2024 tax return. But another tax deadline is coming up the same day, and it’s essential for certain taxpayers. It’s the deadline for making the first quarterly estimated tax payment for 2025 if you’re required to…

Discover if you qualify for “head of household” tax filing status

When we prepare your tax return, we’ll check one of the following filing statuses: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household or qualifying widow(er). Only some people are eligible to file a return as a head of household. But if you’re one…

Deduct a loss from making a personal loan to a relative or friend

Suppose your adult child or friend needs to borrow money. Maybe it’s to buy a first home or address a cash flow problem. You may want to help by making a personal loan. That’s a nice thought, but there are tax implications that you should…

Planning for the future: 5 business succession options and their tax implications

When it’s time to consider your business’s future, succession planning can protect your legacy and successfully set up the next generation of leaders or owners. Whether you’re ready to retire, you wish to step back your involvement or you want a solid contingency plan should…

Riding the tax break train: Maximizing employee transportation fringe benefits

There are some nice tax breaks for transportation-related employee fringe benefits. If your employer offers these tax-favored fringes, you should probably take advantage of them by signing up. Here’s a quick summary of the current federal tax treatment of transportation-related benefits. Mass transit passes For…

Can I itemize deductions on my tax return?

You may wonder if you can claim itemized deductions on your tax return. Perhaps you made charitable contributions and were told in the past they couldn’t be claimed because you didn’t have enough deductions to itemize. How much do you need? You can itemize deductions…

Looking ahead to 2025 tax limits as you prepare to file your 2024 return

Chances are, you’re more concerned about your 2024 tax return right now than you are about your 2025 tax situation. That’s understandable because your 2024 individual tax return is due to be filed by April 15 (unless you file for an extension). However, it’s a…