11 Exceptions to the 10% penalty tax on early IRA withdrawals
If you’re facing a serious cash shortfall, one possible solution is to take an early withdrawal from your traditional IRA. That means one before you’ve reached age 59½. For this purpose, traditional IRAs include simplified employee pension (SEP-IRA) and SIMPLE-IRA accounts. Here’s what you need to know about the tax implications, including when the 10%…
2023 Tax Considerations
Please click the heading below to jump to the section you like to read! Individual Income Tax Provisions Education Trust and Estate Income Tax Estate, Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes Pension and IRA Provisions Business Provisions Sole Proprietorships, S Corporations & Partnerships Tax Changes Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Analysis of Key Tax Provisions in…
What you need to know about restricted stock awards and taxes
Restricted stock awards are a popular way for companies to offer equity-oriented executive compensation. Some businesses offer them instead of stock option awards. The reason: Options can lose most or all of their value if the price of the underlying stock takes a dive. But with restricted stock, if the stock price goes down, your…
Contributing to your employer’s 401(k) plan: How it works
If you’re fortunate to have an employer that offers a 401(k) plan, and you don’t contribute to it, you may wonder if you should participate. In general, it’s a great tax and retirement saving deal! These plans help an employee accumulate a retirement nest egg on a tax-advantaged basis. If you’re thinking about contributing to…
The Social Security wage base for employees and self-employed people is increasing in 2024
The Social Security Administration recently announced that the wage base for computing Social Security tax will increase to $168,600 for 2024 (up from $160,200 for 2023). Wages and self-employment income above this threshold aren’t subject to Social Security tax.
Are scholarships tax-free or taxable?
With the rising cost of college, many families are in search of scholarships to help pay the bills. If your child is awarded a scholarship, you may wonder about how it could affect your family’s taxes. Good news: Scholarships (and fellowships) are generally tax-free for students at elementary, middle and high schools, as well as…
How IRS auditors learn about your business industry
Ever wonder how IRS examiners know about different industries so they can audit various businesses? They generally do research about specific industries and issues on tax returns by using IRS Audit Techniques Guides (ATGs). A little-known fact is that these guides are available to the public on the IRS website. In other words, your business…
The tax implications of renting out a vacation home
Many Americans own a vacation home or aspire to purchase one. If you own a second home in a waterfront community, in the mountains or in a resort area, you may want to rent it out for part of the year. The tax implications of these transactions can be complicated. It depends on how many…
What types of expenses can’t be written off by your business?
If you read the Internal Revenue Code (and you probably don’t want to!), you may be surprised to find that most business deductions aren’t specifically listed. For example, the tax law doesn’t explicitly state that you can deduct office supplies and certain other expenses. Some expenses are detailed in the tax code, but the general…
What are the tax implications of winning money or valuable prizes?
If you gamble or buy lottery tickets and you’re lucky enough to win, congratulations! After you celebrate, be aware that there are tax consequences attached to your good fortune.
