Late in the day on December 20, 2020, leaders in Congress announced that they had reached an agreement on a new round of relief for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and economic stimulus. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 finally took shape after several days of negotiations between the Democrats and GOP on Capitol Hill.
For many, December 31 means a New Year’s celebration. From a tax perspective, however, it should mean thinking about which filing status you will use for that year’s tax return. This article reviews the five statuses. A sidebar looks at whether a married person can file as a “head of household.”
Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts are tax-free accounts that can be used for expenses of disabled individuals. They can be created by a disabled person or his or her family members or guardians. This article explains eligibility factors and other pertinent details. A sidebar notes an ABLE account’s impact on Supplemental Security Income.
Nonqualified deferred compensation plans allow participants to set aside large amounts of tax-deferred compensation, but also pose substantial risks. This article distinguishes NQCD plans from qualified defined contribution plans and discusses the pros and cons.
The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Treasury Department, today released a simpler loan forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less. This action streamlines the PPP forgiveness process to provide financial and administrative relief to America’s smallest businesses while also ensuring sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Although the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act took much of the “teeth” out of the AMT by raising the inflation-adjusted exemption, high-income earners (and even some middle-income earners) should still watch out for its bite. This article discusses the basic rules and the role of itemized deductions. A sidebar warns investors that capital gains can trigger the AMT.
The IRS has warned taxpayers that if they mailed checks (either with or without tax returns), the checks may still be unopened in the backlog of mail the Service is processing due to COVID-19. Any payments will be posted as the date the IRS receives them rather than the date the Service processed them.
Because of the economic downturn triggered by the COVID-19 crisis, many people have found themselves in need of cash to pay unexpected medical bills, mortgage payments and other expenses. One option is to borrow against the cash value of a permanent life insurance policy. This article explores the risks and benefits of such a strategy, while a sidebar looks at a myth that represents a life insurance loan as a tool that “pays for itself.”
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis this year has created ample opportunities for dishonest individuals and criminal organizations. This article suggests various protective actions to take to avoid becoming a victim.
Earlier this year, in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, the IRS deferred the filing and payment deadlines for federal tax returns. This article recaps the relief and discusses what taxpayers should know about filing an extension and contributing to certain savings accounts. A sidebar warns that no relief has been issued for 2019 estimated tax penalties.
