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2014 Newsletters
DECEMBER 2014 NEWSLETTER Articles: No bankruptcy protection for inherited IRA\\'s; Some very last-minute tax moves to consider; Setting your salary: What\\'s the right amount for a small business
Organize Financial Records for Big Dividends
Written by: Doug Jacobs
A financial record keeping strategy pays big dividends. A combination of digital and paper record keeping techniques is effective in taming the clutter. The basic principle is to assemble the documents by category. For example – some categories are investments, real estate, insurance, family records, and tax preparation.
Investment account statements and any trade confirmations keep until the year end statement is received. Verify the year end statement shows the investment’s initial purchase price and any reinvested proceeds so the tax basis can be calculated when the investment is sold. Keep the annual statements for at least three years (possibly seven in certain situations, described below) from the date the income tax return is filed. A good idea is to keep the annual investment statement as long as you are a customer of the investment company.
Charitable Giving - Document-Document-Document
As the Holiday Season approaches we tend to become more generous and soft-hearted. A widely-held perception is that corporations and foundations are the biggest sources to tap for grants and donations. The reality is that 80 percent of philanthropic dollars are contributed by individuals and bequests. In 2010 the Americans gave more than $290.89 billion to their favorite causes despite the economic conditions.
Foreign Accounts, Tax Compliance and Fines, Oh My!
Written By: Ritva Williamson
In 2009 the government estimated that about 8.5 billion in taxes is being evaded during a period of 10 years by individuals with foreign accounts and business holdings. To alleviate the problem of tax evasion The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) was enacted in 2009 and it became law in March 2010. This act targets non-compliance by U.S. taxpayers with foreign accounts and holdings. These foreign assets are reportable on Form 8938.
Tax Planning for Health Care Implementation
Written by: Dan Backus Are you uncertain how the 2010 Affordable Care Act will affect your taxes for 2013 and beyond? We will briefly go over possible tax planning ideas for high wage earners,
Will The IRS Consider Your Business A Hobby?
Blog - September 2013 Could the IRS declare your business to be a hobby this year? Let’s find out if your business is set up properly. If an activity is not engaged in trying to turn a profit,