Is it a Tax Deduction? Truthiness May be Telling You Yes, But the IRS Says No

Comedian Steve Colbert coined the stunt word truthiness in the 2005 pilot of his political satire program “The Colbert Report”. It was named Merriam-Webster’s word of the year in 2006. What is it? If […]

Mandatory IRA Withdrawals: If this is Your First Distribution, You Still Have Time to Take It Without Penalty

In order to help individuals save money for retirement, the IRS offers tax advantages for Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA).  An IRA is not itself an investment. It’s basically a savings account with tax breaks. […]

Incorporating Your Business – Now What Should You Name It?

One of the most frequent questions we’re asked when it comes to forming a business entity is – “What should I call it?” And with few exceptions, the answer is pretty simple – “Whatever […]

When Can You Not Take a Mortgage Interest Deduction?

When the federal tax code was written in 1913, all interest was deductible, but at that time very few Americans outside of farmers had home mortgages. In 1986, when Congress overhauled the tax code, […]

The Incorporation Gap – Have You Incorporated Your Business?

How many US workers are self-employed? The numbers vary widely. An old Intuit survey estimated that by 2020, 40% of the US workforce would be self-employed. A Washington lobbying group named “It’s My Business” […]

I’m Behind in My Student Loan Payments, But I Need My Tax Refund – What Can I Do?

Approximately 13.7 percent of federally guaranteed student loans are in default. Default rates are based on the number of students who have defaulted on at least one student loan within three years after leaving […]

What’s the Difference Between the Annual Gift Tax Exclusion and the Lifetime Gift Tax Exemption?

It’s the holiday season, the time for gift giving. It may also be the time to ask yourself, are you fully informed as to what can you gift to friends and family without a […]

Providing Care for a Family Member May Lead to Tax Benefits

Caring for an elderly parent may be a labor of love, but it may also be financially stressful. In fact, the costs, or the loss of income, can be significant. If you quit a […]

Small Business Myths – 3 Common Misconceptions

One of the best things you can do as part of your business strategy is to incorporate it as a formal entity. But many (in fact, most) business activities are conducted informally with no […]

If you Signed Up for Insurance Under the Affordable Care Act, You May Be Entitled to a Tax Credit

Approximately 7.1 million Americans signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. According to a poll taken by the Commonwealth Fund, 73% of people who purchased a health plan through the marketplace […]