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Self-Directed IRAs Provide Both Flexibility and Risk
Traditional and Roth IRAs can be relatively “safe” retirement-saving vehicles, though, depending on what they're invested in, they limit your investment choices. For more flexibility in investment choices but also more risk, another option is a self-directed IRA....
Education Benefits Help Attract and Retain Employees While Saving Taxes
Your business can attract and retain employees by providing education benefits that enable team members to improve their skills and gain additional knowledge, all on a tax-advantaged basis. Here's a closer look at some education benefits options. Educational...
Businesses Can Save Taxes by Acquiring and Placing Assets in Service by Year End
Under Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code, companies can “expense” the full cost of qualifying fixed assets to reduce their taxable income. This means they can deduct the purchase amount currently rather than having to depreciate the asset over many years. Both...
Make 2023 Annual Exclusion Gifts by Dec. 31
One of the most effective estate-tax-saving techniques is also one of the simplest: making use of the gift tax annual exclusion. It allows you to give to an unlimited number of family or friends cash or property valued up to a “specified” amount each year without...
How QuickBooks Can Improve Your Chances of Budget Success
Budgets are hard to maintain through the best of times let alone over the last few years. First there was COVID. Then supply chain issues. Then a significant rise in inflation. If you've been trying to stick to a budget, you've probably been struggling. The biggest...
How To Be Ready To Secure a Business Bad Debt Deduction on Your 2023 Tax Return
Is your business having trouble collecting payments from clients or vendors? You might be able to claim a bad debt deduction on your tax return. But if you hope to take the deduction on your 2023 return, you'll have to get busy, because you must be able to show that...
New Per Diem Rates for Business Travel
The IRS has announced the per diem rates for ordinary and necessary business travel expenses in fiscal year 2023-24: When using the high-low substantiation method, the rate for travel to high-cost localities is $309 per day and the rate for all other continental...
Is Disability Income Taxable?
If you may be eligible for disability income should you become disabled, it's important to know whether that income will be taxable. As is often the case with tax questions, the answer is “it depends.” Key Factor The key factor is who paid it. If your employer will...
One-Time Thing: IRA to HSA transfer
Did you know that you can transfer funds directly from your IRA to a Health Savings Account (HSA) without taxes or penalties? Under current law, you're permitted to make one such “qualified HSA funding distribution” during your lifetime. Typically, if you have an IRA...
Follow IRS Rules to Nail Down a Charitable Tax Deduction
Donating cash and property to your favorite charity is beneficial to the charity, but also to you in the form of a tax deduction if you itemize. However, to be deductible, your donation must meet certain IRS criteria. First, the charity you're donating to must be a...