Summer is a good time for some tax planning that could lower your 2024 tax bill. Since the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which increased the standard deduction, fewer people benefit from itemizing deductions. You can use this IRS Interactive Tax Assistant to find your 2024 standard deduction. If it’s looking like your itemized […]
Purchasing a home is an expensive proposition that leaves many would-be buyers feeling cash strapped. If that’s you, you might be thinking about taking some money out of your traditional IRA to help fund the purchase. But should you? Afterall, a 10% penalty normally applies to IRA withdrawals before age 59 1/2. The good news […]
Under the Inflation Reduction Act, construction contractors who build or rehab energy-efficient homes may be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $5,000 per project. To claim the credit, builders are required to construct or substantially rehab a qualified home and own it during the construction process. To be qualified, a home must […]
Leaving a job? You may want to roll over funds in your former employer’s 401(k) plan to an IRA. But there’s a tax trap for the unwary. If you receive a 401(k) plan check that’s payable to you personally or if you have a distribution put into a personal account electronically, 20% of the taxable […]
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are tax-advantaged savings vehicles for funding health care expenses not covered by insurance. And for those in relatively good health, they also may serve as attractive retirement savings vehicles. To be eligible to contribute, an individual must be covered by a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). In 2024, an HDHP must have […]
