Our Financial Blog
“Return Being Processed” Means the IRS Received Your Tax Return, But it Could Still Be Delayed
Many taxpayers use the Where's My Refund tool and wonder what "Return being processed" means for them and their refund. The answer: not much yet! The prompt means that the IRS has received your return, but due to Covid-19 delays, the IRS is experiencing a considerable...
If You Have a Side Hustle, Be Advised: The IRS is Cracking Down
For several years now, the IRS has required payments made to merchants through various marketplaces, payment processors (credit & debit cards), and third-party settlement organizations (TPSOs) to be reported on Form 1099-K. The purpose being to uncover merchants...
Managing Your Finances During an Inflationary Period
It's hard to ignore the real-life impacts inflation is having. While gas and grocery prices are having the most immediate effect, the price of almost everything is going up. People who are looking for ways to counter the impact and preserve financial stability can...
Does a Tax Deduction and a Tax Credit Result in the Same Benefit?
Tax lingo, even without getting into the weeds of the Internal Revenue Code, tax regulations, IRS rulings, etc., can be confusing. Two frequently used terms that taxpayers sometimes think provide the same tax benefit, but don’t, are “tax deductions” and “tax credits.”...
Highlights of College Savings Plans (Sec. 529 Plans)
The Qualified State Tuition Plan, often referred to as the Sec 529 Plan, is a tax-beneficial incentive for parents, grandparents, and others to save money for an individual’s future college tuition and fees. There is no federal tax deduction for making contributions....
Is There a Tax Break for Tuition Paid to Special Schools?
A component of itemized deductions is the cost of medical care. The total of eligible medical expenses paid during the tax year is reduced by 7.5% of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income (AGI). While you are undoubtedly familiar with most of the medical expenses...
Costs for Installing Medically-Related Home Improvements Have Tax Benefits
According to the Social Security Administration, 10,000 baby boomers a day are reaching the age of 65, as of 2018 16% of Americans were age 65 or older, and by 2030 all boomers will be at least 65. Boomers aren’t the only reason the nation’s overall population is...
Hobby or For-Profit Activity? The Answer Makes a Big Difference for Tax Purposes
If you are engaged in an activity that produces income, the big tax question is whether the activity is a hobby or a business. The tax treatment of your income or loss from this endeavor hinges on the answer. The tax code (Section 183 – the so-called “hobby loss...
Twists and Turns of the Education Tax Credits
If you have a child or children in college, or perhaps you or your spouse is a student, it can be confusing to figure out which of the two potential education tax credits you are eligible for and give you the greater tax benefit. There are two higher-education tax...
What’s Next for the Child Tax Credit?
December 15th, 2021 marked the last deposit date for the child tax credit payment expanded under the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Though many had hoped the program would be continued, political leaders are struggling to find a way forward that makes the majority of...
Crucial Steps You Can Use To Take Control of Your Finances in 2022 and Beyond
As the old saying goes, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Whoever coined that phrase was absolutely talking about finances, whether they realized it or not. According to one recent study, a general lack of financial education costs Americans a collective $415...
Planning for a Child’s College Expenses Should Start Early
Some in Congress have proposed “free” (i.e., government-paid) tuition for community college attendance. Even if that proposal were to become law, it still leaves parents and their children-students responsible for paying for college and university attendance if the...
Things to Remember When Filing Income Tax Returns in 2022
The IRS is reminding taxpayers about things they should remember when filing their 2021 income tax returns in 2022. According to the IRS, following these tips will help speed tax return processing and avoid refund delays: How to speed up return processing, avoid...
Another Rough Tax Season for IRS and Taxpayers?
This could be another rough tax season for the IRS and taxpayers. Although this year’s filing season opens January 24, 2022 (i.e., it is the first day the IRS will accept and start processing 2021 returns), the Service still has a backlog of prior year returns to...
Advance Child Tax Credit and EIP must be Reconciled on Your 2021 Tax Return
Early in 2021 Congress passed the American Rescue Plan which included a provision that increased the child tax credit amount and upped the age limit of eligible children. Normally, the credit was $2,000 per eligible child under age 17. For the 2021 tax year the...
What is Tax Basis and Why Is It So Important?
For tax purposes, the term “basis” refers to the monetary value used to measure a gain or loss. For instance, if you purchase shares of a stock for $1,000, your basis in that stock is $1,000; if you then sell those shares for $3,000, the gain is calculated based on...
Tax Benefits Available to Disabled Taxpayers
Disabled individuals, as well as parents of disabled children, may qualify for a number of tax credits and other tax benefits. Listed below are several tax credits and other benefits that are available if you or someone listed on your federal tax return is disabled....
Minimum Wage Increases in Virginia
The start of the new year means an increase to the minimum wage in Virginia. The minimum wage will increase from $9.50 to $11.00 an hour on January 1, 2022. It will increase to $12.00 an hour in 2023.
Time is Running Out to Take Your 2021 RMD
Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) are required taxable distributions from qualified retirement plans and are commonly associated with traditional IRAs, but they also apply to 401(k)s and SEP IRAs. The tax code does not allow taxpayers to indefinitely keep funds in...
Tax Benefits for Holiday Gifts
Some holiday gifts you provide to members of your family, employees and others may also yield tax benefits—think of it as Santa Claus meets Uncle Sam. Here are some examples: Electric Car Credit* – If you purchase a new electric car as a holiday gift for your spouse...