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Top Tax Deductions for Seniors and Retirees

Leave a comment Business Expenses, Deductions, Expenses Deductions, Income, Investment-Related Deductions, IRA, Medical Expenses, Roth IRA, Roth Thrift Savings Plan

Here are some of the most important tax deductions for seniors and retirees. 

  1. Higher standard deduction.

Any taxpayer that is 65 and older by December 31 of the tax year is entitled to a higher standard deduction. Taxpayers may take the higher standard deduction if a spouse is age 65 or older and together they file a joint return. Also, the higher standard deduction may be taken if the taxpayer files a separate return and can claim an exemption for a spouse because the spouse had no gross income and can’t be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer. 

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Tax Issues for new Widows and Widowers

Leave a comment Capital Gains, Capital Losses, Death Benefits, Expenses Deductions, Filing Status, Gains & Losses, Home-Related Deductions, Income Exclusions, Income Tax, Interest Income, IRA, Medical Expenses, New York Estate Tax, Roth IRA, Roth Thrift Savings Plan, Social Security Benefits, Standard Deductions, Tax Credit, Taxable Gain

It’s a traumatic experience to lose a spouse. While there is little that can be done to replace this physical and emotional loss, the Tax Code provides some relief for newly widowed taxpayers. Here is a summary of some of the tax breaks for the newly widowed:

Filing Status

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Losing IRA Status Under IRC § 408(e)(2)

Leave a comment IRA, Roth IRA, Roth Thrift Savings Plan, Taxable Income

Owners of Self-Directed IRAs which engage in certain types of “prohibited transactions” or invest in life insurance, foreign investments or collectibles may risk losing the tax-deferred status of their IRA accounts. If the owner (or beneficiary) of an individual retirement account, as described in I.R.C. §408(a), engages in any transaction that is prohibited under IRC §4975, the entire value of the IRA, determined as of the first day of the taxable year for which the account or annuity ceases to be an IRA, is treated as distributed to the IRA owner. See I.R.C. §408(e)(2)(B).

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Ways To Reduce Taxes In Retirement

Leave a comment Estate Tax, Gains & Losses, Interest Income, IRA, Roth Thrift Savings Plan, Tax Credit

Which retirement account, vehicle or venture is best? One thing is certain, diversity still carries the day when it comes to investments as different ones afford the most flexibility. The returns on different types of investments are treated differently by the tax code, which logically means that some get better tax treatment than others. Qualified dividends and capital gains, for example, are taxed at a lower rate than ordinary income, and thus are attractive investment options for retirement.

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Tax Benefits Of MyRAs and ABLEs

Leave a comment Education 529 Plans, myRAs and ABLEs, Qualified Disability Expenses, Roth Thrift Savings Plan

Tax Benefits Of MyRAs and ABLEs

In 2015, taxpayers were introduced to two new tax-friendly savings accounts that are designed for individuals who don’t earn an abundance of income, including low-income families which have members that are both young and disabled. ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience), and myRA (my Retirement Account) savings accounts were made available in January and November 2015, respectively. Let’s look at the benefits of the myRA first.

myRA

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NEW AND OLD TAX SCAMS AND TRICKS

Leave a comment Fraudulent Return, Frivolous Return Program, Phishing, Roth Thrift Savings Plan, Tax Abatement, Tax fraud & evasion

Taxpayers must always be vigilant regarding the legality of an action related to the filing of their taxes. This includes whether they are filing an IRS form, calculating income, claiming a deduction, characterizing assets, preparing a tax return, or communicating with a third party claiming to be a tax advisor or employee or agent of the IRS. Taxpayers must not knowingly or unknowingly participate in any scams that involve the calculation, filing, and payment of their taxes or the results may be devastating. Here are some new and old tax scams of which all taxpayers must be aware:

  1. Phishing
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TOP TEN TAX BREAKS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL

Leave a comment Capital Gains, Combat Pay, Death Benefits, Expenses Deductions, IRA, Military, Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, News, Roth Thrift Savings Plan

The IRS has made available several tax breaks for military personnel, especially over the last few decades. For federal tax purposes, the U.S. Armed Forces includes officers and enlisted personnel in all regular and reserve units controlled by the Secretaries of Defense, the Army, Navy and Air Force. The Coast Guard is also included, but not the U.S. Merchant Marine or the American Red Cross. Some of these tax breaks are retroactive, and thus require the filing of an amended return by the affected taxpayer. Remember that if you away from home because of duty in the military, your spouse can use a power of attorney to file a joint return on your behalf. Here are ten tax breaks worth noting for military personnel.

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