Ideas & Insight

According to IRS Publication 5137, Fringe Benefit Guide, a fringe benefit is “a form of pay (including property, services, cash or cash equivalent), in addition to stated pay, for the performance of services.” But the tax treatment of a fringe benefit can vary dramatically based on the type of benefit. Generally, the IRS takes one of […]

Among the taxes that are being considered for repeal as part of tax reform legislation is the estate tax. This tax applies to transfers of wealth at death, hence why it’s commonly referred to as the “death tax.” Its sibling, the gift tax — also being considered for repeal — applies to transfers during life. […]

Most of the talk about possible tax legislation this year has focused on either wide-sweeping tax reform or taxes that are part of the Affordable Care Act. But there are a few other potential tax developments for individuals to keep an eye on. Back in December of 2015, Congress passed the PATH Act, which made […]

Now that Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal and replacement efforts appear to have collapsed, at least for the time being, it’s a good time for a refresher on the tax penalty the ACA imposes on individuals who fail to have “minimum essential” health insurance coverage for any month of the year. This requirement is commonly […]

In the quest to reduce your tax bill, year end planning can only go so far. Tax saving strategies take time to implement, so review your options now. These 3 tax saving strategies for mid-year can be very effective: 1. Consider your bracket The top income tax rate is 39.6% for taxpayers with taxable income […]

Do you own a vacation home that you rent out and use personally?  Make sure you understand the potential tax consequences of vacation homes: If you rent it out for less than 15 days: You don’t have to report the income. But expenses associated with the rental (such as advertising and cleaning) won’t be deductible. If you […]

As you plan your estate, don’t overlook the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax. Despite a generous $5.49 million GST tax exemption, complexities surrounding its allocation can create several tax traps for the unwary. Beware the Generation-skipping transfer tax when transferring assets. GST basics The GST tax is a flat, 40% tax on transfers to “skip persons,” […]

The IRA’s value as a retirement planning tool is well known: IRA assets compound on a tax-deferred (or, in the case of a Roth IRA, tax-free) basis, which can help build a more substantial nest egg. But if you don’t need an IRA to fund your retirement, you can use it as an estate planning […]

A primary goal of estate planning is asset protection. After all, no matter how well your estate plan is designed, it won’t do much good if you wind up with no wealth to share with your family.  Are your retirement savings safe from creditors? If you have significant assets in employer-sponsored retirement plans or IRAs, […]

Holding joint title on property with one or more children or other heirs is a common estate planning “shortcut.” But like many shortcuts, it can produce unintended — and costly — consequences.  Know what to expect before owning assets with children or other heirs. Advantages There are two potential advantages to joint ownership: convenience and probate avoidance. […]