Is disability income taxable?

Is disability income taxable? Generally, income you receive for disability through an employer-paid accident or health insurance plan must be included on your tax return. An exclusion exists if certain payments are for personal injury or sickness. A married couple received disability income from the husband’s retirement plan and were sent a Form 1099-R for […]

Own a home with someone you aren’t married to?

Are you buying a home with someone you aren’t married to? If so, the IRS says that you may each be entitled to deduct the portion of the mortgage interest and real property tax you pay. This is true even if only one of you receives a Form 1098, Mortgage Interest Statement, from the lender […]

Healthy savings: How tax-smart HSAs can benefit your small business and employees

As a small business owner, managing health care costs for yourself and your employees can be challenging. One effective tool to consider adding is a Health Savings Account (HSA). HSAs offer a range of benefits that can help you save on health care expenses while providing valuable tax advantages. You may already have an HSA. […]

IRS asks for whistleblowers to help identify offshore tax evasion

The IRS recently stated on its website that it “remains very focused on offshore tax evasion through unreported financial accounts and structures.” The tax agency explained that it’s “employing existing tools and data analytics to address the various forms of offshore tax evasion that undermine fairness in the tax system.” However, it added that “certain […]

Did you receive Educational benefits from your employer?

If you receive education assistance fringe benefits from your employer, you may be able to exclude up to $5,250 of the benefits annually from your taxable income. This means your employer can reimburse you for eligible expenses and won’t include those benefits with your wages, tips, and other compensation shown on your Form W-2. You […]

Do you qualify for a home office?

If you work from home, you may wonder if your workspace qualifies for a home office tax deduction. To qualify for the deduction, there are specific requirements you must meet. For example, if you’re an employee and your employer requires you to work remotely, your home office currently doesn’t qualify. If you’re self-employed, to qualify, […]

What are retained earnings — and why do they matter?

Owners’ equity is the difference between the assets and liabilities reported on your company’s balance sheet. It’s generally composed of two pieces: capital contributions and retained earnings. The former represents the amounts owners have paid into the business and stock repurchases, but the latter may be less familiar. Here’s an overview of what’s recorded in […]

First estimated tax payment deadline for the 2025 tax year

IRS issues automatic payments for Recovery Rebate Credit from 2021

The IRS announced plans to issue automatic payments to eligible taxpayers who didn’t claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. IRS data showed that many taxpayers filed a return but didn’t claim the credit. The Recovery Rebate Credit is a refundable credit for taxpayers who didn’t receive one or more Economic Impact […]

Did you get Married in 2024?

Did you or someone you know get married in 2024? The IRS has provided a checklist to help newlyweds avoid mistakes that could cost them at tax time. How you file depends on your marital status on Dec. 31. The married-filing-jointly status is typically the most beneficial for married couples. Still, taking a what-if look […]