Is C-Corp to S-Corp a Smart Move?
Reaching C-Corporation status can feel like the realization of a dream, and it can be the best structure for many businesses. However, sometimes it makes more sense to elect an S-Corporation filing status. Just don’t do it hastily: There are important considerations to be made. The C-Corp business structure is unique in that it turns […]
Dangers of TikTok Tax Advice
Are you a TikTok fan? Love someone who is? Many on the social media platform swear it’s a great way to pick up practical lifehacks, including valuable little nuggets of tax advice. But is it all it’s cracked up to be? According to a study by Personal Capital, more than half of TikTok users turn […]
IRS Caught Covering Up a $38 Million Blunder
The IRS was recently caught backdating a signature on a valuation penalty document—and then trying to talk their way out of trouble—in a giant conservation easement case. Legal experts wonder whether the IRS has backdated penalty documents in other similar cases, “hinting at a troubling picture of potentially systemic issues within the IRS.” This recent […]
Education Tax Credits: What You Need to Know
It’s back-to-school season, so what better time to talk education tax credits? Taxpayers claiming the credits are often flagged by the IRS, usually due to a simple-to-fix form mismatch. There are two education tax credits that students—and parents of students—can claim: The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC). The IRS […]
Claiming an Adult Child on Your Tax Return
We’re often asked how long a young adult can be claimed as a dependent on their parent’s tax return. Navigating taxes on their own is a rite of passage that most would prefer to put off as long as possible, after all. Most young adults can do just that and remain as dependents on their […]
Employer Tax Breaks for Student Loan Assistance
COVID-era repayment and interest moratoriums on student loans are ending. If you’re an employer, you no doubt have employees who are affected (you may be personally affected as well). Here are some insights on how employers can help while receiving tax breaks in the process. Acknowledge the Situation Repayment requirements start in October, but interest […]
IRS Intends to Be More User-Friendly by 2024
The IRS recently updated the public on how it’s been spending its cash infusion, including new online accounts and mobile-friendly forms. It also announced an end to surprise visits from tax collectors. “We’ve started transforming IRS operations,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel stated. “These will provide significant benefits for taxpayers, tax professionals, and the tax system […]
Study Reveals Who’s Most Likely to Cut Out Heirs
Who would have predicted this plotline: Agreeable and extroverted individuals are more likely to distribute wealth to their children unequally, while more calculating introverts appear likelier to divide their estate evenly among multiple heirs. Consultant Matthew Sommer, Ph.D., CFA, CFP®, and Kansas State University Assistant Professor of Personal Financial Planning HanNa Lim came to this […]
You Can’t Beat the IRS with a Dead Horse
Some people seem to think the IRS will overlook just about anything. But a dead horse? That’s hard to miss. When a California-based horse enthusiast and IT business owner’s last horse died in 2008, being horseless didn’t stop her from continuing to claim business deductions for her horse-related endeavors. The IRS noticed and took a […]
Overestimating Your Retirement Savings?
A recent study shows 28% of U.S. households think they’re on track for retirement but are actually at risk of falling short. Extremely surprising: High-income households are most likely to fall into this trap. The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College led the study based on data presented in the National Retirement Risk Index […]