THE DEDUCTIBILITY OF MEDICAL EXPENSES

Individual taxpayers may be able to claim medical expense deductions on their tax returns.  However, the rules can be challenging, and it can be difficult to qualify.  Here are five points to keep in mind: You must itemize to claim the deduction and have quite a few expenses. The medical

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SAFEGUARDING YOUR CRITICAL DOCUMENTS

So many of the documents we all use in our personal lives these days are digital.  However, there are still many that you should retain as hard copies.  These include:   Birth, marriage and death certificates Social Security cards Tax returns Passports Estate planning documents, such as deeds and wills

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PLAN AHEAD FOR HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS IN 2024

  The IRS has released guidance that includes the 2024 inflation-adjusted amounts for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).  The benefits of HSAs include: contributions are made on a pretax basis; funds can be withdrawn tax-free to pay for a variety of medical expenses, such as doctor visits, prescriptions, chiropractic care and

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WEIGHING THE PROS AND CONS OF LTC INSURANCE

The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath have significantly affected our lives in many ways that are still playing out. For example, the pandemic has served as a reminder of how difficult an unexpected medical crisis may be to manage financially.  It has also reinforced the importance of guarding against the

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COMPILING A MARITAL BALANCE SHEET IN DIVORCE

Divorce is difficult for everyone involved.  You can ease the process somewhat by begin organized.  A financial expert can help you with the first step: compiling a martial balance sheet of assets you own and the liabilities you owe, as a couple. Typical assets include the money in savings and

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A POSSIBLE TAX QUIRK OF BEING A BUSINESS PARTNER

  If you’re a partner in a business, you may have encountered a situation that gave you pause.  In any given year, you may have been taxed on more partnership income than was distributed to you.  The cause of this quirk of taxation lies in the way partnerships and partners

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YOUR ESTATE PLAN: DON’T FORGET ABOUT INCOME TAX PLANNING

As a result of the current estate tax exemption amount ($12.92 million in 2023), fewer people are concerned with federal estate tax.  Before 2011, a much smaller dollar amount resulted in many people scrambling to avoid estate tax.  Now, because many estates won’t be subject to estate tax, more planning

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ESTIMATED TAX PAYMENTS: WHO OWES THEM AND WHEN?

If you don’t have enough federal tax withheld from your paychecks and other payments, you may have to make estimated tax payments.  This is the case if you have taxable income from sources such as interest, dividends, self-employment, capital gains or other income.  Here are the applicable rules for paying

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ARE SCHOLARSHIPS TAXABLE?

If your child has been awarded a scholarship, that’s cause for celebration.  For some students, it will mean the difference between going to the college of their choice or starting at community college – or even not going at all.  But be aware that scholarship may bring tax implications. GENERALLY,

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