Category: Individual Tax

Elderly couple sitting on a bench looking out over a beach.

Catch-up Contribution Changes for Certain Retirement Savings Plans

Photo source: Pexels.com There has never been a better time to participate in a retirement savings plan—especially if you are approaching or are over the age of 50. New rules let individuals make even more “catch-up” tax-deferred contributions to savings. For closely held business owners and not-for-profit organizations that offer a sponsored retirement plan, however,

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OBBBA Key Provisions for Medicaid and Medicare Access

Within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is a large section outlining who will be eligible for Medicaid as well as eligibility and access to Medicare programs in the future. These changes leave questions for states, healthcare providers as well as supportive housing models and regional centers that rely on Medicare and Medicaid funding.

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OBBBA Key Provisions for Individuals & Businesses

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has restored and/or updated many of the provisions enacted through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA). It has also addressed the sunset of current estate and gift tax lifetime exemptions. Several tax provisions are designed to support individuals and pass-through small business owners. Our certified

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Shield life insurance proceeds from estate tax with an ILIT

Life insurance can provide peace of mind, but if your estate will be large enough that estate taxes will be a concern, it’s important to not own the policy at death. The policy’s proceeds will be included in your taxable estate and may be subject to estate tax. To avoid this result, a common estate

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Planning for Net Investment Income Tax

The 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT) is an additional tax that applies to some higher-income taxpayers on top of capital gains tax or ordinary income tax. Fortunately, there are strategies you can use to soften the blow of the NIIT. Are you subject to the NIIT? You’re potentially liable for the NIIT if your

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electric vehicle credit is part of IRS general business credit for businesses; Photo of electric car charging

Maximize the General Business Credit, IRS Section 38

Tax credits are far more valuable to businesses than tax deductions because they reduce your business tax liability dollar for dollar. For businesses, the aggregate value of tax credits may be limited by the general business credit (GBC), found in Internal Revenue Service Code Section 38. To identify more tax-saving opportunities for your business this

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Beware the five-year rule for Roth IRA withdrawals

To withdraw money from your IRA tax-free, there are a few rules taxpayers must follow, including the widely misunderstood “five-year rule.” This article explains the ins and outs of this rule. 3 types of withdrawals To understand the five-year rule, you first need to understand the three types of funds that may be withdrawn from

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IRS Announces Inflation Adjustments for 2023 Tax Year

Because inflation is high, many IRS inflation adjustments for 2023 will change more than they have in recent years. In the IRS Revenue Procedure 2022-38, it details these amounts. The following chart shows how these adjustments compare to amounts for 2022. Refer to these changes for your individual tax planning.   In addition, the Social

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2022 Year-End Tax Planning for Individuals

Ever since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) basically doubled the standard deduction amounts for many individual taxpayers, more households are opting for the standard deduction. For this year, the standard deduction allowances are: $12,950 for single people and married individuals filing separate returns, $19,400 for people who use head-of-household filing status,

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Important Tax Figures for 2022

The Internal Revenue Service announced the tax year 2022 annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions, including the tax rate schedules and other tax changes. Revenue Procedure 2021-45 provides details about these annual adjustments. The following table provides some important federal tax information for 2022, as compared with 2021. Some of the dollar amounts

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Close-Up on the Individual AMT

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) made the individual alternative minimum tax more taxpayer friendly for 2018 through 2025. For those years, the odds of owing the alternative minimum tax (AMT) have been significantly reduced – and, if you still owe the AMT, you’ll probably owe less than under prior law. Are you at

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Stack of 1040 tax returns lying on top of each other.

IRS Extends 2020 Individual Federal Return Filing Due Date

On March 17, 2021, the IRS announced that the federal individual income tax filing due date for 2020 returns will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021 to May 17, 2021. Formal IRS guidance will be issued shortly. The extended due date also applies to the tax payment due with the individual return. No interest

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Employers: Register for the CalSavers Retirement Program

The California State Treasurer’s office has begun sending email reminders to California employers to register for the CalSavers Retirement Savings Program (CalSavers). CalSavers was passed into law in 2016.  California employers with five or more employees, and at least one of whom is age 18 or over, are required by state law to participate in

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LvHJ’s COVID-19 Update

We hope you and your loved ones are well! It has been an unprecedented week for California. We are all learning how to adjust to our new circumstances; both professionally and personally. In the wake of Governor Newsom’s Stay-at-Home order for California, we have had no choice but to further restrict our activities to stay

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Tax Deferral ‘Opportunity Zones’ Approved for California

As part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the Governors of each state spent the first few months of 2018 requesting public comment and nominating certain census tracts as Opportunity Zones. Out of 3,516 census tracts in the state, 879 were designated by the Governor and all were certified by the U.S.

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Tax Reform Updates 12/22/2017

Congress is enacting the biggest tax reform law in thirty years, one that will make fundamental changes in the way you, your family and your business calculate your federal income tax bill, and the amount of federal tax you will pay. Since most of the changes will go into effect next year, there’s still a

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Tax Reform Updates

It seems we may be closer to revised tax law for the 2017 tax year. At this rate, floor votes may still happen prior to the holiday break. But rest assured that legislators will pore over the published tax bill before a vote. Proposed Changes The House & Senate Republican Conference Committee have agreed in

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Nonqualified Stock Options Demand Tax Planning Attention

Your compensation may take several forms, including salary, fringe benefits and bonuses. If you work for a corporation, you might also receive stock-based compensation, such as stock options. These come in two varieties: nonqualified (NQSOs) and incentive (ISOs). With both NQSOs and ISOs, if the stock appreciates beyond your exercise price, you can buy shares

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Universal Charitable Deduction Could Reduce Taxes, Boost Giving

Itemizing your charitable giving on your tax return has always been a great incentive to give — along with the warm feeling of supporting good causes. However, tax reform proposals by Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration that would increase the standard deduction for individuals and families may take away that incentive. After all, it’s

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