Money Today That Matters Tomorrow
As a part time MBA student, with a single income and young family, I am particularly sensitive to rising education costs. So I was dismayed to see that my university’s (already expensive) tuition costs were again rising. This is the third year in a row and my degree will end …
[Updated with 2013 IRS inflation adjusted tax brackets and fiscal cliff changes] Congress and the Obama administration’s fiscal cliff deal (ATRA act) means that 2013 federal tax rates will remain fixed for nearly 99% of the population. Only those earning above $450,000/$400,000 (married/single) AGI will have a higher federal marginal tax rate in …
The Treasury recently released their Greenbook on President Obama’s 2013 budget proposal. The Greenbook explains the Administration’s revenue proposals included in the budget that seek to boost near-term growth; provide permanent middle-class tax relief; encourage onshore investments in manufacturing and insourced jobs; cut taxes for small businesses; add balance to …
See this article for the latest Saver’s tax credit details and updated annual thresholds. [Updated with 2012 and 2013 information] Despite tough economic times, you should not lose sight of your longer term retirement savings. This is where the little known IRS recommended savers credit can help you to keep contributing …
See this article for the latest federal tax filing deadlines. Generally you can paper file your tax return on January 1st of the following year. But if, like most tax payers, you file an electronic return (e-file) you can only submit your return to the IRS in late January, which …
[2013 Update] As I was updating this article, originally written in mid-2011 following the first debt ceiling deal, I got a major sense of deja-vu. After 18 months we are back in the same place with a dysfunctional Congress who barely passed legislation to avert the fiscal cliff. But it’s …
Following enactment of the American Tax Relief Act (ATRA), the annual “AMT patch” legislation that Congress had to pass every year to ensure more people were not snagged by the Alternative Minimum tax is now no longer required. Instead the AMT exemption and associated thresholds based on filing status are …
The AOTC allows parents and students to receive a tax credit of up to $2,500 for qualified undergraduate college expenses, based on certain income limits. The AOTC replaced the smaller Hope credit a few years ago as part of bills passed under the Obama administration (see section below for origin). …
[2013 Small Business Tax Breaks Extensions] Congress and the Obama administration have reached an agreement that will extend a number of small business tax breaks through 2013 following the fiscal cliff deal which was legislated through the Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. This includes: R&D credit extended: The Research and Development (R&D) tax credit was extended for another …
Without further approved extensions the Child Tax Credit (CTC) has returned to normal levels and can only be claimed when filing your tax return, versus advance fully refundable payments provided during the pandemic years. See section below for a potential 2024 expansion to CTC payments. The child tax credit (CTC) …
Congress and the Obama administration’s fiscal cliff deal means that 2013 federal tax rates will remain fixed for nearly 99% of the population. Only those earning $450,000/$400,000 (married/single) AGI will have a higher marginal tax rate in 2013, relative to 2012 levels. Below are the likely 2013 tax rates and inflation …
[Updated with 2024 IRS adjustments] Below are the latest Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) tables and income qualification thresholds adjusted for recent tax years and new legislation. These limits are adjusted annually in line with inflation and other government mandates. The EITC has returned to normal levels following the temporary …
The IRS standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating a car (includes vans, pickups or panel trucks) for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes are shown in the table below. These are effective from Jan. 1. The business mileage rate is based on an annual study of the fixed …
The supreme courts 5-4 ruling in favor of President Obama’s health care plan means that most of the act’s provisions will now go into action. You can find details of these here, but to summarize: Starting in 2013 The legislation for the first time would place a $2,500 limit on …