2015 Year End Newsletter, Deductions

Deducting Un-reimbursed Professional Expenses

According to the IRS, to be deductible, an expenditure must be both "ordinary" and "necessary" in connection with your profession.  The IRS defines "ordinary" as common and accepted in a particular profession and "necessary" as helpful and appropriate for a particular profession. Here’s a list of 16 professional expenditures commonly incurred by young health care… Continue reading Deducting Un-reimbursed Professional Expenses

Education, Savings, Taxes

8 Tax Savers for Parents

From IRS Tax Tips: Your children may help you qualify for valuable tax benefits. Here are eight tax benefits parents should look out for when filing their federal tax returns this year. 1. Dependents.  In most cases, you can claim your child as a dependent. This applies even if your child was born anytime in 2013.… Continue reading 8 Tax Savers for Parents

SS Tax 101, Taxes

SS Tax101: Choosing the Right Filing Status

We're happy to start a monthly "Tax 101" Series! We'll feature basic topics of taxes and hopefully answer those questions that you maybe felt were "too silly to ask" a CPA in person.  And please let us know if there are topics you'd like us to cover. Topic 1: Filing Statuses (from IRS Tax Tips) Using… Continue reading SS Tax101: Choosing the Right Filing Status

Deductions

Deducting Un-reimbursed Professional Expenses

According to the IRS, to be deductible, an expenditure must be both "ordinary" and "necessary" in connection with your profession.  The IRS defines "ordinary" as common and accepted in a particular profession and "necessary" as helpful and appropriate for a particular profession. Here’s a list of 16 professional expenditures commonly incurred by young health care… Continue reading Deducting Un-reimbursed Professional Expenses

Uncategorized

Holiday Volunteer Day

We enjoyed our day at The Mission of Deeds very much! We helped sort furniture, holiday decorations, and household items that will be distributed directly to families in need.  We were also able to see some of the beds we help sponsor monthly through their Buy A Bed program. To learn more about Mission of… Continue reading Holiday Volunteer Day

Uncategorized

Year End Planning Tip

During December, you should evaluate whether you'll save any taxes by postponing 2013 income or deductions into 2014 or by accelerating 2014 income or deductions into 2013.  While many factors should be evaluated prior to making your final decision, a few items to keep in mind are as follows: For 2013, a single person will… Continue reading Year End Planning Tip

Planning

Checklist to Cut your 2013 Tax Bill

It's not too late to cut your 2013 tax bill.  Prior to Dec. 31st:  Increase your 401(k) and 403(b) contributions if you haven't been contributing at the maximum rate all year.  This year you can put away up to $17,500 ($23,000 if 50 or older) into your 401(k) or 403(b) plan.  If you’re self-employed, consider… Continue reading Checklist to Cut your 2013 Tax Bill

Uncategorized

Social Security Max increase to $117,000 for 2014

Each year, the government bumps up the maximum Social Security taxes that you can pay. For 2014, the maximum wage base jumps to $117,000, an increase of $3,300, or 2.8%, over the max of $113,700 that was in place for 2013. The Social Security Administration predicts that 10 million individuals will end up paying higher… Continue reading Social Security Max increase to $117,000 for 2014

Taxes

IRS Delays Tax Season

The IRS has announced it will delay the start of tax season due to the Federal government shut-down.  The agency needs adequate time to program and test tax processing systems prior to the start of next tax season. The earliest individual tax returns will be accepted is now January 28, 2014.  The filing deadline remains… Continue reading IRS Delays Tax Season

Practice Management

“Million Dollar Metrics” for General Dentists

Managing a practice requires that you look at "the numbers" on a regular basis. If you're like most practicing Doctors, you probably try to glance at the production and collections figures at least monthly. Did you know that there are a lot of other performance metrics that can help you gauge how your practice is… Continue reading “Million Dollar Metrics” for General Dentists

College financial planning

FINALLY! Student Loan Rates Set for Academic Year 2013-2014

by Guest Author: Todd Weaver of Strategies for College The 113th Congress has agreed on something! Yes, it’s true! The Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013 passed the House and Senate earlier this summer. After all of the moaning and groaning from both sides of the aisle, the Higher Education Act of 1965 has… Continue reading FINALLY! Student Loan Rates Set for Academic Year 2013-2014

Practice Management, Taxes

Tax Tips if You’re Starting a Business

If you plan to start a new business, or you’ve just opened your doors, it is important for you to know your federal tax responsibilities. Here are five basic tips from the IRS that can help you get started: 1. Type of Business. Early on, you will need to decide the type of business you… Continue reading Tax Tips if You’re Starting a Business

Gambling, Income

Six Tips on Gambling Income and Losses

From IRS News: Whether you roll the dice, play cards or bet on the ponies, all your winnings are taxable. The IRS offers these six tax tips for the casual gambler. 1. Gambling income includes winnings from lotteries, raffles, horse races and casinos. It also includes cash and the fair market value of prizes you… Continue reading Six Tips on Gambling Income and Losses