Taxes are what you pay to the federal, state and local governments where you live. Different types of taxes include income taxes, capital gains tax, sales tax, estate tax and real estate taxes such as property tax. Learn how to bequest property and do transactions in a way that will help you pay less taxes and follow the law.
Estate Planning: Trust May Be Better Than Quit Claim Deed
When an elderly parent wants to pass along a property to a child, a trust may be the better choice in order to avoid probate and an increased cost basis. Some families think about using a quit claim deed, which allows the owner to sign over all ownership and financial interests in a property. Using a quit claim deed means the recipient receives the property at the original cost basis which could lead to high capital gains taxes upon sale.
Tax Implications For Elderly Selling Property
You may have to sell some assets to pay for assisted living for an elderly family member. If the asset being sold is a home, what taxes will have to be paid and at what rate? It depends on who owns the home and how the property is sold. Learn about the factors you should take into account for financial planning for elder care.
Automobile Business Expense As Tax Deduction
When you use your car for work you may be able to deduct your automobile expenses on your taxes. Eligible automobile expenses for a tax deduction include mileage and depreciation. But if you don't itemize your deductions on your taxes you cannot claim your automobile expenses as one of these deductions. Contact a tax preparer for more information.
Seniors Paying Cash For New Home
A retired couple would like to pay cash for their new home. Seniors living on a fixed income should do everything they can to reduce their monthly expenses. You can pay cash for a house and open up a home equity line of credit instead of taking out a mortgage loan.
Moving Helps Avoid Capital Gains Taxes
When you own two homes, and one is a renovation that you planned to flip, where should you live? It depends in part on the tax consequences of selling the homes. It may make sense to move from your current home into the renovated home so you will pay lower capital gains taxes on the home sale. You can live in the renovated home for a few years and then sell it as well for more profit and a better capital gains tax amount.
Home Office Deduction And Capital Gains
The home office deduction may be available to you if you are running a business out of your home. But what happens when you stop using your home office? How does it affect your capital gains when you sell your home?
Mortgage Interest A Tax Advantage?
Is there a tax advantage to having a mortgage on your house? Forget the tax advantage, the interest on a mortgage isn't worth more than putting the money directly into your property. Most homeowners don't itemize their mortgage interest on their tax forms, so pay cash for your house if you can.
Property Tax Assessment Depends On More Than Market Value
Why might a market value for a home be so much higher than a tax assessor's value? It depends on how the tax assessor calculates the home value. Learn about the nuances that tax assessors may consider when determining a home's value.
IRS Tax Refund: Pay Debt And Loans Down, Start IRA
Getting a tax refund from the IRS isn't much to brag about. If you're getting a tax refund from the IRS, you just gave the government an interest free loan by overpaying what you owed. There are some smart moves you can make with your tax refund from the IRS.
Last Minute Tax Filing Options
Anyone who can't file their return by midnight on April 15 can get an automatic four month extension. That gives you time to complete your return, but you still have to pay any taxes that would be due today or owe interest and penalties on top of the tax owed.