Tag: itemizing

  • Deduction of Vehicle Expenses for Individual Taxpayers

    Deduction of Vehicle Expenses for Individual Taxpayers

    It’s not just businesses that can deduct vehicle-related expenses. Individuals also can deduct them in certain circumstances. Unfortunately, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) might reduce your deduction compared to what you claimed on your 2017 return. For 2017, miles driven for business, moving, medical and charitable purposes were potentially deductible. For 2018 through…

  • Some Deductions May Be Smaller (or Nonexistent) When You File Your 2018 Tax Return

    Some Deductions May Be Smaller (or Nonexistent) When You File Your 2018 Tax Return

    While the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) reduces most income tax rates and expands some tax breaks, it limits or eliminates several itemized deductions that have been valuable to many individual taxpayers. Here are five deductions you may see shrink or disappear when you file your 2018 income tax return: State and local tax…

  • Does Prepaying Property Taxes Make Sense Anymore?

    Does Prepaying Property Taxes Make Sense Anymore?

    Prepaying property taxes related to the current year but due the following year has long been one of the most popular and effective year-end tax-planning strategies. But does it still make sense in 2018? The answer, for some people, is yes — accelerating this expense will increase their itemized deductions, reducing their tax bills. But…

  • Catch-up Retirement Plan Contributions Can Be Particularly Advantageous Post-TCJA

    Catch-up Retirement Plan Contributions Can Be Particularly Advantageous Post-TCJA

    Will you be age 50 or older on December 31? Are you still working? Are you already contributing to your 401(k) plan or Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) up to the regular annual limit? Then you may want to make “catch-up” contributions by the end of the year. Increasing your retirement plan contributions…

  • Donate Appreciated Stock for Twice the Tax Benefits

    Donate Appreciated Stock for Twice the Tax Benefits

    A tried-and-true year end tax strategy is to make charitable donations. As long as you itemize and your gift qualifies, you can claim a charitable deduction. But did you know that you can enjoy an additional tax benefit if you donate long-term appreciated stock instead of cash? Two benefits from one gift Appreciated publicly traded…

  • Could “Bunching” Medical Expenses into 2018 Save You Tax?

    Could “Bunching” Medical Expenses into 2018 Save You Tax?

    Some of your medical expenses may be tax deductible, but only if you itemize deductions and have enough expenses to exceed the applicable floor for deductibility. With proper planning, you may be able to time controllable medical expenses to your tax advantage. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) could make bunching such expenses into…

  • Play Your Tax Cards Right with Gambling Wins and Losses

    Play Your Tax Cards Right with Gambling Wins and Losses

    If you gamble, be sure you understand the tax consequences. Both wins and losses can affect your income tax bill. And changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) could also have an impact. Wins and taxable income You must report 100% of your gambling winnings as taxable income. The value of complimentary goodies…

  • TCJA Temporarily Lowers Medical Expense Deduction Threshold

    TCJA Temporarily Lowers Medical Expense Deduction Threshold

    With rising health care costs, claiming whatever tax breaks related to health care that you can is more important than ever. But there’s a threshold for deducting medical expenses that may be hard to meet. Fortunately, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has temporarily reduced the threshold. What expenses are eligible? Medical expenses may…