TAXES

Being self employed, what sort of deductions can I make?

You should be able to make an immediate expense deduction, for equipment and supplies used in your business. Health care is 100% deductible, and retirement accounts such as the SEP, Keogh and SIMPLE plans.

If I have a large capital gain this year, what can I do?

If you have a large capital gain this year from an investment it may be advisable to hold on to the investment until next year to put the gain into next year's taxes. You may also what to sell off any investments that you have that are losing at the moment to claim your losses.

What investments can I make to help defer taxes?

The interest gained from state and local bonds is usually exempt from federal income taxes and from taxes, this a great way to invest without being hit with these taxes, but these investments generally pay back at a lower interest rate than commercial bonds of similar quality.

Since Treasury Bonds are similarly exempt from state and local income tax, they can be a particularly good investment for those who are in high tax brackets and live in high-income-tax states.

What retirement plans are available to aid in the deferment of taxes?

You have the ability to invest some of the money that you would have paid in taxes to add to your retirement fund. Many employers will offer the opportunity to defer a portion of your earnings and contribute them directly to your retirement account, some of them may even match a portion of your savings, if this is the case, it is always advisable that you save at least the amount that your employer will match, giving you an automatic 100% gain on your money.

If you are self-employed, look into getting a Keogh, SIMPLE or a SEP IRA.

What other ways can I defer this years income?

If you own your business you may want to postpone sending certain invoices to ensure that you will get receive payment in the following tax year. This can help greatly if some of this income would push you into a higher tax bracket.

RECORD KEEPING FOR TAXES

What do I need to keep for tax reasons?

It is a good idea to keep all of your receipts and any other records that you may have of your income and expenses. These will come in very handy if you are to be audited, it is best to hold on to these records for around 7 years.

How should I separate and organize these?

It is advantageous to categorize your expenses for ease.

• Income
• Exemptions
• Medical Expenses
• Taxes
• Business Expenses
• Education
• Travel
• Auto

How long should I hold onto these documents?

It is recommended that you keep these documents for three to four years

How long should I keep old tax returns?

An added benefit of keeping your tax returns is that you can see what you claimed last year and how to adjust for the current, and there clearly may be some information that you need to reference.

If you are audited, it is very likely that the auditor will ask to see the last few tax returns. It is recommended to keep these tax returns forever.

What other records should I keep?

Anything that you bought that you plan to sell later, you should keep the receipts for to calculate your gain or loss on it correctly.

• Anything regarding the property you own and any fixes and repairs that you do
• Any jewelry or other valuable collector's items
• Capital assets, stocks, bonds and such

What recordkeeping system should I have?

If you are an employee of a company, your system needn't be complex; you can keep your records in separated in folders.

If you are a business owner you may want to consider hiring a bookkeeper or accountant.

EDUCATION EXPENSES

Are there available tax breaks for my children's education?

There are many different ways to use tax breaks for the higher education of your children. Beware that you can only receive one type of relief for one item, it is best to consult with a professional to advise which would be the most advantageous.

What is the education tax credit?

You must make a choice between two types of tax education credit.

• The Hope credit will work for the first 2 years of college for at least half time study.
• The Lifetime Learning Credit applies for as long as the student studies, but the percentage of savings per year decreases drastically.

What is a Coverdell (section 530)?

• An education IRA is different than a standard IRA in these ways
• Withdrawals aren't taxed if used for qualified education expenses.
• Contributions can be made only up until the point that the client reaches 18 and all funds must be distributed by the time that they are 30.
• Contributions are not tax deductible

How can I best use the Coverdell (section 530)?

It is possible to have various 530 accounts for the same student, many different family members can all open an account for the same student. There is no limit to the amount of people that can open an account like this for a child, people from outside the family can participate as well.

The account can be transferred to another family member at anytime, so in case the original child decides against going to college or is granted a scholarship, another family member can still utilize the money that has been saved.

What is a qualified tuition program?

The Section 529 is a college savings program that most states have, and some college programs have too. Money is invested to cover the costs of future education, these investments grow tax free, and the distributions may also be tax-free.

What are the major differences between the Coverdell Section 530 and the Section 529?

• The section 529 allows for much larger yearly investments, whereas the Section 530 currently only allows for $2000 annually.
• The choice of investments in the 529 is extremely conservative and limited while the 530 allows for many different options.
• The Section 530 is a nationwide program while the 529 varies from state to state.
• The Section 530 will let you use its funds for primary and secondary education, while the 529 just for higher.

Can I pull money out of my traditional or Roth IRA to help fund my child's education?

Yes, you can pull out up to 10 percent without paying penalties, however you may pay ordinary income tax on a portion of your withdrawal.

What tax deductions can be attained for college education?

There is a limited deduction allowed for higher education and related expenses, and business expense deductions are allowed, without a dollar limit, for education related to the taxpayers business, employment included.

Is student loan interest tax deductible?

In certain instances, yes, deductions need to adhere to a few guidelines.

• The deduction ceiling is $2,500.
• If you are a dependant, you may not claim.
• You need to be the person liable on the debt and the loan must be purely for education.

Can I deduct for education that helps at the workplace?

If you are receiving this education to maintain or improve skills at your current job, but not if it is to meet the minimum requirements.