Trusts: Types, Purposes and Benefits
A trust allows you to be specific about how, when and to whom your assets are distributed. Trusts can be arranged for a variety of different goals: to reduce estate taxes, to transfer property and to preserve assets for minors or a charity. Trusts offer more flexibility than a will to control your assets. You […]
A Fresh Look at Retirement Withdrawal Rules
With a series of recent changes, and some possible future modifications, many are confused about the withdrawal rules on retirement accounts. To start with, the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act, which became law on Dec. 20, 2019, made major changes to the required minimum distribution rules. If you reached the age […]
Tax Changes to Think About in 2022
The 2021 tax landscape was filled with headlines about new, possible, and pending legislation. When the year ended, taxpayers were left with many questions about what taxes would look like in 2022. For now, the Build Back Better Act is on hold, and many provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 expired, […]
IRS Reminds Taxpayers of Limited-Time Donation Rules
The rules governing the deduction of charitable contributions can be pretty strict. However, legislation has relaxed a number of them as long as donors take advantage of them by the end of 2021. So, both individual and businesses taxpayers should get up to speed on the temporary rules and take out their checkbooks before year-end. […]
SSA Updates Key Numbers for 2022
The Social Security Administration reviews key numbers each year and usually makes adjustments. In a recent release, the SSA announced what is and is not changing for 2022. Here are the key changes: The maximum taxable earnings for the Social Security portion rises from $142,800 to $147,000. (There is no limit on the Medicare portion.) Exempt […]
IRS Adjusts HSA Limits for 2022
As it does each year, the IRS has announced changes for health savings accounts, which are associated with high-deductible health plans. The figures for 2022: Self-only: $3,650 (a $50 increase from 2021). Family: $7,300 (a $100 increase from 2021). According to the Society for Human Resource Management, the government bases its decision on the Consumer Price […]
