Tax Deductions and Retirement
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IRS Clarifies That a Lot of Home Equity Mortgage Interest Still Is Deductible
The tax code and your bank might disagree on whether or not you have a home equity loan, and the difference could reduce your taxes. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated home equity interest deductions on individual tax returns for years after December 31, 2017. It doesn’t matter when the loan was taken out. […]
Saving Your Charitable Contribution Deductions from Tax Reform
Many savvy taxpayers will change their charitable giving strategies after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. For years I’ve advised that writing checks to charities each year or more frequently is an inefficient way to donate. It’s even less efficient now. The latest tax law made several key changes that can reduce the tax benefits […]
2017 Tax Reform: A Game Changer for Retirement? (Part 2)
Editor’s Note: This week, we’re continuing our deep dive into the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Click here to get caught up on Part 1 of our story: The 2017 Tax Reform Law and Your Retirement Finances Some readers are asking about the charitable contribution deduction, of which there are a few changes. […]
The Complete Retirement Finance Guide to New Tax Law Changes in 2018
It’s the #1 burning question on my readers’ minds these days… What are the most important individual income tax changes I need to know in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017? (It was signed into law in late December) First off, most of the individual income tax changes are in effect from 2018 […]
A Loophole for 529 Plans Losses
Many people who saved for college through 529 savings plans face substantial losses in their accounts. There is a silver lining in the tax law, and it is one reason 529 plans are among the best ways to save for education. Income and gains earned by the 529 account are sheltered. If the account balance […]
Tighter Rules for Charitable Contribution
As readers ready their year-end tax plans, they need to keep in mind recent changes in charitable contribution deduction rules. Congress tightened the rules in the Pension Protection Act of 2006, and the rules affect deductions for most types of charitable contributions on this year’s tax returns. Cash donations. Proper documentation now is needed to […]
More Ways to Boost Medical Deductions
A small percentage of taxpayers deduct medical expenses. That is partly because of the deduction limits. It also is because many people do not know all the costs that qualify for medical expense deductions. Medical expenses can be deducted only by those who itemize expenses on Schedule A. They deduct only the medical and dental […]
How to Maximize Medical Expense Deductions
Medical expense deductions are the elusive goal of many taxpayers. With higher medical expenses than others, retirees are the taxpayers most likely to be able to deduct their medical expenses. They can maximize those deductions by knowing the rules. The definition of deductible medical expenses is broad. Qualified medical expenses, however, can be deducted only […]
