- Sales Tax
A sales tax is a form of consumption tax that is collected by merchants who sell goods. The merchants then pass those taxes on to the government. Most states impose a sales tax, expressed as a percentage of the price… read more…
- Understanding How Your Taxes Work
Schools, roads, parks, hospitals, and other public works and services rely on you and your neighbors, businesses, organizations, and estates to pay taxes that will help fund their budgets. Understanding how taxation works can give you a big picture idea about… read more…
- Do You Qualify for Property Tax Exemptions?
Property taxes got you down? It’s worth investigating exemptions, deductions and credits in your area. Even if you don’t live in a property that came with a tax abatement, you might qualify for a property tax break through your local… read more…
- The Lowest Taxes in America
According to the non-profit Tax Foundation, the average effective income tax rate for all U.S. households is 18.1%. That is lower than the highest marginal rate paid by most year-round workers, (at least 25% for any individual with an adjusted gross income of more than $36,901)—but it also doesn’t capture the full picture. For the typical tax… read more…
- 4 Reasons Married Couples Should Consider Filing Taxes Separately
As a general rule, you shouldn’t wait until the last second to file your tax return. It helps to plan and make certain decisions ahead of time to speed up the process. For one, if you’re married, you’ll need to… read more…
- What Is a Refund Anticipation Loan?
A Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL) gives you early access to a sum roughly equivalent to your IRS tax refund. Sounds great, right? Well, the problem with these loans is that they come with significant fees and high interest rates. Another… read more…
- How to File a Tax Extension
The deadline to file your 2022 taxes is April 18, 2023 (April 15, 2024 for tax year 2023). But you may need even more extra time. If you think you’ll need more time to get your taxes done, filing a… read more…
- 3 Tips for Claiming the Energy Tax Credit
You don’t have to be a die-hard hippie to see the sense in adding renewable energy to your home. What stops homeowners from installing these money-saving features is often the up-front cost or a lack of awareness of how going… read more…
- The Saver’s Credit: 2025 Rules and Income Limits
Financial experts recommend saving for retirement. According to one rule of thumb, you should have twice your salary saved by the time you’re 40, and eight times your salary by the time you’re 65. Unfortunately, the average American paces well… read more…
- What Can Happen if You Don’t File Your Taxes?
If you’re expecting to get a big refund, tax season is probably something you look forward to each year. On the other hand, if you always end up owing Uncle Sam, then the April deadline may be a date you… read more…
- What Makes a Professional Estate Planner a Professional?
Estate planning requires interdisciplinary knowledge of law, tax and accounting issues. Yet the answer to the question What makes a professional estate planner a professional? is that they get paid. This answer is not only snarky, but it also exposes a rather disturbing issue: the lack of regulation. In most places, anyone can hang a sign… read more…
- The Dangers of DIY Estate Planning
While it may be tempting to save some money and plan your estate by yourself, it is likely not a good idea. Estate planning is full of small details that the average person just doesn’t know about, but which someone… read more…
- 7 End of Year Tax Strategies That Can Save You Money
It’s tax time! No, it’s not April 15th and you are not the subject of a time travel experiment gone wrong. But if you are one of the millions of taxpayers who expects to owe and wants to minimize your tax bill, or you want to maximize your refund, the time to think about taxes… read more…
- 4 Tax Planning Moves Millennials Should Make Now
No matter the time of year, it’s never too early to start working on your tax strategy. For 20-somethings who are struggling to get a grip on their finances, the whole process can seem overwhelming. And if you’re not sure… read more…
- 5 Steps to Help Care for Elderly Parents
One of the toughest things you will do as an adult is watch as your parents deteriorate with age. Emotionally, it is taxing to watch the very people or person who cared for you as a child slowly become more and more dependent on you for support. The emotional strain can be difficult enough, but… read more…
- 4 Things to Know About the October Tax Extension Deadline
Taxpayers who can’t get their paperwork in order by the extended May 17 filing deadline for their 2020 taxes can buy themselves a little more time by requesting an extension. This gives you an additional six months to complete your… read more…
- 5 Most Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Will
Estate planning is something people tend to put off for one reason or another but it’s important that you have certain documents in place to protect your interests. At the very least, you need to draft a last will and testament to spell out what should be done with your assets after you’re gone. Writing… read more…
- 5 Estate Planning Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make
When people think about planning their financial future, they tend to focus on things like retirement, paying down debt or saving for their child’s education. Planning your estate is one of the things that often gets pushed to the backburner.… read more…
- 4 Things to Know About Making a Will
Planning for the future means more than just saving for retirement or adding a few bucks to your child’s college fund. While it’s probably the last thing you want to think about, making sure your family is financially prepared for… read more…
- Teens and Taxes: Tax Implications for a Summer Job
Taking on a summer job is a rite of passage for many teens. It’s also a great way for kids to learn some financial responsibility while earning their own money. It’s even provides an opportunity for young adults to get… read more…
- Get a Tax Break for These 4 Wedding Expenses
After the April showers come May flowers, which means the summer wedding season will soon be in full swing. Tying the knot is an exhilarating experience but planning your nuptials can leave you feeling frazzled, especially if you’re worried about… read more…
- End-of-Life Financial Planning Checklist
Benjamin Franklin once said that nothing was certain in this world except death and taxes. Even though it may be unpleasant, preparing for both of these events is important to your overall financial health. When it comes to making decisions… read more…
- What to Do If You Miss the Tax Filing Deadline
The pandemic is complicating many people’s efforts to file their 2020 taxes by the deadline. But the good news is that the IRS has extended until May 17, 2021, the amount of time filers have to turn in their 2020… read more…
- 3 Things to Prep Your Family for in Case of Your Death
Your death is probably the last thing you want to think about, but you can’t afford not to – especially when you have a family that you will be leaving behind. A wise person once said that the only thing… read more…
- Will You Owe the Alternative Minimum Tax?
Established in 1969, the Alternative Minimum Tax was originally intended to prevent wealthy Americans from shortchanging the federal government at tax time. Generally, taxpayers can take advantage of credits and deductions to reduce their tax liability and lower their taxable… read more…