As summer winds down, students head back to school.1. Check eligibility for an education creditIf you, your spouse, or dependent is attending college or graduate school starting this Fall, you...

If you need money, turning first to those you know is a common practice. You don't have to fill out forms or pass credit tests to obtain the funds you need if your family and friends can afford to hel...

It's summertime and many families are using vacation homes for relaxation. However, this isn't true for everyone. If you own a second home and are no longer content to use it only occasionally for you...

If you or your family has an illness or other medical condition, taxes are the last thing on your mind. However, you may be eligible for a number of tax breaks that may be helpful for your family....

For federal estate tax purposes, an estate tax return is required to be filed if the value of the estate on the date of death exceeds the exclusion amount (e.g., $5.45 million for someone dying in 201...

There are about $173 billion in U.S. savings bonds outstanding. This makes this type of investment one of the largest assets held by individuals. Savings bonds enjoy certain special tax treatment. Her...

A new tax year is set to dawn shortly and recently released cost-of-living adjustments can help you plan for 2015. Due to low inflation, increases in the tax brackets and other tax items are minimal; ...

This year has been a bumpy ride on Wall Street, with dramatic swings up and down. Now is a good time to review your retirement account and your personal portfolio. While changes you make in your retir...

Medicare is a government health program primarily for the 49 million Americans age 65 and older. Those covered by Medicare are deemed to have minimum essential health coverage as required by the Affor...

Concerned about care if you should experience a chronic condition or just old age requiring assistance for your daily living activities? You should be, because the cost of long-term care—in your hom...

All interest income must be reported on Form 1040, unless there is a special rule that applies (such as interest on U.S. savings bonds redeemed for higher education costs). Thus, whether or not you re...

If you are at least 70-1/2 years old by the end of the year, you can make a direct transfer to a public charity up to $100,000. The portion transferred is not taxable, and it counts toward your requir...

Yes. Sick pay is treated as taxable compensation. It is reported to you on Form W-2....

Yes. Gain on the sale of your principal residence is tax free to the extent of your home sale exclusion. The basic exclusion of $250,000 ($500,000 on a joint return) applies only if you owned and used...

Legal fees paid by an estate are deductible by the estate for estate tax purposes. If you paid the fees out of your own pocket, the estate can reimburse you. If you don't seek reimbursement, you will ...