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July 16, 2013 8:30 am

Contributions to an HSA are deductible from gross income (page 1 of Form 1040) even if you don’t itemize other deductions. You must file Form 8889 with your return if you had any activity in the acc...

July 9, 2013 8:30 am

While life insurance proceeds received on the death of the insured are tax free, you may owe taxes when you cash in the policy early. What’s taxable: the excess of the cash surrender value over the ...

July 9, 2013 8:30 am

Leasehold improvements made by either the lessor or lessee pursuant to a lease qualify for special tax treatment if placed in service (i.e., the work is completed) before the end of this year and cert...

July 2, 2013 8:30 am

No. CDD fees are imposed by a developer to finance the cost of amenities within a community. HOA fees are imposed by the association. These fees are not treated as taxes even though they relate to you...

July 2, 2013 8:30 am

Because you are not at least 65 years old by the end of the year, you apply the 10% threshold to all of your itemized medical costs (which include costs related to your mother). If she claimed them on...

June 25, 2013 8:30 am

While interest on municipal bonds is tax free for federal income tax purposes, gain or loss on the sale of the bonds must be reported. The loss is treated as a capital loss, which is deductible within...

June 25, 2013 8:30 am

For income tax purposes, you cannot take a deduction for this payment and your son is not taxable on it (it’s a gift to him). For gift tax purposes, the first $14,000 is excluded ($28,000 if your sp...

June 18, 2013 8:30 am

Because you receive a stepped-up basis for the home (equal to its value on the date of your mother’s death), you may have no gain from the sale if it occurs soon. If you sell it for less than this b...

June 18, 2013 8:30 am

It depends. If you qualify for the home sale exclusion, then gain up to $250,000 ($500,000 on a joint return) is tax free; there is no capital gain. If your gain excludes your applicable exclusion amo...

June 11, 2013 8:30 am

Roth IRAs are designed for retirement savings. While contributions are not tax deductible, withdrawals of earnings after age 591/2 are tax free as long as the account has been open for at least 5 year...

Contributions to an HSA are deductible from gross income (page 1 of Form 1040) even if you don’t itemize other deductions. You must file Form 8889 with your return if you had any activity in the acc...

While life insurance proceeds received on the death of the insured are tax free, you may owe taxes when you cash in the policy early. What’s taxable: the excess of the cash surrender value over the ...

Leasehold improvements made by either the lessor or lessee pursuant to a lease qualify for special tax treatment if placed in service (i.e., the work is completed) before the end of this year and cert...

No. CDD fees are imposed by a developer to finance the cost of amenities within a community. HOA fees are imposed by the association. These fees are not treated as taxes even though they relate to you...

Because you are not at least 65 years old by the end of the year, you apply the 10% threshold to all of your itemized medical costs (which include costs related to your mother). If she claimed them on...

While interest on municipal bonds is tax free for federal income tax purposes, gain or loss on the sale of the bonds must be reported. The loss is treated as a capital loss, which is deductible within...

For income tax purposes, you cannot take a deduction for this payment and your son is not taxable on it (it’s a gift to him). For gift tax purposes, the first $14,000 is excluded ($28,000 if your sp...

Because you receive a stepped-up basis for the home (equal to its value on the date of your mother’s death), you may have no gain from the sale if it occurs soon. If you sell it for less than this b...

It depends. If you qualify for the home sale exclusion, then gain up to $250,000 ($500,000 on a joint return) is tax free; there is no capital gain. If your gain excludes your applicable exclusion amo...

Roth IRAs are designed for retirement savings. While contributions are not tax deductible, withdrawals of earnings after age 591/2 are tax free as long as the account has been open for at least 5 year...

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