On September 27, 2017, President Trump’s Administration released its “Tax Reform Plan.” In addition to consolidating tax brackets from seven to three (12%, 25%, and 35% with income ranges to be provided later), President Trump’s new plan has addressed eliminating…
When helping our clients plan for retirement, many express their interest to set aside money for charity. Some clients have a specific charity in mind, while others simply want to set aside an amount to be given to a charity…
Today (March 6, 2017) marks the last day a fiduciary of a trust or estate can make a distribution from the trust or estate, and still take the 65-day election on the fiduciary income tax return. The general rule is,…
On Long Island, a tax break affecting 35,000 Nassau County seniors was not renewed this year.
Recently, Nassau County let a long-standing property tax abatement expire without any notice to the recipients of the abatement.
Approximately 35,000 seniors, all earning less than $86,000 a year in income, were receiving approximately $200 a year in tax abatement. But now the abatement has been removed because the county legislature did not re-approve the abatement.
For those who currently have taxable estates, the burning question is, “What planning should or should not be implemented in light of an expected federal estate tax repeal?”
There are important 2017 tax deadlines to be aware of. The 2017 tax filing season will begin on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, and taxpayers claiming certain tax credits should expect a longer wait for federal refunds. The IRS will begin…
As tax preparers, we see all kinds of taxpayers—organized, not organized, and some in the middle. Whether you come prepared with an accordion folder of neatly organized documents or an old shoe box with scraps of paper, you should be cautious in the way you keep your tax records.
Stories and warnings of identity theft, financial fraud, and scams are an everyday occurrence; these instances are a real concern to millions of Americans. The rise of identity theft, fraud, and scams should caution us to evaluate how we store our important data, such as our tax records.
Tax season is fast approaching and many taxpayers are reviewing their paperwork to figure out what documents are necessary and what can be discarded. This can be a daunting experience that leaves many with the question: how long should I keep my tax returns?
The length of time you should keep a tax-related document typically depends on the action, expense, or event which the document records. Generally, you should keep your records until the statute of limitations runs out.
Our practice produces many important documents for elderly clients. Clients may forget where these documents are located within their home, lose track of the documents’ location over the course of a move, or may pass on without sharing the actual documents (or their location) with their children, executor, or guardian.
There are a few smartphone apps that can assist individuals and families to keep track of important documents such as wills or advanced directives (healthcare proxy, etc.). This tool works in conjunction with the app’s ability to catalog the contents of entire homes. This umbrella function helps with ongoing organizational efforts as well as moving assistance.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released its final fiduciary rule on April 6, greatly expanding the definition of fiduciary investment advice under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and creating new fiduciary standards for financial advisors regarding retirement investments.
This new rule is very significant for everyone with a retirement savings plan, such as a 401(k) and Individual Retirement Account (IRA) because it will increase the legal responsibility investment advisors have to their clients.