Financial Goals change with change in Income and Taxes as Well

by | Jan 13, 2021 | Financial and Mental Health, income tax, Tax Planning, Tax Preparation, Tax Refund, Taxpayers

Financial Goals change with change in Income and Taxes as Well If there are any minor changes into your Income such as a pay rise or a decrease in the duration of work hours, then it is quite easy to change your financial goals. However, if there are bigger changes in your income then it becomes quite difficult to change your financial goals.  It may be a case of a promotion, a pay hike or a pay cut during adverse times like pandemic. In both of these scenarios, it is quite difficult to manage your financial goals and objectives. Let us have a look at how to manage or rather change your financial goals as your income changes. A huge decrease in your income In case, there is a huge decrease in your income then the most important thing to consider is the impact of the decrease in your life on a daily basis. Suppose, you have lost your job and you are filing for unemployment then, in that case, your expenses would be more than your income. In such cases, the best idea is to look out for those areas where you can cut your expenses to get closer to positive cash flow. If such adverse situations occur, then it is best to put your long-term financial goals on hold for a temporary period.  There might be a need for goal adjustment and it can be started by reducing your contributions to align with the decrease in income. In these adverse times when the deadly coronavirus has taken a toll on the lives and the livelihoods of people, if there is a 50% reduction in your income then your contributions towards investments and other financial avenues must be reduced by half. With the economic situation worsening every single day due to the pandemic, it is wiser to remain careful about such situations and strategies to handle such scenarios.  A huge increase in your income If you are getting a pay raise or switching jobs, you must plan towards increasing your contributions for your financial goals. You should avoid spending more and stick to a particular budget for your expenses. The bottom line is that you must try to resist the temptation to spend in a limitless manner. It is quite obvious that you are accustomed to a particular lifestyle and when your income increases you can be able to save some more by maintaining the same lifestyle. There can be a temptation in your mind to accelerate your financial goals and you can use several financial tools which can help you in accelerating your goals and increasing your savings. In case you are saving more, you would be able to achieve your financial goals easily and on time so it would be quite sensible to adjust your timelines. If financial goals are not dependent on the stock market or any other factors you can adjust them as they fit into your financial plans.  One of the best examples explaining this is your retirement. The retirement accounts which you have would definitely be invested into the stock market and if there is a rise in your income it indicates that you can retire earlier with your financial plan reflecting this. It is imperative for you to adjust your allocation of assets with an updated time frame of retirement along with your projections.  In general, a big change in your income indicates a very big change in your goals associated with savings. You should not forget to adjust your savings goals with any unexpected increase or decrease in your income. Conclusion Hence, an increase or decrease in your income can have a great impact on your financial goals. You must determine your financial goals clearly whenever there are any changes in your income and work accordingly to achieve those goals.

All you need to know about Form 1099-R

by | Jan 6, 2021 | tax filing, tax form, Tax Planning, Tax Preparation, Tax Refund, tax returns, tax savings, taxes

All you need to know about Form 1099-R

Form 1099-R is being used by you for reporting the distribution of benefits associated with retirements like annuities or pension plans. Precisely, the Form 1099-R can be used for reporting the distributions which you might have received from your IRA, annuity, pension, or your retirement account. Form 1099-R can be considered as a record to denote any money paid or given to an American other than his employer.  The payer who pays will fill out the Form 1099-R and will send a copy to the payee and to the IRS as well.

Who can receive a Form 1099-R?

As said earlier, the main purpose of Form 1099-R is to record income. You can receive a Form 1099-R due to some of the below-mentioned reasons.

  1. Freelancers and contractors working independently usually get a Form 1099-MISC from their clients. If you are a freelancer or an independent contractor, this form would reflect the money which the client has paid you. Form 1099-R is for employees but it is not the same as the Form W-2.
  2. Form 1099 has a Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number present on it. This indicates that the IRS will know that you have received money and it will also know if that income has not been reported on your income tax return.
  3. If you are receiving only the Form 1099-R, then it does not specifically mean that you would be owing money on that money reported in Form 1099-R. There might be some deductions which can be helpful in the offset of the income

Variations of Form 1099-R

The variations of Form 1099-R includes the following forms:-

  1. Form CSF 1099R
  2. Form CSA 1099R and
  3. Form RRB-1099-R

Mostly, public and private pension plans which are not a part of the Civil Service System use the Form 1099-R. You must receive a copy of the Form 1099-R or some other variation in case of receipt of a distribution of $10 or more amount from your plans related to retirement.

Pension plans and payment of annuity

Retirement benefits are said to be an extension of the compensation which has been arranged by an employer and employee. On most of the contributions made into the retirement plans, income tax is deferred. In simple words, this means you are not liable to pay any income tax on the funds contributed to the Retirement plans until they are withdrawn by you.

Usually, the pension and annuity distributions are being made to the retired employees, employees who are physically disabled and also for the beneficiaries of any deceased employee.

Loans

Many employers would have the provision of granting loans against pension plans. Usually, these loans are not taken as distributions and are repaid with interest. The issue of Form 1099-R occurs when you have taken a loan and are not able to make the necessary loan repayment on time.

  1. If this situation arises then the amount which is not being re-paid is treated as a distribution and would be mentioned in the Form 1099-R along with the code L i.e. Distribution Code.
  2. These distributions are treated as deemed taxable income and might be subject to penalties related to early distribution.

Rollovers

By a Rollover, retirement funds can be moved or transferred from one individual to another otherwise known as a custodian without any taxes paid on the money that has been transferred.

  1. By the use of Form 1099-R, direct rollovers can be easily identifiable. This is done by the use of codes G or H in box 7 of the Form 1099-R.
  2. Rollovers can be indirect if you are the owner of the account and you take up the responsibility of the amount in the Retirement Account and would transfer the deposited money into another Retirement Account.
  3. When there is a point when there is an amalgamation of rollover and IRS principles, the distribution made is not taxed. But, you should not forget to report the amount on your tax returns. 

Early distributions

Those benefits which are paid to you before you reach the age of 59 and half years are said to be Early Distributions. For avoiding the misuse of the retirement funds, an extra 10% federal tax is imposed on the Early Distributions.  Many states also levy penalties on these early distributions. This additional tax is applicable on the full amount of distribution which is taxable unless exceptions like disability, death, IRS levy, etc.

Conclusion

Hence, the above-mentioned information about Form 1099 would be helpful in understanding the details about this and be easier for use.

All you need to know about National Economic Impact Payment Registration Day

by | Dec 24, 2020 | Tax Planning, Tax Preparation

All you need to know about the National Economic

Impact Payment Registration Day.

The National Economic Impact Payment Registration Day has been recently announced by the IRS. The IRS has set 10th November 2020 as the “National Economic Impact Payment” Registration Day. This day acts as the final push that would encourage those Americans who do not usually file their tax returns. The National Economic Impact Payment Registration Day is especially dedicated to spreading the word some days before the final extended registration deadline.

Those Americans who have not received their Stimulus Payment can register to receive so by 21st November 2020.

Who must file for the Stimulus Payments?

Most of the taxpayers in the US who are eligible to receive the Stimulus payment will receive it automatically. They would receive the Stimulus Payment based upon their recent tax filing of the year 2018 or 2019. They would also receive the payment based on being the recipients of Social Security Retirement, Railroad retirement, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), etc.  This would also include people who have no income or very less income.

What needs to be done for registration for the Stimulus Payments?

 According to the US Government reports, around 9 million eligible taxpayers have already received their Stimulus payment of $1200. These taxpayers may not be filing their tax returns in general. There are letters along with the 10th November event which would advise the taxpayers to use the Non-filers – Enter Info Here tool. This tool is available on the IRS.gov website and is helpful for the common taxpayers.    

Mainly, this tool has been designed for both couples and individuals. Single individuals who have an annual income below $12,200 and married couples who have an annual income of less than $24,400 and are not claimed as dependents by anyone else can use this tool. Moreover, the IRS Non-filers tool is also useful for those single individuals and couples who are homeless.

Can college students file for Stimulus Payment?

Any eligible college student who is self-supporting who does not file his tax returns and also did not obtain his Stimulus Payment from the IRS can get himself registered by 21st November for obtaining their Stimulus payment before the year 2020 ends. In case you are a self-supporting student registering for obtaining the Stimulus Payment and you are filing your tax returns as a single individual then he would be eligible to receive a Stimulus payment of $1200. Moreover, if the student is married and is filing a joint tax return then you would obtain $2400. Furthermore, in case you are having a dependent child then you would be receiving an additional $500 for each child who is eligible.

 Suppose, you are a student who must file a tax return then you must not use the Non-Filers tool. You would be able to claim the Economic Impact payment by Recovery Tax Rebate while you are filing your taxes for the year 2020. Those students who are self-supporting and do not need to file a tax return can use the Non-filers tool. In case, you have been working throughout the year and have taxes being deducted from your paycheck then you must file for a tax return even if you are below the income thresholds as defined by the IRS.

Conclusion

So, with the time running out the IRS encourages everyone who meets the eligibility requirements to register faster before the deadline of 21st November arrives.  In case, you are missing this deadline you would have to wait and then file a tax return next year in order to claim the payment in the form of Recovery Rebate Credit.

The top 5 Life Events that can change your Tax Schedule.

by | Dec 13, 2020 | 2021 Tax Returns, Tax Planning, Tax Preparation, Taxtips

The top 5 Life Events that can change your Tax Schedule.

The most important phases of our lives have a great impact on our finances which can be more than we expected at times. You are purchasing a new house or you are becoming a parent, these life events are going to have an impact on your finances definitely.

So, let us have a look at those major life events which can have an impact on your Tax Schedule.

Marriage

When it is about your marriage and your taxes, it is necessary to ensure that the name with which you are filing your tax return must be the same as that of the name in your Social Security Card. In case your address has been changed then it can be changed at the time of your tax return filing. You would also have to make a choice of either married and filing returns jointly or married and filing returns separately.

Becoming parents

If you are becoming parents, then it is also going to have a great impact on your finances. This may be the case if you are having your own child or if you are adopting a kid. If you are going to have a new member in your family then the first and foremost important thing which must be kept in mind is the Social Security Number of the new child. By this, you would be able to claim your child on your income tax return in the next year. This would include your ability of taking the advantage of the federal child tax credit and the deductions that can be availed under the qualified child care expenditure. If you are adopting a kid, you would receive additional credits which would also include adoption charges, court fees, and all other necessary expenses related to transportation.

Purchase of a new house

If you have not started the itemizing of your tax returns, this is the ideal time to do so. There are a large number of new deductions available which would include private mortgage insurance, taxes related to real estate, and qualified home mortgage insurance. You can obtain a large number of benefits from Residential Energy Credits. In case, you have purchased a new water heater but it was expensive but you can use it in the form of savings in the future.

Demise of spouse

This is quite an unfortunate situation and you may not like to discuss it much. But, this situation would arise and you must be well-prepared for such a situation. Firstly, you must be qualifying as a widow or a widower and you should claim this status within a period of two years from the death of your spouse. The qualifying widows or widowers can avail themselves the same standard deduction as that of those Americans who are married and are filing their tax returns jointly.

Change in job

It is quite a well-known fact that a large amount is withdrawn from the paychecks of the taxpayers every year. Due to this, many American taxpayers get a huge amount of tax refund after filing their tax returns. If you obtain a good amount of tax refund it would appear quite attractive, but you would most prefer to have that amount with yourself throughout the year rather than waiting to obtain the refund at the year-end. So, if you have had a change in the job very recently then this is the best moment when you can make adjustments to your Form W-4 and have complete control of the tax scenario for filing your tax returns the next time. You should keep in mind that if you have a higher withholding it would increase your refund but your paycheck amount would be less. But, if withholding is less; you would be able to access your funds whenever the need arises.

Conclusion

So, you must always keep the tax implications in your mind if you have made any changes or are planning for making any changes in the near future. You must keep in mind the planned as well as the unexpected events of your life to plan your taxes accordingly and avail yourself of the benefits too.

The top 10 Tax Tips for the Year-End to make the New Year a big success

by | Dec 8, 2020 | 2021 Tax Returns, Blog, Tax Planning

The top 10 Tax Tips for the Year-End to make the New Year a big success.

The year 2020 is about to end and it is the best time to make some very smart decisions related to taxes. These smart moves can be helpful in an increase in your tax refund and can also lower your taxes to be paid.

Let us have a look at some of the tax tips which would be helpful in getting your finances organized for saving more money during tax time.

  • Accelerate your deductions and income deferment. 

In general, there are a large number of tax deductions associated with a particular year. If you own a home, you would have a mortgage interest deduction and in case of making any additional mortgage payment on 31st December then you would have the eligibility to claim the additional interest that has been paid as a deduction.

 By this, you would be able to avail the benefit of tax deduction instantly rather than by waiting for a period of 12 months to pay your taxes in the next year. However, before you use this tax strategy you must keep in mind that as per the tax reforms if you have bought a new house after 15th December 2017 you would be able to deduct the interest on a home loan which is up to $750,000 and not $1,000,000 for those who purchased the house before that date. 

  • Bonus deferment. 

In case, you are about to obtain a bonus at the end of the year the extra money might push you into another tax bracket thus, increasing your taxes owed. If you would be able to defer your bonus until the beginning of the next year, you can avoid your tax payment while filing taxes for 2020.  

  • Donate for charity. 

Christmas and New Year time is the best time when you can use the unnecessary items in your closet for helping those who are the needy. By this, you can also reap the benefits of tax deductions for the donations made to a qualified charitable organization. These donations can be monetary as well as non-cash donations and would be helpful in tax deduction if you are itemizing your tax deduction.

 Under the provisions of the CARES Act, even if you are not itemizing and claiming your Standard Deduction you can still avail the benefit of a new charitable deduction up to $300 on the taxes you owe for 2020 for any donation you have made towards a 501(c) (3) organization. Moreover, by the CARES Act, there would be a temporary removal of the limit that has been placed on the number of cash contributions that you can make if you are itemizing your deductions. 

  • Retirement plans.

Another method by which you would be able to decrease your income that would be taxed is by making some contribution to your retirement account. Even if you are making a contribution to a traditional IRA or a 401(k) plan then also you would be able to reduce your taxable income. In case, you are self-employed and making contributions to a SEP IRA you can still contribute up to less than 25% of your total income obtained from self-employment income or a total of $57,000 for the year 2020. 

  • Finance Courses. 

You can also take some finance courses or training for improvement of your skills on finances. This would be helpful in reducing your taxes and also increasing your tax refund. 

  • FSA. 

In case you have an FSA and there is money left out in your FSA then you can use the money left for some other useful activities. These useful activities can be a doctor’s visit or any other important expense which must be done immediately. 

  • Additional Dependent Credit. 

There can be some other additional dependent credit which can be availed by you in case you qualify for a new dependent credit i.e. “Other Dependent Credit” which would be up to $500.  This can be helpful in reducing the taxes you owe approximately by $500. 

  • Form W-4. 

In case, you have not had the expected outcome for the year 2019 because of the changes in law or due to changes like becoming a parent, losing your job, having an increase or decrease in pay, or getting a new job then the amount which would be withheld from your paycheck can be corrected by refilling the Form W-4. 

  • Buy and Sell Low. 

You can sell your investments that are causing loss to offset the losses caused against the gains obtained. In case, your losses are more than your gains you can apply for a tax deduction of $3000 against your income. Any other income which would be additional can be passed on to the next year. 

  • Gather the receipts associated with the taxes of the home property. 

You can be eligible for the deduction of state and local property income or sales tax up to an amount of $10,000. These taxes were completely deductible in the past.

Wondering how to get debt-free this year?

by | Oct 31, 2020 | IRS, Tax Extension, tax filing, Tax Planning, Tax Preparation, Tax Refund, Taxtips

Wondering how to get debt-free this year?

This simple guide would help you!!

Repayment of debts can give you nightmares and this entire problem is a vicious circle. With one debt leading to another, the entire process can push you into financial troubles.

 So, it is essential to get rid of your debts soon; however, it seems to be a difficult thing if done without prior planning.

 Let us check out a simple guide which would help you to get debt-free this year.

  • The Essentials

 It’s a consumer world today and it’s the current trend to purchase new and fancy items. You might be having the best of clothes, apparel, and gadgets but you are interested in upgrading them. Expansion of your wardrobe has become a hobby and a passion too.

 Let’s think rationally and put an end to this. It is necessary that you prepare a list of the essential items and only purchase those which are needed. Avoiding unnecessary purchase is the best way to minimize your expenses thus, leading to less debt accumulation.

  • Budgeting and tracking your expenses

 Budgeting is highly essential to keep your finances under control. When you make a budget, know your expenses, and spend accordingly you would be able to save. These savings can be your savior while you are struggling to get rid of your debts. There are various budgeting tools and apps available that can be utilized to keep a check on your income and spending. When you are aware of your spending habit, you can easily find out those areas where you can cut off the spending. The cut-off spending would be used in paying off debts.

 

  • Search for shopping options which are cheaper

 When you are trying to have a debt-free life, it is essential to introduce some changes to your shopping options. You can resort to techniques like shopping in bulk. This would be less expensive. Moreover, for the general household shopping, you can plan to visit the stores once during the month. Your shopping list for essential items would help you in obtaining all the necessary items at once without the need for visiting the stores and also spending again and again.

 If you fill up your cupboards with the groceries, stationeries and other items when they are on sale and then skip shopping each month for at least 1-2 months, you would be able to save quite a good amount. The savings made can be utilized in making your debt payment then you would get rid of your debts in a considerable period.

 

  • Handle your credit card wisely

 You can consider your credit card as a source of cash that would be needed at times of emergency. But, if you are making improper use of your credit card you might be accumulating debts. You should ensure that your credit card is used only in times of emergency. Avoid making payments by using your credit card; rather plan the purchase of items only when you have cash with yourself.

 You should keep on checking the records of your credit card continuously. This would help you in keeping a track of how much debt you have to pay off. Moreover, you must be aware of any fraud schemes which can occur with your credit card.  Also, if you feel that the interest rates of your credit card are too high you can negotiate with your card issuer. If you have had a good history of paying your bills on time then you can expect getting a lower interest rate.

  • Make extra money

 If you decided to get rid of your debts this year, then you must find out other methods to increase your income. You can take up an extra job or work in extra shifts, putting all extra money earned into the debt payment. Once your debts are paid off, you can stop doing this extra work if it is painful for you. Moreover, you can rent out your extra space such as a garage, or room, etc. and use the extra income for paying off your debts.

 

  • Get rid of the expensive debts first

 This is one of the smartest methods to use for getting rid of the debts which you have. You must choose one of those debts of yours which are charging the highest interest. All the extra payments you can do must be focused on getting rid of this expensive debt first.

 Once your expensive debts are paid off, utilize all the money that you were paying for that particular debt in paying off the next expensive debt of yours. By continuing this method, you would be able to pay off all the debts and would be left with the least expensive ones only. You would feel motivated by using this strategy as it helps you in getting rid of the debts quickly.

 However, there is another strategy too i.e. the Snowball Method which is a variation of this method and is also helpful in getting rid of debts easily.

  • Refinancing

 The idea of refinancing your present debts would be of great help in paying off your debts. Several loans come up with attractive rates of interest. Getting that money and using it for paying off your debts would be a good strategy indeed. However, you need to be careful and consider the opportunities cautiously while refinancing.

  • Do not accumulate debts

 The golden rule to become debt-free is to prevent the accumulation of further debts. This process is a vicious circle and it needs to stop. One of the best methods by which you can keep a check on your debt accumulation is by the restricted use of your credit card. Moreover, spending wisely by minimizing your expenses is the best method to stop any further accumulation of debts.

 After you have stopped the further accumulation of debts, you can opt for the restructuring of your installments and payment strategy. By this, you would have a good financial strategy for your debt payment.

Conclusion

So, if you are interested in saving so that your debts are paid off you need to have a mindset change. You will have to think twice before shopping, make smart shopping decisions, and turn down temptations. With a substantial amount of self-control and discipline while dealing with finances you can easily get rid of your debts this year.

References

  1. https://blog.taxact.com/steps-to-become-debt-free/
  2. https://www.nomoredebts.org/blog/money/management/12-ways-to-get-out-of-debt
  3. https://www.thesimpledollar.com/credit/manage-debt/11-ways-to-get-out-of-debt-faster/
  4. https://www.aarp.org/money/credit-loans-debt/info-07-2013/10-steps-to-becoming-debtfree-in-less-than-a-year.html