The clock is ticking for Congress to decide the fate on the Obama tax cuts. Will they pass in time for end of the year tax planning? As of right now, the tax brackets are up in the air, you can estimate what your taxes might look like with the 2011 tax calculator. Our current [...]

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Losing your job can be psychologically and emotionally draining, as well as can suck the life out of your bank account. Unemployment insurance is typically a few hundred dollars a week, which is a fraction of what you used to make, and equates to a salary considered under the poverty line in the United States. [...]

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Update: A new bill will extend the marriage tax penalty relief for most people. Stay tuned for additional details from the Fiscal Cliff Deal in process. Marriage Tax Penalty The marriage tax penalty was set to make a comeback in 2011. Congress passed the tax deal to extend the tax rates. Included in the tax [...]

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The 2011 tax calculator is finally here, even though we still don’t know exactly what the current tax brackets will be. The Tax Foundation has a 2011 tax calculator that helps you project your 2011 income taxes based on all the options Congress is considering. 2011 Tax Calculator The 2011 tax calculator has 4 scenarios [...]

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When I said that the current capital gains tax rate is 0% for some taxpayers, a reader, Colin, was shocked. He states: I had no idea long term capital gains are presently 0%. Are you sure? Yes, Colin, I’m sure! Let’s take a closer look at capital gains and the capital gains tax rates. Capital [...]

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When the Bush Tax Cuts Expire in 2010, we’re bracing for higher 2011 Tax Rates. In addition, many of the tax cuts that we’ve come to expect over the last decade are changing. I love to plan, so here’s what I’m currently working on: 2010 Planning Moves for Expiration of Bush Tax Cuts Tax Rates. [...]

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The home buyer tax credit is extended until Sept. 30! For all the new home buyers panicking when they weren’t able to get their closing done by the deadline yesterday, help is on the way. The home buyer tax credit extension will apply to both first time home buyers and existing home owners originally eligible [...]

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We continue our in-depth look at the health care bill and how it might impact your finances. This afternoon, we’ll cover HSAs and HDHPs. I often trumpet the combination of a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and Health Savings Account (HSA) as an effective way to save money on health insurance and receive a tax [...]

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Flexible Spending Accounts, or FSAs, are an excellent way to pay for healthcare expenses using pre-tax money. If you take full advantage of FSAs (find out how much you should put in your FSA), you can save money on eligible expenses ranging from over-the-counter medicine to the cost of transportation to and from your doctor’s [...]

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Over the last week, we’ve been taking an in-depth look at the health care bill and how it might impact your finances. Today we will cover the new 1099 reporting changes. Much has been written about the impact of health care reform on small businesses. But one hidden provision of the bill that has seemingly [...]

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