Certain Disabled Get a New Tax Break
IRS Releases 2015 Business Vehicle Deduction Limits
Now is the Time to Check Your 2015 Tax Payments
Schedule a Midyear Tax Review Soon
The "tax extenders" legislation that became law in December 2014 included the "Achieving a Better Life Experience Act" (also called the ABLE Act). This law provides for tax-exempt accounts that can help you or a family member with disabilities pay for qualified expenses related to the disability. These "ABLE accounts" are exempt from income tax although contributions to an account are not deductible on your federal income tax return. ABLE accounts are generally not means tested and some can provide limited bankruptcy protection.
You or a family member are eligible to open an ABLE account if:
1. You're entitled to social security disability benefits due to blindness or other disability, and that blindness or disability occurred before age 26; or
2. You file a disability certification with the IRS for the tax year.
Annual contributions to an ABLE account are limited to the amount of the annual gift tax exclusion ($14,000 for 2015). Distributions are tax-free as long as they are less than your qualified disability expenses for the year. The list of qualified disability expenses includes housing, education, employment training/support, health prevention/wellness services, financial management, legal fees, and funeral expenses. Other expenses are also approved under the regulations.
Distributions exceeding qualified disability expenses are included in taxable income and are generally subject to a 10% penalty tax. Distributions can be rolled over to another ABLE account for another qualified beneficiary and beneficiaries can be changed between family members. Funds in the account can earn interest or dividends and are not subject to federal income tax as long as distributions are used for qualified disability expenses. ABLE accounts do not have a "use it or lose it" feature and funds can carry over to future years.
The balance remaining in the account after the beneficiary passes away can be used to reimburse state Medicaid payments made on behalf of the beneficiary after the account was established. The remainder goes to the deceased's estate or to another qualified designated beneficiary. After-death distributions that are not used for qualified disability purposes are subject to income taxes, but not the 10% penalty.
If you are thinking many of these rules sound familiar, you're correct. ABLE accounts are modeled on 529 college savings accounts. Give us a call so we can help you make the most of this new opportunity.
The IRS has published depreciation limits for business vehicles first placed in service this year. The limits for passenger autos remain the same as the 2014 limits, but the second year limit for light trucks and vans is $100 higher.
50% bonus depreciation is no longer allowed for most business equipment purchases, including vehicles.
Here's a quick review of the limits for 2015. For business cars first placed in service this year, the first-year depreciation limit is $3,160. After year one, the limits are $5,100 in year two, $3,050 in year three, and $1,875 in all following years.
The 2015 first-year depreciation limit for light trucks and vans is $3,460. Limits for year two are $5,600, in year three $3,350, and in each succeeding year $1,975.
For details relating to your 2015 business vehicle purchases, contact our office.
If you got a big tax refund or owed the IRS a lot of money when you filed your 2014 tax return, it may be time to adjust your income tax withholding.
Many people like to receive a refund from the IRS, thinking of it as a form of forced saving. If you're of this opinion, that's fine. But too big a refund means you're wasting your money, giving an interest-free loan to the government.
On the other side, if you underpay your taxes by more than $1,000 and don't meet certain exceptions, you could be hit with a penalty.
Adjusting your withholding is as simple as filing a new Form W-4 with your employer. The form comes with a worksheet to figure out how many allowances you should claim. Or you can increase withholding by specifying an extra dollar amount to be withheld from every paycheck.
When reviewing your 2015 tax payments, keep a couple of general rules in mind. Generally, you must pay (through withholding or quarterly estimated payments) at least 100% of last year's tax liability (110% if your prior year's adjusted gross income is over $150,000), or at least 90% of what you'll owe for this year.
However you do it, you should adjust your withholding to match the taxes you expect to owe. If you need assistance figuring out your 2015 tax payments, give us a call.
As summertime approaches, tax planning is probably the last thing on your mind. The problem is that if you wait until December, there's little time for changes to take effect. But if you take the time to plan now, you still have seven months for your actions to make a difference on your 2015 tax return.
Making time for 2015 tax planning now not only helps reduce your taxes, but also helps to put you in control of your entire financial situation. Tax planning should be a year-round process, but it's especially effective at midyear. Give us a call for guidance in implementing the best moves for your particular situation.
How to Respond to an IRS Notice.
Tax season is over. Now comes the season for IRS notices - particularly a notice called a CP2000. If you're the recipient of one or more of these letters, here's what you need to know.
What the notice is. The IRS matches amounts you include on your tax return with information reports such as Forms W-2 and 1099, and sends you a notice when a discrepancy occurs. The process is called the "Automated Underreporter Program" and the multi-page notice you receive is generally a CP2000. The "CP" stands for computer paragraph. The "2000" means the notice is an information return program verification request. You can identify the notice by the number printed on the top right of each page.
What to do. The CP2000 is a proposed adjustment, not a bill. The IRS is asking you to explain the differences between the amounts reported on various information reports and what you put on your federal income tax return. These differences are provided in a summary area on the notice, and you generally have 30 days to let the IRS know if you agree or disagree with some or all of them. The CP2000 includes the forms you need for your response as well as an application for a payment plan.
Keep in mind that the IRS shares information with state revenue agencies. You may need to correct or update your state income tax filings to reflect any changes.
When to expect a response. According to the Taxpayer Advocate office, IRS guidelines call for processing your answer within approximately 45 days. However, the Taxpayer Advocate notes the IRS receives more than ten million letters a year in response to notices and is often unable to reply within the 45-day time frame.
Please contact us whenever you receive an IRS notice.
