Keep good records for mutual funds

Brokers are required to report your cost basis to the IRS. Without good recordkeeping, you may not be able to prove you were overtaxed because of incorrect basis reporting by your broker.

Your tax-time financial review

It's the new year … and that means it's time to review your financial affairs. Take advantage of all of that top-of-mind tax-time knowledge and increase your changes of a fiscally sound 2018.

Avoid high RMD penalties

Required minimum distribution (RMD) rules are pretty strict. If you don't want to face a hefty fine, you must withdraw a certain amount of money every year from tax-deferred retirement plans like 401(k)s and traditional IRAs after you reach age 70½.

2017 Tax Highlights Videos

Don't miss the new 2017 Personal and Business Tax Highlight videos posted in our Video Blog section.

The IRS released new income tax withholding tables that reflect the changes to the tax bracket structure in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) passed in late December. Employers will have until Feb. 15 to update their payroll systems to reflect the new changes, and employees will start seeing the changes in their paychecks after that point.

The TCJA reduces income tax rates for almost all taxpayers. Widespread tax changes like this seldom happen, so it’s worth keeping an eye on your pay stubs over the next few weeks. The danger is that if the changes aren’t done right, you’ll either have too much tax taken out every paycheck, or end up with a big tax bill because too little was withheld. Here are some tips:

Increase your odds of getting a small business loan

As any entrepreneur will tell you, financing a business is no small undertaking. Pulling funds from personal bank accounts, liquidating assets, talking to friends and relatives about your venture — these are all actions you might take to get your business up and running. Banks and other financial institutions could also play a role.

If you own your own business or have a side business in addition to your regular job, you may need to send out several IRS forms by Jan. 31 this year.

The deadline is for forms you issue to employees and others who were paid as part of your business activities throughout the year. Forms W-2s and 1099-MISC forms that contain non-employee compensation in box 7 will have to be postmarked or sent electronically to both the IRS and the person you did business with on or before Jan. 31, otherwise you may face fines for each late form.

Most businesses understand that a W-2 is required for each of your employees. But did you know that you also may need to issue a 1099-MISC to each contractor or vendor you’ve done business with during the year?

What the Tax Reform Act Means for You

Revised: 12/28/2017

Congress has passed a tax reform act that will take effect in 2018, ushering in some of the most significant tax changes in three decades. There are a lot of changes in the new act, which was signed into law on Dec. 22, 2017.

You can use this memo as a high-level overview of some of the most significant items in the new act. Because major tax reform like this happens so seldom, it may be worthwhile for you to schedule a tax-planning consultation early in the year to ensure you reap the most tax savings possible during 2018.

Key changes for individuals:

Is your business website customer-friendly?

You've launched a business website, but customers aren't flocking to purchase your online offerings. Why not? For some companies, tweaking an already inviting webpage may be sufficient. Other business websites may require a complete overhaul. If traffic to your homepage isn't trending upward, consider the following tried-and-true guidelines:

If you have not already done so, now is the time to review your tax situation and make an estimated quarterly tax payment using Form 1040-ES. The fourth-quarter due date is now here.

January 2018
In this issue:

• Tax Reform in 2018: Individual rule changes
• Best Way to Avoid an Audit: Preparation
• Where Did My Retirement Go?: How to locate lost benefits
• New Year's Resolutions Are for Suckers: Do this instead
• Mileage Rates for 2018

This Month:

• Jan. 1st: New Year's Day
• Jan. 15th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Jan. 16th: 4th Quarter Estimated Payments Due
• Start tax planning for the new year:
  • Adjust withholdings
  • Organize filing records
  • Schedule tax reform consultation
  • Rebalance investment portfolio

Happy New Year! Now that tax reform has passed, there are many changes to consider. Some of the major ones are summarized in this newsletter. And as you prepare to file your 2017 return, take note of the advice on avoiding audits. Also included are some tips on locating lost retirement benefits, and some unconventional thinking about New Year's resolutions.

Should you wish to review your situation please feel free to call. Also feel free to forward this newsletter to someone who may benefit from this information. Have a happy and productive 2018!

Avoid these 3 social media newbie business blunders

The internet is where people go to discuss their favorite sports teams, politicians, recipes — you name it. This is especially true for customers. You can find out how much people love or hate your business by what you see via Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and other social media platforms.

Inheriting a retirement account like a 401(k) or an IRA is more complicated tax-wise than if you’d been left a house or a set of golf clubs. Here’s a tip on how to use a “stretch out” to avoid being hit with a big tax bill.

Tax reform was passed by Congress this week and is expected to be signed into law soon. Most of the new laws take place in the 2018 and 2019 tax years, but there are a couple items that you need to know about right away for your 2017 taxes.

The IRS recently announced mileage rates to be used for travel in 2018. The Business mileage rate increases by 1 cent. The Medical and Moving mileage rates are also raised by 1 cent. Charitable mileage rates are unchanged.

Both the House and Senate have passed versions of a tax reform bill. If a combined bill is passed and signed into law, it creates a unique window of possible tax savings during the last few weeks of 2017. But only if you prepare to act. Here are some tips.

Mutual funds benefit from the long-standing belief that they allow investors to diversify their holdings without buying individual stocks. But to the unwary investor, tax surprises abound. From a tax planning viewpoint, here are some great mutual fund tips. Most of these tips assume your mutual fund investment is not in a retirement account (like a 401(k) or traditional IRA), unless otherwise noted.

December 2017

In this Issue:

• New Year, New Job: Five Tax Tips for Job Changers
• Save more in 2018: Retirement contribution and Social Security limits on the rise
• A Happy Holiday Traditions Quiz
• Credit Card Transactions Could Pose Audit Risk: What small businesses need to know

This Month:

• December 12th: Hanukkah Begins
• December 25th: Christmas Day
• December 26th: Kwanzaa Begins
• January 16th: 4th Quarter Estimated Payments Due
• Take final year-end actions:
  • Deductible gifts
  • Capital gains/losses
  • Charitable giving
  • Dividend income

After an eventful year, we all deserve a happy holiday season and hopefully some well-needed relaxation. While tax reform will continue to be debated, many preliminary figures for 2018 are set. Check out the details inside. The economy and job market have continued to improve, which means you may be considering new work. If you are planning on a change, look at the tax checklist for job changers. Or, if you work for yourself and take credit cards as payment, learn about the new IRS focus on those small business payments.

Looking for something to talk about at the next family gathering? Consider sharing the quiz regarding the sometimes strange origins of popular holiday traditions.

As always, should you know of someone who may benefit from this information please feel free to forward this newsletter to them.

We're always being reminded to save for retirement in tax-advantaged accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs. But did you know the government does an about-face and forces us to take money out of those accounts once we reach retirement? It's called the required minimum distribution (RMD) rule. Here are some tips you should know about RMDs well before you reach retirement age:

Lending to friends and relatives is a tricky business, and not only because of the stress it can place on your relationships. There are tax issues involved as well. If you have to lend money to someone close, here are some tips to do it right in the eyes of the tax code.