13 Jul 2022
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Do You Have to Pay Tax on Social Security Benefits?

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Individual Tax Briefs
Do You Have to Pay Tax on Social Security Benefits?

Some people who begin claiming Social Security benefits are surprised to find out they’re taxed by the federal government on the amounts they receive. If you’re wondering whether you’ll be taxed on your Social Security benefits, the answer is: It depends. The taxation of Social Security benefits depends on your other income. If your income is high enough, between 50% and 85% of your benefits could be taxed. (This doesn’t mean you pay 85% of your benefits back to the federal government in taxes. It merely means that you’d include 85% of them in your income subject to your regular tax rates.) Figuring your income To determine how much of your benefits are taxed, first determine your other income, including certain items otherwise excluded for tax purposes (for...

05 Jun 2022
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Is it a Good Time for a Roth Conversion?

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Individual Tax Briefs
Is it a Good Time for a Roth Conversion?

The downturn in the stock market may have caused the value of your retirement account to decrease. But if you have a traditional IRA, this decline may provide a valuable opportunity: It may allow you to convert your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA at a lower tax cost. Traditional vs. Roth Here’s what makes a traditional IRA different from a Roth IRA: Traditional IRA. Contributions to a traditional IRA may be deductible, depending on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) and whether you (or your spouse) participate in a qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k). Funds in the account can grow tax deferred. On the downside, you generally must pay income tax on withdrawals. In addition, you’ll face a penalty if you withdraw funds before age 59½ —...

05 Jun 2022
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The Ins and Outs of Series EE Savings Bond Taxation

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Individual Tax Briefs
The Ins and Outs of Series EE Savings Bond Taxation

Many people own Series E and Series EE bonds that were bought many years ago. They may rarely look at them or think about them except on occasional trips to a file cabinet or safe deposit box. One of the main reasons for buying U.S. savings bonds (such as Series EE bonds) is the fact that interest can build up without the need to currently report or pay tax on it. The accrued interest is added to the redemption value of the bond and is paid when the bond is eventually cashed in. Unfortunately, the law doesn’t allow for this tax-free buildup to continue indefinitely. The difference between the bond’s purchase price and its redemption value is taxable interest. Series EE bonds, which have a maturity period...

05 Jun 2022
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IRA Charitable Donations as an Alternative to Taxable Required Distributions

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Individual Tax Briefs
IRA Charitable Donations as an Alternative to Taxable Required Distributions

Are you a charitably minded individual who is also taking distributions from a traditional IRA? You may want to consider the tax advantages of making a cash donation to an IRS-approved charity out of your IRA. When distributions are taken directly out of traditional IRAs, federal income tax of up to 37% in 2022 will have to be paid. State income taxes may also be owed. Qualified charitable distributions One popular way to transfer IRA assets to charity is via a tax provision that allows IRA owners who are age 70½ or older to direct up to $100,000 per year of their IRA distributions to charity. These distributions are known as qualified charitable distributions (QCDs). The money given to charity counts toward your required minimum distributions (RMDs) but...

05 Jun 2022
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Caring for an Elderly Relative? You May Be Eligible for Tax Breaks

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Individual Tax Briefs
Caring for an Elderly Relative? You May Be Eligible for Tax Breaks

Taking care of an elderly parent or grandparent may provide more than just personal satisfaction. You could also be eligible for tax breaks. Here’s a rundown of some of them. Medical expenses. If the individual qualifies as your “medical dependent,” and you itemize deductions on your tax return, you can include any medical expenses you incur for the individual along with your own when determining your medical deduction. The test for determining whether an individual qualifies as your “medical dependent” is less stringent than that used to determine whether an individual is your “dependent,” which is discussed below. In general, an individual qualifies as a medical dependent if you provide over 50% of his or her support, including medical costs. However, bear in mind that...

31 May 2022
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Valuable Gifts to Charity May Require an Appraisal

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Individual Tax Briefs
Valuable Gifts to Charity May Require an Appraisal

If you donate valuable items to charity, you may be required to get an appraisal. The IRS requires donors and charitable organizations to supply certain information to prove their right to deduct charitable contributions. If you donate an item of property (or a group of similar items) worth more than $5,000, certain appraisal requirements apply. You must: Get a “qualified appraisal,” Receive the qualified appraisal before your tax return is due, Attach an “appraisal summary” to the first tax return on which the deduction is claimed, Include other information with the return, and Maintain certain records. Keep these definitions in mind. A qualified appraisal is a complex and detailed document. It must be prepared and signed by a qualified appraiser. An appraisal summary is a summary of a...

31 May 2022
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Want to Turn a Hobby into a Business? Watch Out for the Tax Rules

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Individual Tax Briefs
Want to Turn a Hobby into a Business? Watch out for the Tax Rules

Like many people, you may have dreamed of turning a hobby into a regular business. You won’t have any tax headaches if your new business is profitable. But what if the new enterprise consistently generates losses (your deductions exceed income) and you claim them on your tax return? You can generally deduct losses for expenses incurred in a bona fide business. However, the IRS may step in and say the venture is a hobby — an activity not engaged in for profit — rather than a business. Then you’ll be unable to deduct losses. By contrast, if the new enterprise isn’t affected by the hobby loss rules because it’s profitable, all otherwise allowable expenses are deductible on Schedule C, even if they exceed income from the...

30 May 2022
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Thinking About Converting Your Home Into a Rental Property?

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Individual Tax Briefs
Thinking About Converting Your Home into a Rental Property?

In some cases, homeowners decide to move to new residences, but keep their present homes and rent them out. If you’re thinking of doing this, you’re probably aware of the financial risks and rewards. However, you also should know that renting out your home carries potential tax benefits and pitfalls. You’re generally treated as a regular real estate landlord once you begin renting your home. That means you must report rental income on your tax return, but also are entitled to offsetting landlord deductions for the money you spend on utilities, operating expenses, incidental repairs and maintenance (for example, fixing a leak in the roof). Additionally, you can claim depreciation deductions for the home. You can fully offset rental income with otherwise allowable landlord deductions. Passive activity...

23 May 2022
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Issues to Consider After Your File Your Tax Return

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Individual Tax Briefs
Issues to Consider After You File Your Tax Return

The tax filing deadline for 2021 has passed. Now that your tax return has been successfully filed with the IRS, there may still be some issues to bear in mind. Here are three considerations: 1. You can throw some tax records away now You should hang onto tax records related to your return for as long as the IRS can audit your return or assess additional taxes. The statute of limitations is generally three years after you file your return (four years for California). So you can generally get rid of most records related to tax returns for 2018 and earlier years. (If you filed an extension for your 2018 return, hold on to your records until at least three years from when you filed the extended...

20 May 2022
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Tax Implications of Selling Mutual Fund Shares

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Individual Tax Briefs
Tax Implications of Selling Mutual Fund Shares

If you’re an investor in mutual funds or you’re interested in putting some money into them, you’re not alone. According to the Investment Company Institute, a survey found 58.7 million households owned mutual funds in mid-2020. But despite their popularity, the tax rules involved in selling mutual fund shares can be complex. What are the basic tax rules? Let’s say you sell appreciated mutual fund shares that you’ve owned for more than one year, the resulting profit will be a long-term capital gain. As such, the maximum federal income tax rate will be 20%, and you may also owe the 3.8% net investment income tax. However, most taxpayers will pay a tax rate of only 15%. When a mutual fund investor sells shares, gain or loss is measured...

ROGER ROSSMEISL, CPA

Kho & Patel CPAs
160 E. Arrow Highway
San Dimas, CA 91773

(714) 325-0442
roger@khopatel.com

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