#tax breaks

Little-Known Tax Tips for Small-Business Owners

Attax time, small businesses look for ways to save money and maximize credits and deductions. “One of the most overlooked ways for small businesses to save at tax time starts at the beginning of each tax year,” advises David Ayoub, CPA in Syracuse, N.Y. “It’s simple. Keep every receipt. Find a way to corral all the loose receipts lying around your desk, in your purse and in your car. They can add up to a lot of deductions.” Another easy and often overlooked deduction is the cash transactions that many small businesses do. “Keep track of everything in a log,” adds Ayoub. To find out more, see the full TurboTax article.

What to Know About Taxes on Found Property

It’s happened to many of us at some point—you may be walking along a street and look down. Lo and behold, there’s a $20 bill in your path. Or maybe it’s a silver bracelet. Either way, it’s found property. The tax ramifications of finding a $20 bill are negligible. The bracelet is a different story if it has any value. Now the Internal Revenue Service gets involved. See the full TurboTax article to get the breakdown on how the IRS treats found propertyattax time.

Common Tax Deductions for Construction Workers

Regardless of your trade in the construction industry, allowable tax deductions can lower your tax liability and possibly lead to getting a tax refund. You can deduct common expenses such as tools and materials, and even certain other items that come in handy in your business or on the job. 

If you’re an employee for a construction company, rather than an independent contractor, and your employer doesn’t reimburse you for expenses on the job, your unreimbursed employee expenses are no longer deductible. Independent contractors generally have no limit on the ability to deduct work related expenses. See the full TurboTax article for details so you can plan ahead.

Cost Basis: Tracking Your Tax Basis

“Basis” is one of the most important words in the lexicon of taxes. Sometimes you see it by itself. Sometimes it’s called “cost basis” or “adjusted basis” or “tax basis.” Whatever it’s called, it’s important to calculating the amount of gain or loss when you sell an asset. To find out more about this important tax concept, see the full TurboTax article.

Making Taxes Easy: Tips for Organizing Receipts and Expenses

Tracking your expenses could help you save money at tax time. But it’s essential that you keep receipts and documentation to back up each expense and justify your deductions if necessary. See the full TurboTax article for tips to organizing receipts and expenses to make taxes easy.

Top Tax Deductions for Consultants

Consultants are likely to have deductible business expenses that can help you save big on your taxes. A checklist can help you account for every deduction you’re entitled to use. See the full TurboTax article for the top tax deductions for consultants.

How Bonuses Are Taxed

Working hard all year to help your company meet its annual goals deserves a reward, and you’ve definitely earned that bonus. But bonuses count toward your income for the year, so they’re subject to income taxes. To learn how much tax you can expect to pay on your bonus—and for tips on reducing your tax liability, see the full TurboTax article.

How the PATH Act Benefits Small Business Owners

Small businesses create jobs and help drive economic growth, and they can improve their bottom line at tax time under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act that was passed in 2015. Recent provisions in the Act extend and protect certain tax benefits for businesses, making long-term planning easier for fledgling companies, entrepreneurial firms, and startups, to name a few. To find out more, see the full TurboTax article.

Tax Tips for Freelance Writers and Self-Published Authors

If you earn money selling your words to websites and other publishers, the Internal Revenue Service will likely say you’re a small business owner. Freelance income is self-employment income, and so are any royalties you receive for that book you published or self-published. That can be a good thing, because the self-employed are privy to some tax perks that employees don’t usually receive. To learn more, see the full TurboTax article.

Work as a Hair Stylist? Tax Tips for Hairdressers

As a hair stylist, you’re probably more focused on giving your clients the perfectly tousled waves than thinking about your tax liability. But a bit oftax savvy can save you some serious dough at tax time—just make sure all your documentation is in line. See the full TurboTax article to learn how to get the most from your business deductions and minimize the taxes you may owe.

What Is My Tax Bracket?

The term “tax bracket” refers to the highest tax rate charged on your income. Under the federal income taxsystem,different rates apply to different portions of your income. So people in, say, the 25 percent tax bracket don’t actually pay 25 percent of their income in taxes; rather, the last dollar they earn is taxed at 25 percent. To find out more, see the full TurboTax article.

Tax Tips When Sending Kids to Private or Public Schools

The decision to send your child to a public or private school is a personal choice. If you settle on private K-12 schooling, there are a few benefits that can help to reduce your federal tax liability and, in some states, your state tax as well. You’ll really see a tax benefit, though, when you send your child to college. Both private and public post-secondary educations come with some generous tax breaks for your family to help make education more affordable. To learn more, see the full TurboTax article.

What Are Tax Brackets?

The United States uses a progressive tax system, which means different portions of your income are taxed at different rates. To learn more about this system and how it impacts your taxes, see the full TurboTax article about tax brackets.

What Is the Federal Supplemental Tax Rate?

If you work as an employee, the amount of tax withheld from your paycheck is based upon the information you provided on Form W-4. However, if you receive any form of supplemental wages during the year, your employer may be required to withhold tax using a different method. To learn more how supplemental wages affect your tax return, see the full TurboTax article.

Tax Tips for Nannies and At-Home Caregivers

When it comes to working in people’s homes, the working arrangements are often casual and wages are paid out in cash. This grey area can lead to confusion for both parties, but determining if a nanny or an at-home caregiver is considered a household employee can make tax filing simpler for everyone involved. To learn more, see the full TurboTax article.

Side-Giggers: Tax Tips for Side Jobs

Having a side gig can help you make ends meet or build your rainy day fund. Income from freelance work, running your own small business or working at a second job brings in extra income without requiring you to quit your day job. But, like your main source of income, a second job or side gig must be reported on Form 1040 at tax time. To learn more, see the full TurboTax article.

Cash for College: Tax-Free 529 Plans

With a 529 plan, you can stack up the books, not the debt. No matter how old your child is, it might be time to consider a qualified tuition program (QTP), also known as a 529 plan. For many families, such a plan offers a more convenient way to save money for college. To find out more, see the full TurboTax article.

Guide to Tax Form 1098-T: Tuition Statement

Eligible colleges or other post-secondary institutions must send Form 1098-T to any student who paid “qualified educational expenses” in the preceding tax year. Qualified expenses include tuition, any fees that are required for enrollment, and course materials required for a student to be enrolled at or attend an eligible educational institution. To find out more, see the full TurboTax article.

What Is Form 1098-E: Student Loan Interest Statement?

If you paid interest on a qualified student loan, you may be able to deduct some or even all of that interest on your federal income tax return. Student loan companies use IRS Form 1098-E to report how much you paid in interest. Borrowers get a copy of this form, and so does the IRS. To learn more about who sends it and what to do if you don’t receive one, see the full TurboTax article.

Tax Deductions for Voluntary Interest Payments on Student Loans

Most taxpayers who pay interest on student loans can take a tax deduction for the expense—and you can do this regardless of whether you itemize tax deductions on your return. The rules for claiming the deduction are the same whether the interest payments were required or voluntary. To learn more about claiming the deduction, see the full TurboTax article.