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Articles from Laura Morton | Selfgrowth.com
- What the Post-Mortem Letter Should Contain - by Submitted on May 24, 2012 from Laura MortonThe following items should be included in the post-mortem letter. To-Do List • Notify your employer (remember to include phone numbers). • Notify certain friends and relatives (provide a list with phone numbers). • If you have volunteered as an organ donor, provide the information ...
Views: 1866 - Lending Money to Family? Make it a Tax-Smart Loan - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2012 from Laura MortonLending money to a cash-strapped family member or friend is a noble and generous offer that just might make a difference. But before you hand over the cash, you need to plan ahead to avoid tax complications down the road. Let's say you decide to loan $5,000 to your daughter who's been out of ...
Views: 955 - Residential Energy Tax Credits for 2012 - by Submitted on Jul 02, 2012 from Laura MortonSummer's here and if you've been thinking about "going green" and making your home more energy efficient, then there's no time like the present, especially if you take advantage of residential energy tax credits still available to homeowners. The Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit ...
Views: 821 - Check Your Federal Withholding - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2012 from Laura MortonWith less than two months remaining in the calendar year, it's a great time to double check your federal withholding. Most people have taxes withheld from each paycheck or pay taxes on a quarterly basis through estimated tax payments. But each year millions of American workers have far more ...
Views: 762 - Tips for Safeguarding Financial Records - by Submitted on Jul 20, 2012 from Laura MortonWith the hurricane season now under way and memories of tornadoes and other natural disasters fresh in our collective minds, now is the time for individuals and businesses to safeguard their tax records by taking a few simple steps. Take Inventory. Gather all of your documents and make an ...
Views: 754 - Military Tax Benefits - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2012 from Laura MortonMilitary personnel and their families face unique life challenges with their duties, expenses and transitions. As such, active members of the U.S. Armed Forces should be aware of all the special tax benefits that are available to them. 1. Moving Expenses. If you are a member of the Armed ...
Views: 727 - Tax Implications of the Health Care Act - by Submitted on Aug 14, 2012 from Laura MortonThe July 2012 Supreme Court ruling upholding what's collectively referred to as the "Affordable Care Act" (ACA) or "Health Care Act" has resulted in a number of changes to the US tax code. As such there are a number of tax implications for individuals and businesses. With that in mind, let's ...
Views: 721 - Moving This Year? 10 Helpful Tax Tips - by Submitted on Oct 29, 2012 from Laura MortonIf you moved--or are planning to move--this year to start a new job you may be able to deduct certain moving-related expenses on your tax return. You may be able to deduct these expenses even if you kept the same job but moved to a different location. 1. Expenses must be close to the time ...
Views: 695 - IRS Provides Relief for Hurricane Sandy - by Submitted on Dec 12, 2012 from Laura MortonIn the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Internal Revenue Service has announced several types of relief aimed at helping affected individuals and businesses. Here are two of them. Qualified Disaster Treatment of Payments to Victims of Hurricane Sandy In light of the designation of ...
Views: 673 - Tax Saving Strategies: A Helpful Checklist - by Submitted on Jan 31, 2012 from Laura MortonSince the demise of the tax shelter, strategies for saving individual income taxes are harder to come by. But they do exist. This Financial Guide provides tax saving strategies for deferring income (often through the use of retirement plans), and maximizing deductions. It includes some ...
Views: 658 - Ensuring Financial Success for Your Business - by Submitted on Jan 04, 2012 from Laura MortonCan you point your company in the direction of financial success, step on the gas, and then sit back and wait to arrive at your destination? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no. You simply can't let your business run on autopilot and expect good results. Any successful business ...
Views: 628 - How to Find a Good Lawyer - by Submitted on Apr 24, 2012 from Laura MortonOnce you have decided you need a lawyer, it's time to begin shopping around. The first step is to compile a list of names. The recommendation of someone whose judgment you trust is an excellent place to start your search. You may want to begin by asking relatives, friends, clergy, social ...
Views: 623 - Claiming the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit - by Submitted on Apr 12, 2012 from Laura MortonIf you're a small business owner with fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees you may be eligible for the small business health care credit that went into effect in 2010. What is the Small Business Health Care Credit? The small business health care tax credit, part of the Affordable ...
Views: 621 - 10 Changes for 2011 That Benefit Most Taxpayers - by Submitted on Feb 07, 2012 from Laura MortonFrom Roth conversions to changes in reporting capital gains and losses, there were a number of tax changes in 2011. Whether you already know about them or simply need a reminder, here's a look at 10 changes in 2011 that might benefit you, the taxpayer, this tax season. 1. April 17 Tax ...
Views: 609 - Five Hidden Reasons You Need a Will - by Submitted on Feb 22, 2012 from Laura MortonMost people don't appreciate the full importance of a will, especially if they think their estate is too small to justify the time and expense of preparing one. And even people who recognize the need for a will often don't have one, perhaps due to procrastination or a disinclination to broach ...
Views: 609 - Should You File a Tax Return? - by Submitted on Dec 28, 2011 from Laura MortonDo you ever wonder whether your income is high enough to warrant the filing of a tax return? Because the minimum income level varies depending on filing status, age, and the type of income you receive, it can be a bit complicated. The following guide is based on minimum income requirements from ...
Views: 579 - Advertising for Your Business - by Submitted on May 09, 2012 from Laura MortonAdvertising is an investment in your business, similar to other investments to improve and expand your business. The return you receive depends on the planning and thought that precede the actual commitment and expenditure of advertising dollars. The basic premise of an advertising plan ...
Views: 561 - Tax Court Ruling Benefits Small Business Owners - by Submitted on Jun 07, 2012 from Laura MortonOwners of closely held businesses, including family owned and other small business owners can now pass assets to heirs with minimal taxation thanks to a recent tax court ruling (Wandry v. Commissioner, US Tax Court March 26, 2012). Under current regulations ownership of the business can be ...
Views: 555 - Protect Your Business with the Right Business Insurance - by Submitted on Sep 06, 2012 from Laura MortonStarting a business is expensive. Having the right kind of business insurance can protect the capital that you've poured into your company which can disappear in an instant if, say, a major weather event damages your offices or one of your products injures someone. Having the right kind of ...
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