Posts by Caras & Shulman

Which Educator Expenses Are Tax Deductible?

Which Educator Expenses Are Tax Deductible?

Teachers and other educators should remember that they can deduct certain unreimbursed expenses such as classroom supplies, training, and travel – even when schools switched to hybrid or remote learning models during the pandemic last spring. Deducting these expenses helps reduce the amount of tax owed when filing a tax return.

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Minimizing Capital Gains Tax on Sale of a Home

Minimizing Capital Gains Tax on Sale of a Home

If you're looking to sell your home this year, then it may be time to take a closer look at the exclusion rules and cost basis of your home to reduce your taxable gain on the sale of a home. The IRS home sale exclusion rule allows an exclusion of gain up to $250,000 for a single taxpayer or $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly. This exclusion can be used over and over during your lifetime (but not more frequently than every 24 months), as long as you meet certain ownership and use...

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Opting Out of the Monthly Child Tax Credit Payment

Opting Out of the Monthly Child Tax Credit Payment

Thanks to the advance payments of the Child Tax Credit, approximately 60 million children received $15 billion in July, according to the Department of Treasury and the IRS. While many of these families will benefit from the extra money deposited into their bank accounts, some families may want to opt-out and instead take the credit when they file their tax return next spring.

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Tax Tips for July 2021

Tax Tips for July 2021

Click on the links below to jump to each section in this article: 10 Tips to Help You Start Saving for Retirement What to Know About Backup Withholding Six Steps to Protect Against Taxpayer ID Theft Tips for Taxpayers With Hobby Income It's Hurricane Season: Safeguarding Tax Records 10 Tips to Help You Start Saving for Retirement It's never too late to start, but the sooner you begin saving, the more time your money has to grow. Gains each year build on the prior year's gains - that's the...

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Settling Tax Debt With an IRS Offer in Compromise

Settling Tax Debt With an IRS Offer in Compromise

An offer in compromise (OIC) is an agreement between a taxpayer and the Internal Revenue Service that settles a taxpayer’s tax liabilities for less than the full amount owed. That’s the good news. The bad news is that not everyone can use this option to settle tax debt; the IRS rejected nearly 60 percent of taxpayer-requested offers in compromise. If you owe money to the IRS and wonder if an IRS offer in compromise is the answer, here’s what you need to know.

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Small Business: Understanding Payroll Expenses

Small Business: Understanding Payroll Expenses

Federal law requires most employers to withhold federal taxes from their employees’ wages. Whether you’re a small business owner who is just starting or one who has been in business for a while – ready to hire an employee or two – here is what you should know about withholding, reporting, and paying employment taxes.

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