Preparing for Tax Season
Tax documents will begin to arrive soon, and it’s critical to know how to handle the information. Which documents will your tax preparer want to see, and how long should you keep these documents? This article will provide some general guidelines.
HOW LONG SHOULD I KEEP FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS?
When it comes to financial documents, two types of people
tend to exist–Oscars and Felixes, like the characters in Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple.” The Felix record-keeper tends to be neatly organized, whereas the Oscar tends to be a bit jumbled.
HISTORY OF THE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX
Sometimes a new law is passed and many people say, “That’s all
right. That’s going to affect somebody else. Not me.”
Charitable Gifting
There are several different types of property that can be donated to charity, and a gift is limited only by your imagination. Are you the type who wants to donate cash, stock, or your lunch box collection from a 1960s sitcom?
Tax Benefits of Home Ownership
Taxes can take a big bite out of your total investment returns, so it’s encouraging to know that your employer-sponsored retirement savings plan may offer a variety of tax benefits. Depending on the type of plan your employer offers, you may be able to benefit from current tax savings; tax deferral on any investment returns you earn on the road to retirement; and possibly even tax-free income in retirement.
Taxation of Investments
It’s nice to own stocks, bonds, and other investments. Nice, that is, until it’s time to fill out your federal income tax return. At that point, you may be left scratching your head. Just how do you report your investments and how are they taxed?
