Tag: itemized deduction

Posts Tagged ‘itemized deduction’

How are Charitable Deductions Affected by the TCJA?

Posted by Manisha Hansraj on November 27, 2018

Last modified: November 27, 2018

Generosity has its perks, or rather its tax benefits.

Keep in mind, taxpayers are able to easily itemize once they exceed their standard deduction. This typically happens by taxpayers claiming charitable donations along with any expenses they have. It then becomes greater than their standard deduction. However, the standard deduction is twice the amount for 2017.

Due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), taxpayers who itemize may face some difficulties next year.

Read on to find out what you can do to be prepared for next year!

“Bunching,” a word that people can’t stop talking about.

If you’re surfing the web for information on charitable donations, you might run into the term, “bunching.” It may be confusing, so we’re here to clear it up for you. (more…)

Tags: 2018 charitable deductions, 2018 tax return, bunching, charitable contributions, charitable deductions, charitable deductions 2018, charitable donations, filing status, gifts to charity, head of household, IRS, itemized deduction, joint tax return, late taxes, married filing jointly, married filing separately, new tax bill, non cash contribution, standard deduction, tax cuts and jobs act, tax refund, tcja
Category: Tax and Life Changes, Tax Deductions and Credits, Tax News, Tax Tips and Tricks
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Prepare for the 2019 Tax Season!

Posted by Manisha Hansraj on November 5, 2018

Last modified: March 19, 2019

tax cuts and jobs act

2018 is coming to an end.

It seems like the year went by so quickly. Now, are you ready for the new tax season? The 2019 tax season brings in a variety of changes that will ultimately affect how you file and Form 1040.

Read below to find out what you need to know before filing your 2018 tax return.

Check your withholding

Due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), taxpayers may receive a lesser refund or a tax bill because of their decreased withholding. We advise that you should definitely check your withholding if you have a two-income family, work multiple jobs or part of the year, have children to claim the Child Tax Credit or older dependents, you itemize your deductions on prior year returns, receive high tax refunds or tax bills for the prior year or high-income taxpayers in general. Be advised that if you don’t have enough income tax withheld from your employer, you can be subject to a high tax due at the end of the year.

If you did not fill out an updated W-4 for 2018, click here to find out if you should adjust your withholding with the IRS Withholding Calculator.

The standard deduction increases

The TCJA doubles all filing status’ standard deduction. Below you will find out how next year will be different. (more…)

Tags: ACTC, child and dependent care tax credit, claiming dependent, combat zone tax benefits, CTC, health care coverage, individual shared responsibility, itemized deduction, ITIN, qualifying dependent, standard deduction, tax cuts and jobs act, tcja
Category: Tax Tips and Tricks
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Can I Deduct Overlooked Expenses from Previous Years on This Year’s Taxes?

Posted by Michelle O'Brien on October 26, 2016

Last modified: December 21, 2016

Lumping overlooked tax deductions in with this year’s return is hardly an option.

Generally speaking, you cannot deduct expenses from a previous year on this year’s tax return. You can only deduct expenses in the year that you paid for them.

Each tax return reports finances for its own year and each of those years needs to be kept separate. Deductions, income or anything else from a previous year cannot be claimed with the current year’s tax information.

*Note: One of the exceptions to this rule is the tuition and fees deduction. This tax break allows you to claim qualified education expenses from the previous year as long as they were for school sessions that began in January-March of the tax year you are currently filing for.

File an amended return if you can

If you’re completely gung ho on finding a Plan B, we may have a solution for you. You can file an amended tax return if you discover a tax deduction you missed in a previous year. What’s the catch? It needs to be a completely legitimate expense. On top of that, it needs to be within the three-year time frame from the deadline date the original tax return was due.

To file an amended return, here’s what you should do: (more…)

Tags: business expense, itemized deduction
Category: Tax Deductions and Credits
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