Before you can really start setting financial goals, you need to determine where you stand financially.

~ David Bach

Tag Archives: financial



Limited Partnerships

Thursday, May 6, 2010  //  0 Comments  //  Tax Law

Because some companies, such as mining or oil drilling ventures, have large start-up costs and substantial risks of going under, the government allows investors to take tax deductions for initial funding of these companies.  Investors receive immediate tax savings, as well as the potential long terms gains if the company prospers.

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Charitable donations

Thursday, May 6, 2010  //  0 Comments  //  Tax Law

Making charitable donations is a legitimate way to reduce your taxable income, and as a result reduce the overall taxes you’d have to pay.

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Retirement plans

Thursday, May 6, 2010  //  0 Comments  //  Tax Law

Since retirement accounts aren’t taxed heavily, investing in them qualifies as a form of tax shelter.

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Tax credit

Thursday, May 6, 2010  //  0 Comments  //  Tax Law

A tax credit is different than a tax deduction, which reduces taxable income.  A credit, though, reduces your tax liability dollar-for-dollar.  For example, if there were a tax credit of $1000 for using environmentally friendly construction materials, you would owe $1000 less in taxes that year.

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Financing arrangements

Thursday, May 6, 2010  //  0 Comments  //  Tax Law

Related individuals often use complicated arrangements involving capital gains taxes to their advantage.  Capital gains incur fewer taxes than other investment income, so one person might decide to pay inflated interest rates to a related person in order to reduce the overall taxable value of the investment.  Then, when withdrawing the investment, a huge capital [...]

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Offshore companies

Thursday, May 6, 2010  //  0 Comments  //  Tax Law

By holding money and assets offshore, in places where ownership is difficult to trace, companies avoid U.S. federal income tax requirements.  Companies also form offshore subsidiaries in order to purchase goods in places with low or nonexistent corporate tax rates.

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Tax Shelters

Thursday, May 6, 2010  //  0 Comments  //  Tax Law

In an effort to avoid paying taxes, some individuals and businesses have sought refuge in tax shelters.  The term “tax shelter” covers a wide range of methods designed to reduce the amount of tax incurred. The legality of tax shelters varies, and many arrangements are illegal.  Thus, the IRS is constantly on the lookout for [...]

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Tax Scams

Thursday, May 6, 2010  //  0 Comments  //  Tax Law

Some scammers claim that by starting a home-based business, taxpayers can deduct many personal expenses as “business” expenses.  Other schemes involve offshore transactions in foreign countries that have financial secrecy laws.  As a general rule of thumb, taxpayers should be wary of anything that sounds too good to be true.  Even if they are duped, [...]

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Tax Fraud

Thursday, May 6, 2010  //  0 Comments  //  Tax Law

Our tax system uses voluntary compliance as its method of assessing taxes, which means that individuals are responsible for filing their own tax returns each year.  Happily, most of us are law abiding citizens who diligently file  returns by the deadline and pay the correct amount of tax.  There remains, though, a small portion of [...]

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Change of Filing Status

Thursday, May 6, 2010  //  0 Comments  //  Tax Law

Couples getting married may joke about how they’re looking forward to enjoying the tax benefits.  While no one seeks a spouse solely for tax purposes, marriage does offer filing options that may prove beneficial.  It’s best to consult with a tax professional to determine the optimal filing status for your individual situation though. One option, [...]

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Name Change

Thursday, May 6, 2010  //  0 Comments  //  Tax Law

It’s common for spouses to change surnames upon marriage.  Because there’s a good deal of paperwork involved, it’s easy to procrastinate on this legal change.  Tax filing, though, is tied to specific names and identification numbers.  In order to claim personal exemptions on your return and legally file, you’ll need to file form SS-5 to [...]

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Offer in Compromise

Thursday, May 6, 2010  //  0 Comments  //  Tax Law

When taxpayers fail to pay their tax debts within IRS deadlines, options such as the Offer in Compromise (OIC) exist to facilitate settlement.  The goal of an OIC is to find a tax solution that resolves debt in a way that’s satisfactory to both the government and the taxpayer.  Compromise is key.  Although the IRS [...]

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