Category: Taxation-Individuals

Tax-free shopping returns to Maryland and Virginia in August for those looking for a good deal on back-to-school shopping and emergency preparedness items. Below are details on qualified items. Maryland Tax-Free Week | August 14 – 20, 2022 Which items are eligible? Clothing and footwear Qualified articles of clothing or footwear – $100 or less Backpacks – $40 or less Click here for frequently asked questions and valuable facts provided by the Comptroller of Maryland. Virginia’s 3-Day Sales Tax Holiday… Read more ›

You may think you don’t need disability insurance — but you probably do. Whether you have group disability insurance from your employer or buy it yourself, chances are you’re underestimate and may not be able to afford what you need for short-term or long-term insurance in the event of sickness or injury. Even if you have group disability insurance, it may not be enough. The drawbacks include: Coverage may be limited to a short term, perhaps only two years, Coverage… Read more ›

A bill has been introduced in Congress that, if passed, would substantially increase the amount of Social Security tax that some taxpayers pay. In addition, the Social Security Administration (SSA) recently projected what the Social Security wage base will be in 2023 and future years. Proposed Legislation On June 9, 2022, the “Social Security Expansion Act” was introduced in both the Senate and House by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and House Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR). If passed, the bill would… Read more ›

When a divorce happens, there are often major financial consequences and some important tax issues too. Here are the tax rules that generally apply when a couple’s assets are split up in a divorce property settlement. State Law Is Important How assets are split up in a divorce depends largely on where the divorcing couple lives. The following nine states are community property states: California, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Idaho. In these states, the general… Read more ›

Virginia filers who experienced a tax liability in 2021 are eligible for a one-time tax rebate. The Virginia Department of Taxation announced that qualifying single filers may receive up to $250 and joint filers may receive up to $500 for the Virginia tax rebate. The Department defines a liability as “the amount of tax you owe throughout the year minus any credits like the credit for taxes you paid to another state or the credit for low-income individuals.” Eligible taxpayers… Read more ›

The IRS recently announced that it’ll increase the standard mileage rate for qualified business driving for the second half of 2022. The adjustment reflects the soaring cost of gasoline this year. In fact, as of June 13, the nationwide average price of regular unleaded gas was $5.01 a gallon, according to the AAA Gas Prices website. This is compared with $3.08 a gallon a year ago. Beginning July 1, 2022, the standard mileage rate for business travel will be 62.5… Read more ›

Have you always wanted to buy rental property and become a landlord? As you can imagine, putting up with some tenants can be a pain in the neck. But the discomfort can be eased by the valuable tax breaks available to rental property owners. In fact, favorable tax laws are one big reason why so many fortunes have been made in real estate. Another big reason is that leveraging real estate investments with mortgages can multiply profits. But for purposes… Read more ›

The IRS’ “Where’s My Refund?” tool has been expanded to share taxpayers’ refund status to the two previous years. The IRS refund tool has provided taxpayers with the status of their refund payment during the current filing year. Now, taxpayers may also review their tax refund for the past two years according to the following details: • Information about a refund from a 2021 tax return will be available 24 hours after e-filing the return • Information about a refund… Read more ›

For 2022, the amount you can sock away into your 401(k), 403(b) and most 457 plans will rise another $1,000 to $20,500. If you’re at least 50 years of age, you can put away up to $27,000 thanks to catch-up contributions. The limit on “total additions” to those plans — that is your deferrals and employer contributions combined — rises to $61,000 in 2022 or $67,500 if you’re at least 50. While you’re contemplating how much to put into your… Read more ›

It’s difficult for many people to write off medical expenses because of the limits imposed under the tax laws. But you may qualify by including every expense allowed. Some of the qualified procedures may surprise you. For example, most insurance plans won’t cover laser eye surgery, such as radial keratotomy or “Lasik,” because they consider it a cosmetic procedure. But it generally qualifies for a medical deduction and as an expense in a flexible spending account. (The IRS used to… Read more ›