What the self-employed need to know about employment taxes

10_18_16-484956724_ITB_560x292.jpgIn addition to income tax, you must pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on earned income, such as salary and self-employment income. The 12.4% Social Security tax applies only up to the Social Security wage base of $118,500 for 2016. All earned income is subject to the 2.9% Medicare tax.

Are you coordinating your income tax planning with your estate plan?

10_11_16-486896088_ITB_560x292.jpgUntil recently, estate planning strategies typically focused on minimizing federal gift and estate taxes, such as by giving away assets during life to reduce the taxable estate. Today, however, the focus has moved toward income taxes, making the coordination of income tax planning and estate planning more important.

Time may be running out — again — for tax-free treatment of home mortgage debt forgiveness

09_13_16-485171050_ITB_560x292.jpgIncome tax generally applies to all forms of income, including cancellation-of-debt (COD) income. Think of it this way: If a creditor forgives a debt, you avoid the expense of making the payments, which increases your net income.

Don’t roll the dice with your taxes if you gamble this year

08_02_16-200325635-001_ITB_560x292.jpgFor anyone who takes a spin at roulette, cries out “Bingo!” or engages in other wagering activities, it’s important to be familiar with the applicable tax rules. Otherwise, you could be putting yourself at risk for interest or penalties — or missing out on tax-saving opportunities.