401(k) plan highlights of the SECURE Act
February 24, 2020 Knowledge Center
401(k) plan highlights of the SECURE Act

Late last year, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act. Among its most notable rule changes are those pertaining to 401(k) plans. Here are some key highlights. New tax credit Starting in 2020, the new rules create a tax credit of up to $500 […]

Determining whether you need to file a gift tax return can be tricky
February 21, 2020 Knowledge Center
Determining whether you need to file a gift tax return can be tricky

For 2020, the lifetime gift and estate tax exemption has reached a whopping $11.58 million ($23.16 million for married couples). As a result, few people will be subject to federal gift taxes. If your wealth is well within the exemption amount, does that mean there’s no need to file gift tax returns? Not necessarily. There […]

Solving the skilled labor dilemma with military veterans
February 20, 2020 Knowledge Center
Solving the skilled labor dilemma with military veterans

The shortage of skilled labor available for hire is bad — and it’s worldwide. New research conducted by the Manpower Group for the 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos revealed that 54% of employers surveyed globally were struggling with skilled labor shortages. Organizations in 36 of 44 countries surveyed reported that it was harder to attract […]

When must your business file IRS Form 8300?
February 18, 2020 Knowledge Center
When must your business file IRS Form 8300?

____________________________________ We highly recommend you confer with your Miller Kaplan advisor to understand your specific situation and how this may impact you.

Can you deduct charitable gifts on your tax return?
February 14, 2020 Knowledge Center
Can you deduct charitable gifts on your tax return?

Many taxpayers make charitable gifts — because they’re generous and they want to save money on their federal tax bills. But with the tax law changes that went into effect a couple years ago and the many rules that apply to charitable deductions, you may no longer get a tax break for your generosity. Are […]

Use Nongrantor Trusts to Bypass the SALT Deduction Limit
February 7, 2020 Knowledge Center
Use Nongrantor Trusts to Bypass the SALT Deduction Limit

If you reside in a high-tax state, you may want to consider using nongrantor trusts to soften the blow of the $10,000 federal limit on state and local tax (SALT) deductions. The limit can significantly reduce itemized deductions if your state income and property taxes are well over $10,000. A potential strategy for avoiding the […]

Answers to Your Questions About 2020 Individual Tax Limits
February 6, 2020 Knowledge Center
Answers to Your Questions About 2020 Individual Tax Limits

Right now, you may be more concerned about your 2019 tax bill than you are about your 2020 tax situation. That’s understandable because your 2019 individual tax return is due to be filed in less than three months. However, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with tax-related amounts that may have changed for 2020. […]

Nondeductible IRA Contributions Require Careful Tracking
February 4, 2020 Knowledge Center
Nondeductible IRA Contributions Require Careful Tracking

If, like many people, your traditional IRA holds a mixture of deductible (after-tax) and nondeductible (pretax) contributions, it’s important to track your contributions carefully to avoid double taxation of distributions. Why? Because the IRS treats distributions as a blend of pretax and after-tax dollars. If you treat distributions as fully taxable, you’ll end up overpaying. […]

The Latest News on Taking RMDs
January 30, 2020 Knowledge Center
The Latest News on Taking RMDs

  ____________________________________ We highly recommend you confer with your Miller Kaplan advisor to understand your specific situation and how this may impact you.

New Year – New Budget
January 30, 2020 Knowledge Center
New Year – New Budget

  ____________________________________ We highly recommend you confer with your Miller Kaplan advisor to understand your specific situation and how this may impact you.

Help Protect Your Personal Information by Filing Your 2019 Tax Return Early
January 24, 2020 Knowledge Center
Help Protect Your Personal Information by Filing Your 2019 Tax Return Early

The IRS announced it is opening the 2019 individual income tax return filing season on January 27th. Even if you typically don’t file until much closer to the April 15th deadline (or you file for an extension), consider filing as soon as you can this year. The reason: You can potentially protect yourself from tax […]

Net Investment Income Tax is Alive and Well: How it can affect your estate plan.
January 20, 2020 Knowledge Center
Net Investment Income Tax is Alive and Well: How it can affect your estate plan.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) reduced individual income tax rates, but it left the 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT) in place. It’s important to address the NIIT in your estate plan, because it can erode your earnings from interest, dividends, capital gains and other investments, leaving less for your heirs. How it […]