Self-employed? Save more by setting up your own retirement plan

If you’re self-employed, you may be able to set up a retirement plan that allows you to make much larger contributions than you could make as an employee. For example, the maximum 2014 employee contribution to a 401(k) plan is $17,500 — $23,000 if you’re age 50 or older. Look at how the limits for these two options available to the self-employed compare:
 
1. Profit-sharing plan. The 2014 contribution limit is $52,000 — $57,500 if you’re age 50 or older and the plan includes a 401(k) arrangement.
 
2. Defined benefit plan. This plan sets a future pension benefit and then actuarially calculates the contributions needed to attain that benefit. The maximum future annual benefit toward which 2014 contributions can be made is generally $210,000. Depending on your age, you may be able to contribute more than you could to a profit-sharing plan.
 
You don’t even have to make your 2014 contributions this year. As long as you set up one of these plans by Dec. 31, 2014, you can make deductible 2014 contributions to it until the 2015 due date of your 2014 tax return. Additional rules and limits apply, so contact us to learn which plan would work better for you.

Accelerating deductions to save taxes

Smart timing of deductible expenses can reduce your tax liability, and poor timing can unnecessarily increase it. When you don’t expect to be subject to the alternative minimum tax (AMT) in the current year, accelerating deductible expenses into the current year typically is a good idea. Why? Because it will defer tax, which usually is beneficial.

One deductible expense you may be able to control is your property tax payment. You can prepay (by Dec. 31) property taxes that relate to this year but that are due next year, and deduct the payment on your return for this year. But you generally can’t prepay property taxes that relate to next year and deduct the payment on this year’s return.

Don’t forget that the income-based itemized deduction reduction returned last year. Its impact should be taken into account when considering timing strategies.

Not sure whether you should prepay your property tax bill or what other deductions you might be able to accelerate into 2014? Contact us. We can help you determine what steps to take before year end to reduce your 2014 tax bill.

2 tax pitfalls of mutual funds

Investing in mutual funds is an easy way to diversify a portfolio, which is one reason why they’re commonly found in retirement plans such as IRAs and 401(k)s. But if you hold such funds in taxable accounts, or are considering such investments, beware of these two tax pitfalls:

1.     Mutual funds with high turnover rates can create income that’s taxed at ordinary-income rates. Choosing funds that provide primarily long-term gains can save you more tax dollars because of the lower long-term rates.

2.     Earnings on mutual funds are typically reinvested, and unless you keep track of these additions and increase your basis accordingly, you may report more gain than required when you sell the fund. (Since 2012, brokerage firms have been required to track — and report to the IRS — your cost basis in mutual funds acquired during the tax year.)

If your mutual fund investments aren’t limited to your tax-advantaged retirement accounts, we’d be pleased to help you assess the potential tax impact and suggest ways to minimize your tax liability.

Who’s subject to the 50% limit on meal and entertainment deductions?

In general, when meal and entertainment expenses are incurred in the context of an employer-employee or customer–independent contractor relationship, one party will be subject to a 50% limitation on the deduction. But which party? Last year, the IRS finalized regulations that address this question.

In the employer-employee setting:

• If the employer reimburses the employee for meal or entertainment expenses and treats the reimbursement as compensation, the employee reports the entire amount as taxable income. The employer deducts the payment as compensation, and the employee may be able to claim a business expense deduction, subject to the 50% limit.
• If the employer doesn’t treat the reimbursement as compensation, the employee excludes the entire amount from taxable income and the employer deducts the expense, subject to the 50% limit.

In a customer–independent contractor setting, the final regulations allow the parties to agree as to who will be subject to the 50% limit. If there isn’t an agreement, then:

• If the contractor accounts to the customer for meal and entertainment expenses reimbursed by the customer (i.e., properly substantiates the expenses), the 50% limit applies to the customer.
• If the contractor doesn’t, the limit applies to the contractor.

The rules surrounding meal and entertainment expense deductions are complex. Please contact us to ensure you’re making the most of the deductions available to you but not putting yourself at risk for back taxes, interest and penalties.

If you’ve put your home on the market, you need to know the tax consequences of a sale

Summer is a common time to put a home on the market. If you’re among those who are following this trend, it’s important to be aware of the tax consequences.

If you’re selling your principal residence, you can exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 for joint filers) of gain — as long as you meet certain tests. Gain that qualifies for exclusion also is excluded from the Affordable Care Act’s 3.8% net investment income tax.

A loss on the sale of your principal residence generally isn’t deductible. But if part of your home is rented out or used exclusively for your business, the loss attributable to that portion may be deductible.

If you’re selling a second home, be aware that it won’t be eligible for the gain exclusion. But if it qualifies as a rental property, it can be considered a business asset, and you may be able to defer tax on any gains through an installment sale or a Section 1031 exchange. Or you may be able to deduct a loss.

If you have a home on the market, please contact us to learn more about the potential tax consequences of a sale.