Does prepaying property taxes make sense anymore?
Prepaying property taxes has been a popular year-end tax-planning strategy. But does it still make sense? For many, particularly those in high-tax states, it doesn’t. The TCJA made two changes that affect this strategy: 1) nearly doubling the standard deduction, so fewer taxpayers will itemize, and 2) putting a $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions. If you no longer itemize or you’ve already used up your $10,000 limit (on income or sales taxes or on previous property
When holiday gifts and parties are deductible or taxable
It’s a great time of year for businesses to show their appreciation for employees and customers by giving them gifts or hosting holiday parties. Gifts to customers are generally deductible up to $25 per recipient per year. De minimis, noncash gifts to employees aren’t included in their taxable income yet are still deductible by you. Holiday parties are fully deductible provided they’re primarily for the benefit of non-highly-compensated employees and their families. If custom
Catch-up retirement plan contributions can be particularly advantageous post-TCJA
Will you be age 50 or older on December 31? Are you still working? Are you already contributing to your 401(k) up to the regular annual limit? Then you may want to make “catch-up” contributions by the end of the year. Increasing your retirement plan contributions can be particularly advantageous if your itemized deductions for 2018 will be smaller than in the past because of changes under the TCJA. The additional contributions can reduce your taxable income and help make up f
Tax reform expands availability of cash accounting
The cash method of accounting offers greater tax-planning flexibility, allowing some businesses to defer taxable income. Under the TCJA, if your business’s average gross receipts for the previous three tax years are $25 million or less, you generally will now be eligible for the cash method for federal tax purposes, regardless of how your business is structured, your industry or whether you have inventories. Newly eligible businesses should determine whether the cash method w
