Author Archives: mgracey

Taxpayers who turned 70½-years-old during the 2018 calendar year have until April 1, 2019, to take their first required minimum distributions (RMDs) from their individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and workplace retirement plans. In general, retired individuals age 70½ and older have a deadline of December 1 to take their annual RMDs from retirement savings accounts […]

According to the IRS, the 2019 tax-return filing season has been plagued by a surge in fake emails, text messages, websites and social media posting in which criminals attempt to steal taxpayers’ personal information. To protect themselves and avoid becoming victimized, taxpayers must take some basic security steps, remain cautious and stay alert to recognize […]

For many taxpayers, the joy they felt while taking home larger paychecks in 2018 due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has turned to frustration as they file their federal income tax returns. Many are finding that they have a surprise tax bill or their refund from the government is significantly less than what they received […]

Individual taxpayers have long relied on miscellaneous itemized deductions as a catch-all for a variety of business- and investment-related expenses that the tax code did not already allow as specified itemized deductions, such as those for medical expenses or contributions to charitable organizations. However, with the passage of the new tax law, these miscellaneous itemized […]

The IRS issued the 2019 optional standard mileage rates that taxpayers may use to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. Taxpayers also have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2019, […]

Married couples considering a divorce in 2019 should first meet with their tax advisors and accountants to ensure their settlement negotiations reflect the way in which the new federal tax law treats alimony payments beginning this year. For more than 75 years, alimony was treated as a tax deduction for the payor and taxable income […]

Many U.S. residents and resident aliens accustomed to itemizing the expenses they were once eligible to deduct annually on Schedule A of their federal income tax returns may find it more beneficial to claim the standard deduction on the 2018 tax returns they will file in 2019. Under the new tax law, the standard deduction […]

The new tax law in effect on Jan. 1, 2018, repeals the business deduction for lobbying local governments and their officials, including the Indian Tribal Governments. While businesses are prohibited from deducting lobbying expenses on the federal and state levels, they previously could qualify to deduct the “ordinary and necessary” expenses they incurred to promote […]

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has had broad-reaching impact on all taxpayers for 2018 and going forward. This includes U.S. persons who are beneficiaries of foreign non-grantor trusts. As a result of the TCJA suspending the deduction for miscellaneous itemized deductions, which includes the deduction for investment management fees, trust distributable net income […]

Both GM and Tesla have sold in excess of 200,000 plug-in electric vehicles and have surpassed the limit to be eligible for the full federal tax credit. If you are still considering the purchase of a Tesla or GM electric, plug-in vehicle, you may want to close the deal sooner than later to qualify for […]