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Casualty Loss - Fair market value
Asked Thursday, March 07, 2013 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
FMV is the price for which you could sell your property to a willing buyer, when neither of you has to sell or buy and both of you know all the relevant facts. When filling out detailed schedules , you need to know the FMV of the property immediately before and immediately after the disaster, casualty, or theft.
Generally, if a single casualty or theft involves more than one item of property, you must figure the loss on each item separately. Then combine the losses to determine the total loss from that casualty or theft.
Generally, if a single casualty or theft involves more than one item of property, you must figure the loss on each item separately. Then combine the losses to determine the total loss from that casualty or theft.
Casualty Loss Deduction - the 10% Killer
Asked Thursday, March 07, 2013 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
Many disaster victims won’t qualify for any personal casualty loss write offs because of the following two rules.
1, you must reduce your loss by $100. Obviously, that’s no big deal. THEN you must further reduce the loss by an amount equal to 10% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) for the year. That is a big deal.
For example, If you incur a $20,000 personal casualty loss this year and have AGI of $100,000. Your write off is $9,900 ($20,000 - $100 - $10,000). You get absolutely no tax break if your loss before the 2 required subtractions is $10,100 or less.Also you have to Itemize your deductions to use the casualty loss deduction.
1, you must reduce your loss by $100. Obviously, that’s no big deal. THEN you must further reduce the loss by an amount equal to 10% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) for the year. That is a big deal.
For example, If you incur a $20,000 personal casualty loss this year and have AGI of $100,000. Your write off is $9,900 ($20,000 - $100 - $10,000). You get absolutely no tax break if your loss before the 2 required subtractions is $10,100 or less.Also you have to Itemize your deductions to use the casualty loss deduction.
Hurricane Sandy - Federal Disaster Area Designation - 10% killer - Will Congress act
Asked Thursday, March 07, 2013 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
After the occurance of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, Congress acted to eliminate the 10% of AGI limitation as well as the $100 subtraction. As of today 3/7/13 Congress has not acted to extend similar tax law changes for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Taxpayers should contact their local Congressman and ask them to vote ASAP.
The current law is as follows:
After you have figured the amount of your loss, you must figure how much of the loss you can deduct. If the loss was to property for your personal use or your family's, there are two limits on the amount you can deduct for your casualty or theft loss.
1.You must reduce each casualty or theft loss by $100 ($100 rule). 2.You must further REDUCE the total of all your losses by 10% of your adjusted gross income (10% rule).
The current law is as follows:
After you have figured the amount of your loss, you must figure how much of the loss you can deduct. If the loss was to property for your personal use or your family's, there are two limits on the amount you can deduct for your casualty or theft loss.
1.You must reduce each casualty or theft loss by $100 ($100 rule). 2.You must further REDUCE the total of all your losses by 10% of your adjusted gross income (10% rule).
Hurricane Sandy - Federal Disaster Area Designation - 10% killer - Will Congress act
Asked Thursday, March 07, 2013 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
After the occurance of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, Congress acted to eliminate the 10% of AGI limitation as well as the $100 subtraction. As of today 3/7/13 Congress has not acted to extend similar tax law changes for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Taxpayers should contact their local Congressman and ask them to vote ASAP.
The current law is as follows:
After you have figured the amount of your loss, you must figure how much of the loss you can deduct. If the loss was to property for your personal use or your family's, there are two limits on the amount you can deduct for your casualty or theft loss.
1.You must reduce each casualty or theft loss by $100 ($100 rule). 2.You must further
The current law is as follows:
After you have figured the amount of your loss, you must figure how much of the loss you can deduct. If the loss was to property for your personal use or your family's, there are two limits on the amount you can deduct for your casualty or theft loss.
1.You must reduce each casualty or theft loss by $100 ($100 rule). 2.You must further
Casualty Loss - Figuring the Loss
Asked Thursday, March 07, 2013 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
You figure the amount of your loss using the following steps.
1.Determine your cost or other basis in the property before the casualty or theft.
2.Determine the decrease in fair market value (FMV) of the property as a result of the casualty or theft. (The decrease in FMV is the difference between the property's value immediately before and immediately after the casualty or theft.)
3.From the smaller of the amounts you determined in (1) and (2), subtract any insurance or other reimbursement you received or expect to receive
1.Determine your cost or other basis in the property before the casualty or theft.
2.Determine the decrease in fair market value (FMV) of the property as a result of the casualty or theft. (The decrease in FMV is the difference between the property's value immediately before and immediately after the casualty or theft.)
3.From the smaller of the amounts you determined in (1) and (2), subtract any insurance or other reimbursement you received or expect to receive
Casualty Loss - Deduction limits
Asked Thursday, March 07, 2013 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
After you have figured the amount of your loss, as discussed earlier, you must figure how much of the loss you can deduct. You do this on Form 4684, section A. If the loss was to property for your personal use or your family's, there are two limits on the amount you can deduct for your casualty or theft loss.
1.You must reduce each casualty or theft loss by $100 ($100 rule).
2.You must further reduce the total of all your losses by 10% of your adjusted gross income (10% rule).
1.You must reduce each casualty or theft loss by $100 ($100 rule).
2.You must further reduce the total of all your losses by 10% of your adjusted gross income (10% rule).
Casualty Loss - When your loss is deductible
Asked Thursday, March 07, 2013 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
You can generally deduct a casualty or disaster area loss only in the tax year in which the casualty or disaster occurred. You can generally deduct a theft loss only in the year you discovered your property was stolen. However, you can choose to deduct disaster area losses on your return for the year immediately before the year of the disaster if the President has declared your area a federal disaster area.
For details, see Disaster Area Losses in Publication 547.
For details, see Disaster Area Losses in Publication 547.
Casualty Loss - Cost or other basis
Asked Thursday, March 07, 2013 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
Cost or other basis usually means original cost plus improvements. If you did not acquire the property by purchasing it, your basis is determined as discussed in Publication 551, Basis of Assets.
If you inherited the property from someone who died in 2012, and the executor of the decedent's estate made the election to file Form 8939, refer to the information provided by the executor or see Publication 4895, Tax Treatment of Property Acquired From a Decedent Dying in 2012
If you inherited the property from someone who died in 2012, and the executor of the decedent's estate made the election to file Form 8939, refer to the information provided by the executor or see Publication 4895, Tax Treatment of Property Acquired From a Decedent Dying in 2012
Deadline to set up Retirement Plan
Asked Thursday, February 28, 2013 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
IRA (Traditional or Roth) Deadline to establish the plan and the Deadline to fund the plan is April 15th of the following year.
SEP IRA - Deadline to establish the plan is the due date of the tax return, including extensions and the Deadline to fund the plan is due date of the tax return, including extensions.
Simple IRA - Deadline to establish the plan is October 1st of that year and the Deadline to fund the plan for the Employee contributions must be withheld from pay by December 31st and remitted to the investment firm as soon as reasonably possible and the Employer contribution must be made by the tax return due date, including extensions.
401-K or 403(b)- Deadline to establish the plan is October 1st of that year for safe harbor plans, otherwise December 31st of that year. Deadline to fund the plan for the Employee contributions must be withheld from pay by December 31st and remitted to the investment firm as soon as reasonably possible and the Employer contribution must be made by the tax return due date, including extensions.
Defined Benefit Plans and Profit Sharing Plans and Keough Plans must be set up by Dec 31st of that tax year.
SEP IRA - Deadline to establish the plan is the due date of the tax return, including extensions and the Deadline to fund the plan is due date of the tax return, including extensions.
Simple IRA - Deadline to establish the plan is October 1st of that year and the Deadline to fund the plan for the Employee contributions must be withheld from pay by December 31st and remitted to the investment firm as soon as reasonably possible and the Employer contribution must be made by the tax return due date, including extensions.
401-K or 403(b)- Deadline to establish the plan is October 1st of that year for safe harbor plans, otherwise December 31st of that year. Deadline to fund the plan for the Employee contributions must be withheld from pay by December 31st and remitted to the investment firm as soon as reasonably possible and the Employer contribution must be made by the tax return due date, including extensions.
Defined Benefit Plans and Profit Sharing Plans and Keough Plans must be set up by Dec 31st of that tax year.
Deadline to set up Retirement Plan
Asked Thursday, February 28, 2013 by an anonymous userCPA Answer:
IRA (Traditional or Roth) Deadline to establish the plan and the Deadline to fund the plan is April 15th of the following year.
SEP IRA - Deadline to establish the plan is the due date of the tax return, including extensions and the Deadline to fund the plan is due date of the tax return, including extensions.
Simple IRA - Deadline to establish the plan is October 1st of that year and the Deadline to fund the plan for the Employee contributions must be withheld from pay by December 31st and remitted to the investment firm as soon as reasonably possible and the Employer contribution must be made by the tax return due date, including extensions.
401-K or 403(b)- Deadline to establish the plan is October 1st of that year for safe harbor plans, otherwise December 31st of that year. Deadline to fund the plan for the Employee contributions must be withheld from pay by December 31st and remitted to the investment firm as soon as reasonably possible and the Employer contribution must be made by the tax return due date, including extensions.
Defined Benefit Plans and Profit Sharing Plans and Keough Plans must be set up by Dec 31st of that tax year.
SEP IRA - Deadline to establish the plan is the due date of the tax return, including extensions and the Deadline to fund the plan is due date of the tax return, including extensions.
Simple IRA - Deadline to establish the plan is October 1st of that year and the Deadline to fund the plan for the Employee contributions must be withheld from pay by December 31st and remitted to the investment firm as soon as reasonably possible and the Employer contribution must be made by the tax return due date, including extensions.
401-K or 403(b)- Deadline to establish the plan is October 1st of that year for safe harbor plans, otherwise December 31st of that year. Deadline to fund the plan for the Employee contributions must be withheld from pay by December 31st and remitted to the investment firm as soon as reasonably possible and the Employer contribution must be made by the tax return due date, including extensions.
Defined Benefit Plans and Profit Sharing Plans and Keough Plans must be set up by Dec 31st of that tax year.