Alimony

The basics of Alimony

Asked Thursday, January 12, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Alimony is a legal obligation to provide financial support to one's spouse from the other spouse after marital separation or from the ex-spouse upon divorce.
Alimony must be paid under a decree of divorce or legal separation agreement or decree of support.
Alimony cash payments are deductible if you pay them and reportable as taxable if you receive them.
Noncash property settlements is not alimony.
Divorced and legally separated parties must not live in the same household when payments are made.
Child support payments do not qualify as alimony and are not deductible to the giver and not taxable to the receiver.
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Social Security

Social Security - Reduction for under full retirement age

Asked Thursday, January 12, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

If you are under full retirement age (ages 66-67 depending on date of birth) for the entire year, SSA deducts $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2013, that limit is $15,120.
In the year you reach full retirement age, SSA deducts $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above a different limit, but SS only counts earnings before the month you reach your full retirement age. If you will reach full retirement age in 2013, the limit on your earnings for the months before full retirement age is $40,080.
Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, you can get your benefits with no limit on your earnings.
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Capital Gains & Losses

Capital Gains Tax Rates -2013

Asked Thursday, January 12, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

If your tax bracket = 10% or 15%, the Short Term Capital Gain is taxed at ordinary income rates, Long Term Capital Gains and Qualifying Dividends tax rate = 0%
If tax bracket = greater than 15%, the Short Term CG taxed at ordinary rates Long Term CG and Qualifying Dividends tax rate = 15%
For 2013: ATRA, extends the current capital gains and dividends rates on income at or below $400,000 (individual filers), $425,000 (heads of households), and $450,000 (married filing jointly) for tax years beginning after December 31, 2012.
For income in excess of $400,000 (individual filers), $425,000 (heads of households) and $450,000 (married filing jointly), the rate for both capital gains and dividends is 20 percent. .
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Taxes - My Tax Return

Capital Gains Tax Rates

Asked Thursday, January 12, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

If tax bracket = 10% or 15% the Short Term CG taxed at ordinary rates Long Term CG and Qualifying Dividends tax rate = 0% If tax bracket = greater than 15% the Short Term CG taxed at ordinary rates Long Term CG and Qualifying Dividends tax rate = 15%
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Tax Law Highlights - 2012

Retirement Plans Maximum Limitations - 2012

Asked Thursday, January 12, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

IRA Contributions $5,000
IRA Catch-up Contributions $1,000
Defined Benefit Plan Benefit $200,000
Defined Contribution Plan Allocation $50,000
401(K) or 403(b) Salary reduction deferrals $17,000
401(k) or 403(b) Catch-up Contributions $5,500
SIMPLE plans $11,500
SIMPLE plan Catch-up Contributions $2,500
Salary for pension plan $250,000
Salary for highly compensated employee $115,000
Salary for Key employee $165,000
Salary for SEP eligibility $550
Social Security Taxable Wage base $110,100
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Estate Tax

Estate & Gift Tax Exclusions

Asked Thursday, January 12, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Annual Federal Gift Tax Exclusion = $14,000
Lifetime Federal Gift Tax Exclusion = $5,250,000
Lifetime GST Tax Exemption = $5,250,000
Important NOTE is that State exclusions may be different from above Federal amounts.
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Kiddie Tax

Kiddie Tax

Asked Thursday, January 12, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

First $1,000 = no tax
Next $1,000 taxed at child's rate
Amounts over $2,000 taxed at parents marginal rate
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Alternative Minimum Tax

Alternative Minimum Tax - Tax Rates - 2013

Asked Thursday, January 12, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

All filing status's except MFS
AMT taxable income between $0 and $179,500 = 26%
AMT taxable income greater than $179,500 = 28%
filing status of MFS:
AMT taxable income between $0 and $89,750 = 26%
AMT taxable income greater than $87,500 = 28%
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Estimated Payments

Estimate Calculations

Asked Thursday, January 12, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Individuals can base their payments on:
90% of the current years tax or
100% of the prior years tax or
110% of the prior years tax if the prior year's AGI is more than $150,000 ($75,000 if filing Married filing Separately)
Note that there is no penalty for not paying federal estimates if the current year's tax is less than $1,000 or there was no tax liability in the precedding year.
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Social Security

Social Security - Taxable Wage Base

Asked Thursday, January 12, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

In 2013 wages up to $113,700 are subject to social security tax and the maximum social security withholding would be $7049.40.
Employers should withhold Social Security taxes (6.2 percent) from employee's wages up to $113,700 and withhold Medicare tax (1.45 percent) on all wages.
In 2012 wages up to $110,100 are subject to social security tax and the maximum social security withholding would be $6826.20.
Employers should withhold Social Security taxes (4.2 percent) from employee's wages up to $110,100 and withhold Medicare tax (1.45 percent) on all wages.
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