Tax guidance and resources

Latest Articles

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  Claim my 19-year-old qualifying dependent?

  You can claim your son as a dependent, but if he had taxes withheld, he should file a return.

  1 min read Sep 10, 2013
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  Claim tax refunds as income on tax return?

  Amended returns yielded $9,000 in tax refunds on which IRS paid interest. What should we do?

  2 min read Sep 05, 2013
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  Is charity care considered forgiven debt?

  Hospitals sometimes pay your bill if you qualify for charity care, but will you owe taxes?

  1 min read Sep 03, 2013
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  Same tax issues now for same-sex couples

  The tax system will treat same-sex married couples more fairly in states that recognize same-sex marriage.

  5 min read Aug 31, 2013
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  Shielding your assets from estate taxes

  You can use two types of trusts to shield your home or investment portfolio from estate taxes.

  4 min read Jul 26, 2013
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  Sales tax holiday in North Carolina

  North Carolina’s sales-tax holiday can save shoppers a few dollars as long as they follow all the rules.

  1 min read Jul 24, 2013
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  Easy and early ways to cut your 2013 taxes

  Online tools and smartphone apps can help you start lowering your 2013 taxes now.

  3 min read Jun 19, 2013
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  An irrevocable trust that evolves with you

  You can save a bundle on estate taxes and still have a trust that meets your shifting goals.

  4 min read Jun 13, 2013
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  A flexible spending account cuts taxes

  An FSA is a welcome benefit for many, but for some workers its tax savings are negligible.

  1 min read Apr 11, 2013
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  Taxed for debt cancellation from 1991

  Get with the lender that issued Form 1099-C for the 1991 charge-off. If that fails, hire help.

  2 min read Apr 02, 2013
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  Finalizing your 2010 Roth taxes

  Did you convert a traditional IRA to a Roth in 2010? You may still owe conversion taxes.

  2 min read Mar 26, 2013
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  Do you ever owe taxes on insurance benefits?

  Before you spend that insurance money, make sure the tax man won’t expect to take his cut.

  4 min read Mar 25, 2013
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  Wild and crazy tax deductions 2013 edition

  Giving a bartender a shot at preparing your taxes is one way to attract an auditor.

  7 min read Mar 25, 2013
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  Donate home to church; get tax deduction

  Lord knows that if you give your house, you’ll receive a greater reward: lower taxes.

  2 min read Mar 24, 2013
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  W-2 forms now detail health care costs

  Form W-2 statements now detail the cost of employer-provided health care coverage.

  2 min read Mar 15, 2013
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  Premature to claim bad debt write-off

  An investor asks if he can write off a bad debt before he gives his friend a chance to repay it.

  2 min read Mar 14, 2013
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  What are the qualified education expenses?

  You don’t have to pay the penalty if you make an IRA withdrawal for certain education expenses.

  2 min read Mar 12, 2013
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  How to prove IRS wrong about a tax bill

  You can take one of these approaches with the IRS to avoid paying tax on the debt you repaid.

  2 min read Mar 05, 2013
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  Homebuyer tax credit claims and payback

  Some taxpayers will have to claim the first-time homebuyer credit or begin paying it back.

  4 min read Feb 21, 2013
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  Qualifications for moving deduction

  You have to meet three criteria before you can deduct moving expenses related to a new job.

  2 min read Feb 19, 2013