If you have a child or grandchild who’s heading to college in the future, you may wonder about investing in a qualified tuition program or 529 plan. You don’t get a federal tax deduction for a contribution, but the earnings aren’t taxed while the funds are in the program. (There may be a state deduction in your state.) You can change the beneficiary without income tax consequences. Distributions are tax-free up to the amount of the qualified higher education expenses. These include tuition (including up to $10,000 in tuition for an elementary or secondary public school), fees, books, supplies and required equipment. Room and board is also a qualified expense if enrolled at least half time.
It’s time to think about steps to lower your tax bill for this year and next. If you itemize deductions, you may be able to deduct medical expenses, state and local taxes up to $10,000, charitable donations and eligible mortgage interest. But these deductions won’t save taxes unless they’re more than your standard deduction ($25,900 for joint filers, $12,950 for singles and $19,400 for heads of household). You may be able to work around the deduction limits by bunching discretionary medical expenses and charitable donations into the year where they’ll do some tax good. For example, if you itemize for 2022 but not 2023, you may want to make two years of charitable contributions this year.
Here are some important 4th quarter tax-filing dates for businesses. OCT. 17: If you’re the owner or operator of a calendar-year C corp. which filed an extension, file a 2021 income tax return. OCT. 31: Report income tax withholding and FICA taxes for Q3 2022 (unless you’re eligible for a Nov. 10 deadline because you deposited on time and in full all of the associated taxes due). DEC. 15: If a calendar-year C corp., pay the fourth installment of 2022 estimated income taxes. Note: Certain deadlines may be postponed in federally declared disaster areas. We can provide more information about filing requirements and ensure you’re meeting all applicable deadlines.
Does your business need real estate to conduct operations? Or does it hold property and put the title in its name? You may want to separate real estate ownership from the business. For example, C corporations treat real estate as they do other business assets. Expenses related to owning the assets are generally tax deductible in the year incurred. However, when the business sells real estate, the profits are taxed twice, at the corporate level and at the owner’s individual level when a distribution is made. But if the real estate ownership was transferred to a pass-through entity instead, the sale profit would be taxed only at the individual level. Contact us to determine the best approach.
High-income taxpayers may face the 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT). The NIIT applies, in addition to income tax, on your net investment income. It only affects taxpayers with adjusted gross income exceeding $250,000 for joint filers, $200,000 for single taxpayers and heads of household, and $125,000 for married individuals filing separately. The income that’s subject to the NIIT includes interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, rents and net gains from property sales. Wage income and income from an active trade or business isn’t included. However, passive business income is subject to the NIIT. Questions? Contact us to discuss this tax and how its impact may be reduced.
