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RUSSO CPA Blog: Standard vs. itemized deductions

Applying for Tax-Exempt Status as a Nonprofit

To be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for any of these purposes: charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition or preventing cruelty to children or animals.

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Tips to Help You Get Started Saving for Retirement

It’s never too late to start saving for retirement, but the sooner you begin, the more time your money has to grow. That’s because gains each year build on the prior year’s gains thanks to the power of compound interest – and it’s the best way to accumulate wealth. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when saving for retirement:

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Tax Tips Image: Neatly stacked pennies in an ascending line. Russo CPA Tax Tips 2023

HSA Limits Increase Significantly for 2023

Contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA) are used to pay the account owner’s current or future medical expenses, their spouse, and any qualified dependent and are adjusted annually for inflation. For 2023, the annual inflation-adjusted contribution limit for a Health Savings Account (HSA) increases to $3,850 for individuals with self-only coverage (up $200 from 2022) and $7,750 for family coverage (up $450 from 2022).

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Choosing a Payroll Service Provider

When choosing a payroll service provider to handle payroll and payroll tax, employers need to make sure they choose a trusted payroll service that can help them avoid missed deposits for employment taxes and other unpaid bills. Typically, these clients remain legally responsible for paying the taxes due, even if the employer sent funds to the payroll service provider for required deposits or payments.

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Preparing for Hurricanes and Other Natural Disasters

The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1, and now is a good time for individuals, organizations, and businesses to make or update their emergency plans. Here are five steps taxpayers can take to safeguard their tax records before disaster strikes:

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The Tax Consequences of Crowdfunding

With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, crowdfunding websites such as Kickstarter and GoFundMe have become an increasingly popular way for small business owners to stay afloat. The upside is that it’s often possible to raise the cash you need; the downside is that the IRS considers that money taxable income. Let’s take a closer look at how crowdfunding works and how it could affect your tax situation.

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Tax Credits To Help Cover Costs of Higher Education

Whether your child attends trade school, private college, or public university, you already know that higher education in the United States is expensive. The good news is that many taxpayers are able to take advantage of two education tax credits to help offset these costs: the American opportunity tax credit and the lifetime learning credit. Taxpayers, their spouses, or their dependents who take post-high school coursework, may be eligible for this tax benefit.

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Got Debt? How To Improve Your Financial Situation

Being debt-free is a worthwhile goal; unfortunately, for most people, it is unrealistic – especially for those of pre-retirement age with children, a car payment or two, and a mortgage. As such, most people need to focus on managing their debt first since it’s likely to be there for much of their adult life. With inflation on the rise (and subsequent interest rate hikes), your credit card debt could be even more difficult to pay off.

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Important Information About Economic Impact Letters

The IRS began issuing Letter 6475, Your Third Economic Impact Payment, to EIP recipients in late January. This letter helps Economic Impact Payment recipients determine if they are entitled to and should claim the recovery rebate credit on their 2021 tax returns when they file in 2022. It contains information that can reduce errors and delays and help taxpayers or tax professionals prepare their 2021 federal tax returns.

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