For those who are building a rental property, the objective when completed is to rent the unit and at the end of the year have a cash flow profit. Of course, you want to hold on to this cash flow as much as possible. So, how can we do that in an tax efficient way?Read more about Cost Segregation Studies – Why Should I Have One?[…]

Some of you who have rental property and are using only a property management company that purported offers as “in-house” accounting services should be advised that is not an ideal practice. You are entrusting a group with your investment and with funds to manage this. Too many times in Costa Rica, there are property managersRead more about Difference Between Property Managers and Outside CPA[…]

The IRS recently announced that the OVDP (Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program) is coming to an end in September 2018. This means that if you wish to submit to this amnesty program, that you must file by then. Other programs, such as the Streamlined Offshore and Onshore and Delinquent Submissions will continue at this point. However,Read more about US Tax Amnesty Programs – Update[…]

As some of you might know, there is a high probability that their will be major tax reform in Costa Rica. This is a summary of some of the significant items that will affect you and how you do business in Costa Rica. Moving from a Sales Tax Based System to a Value Added TaxRead more about Costa Rican Tax Reform – Its Coming Faster Than You Think[…]

Many small businesses are passthrough entities, including S corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships, LLCs, and LLPs. The label indicates that all business earnings are passed through to the owners’ personal income tax returns. Thus, they avoid the corporate income tax.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 contains a new tax benefit for pass-throughs. This provision is complex, but it is relatively straightforward for taxpayers with taxable income below $157,500 in 2018, or $315,000 on a joint return. Such business owners may qualify for a tax deduction that equals 20% of their qualified business income.

Read more about New Tax Deduction for Pass-Through Entities …

A key component of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 is the expansion of the standard deduction for U.S. taxpayers. In 2018 standard deductions are $24,000 (married couples filing jointly), $18,000 (heads of household), and $12,000 (all others). These amounts are almost double the respective standard deductions in 2017. However, personal exemptions were eliminated. The new tax law also trims some itemized deductions. Taxpayers can either itemize or use the standard deduction, so some shift to the standard deduction is likely.

Read more about U.S. Tax Reform Makes Home Equity Debt Less Attractive …

It has been widely reported that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 lowers U.S. federal income tax rates for many people. The highest tax rate, for example, has fallen from 39.6% to 37%. However, there are some quirks in the new tax rates, and some people will actually face higher rates. For example, an unmarried person who had $220,000 of taxable income in 2017 would have been in the 33% tax bracket. With that same income in 2018, this taxpayer will face a 35% tax rate. To find your new tax bracket, refer to the table below.

Read more about U.S. Tax Reform: Know Your New Tax Rate …

The pros and cons of Roth IRAs, which were introduced 20 years ago, are well understood. All money flowing into Roth IRAs is after-tax, so there is no upfront tax benefit. As a tradeoff, all qualified Roth IRA distributions can be tax-free, including the parts of the distributions that are payouts of investment earnings. Read more about Two Five-Year Tests for Roth IRAs …

Many people invest in the bond market through funds because individual bonds can be difficult for non-professionals to analyze, and the trading prices for the small transactions typical of individual investors are often relatively high. When you invest through a fund, experienced portfolio managers make the buy and sell decisions, and your are able to take advantage of the more favorable trade prices that institutional investors enjoy.

Additionally, bond funds may hold dozens or even hundreds of different issues, reducing investors’ exposure to weakness in any one bond. Investing in bond funds rather than individual bonds can reduce risk in the fixed-income portion of your portfolio, but there still are possible pitfalls to consider. Read more about Weighing the Risks of Bond Funds …

If you work for a business, you might incur certain expenses that are related to your job. In some cases, those expenses can be substantial. As of this writing, in late 2017, Congress is considering legislation that would eliminate miscellaneous itemized deductions, but it appears that they will be available on 2017 returns. That said, you may be able to deduct such expenses incurred last year when you file your 2017 federal income tax return.

The process of claiming this deduction for employee business expenses might not be simple. You must go through several steps, and you’ll need relevant records to substantiate the deduction if you’re challenged by the IRS. Read more about Deducting Employee Business Expenses …