The term "capital asset" for tax purposes applies to almost everything you own and use for personal or investment purposes. A capital gain or loss occurs when you sell a capital asset.
1. Almost everything you own and use for personal purposes, pleasure or investment is a capital asset. Capital assets include your home, household furnishings, and stocks and bonds that you hold as investments. 2. A capital gain or loss is the difference between your basis of an asset and the amount you receive when you sell it. Your basis is usually what you paid for the asset. 3. You must include all capital gains in your income. 4. You may deduct capital losses on the sale of investment property. You cannot deduct losses on the sale of personal-use property. 5. Capital gains and losses are long-term or short-term, depending on how long you hold on to the property. If you hold the property more than one year, your capital gain or loss is long-term. If you hold it one year or less, the gain or loss is short-term. 6. If your long-term gains exceed your long-term losses, the difference between the two is a net long-term capital gain. If your net long-term capital gain is more than your net short-term capital loss, you have a 'net capital gain.’ 7. The tax rates that apply to net capital gains are generally lower than the tax rates that apply to other types of income. The maximum capital gains rate for most people in 2013 is 15 percent. For lower-income individuals, the rate may be 0 percent on some or all of their net capital gains. Rates of 25 or 28 percent can also apply to special types of net capital gains. 8. If your capital losses are greater than your capital gains, you can deduct the difference between the two on your tax return. The annual limit on this deduction is $3,000, or $1,500 if you are married filing separately. 9. If your total net capital loss is more than the limit you can deduct, you can carry over the losses you are not able to deduct to next year’s tax return. You will treat those losses as if they occurred that year. Stanek Tax Services · 15701 State Road 50 Ste 204 · Clermont, FL 34711 Tel: (407) 434-1040 · Fax: (877) 386-1040 · e-Mail: jay@stanektax.com
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The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires most Americans to have some form of health insurance by 2014 or face a tax penalty. It also may provide you and your family with a generous subsidy to purchase health insurance.
The law is complex and the impact is far-reaching, but you don’t have to figure it out on your own. We can help. Not only will we help you comply with the law, but we will ensure you receive the most benefits allowed under the law. How? Through our Healthcare Evaluation process, we will: • Estimate your eligibility for the premium assistance credit • Estimate the amount of your premium assistance credit • Show you how the ACA might affect your tax future • Make sure you avoid any tax penalties • Explain the cost-sharing provisions of the ACA, which may reduce your out-of-pocket costs Let us help make sense of the new healthcare mandate. Call us today to set up your Healthcare Evaluation appointment. Here is a link that will help you calculate your costs: http://drakehealth.com/site/svc/egateway?sid=163875 Military personnel have some unique duties, expenses and transitions. Some special tax benefits may apply when moving to a new base, traveling to a duty station, returning from active duty and more. These tips may put military members a bit "at ease" when it comes to their taxes.
1. Moving Expenses If you are a member of the Armed Forces on active duty and you move because of a permanent change of station, you can deduct the reasonable unreimbursed expenses of moving you and members of your household. 2. Combat Pay If you serve in a combat zone as an enlisted person or as a warrant officer for any part of a month, all your military pay received for military service that month is not taxable. For officers, the monthly exclusion is capped at the highest enlisted pay, plus any hostile fire or imminent danger pay received. 3. Extension of Deadlines The time for taking care of certain tax matters can be postponed. The deadline for filing tax returns, paying taxes, filing claims for refund, and taking other actions with the IRS is automatically extended for qualifying members of the military. 4. Uniform Cost and Upkeep If military regulations prohibit you from wearing certain uniforms when off duty, you can deduct the cost and upkeep of those uniforms, but you must reduce your expenses by any allowance or reimbursement you receive. 5. Joint Returns Generally, joint returns must be signed by both spouses. However, when one spouse may not be available due to military duty, a power of attorney may be used to file a joint return. 6. Travel to Reserve Duty If you are a member of the US Armed Forces Reserves, you can deduct unreimbursed travel expenses for traveling more than 100 miles away from home to perform your reserve duties. 7. ROTC Students Subsistence allowances paid to ROTC students participating in advanced training are not taxable. However, active duty pay – such as pay received during summer advanced camp – is taxable. 8. Transitioning Back to Civilian Life You may be able to deduct some costs you incur while looking for a new job. Expenses may include travel, resume preparation fees, and outplacement agency fees. Moving expenses may be deductible if your move is closely related to the start of work at a new job location, and you meet certain tests. STANEK TAX SERVICES · 15701 STATE ROAD 50 STE 204 · CLERMONT, FL 34711 Tel: (407) 434-1040 · Fax: (877) 386-1040 |
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May 2016
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