New Rules for 2014 Taxes

While taxes are certain in life, there is no guarantee that the rules that apply to these taxes will remain the same each year. In fact, 2013 saw a number of IRS changes that will affect many taxpayers, especially those in the upper tax brackets.

Here’s what you need to know this tax season, which opens January 31st:

If your income is above $200,000 (or $250,000 as a married couple filing jointly)…

* All or part of your net investment income may be subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax.

* If your income is a combination of salary and self-employment income, you will be responsible for an additional 0.9%    Medicare tax (on top of the original 2.9%).

If your income is above $250,000 (or $300,000 as a married couple filing jointly or $275,000 for head of household)…

* Some personal and dependent exemptions might be cut down or eliminated.

* … Read More

Social Security Resources

Surprisingly enough, you can now get information about your Social Security account online.
Just go to www.socialsecurity.gov.  Here, you can handle much of your Social Security business quickly and securely from your home or office computer, or your tablet.
At the Social Security website you can:
• create a “my Social Security” account for quick access to your information;
• get an instant, personalized estimate of your future Social Security benefits;
• apply for retirement, disability, spouse’s, and Medicare benefits;
• check the status of your benefit application;
• change your address and phone number, if you receive monthly Social Security benefits
• sign up for direct deposit of Social Security benefits;
• use the benefit planners to help you better understand your Social Security option;
• find additional social security resources
• request a replacement Medicare card; and
• apply for Extra Help with your Medicare prescription drug costs.… Read More

IRS Aims to Make FSA more Flexible

If you have ever found yourself frantically digging through old receipts in an attempt to claim the remaining dollars in your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) before the end of the year—or worse, realizing with dismay on January 1st that you still had money in the account—you know how frustrating the IRS’ “Use or Lose” rule for FSAs has been in the past.

That’s right—in the past. Last month the IRS announced a few changes in this rule, which gives employers the opportunity to take some of the stress out of their employees’ end-of-year spending. Got some extra cash sitting in that FSA on December 31st? No problem—the new rule says you may be able to roll it over to next year.

This is good news for the 33 million Americans who use FSAs to funnel pre-tax dollars toward healthcare expenses, including those that might otherwise not … Read More