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With 2022 almost in the rearview mirror, this is the perfect time to wrap up planning for this year and start preparing for 2023. Matters such as gift tax exemption changes, retirement legislation, interest rate increases, and new reporting requirements for businesses are a few to consider:

Gift and Estate Tax Exemption. The gift and estate tax lifetime exemption amount is indexed annually for inflation and will increase from $12.06 million to $12.92 million per person in 2023. For…
Continue Reading Looking Ahead to 2023: Tax Planning and Changes on the Horizon

On October 21, 2022 the Internal Revenue Service announced the cost-of-living adjustments for the various qualified retirement plan limits.  All of the limits shown below have increased (in some cases significantly) from last year.
 

Qualified Plan Limit
Cost-of-Living Adjustments

401(k) and 403(b) elective deferral limit

2022 – $20,500

2023 – $22,500

$200,000 compensation limit

2022 – $305,000

2023 – $330,000

$160,000 defined benefit limit

2022 – $245,000

2023 – $265,000

$40,000 defined contribution limit

2022 – $61,000

2023 –…
Continue Reading 2023 Qualified Plan Cost of Living Increases, 2023 Social Security Taxable Wage Base

Although tax season may end for many individuals after returns are filed on April 15, for others it may be just the beginning. Many people receive a notice from the IRS as they process returns. These communications from the IRS are common and aren’t necessarily a sign of trouble. If you receive a notice, read it carefully, address it promptly, and consider whether you should contact a lawyer.

Most notices from the IRS are regarding incomplete or incorrect information…
Continue Reading Understanding Common Notices Individuals Receive from the IRS

We must always expect the unexpected. We can be careful and prudent in our daily lives, but there are certain things that are out of our control, like death. In the event of your untimely death, are you able to provide ongoing support to your loved ones and important causes? By securing life insurance and establishing a comprehensive estate plan, you can help protect your family and loved ones and support your charitable causes after your death.

What is…
Continue Reading How Does Life Insurance Work with an Estate Plan?

The IRS has reminded taxpayers who pay estimated taxes that the deadline to submit their third quarter estimated tax payments is September 15, 2022. The fourth and final estimated tax payment for tax year 2022 is due January 17, 2023.  Taxpayers not subject to withholding, such as those who are self-employed, investors, or retirees, may need to make quarterly estimated tax payments. Taxpayers with other income not subject to withholding, including interest, dividends, capital gains, alimony, cryptocurrency, and rental…
Continue Reading IRS Reminds Individual Taxpayers of September 15 Deadline for Third Quarter Estimated Tax Payments

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In our last article, we explained why setting in place an exit strategy when the time comes and minimizing the potential for conflict is important. In this post, we will be discussing how ownership interest(s) can be transferred if one or more of the owners can no longer or do not want to continue in the business.
PART 3 – DEFINING HOW OWNERSHIP INTEREST(S) CAN BE TRANSFERRED IF ONE OR MORE OF THE OWNERS CAN NO LONGER OR DO…
Continue Reading An Educational Business Series for Success: Defining How Ownership Interest(s) Can Be Transferred if One or More of the Owners Can No Longer or Do Not Want to Continue in the Business

The worldwide equity market tumult is creating some unique and unprecedented challenges. However, plunging asset values are presenting some rare opportunities in wealth planning that are often only seen once in a generation. Below are some strategies you may wish to incorporate into your estate and tax planning during this time.

Basic Estate Planning: Now, more so than ever, it is important to make sure your family is provided for in your estate plan. This means reviewing your current…
Continue Reading Estate and Tax Planning During Market Tumult

Due to the increase in the cost of gasoline since establishing the 2022 rates last year, the Internal Revenue Service is increasing mid-year the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, medical, and moving expenses.  Effective July 1, 2022, the optional standard mileage rates will be 62.5 cents per mile for business transportation, and 22 cents per mile for travel relating to medical and moving transportation expenses. These increased mileage rates…
Continue Reading Pain at the Pump: IRS Announces Mid-Year Adjustment of Business and Medical Mileage Rates

Earlier this year the IRS released proposed regulations on the SECURE ACT.   The SECURE ACT made drastic changes to the rules governing inherited retirement accounts, effective January 1, 2020, but there has been little guidance from the IRS on the Act’s provisions until now.

The SECURE ACT seemed to replace the rule that a designated beneficiary must take out a yearly required minimum distribution (“RMD”) based upon his or her life expectancy (the “Life Expectancy Rule”) with a simple…
Continue Reading Proposed Regulations on the SECURE ACT

We are often asked, “What is an estate plan?” An estate plan can mean different things depending on your unique personal and financial situation. We structure your estate plan based on many things, such as whether you are single, married, or divorced; whom you want your estate to pass to upon your death; and the complexity and makeup of your assets. Some individuals may need more estate planning, some may need less.

Here is a list of the typical…
Continue Reading What is an Estate Plan?

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An irrevocable income-only trust can be an indispensable tool when planning for retirement and long-term care expenses. It’s important to know how these trusts work, how they help you qualify for Medicaid, and how to set one up.
What Are Irrevocable Income-Only Trusts?
Irrevocable income-only trusts are used for Medicaid planning. They are a type of living trust that protects assets from being sold to cover long-term care expenses such as nursing homes. These assets are placed in a…
Continue Reading Tax & Wealth Advisor Alert: Irrevocable Income-Only Trusts, How They Can Help You Apply for Medicaid and When they Should be Avoided.

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The filing deadline to submit 2021 tax returns or an extension to file and pay tax owed is Monday, April 18, 2022. By law, Washington, D.C., holidays impact tax deadlines for everyone in the same way federal holidays do. The due date is April 18, instead of April 15, because of the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia for everyone except taxpayers who live in Maine or Massachusetts. Taxpayers in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 19,…
Continue Reading Tax & Wealth Advisor Alert: Reminder—April 18 is the Deadline for Individual Returns and More

In our last article, we reviewed why creating a buy-sell agreement can protect the owners of a company and help guide the process of a business succession plan. In this post, we will review how to create an exit strategy and minimize conflict when it comes time to begin to transfer the business.

PART 2 – SETTING IN PLACE AN EXIT STRATEGY WHEN THE TIME COMES AND MINIMIZING THE POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICT

Whether it’s in personal relationships or business,…
Continue Reading Transferring a Business: Exit Strategy and Minimizing Conflict

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On February 24, 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published proposed regulations addressing the calculation and payment of required minimum distributions under qualified retirement plans (the Proposed Regulations). The Proposed Regulations are generally designed to address the changes to a participant’s required beginning date and payment of death benefits enacted under the SECURE Act.

Applicable to all plan sponsors, the Proposed Regulations update existing regulations to account for the increase in a participant’s required beginning date to age 72.
Continue Reading IRS Provides Additional Clarity on Required Minimum Distributions Calculations

Long before a closely-held business is readied for sale, it should be protected by the owners creating a buy-sell agreement. In short, every co-owned business needs a buy-sell, or buy-out agreement the moment the business is formed or as soon after that as possible. A buy-sell, sometimes called a buy-out agreement, protects business owners when a co-owner wants to leave the company (and protects the owner who is leaving). It also contemplates dealing with unforeseeable catastrophic events, such as…
Continue Reading An Educational Business Series for Success: Why Buy-Sell Agreements Are Necessary Even If You Don’t Plan to Sell Your Company Soon

Last year, multiple proposals were introduced in Congress that would have significantly altered transfer tax planning for wealthy individuals and business owners. The proposals fell flat due to razor thin majorities the Democrats hold in Congress. Even if no changes occur in the near term, on January 1, 2026, current law automatically “sunsets,” which will result in estate tax exemptions being halved.

The following is a review of a few significant transfer tax planning considerations you should consider in…
Continue Reading Transfer Tax Planning Considerations for 2022