Ken Berry, Esq., is a nationally-known writer and editor specializing in tax and financial planning matters. During a career of more than 35 years, he has served as managing editor of a publisher of content-based marketing tools and vice president of an online continuing education company in the financial services industry. As a freelance writer, Ken has authored thousands of articles for a wide variety of newsletters, magazines and other periodicals, emphasizing a sense of wit and clarity.
November 4, 2014
Prior to 2014, parents could generally claim one of three sizeable tax breaks for higher education expenses on their personal tax returns: the tuition deduction, the American Opportunity Tax Credit (formerly the Hope scholarship credit) or the Lifetime Le
November 2, 2014
If you haven’t converted a traditional IRA to a Roth by now, you’re probably never going to do it…right? That’s not necessarily true. In fact, some of your clients who have been sitting on the fence for awhile may be convinced to finally take the leap ...
October 29, 2014
Make no mistake about it, the home office deduction rules are filled with potential landmines for the unwary. However, if you give clients the IRS-approved blueprint, they can preserve deductions for 2014.
October 28, 2014
The ultimate fate of the Section 179 deduction remains unclear. As things stand now, the maximum allowance will remain at the lowest level it’s been since the year 2000, a mere $25,000. Of course, Congress may still get its act together to restore...
October 26, 2014
At the end of the year, socially-conscious clients can boost their deductions, and thereby lower their tax bills, by giving a little extra to the charities of their choice. That’s still a sensible tax strategy as 2014 draws to a close. But a recent ...
October 26, 2014
Should retirees take money out of their qualified retirement plans like 401(k)s and IRAs to help pay for their living expenses? Most retirement-savers in their 70s or older have little choice: Under the federal tax law, they are mandated to make ...
October 24, 2014
The ongoing “Tea Party” scandal has appeared to loose some steam after a federal judge in the nation’s capital tossed out a lawsuit aimed by conservative nonprofit groups against the IRS (True the Vote, Inc. v. IRS, DC- Dist. Of Columbia, Civil Action No.
October 21, 2014
The end of the year often turns into “harvest time” for tax-savvy investors. By harvesting either capital gains or capital losses from securities transactions, depending on their situation, they can reap tax rewards when they file their returns.
October 16, 2014
[This is part of a special series about year-end tax planning and preparation.] In the usual case, the tried-and-true tax strategy at the end of the year is to pull deductions into the current year and push income into the following year. And, for the most part, it still makes sense. But now there’s a few...…
October 14, 2014
[This is part of a special series of articles designed to maximize tax benefits and minimize tax pitfalls at the end of the year.] The alternative minimum tax (AMT) is often referred to as a “stealth tax” because it sneaks up on unsuspecting taxpayers. But you’re not doing your job well if your clients are caught...…
October 9, 2014
Are you the kind of tax practitioner who waits for business to walk in the door or do you actively pursue it on your own? Usually, the former will result in flat revenue while the latter enables you to better build and grow your practice.
October 9, 2014
Naturally, everyone’s tax situation is different and the landscape changes year to year. However, absent special circumstances such as pending legislation or drastic economic swings, the tried-and-true strategy of accelerating deductions into ...
