Category Archives: Bookkeeping and Accounting

2025 Social Security Tax Rules Unchanged

Posted on by

2025 Tax Act Myths: Social Security Tax Rules Unchanged – New Senior Deduction

Since the passage of the 2025 Act (formerly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act), you may have an unusually high number of clients asking: Is Social Security income exempt from taxation now? Their confusion is understandable and stems from some mixed signals—bold campaign promises to end taxation on Social Security benefits and a mass e-mail and press release from the Social Security Administration claiming that the 2025 Act ensures that nearly 90% of Social Security beneficiaries will no longer pay federal income taxes on their benefits, providing meaningful and immediate relief to seniors who have spent a lifetime contributing to our nation’s economy.

Regardless of what many may have read or heard, the 2025 Act does not exempt Social Security benefits from taxation. In fact, the taxation of Social Security benefits hasn’t changed at all post-2025 Act—and, unfortunately, believing otherwise could prompt planning choices that end up increasing the amount of benefits subject to tax.

This article outlines the unchanged basics of how Social Security benefits are taxed and considers the new temporary 2025 Act provision—not specific to Social Security—that seniors aged and older may use to offset some of their income.

Back to Basics: How Social Security Benefits are Taxed

The taxation of Social Security benefits is very much dependent on a beneficiary’s “provisional income,” which is a combination of adjusted gross income (AGI), tax-exempt interest and half of the social security benefits [IRC Sec. 86]. Simply, the higher the income, the greater the federal income tax liability on Social Security benefits:

  • For single filers with provisional income less than $25,000 and joint filers with provisional income less than $32,000, Social Security benefits are not subject to federal income tax.
  • For single filers with provisional income between $25,000 and $34,000 and joint filers with provisional income between $32,000 and $44,000, up to 50% of their Social Security benefits could be taxed.
  • For single filers with provisional income exceeding $34,000 and joint filers with provisional income exceeding $44,000, up to 85% of their Social Security benefits could be taxed.

Married taxpayers who file separate returns are subject to tax on their benefits without a $25,000/$32,000 floor.

Example: S has $20,000 in taxable dividends, $2,400 of tax-exempt interest, and Social Security benefits of $9,000. So, S’s income plus half S’s benefits is $26,900 ($20,000 plus $2,400 plus 1/2 of $9,000). S must include $950 of the benefits in gross income (1/2 ($26,900 − $25,000)).

Caution: If a Social Security beneficiary isn’t paying tax on their Social Security benefits now because their income is below the applicable floor or is paying tax on only 50% of those benefits, an unplanned increase in income can have a triple tax cost. The beneficiary:

(1) must pay tax on the additional income;

(2) must pay tax on (or on more of) their Social Security benefits (since the higher the income the more Social Security benefits that are taxed); and

(3) may get pushed into a higher marginal tax bracket.

This situation might arise, for example, when a beneficiary receives a large distribution from a retirement plan (such as an IRA) during the year or has large capital gains. Careful planning might be able to avoid this stiff tax result. For example, it may be possible to spread the additional income over more than one year, or liquidate assets other than an IRA account, such as stock showing only a small gain or stock whose gain can be offset by a capital loss on other shares.

New Temporary 65+ Deduction

The 2025 Act introduced a temporary senior deduction for tax years 2025–2028: individuals age 65 or older can claim $6,000 ($12,000 for joint filers), whether they itemize or not. Both spouses can qualify on a joint return. The deduction is reduced by 6% of any MAGI over $75,000 (single) or $150,000 (joint), and it is in addition to the regular standard deduction for seniors and the blind.

Notably, this new deduction is not directly related to Social Security benefits—whether a person aged 65+ receives Social Security benefits or not, they will still be eligible for the deduction. More specifically, the new deduction is a “below-the-line” deduction (i.e., taken after calculating AGI); thus, the deduction doesn’t impact the taxability of Social Security benefits (which is calculated in part using AGI).

For tax planning purposes, remember the new deduction is not linked to Social Security benefits, and the tax rules for those benefits remain unchanged after the 2025 Act. If seniors mistakenly think Social Security is now tax-free, they may make choices—like Roth conversions—that raise taxable income and increase the amount of Social Security benefits subject to tax. For example, converting $100,000 from a 401(k) to a Roth adds $100,000 to income, which can make more of their Social Security benefits taxable. Beneficiaries should understand that the new law does not change this outcome.

Conclusion

Despite widespread confusion, the 2025 Act did not eliminate federal income taxation on Social Security benefits. The longstanding rules governing the taxability of Social Security benefits remain unchanged. While 2025 Act introduced a new, temporary deduction for individuals 65 and older, this deduction is not specific to Social Security benefits. Clarity and careful planning are essential to avoid unintended tax consequences in the post-2025 Act landscape.

Hiring Your Kids to Work for You Can Result in Significant Tax Savings.

Posted on by

Do you occasionally have your teenage children or grandchildren helping you at the office on weekends, after school, or during their summer break? If so, you may want to consider putting them onto payroll. If you already have payroll set up for your company, adding your children should not be that big of a hassle. (However, if they just work once in a while, you might want to bypass the formalities and just add something to their allowance.) In addition, there is the added benefit of teaching your children a good work ethic and understanding the value of money.

Let’s review an example of the amount of potential tax savings;

  1. Income Tax
    1. Let’s take an example, your federal tax rate is 25%, and your state tax rate is 7% for a combined 32%.
    1. In comparison, if you hire your child/grandchild and you do the accounting right, they will pay no federal income taxes on the first $12,950 they earned in 2022. They will most likely pay very little state income tax, and even if they end up earning more, the federal and state tax rates will be relatively low.
    1. In this example, paying your child $12,950 saved you approximately $4,150 in income taxes.
  2. But wait, there is more; you can potentially save on social security and other tax as well!
    1. If your business operates as a sole practitioner (also known as a schedule C), or if you and your spouse have a partnership (or an LLC taxed as a partnership) and employ your children, you may save even more taxes. If the kids are minors, you won’t need to pay, and the kids won’t need to pay Social Security, Medicare, or FUTA taxes on their wages. Social security & Medicare is another 15.3%, so combined with the 32% savings, we’re up to a total savings of approximately $6,125! 

Here is the procedure: The IRS allows any sole proprietorship or partnership (LLC) that is wholly owned by a child’s parents to pay wages to children under age 18 without having to withhold the payroll taxes and list it as “outside labor” as another expense. NOT Payroll. You do not have to issue a W-2. This is because there are no withholdings, and the penalty for not filing a W-2 is based on the ‘withholdings.’ 

If you issue a W-2 for your child, there are no FICA, FUTA, or SUTA due or withheld. We recommend a W-2 is if you plan to have your child contribute to a Roth IRA. In those instances, we want the IRS computer to match up to the kid’s contribution to the IRA with their earned income. 

Be reasonable and make sure to have supporting documentation

Now that you understand the value of hiring your children, be sure of the following;

  1. The pay is reasonable and not excessive. Per the regulations, for any wage to be deductible, the amount paid needs to be reasonable. To be on the safe side, make sure that you pay the going salary. Don’t pay more than you would to an unrelated party who would have filled the job. If you have never had anyone in that position, ask around. An excessive salary is sure to raise a red flag. Tip to play it safe, pay your kids the minimum wage.
  2. Ensure that the children are suitable for the job
    1. Examples of jobs that are not suitable for kids – Fieldwork. State law requires anyone working in a dangerous industry to be at least 17, so if you run an auto mechanic shop, you can’t hire your 12-year-old to help you.
    1. Examples of suitable jobs – light office work. Your high school child can help you clean the office, stuff envelopes, do data entry, and light bookkeeping jobs. Etc.
  3. Child labor laws
    1. Federal Law – Children of any age, are generally permitted to work for businesses entirely owned by their parents, except mining, manufacturing, and any other occupation the Secretary of Labor has declared to be hazardous.
    1. State Law – some states have age restrictions on top of the federal law so make sure to check the specific labor laws in your state.

 Caution

  1. If you have an S or a C-Corporation, you do not receive this benefit of avoiding FICA when paying your children. In this case, the only way to pay your kids tax-free is through a sole proprietor ‘management company.’ You do this by paying a legitimate management fee to the management company (Sole proprietorship or LLC) from the S-Corporation and then paying the children out of the Sole-Proprietorship or Single Member LLC.
  2. Some states do have a special standard deduction amount for someone that can be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s federal return. For example, New York State for 2022 the amount is $3,100

Keep in mind, if audited, the IRS is quick to investigate family members’ payroll. If it’s clearly not possible that the child could have performed the work as claimed, the IRS will disallow the payments. Document everything. Keep a log of days and hours worked, what was done, etc. 

Clearly, we’ve made it simpler than in real life. Be sure to discuss this with your accountant if this may apply to you.

Don’t Fall for New Tax Scam Tricks by IRS Posers

Posted on by

copied and posted directly from the IRS Summertime Tax Tip 2015

Don’t Fall for New Tax Scam Tricks by IRS Posers

Though the tax season is over, tax scammers work year-round. The IRS advises you to stay alert to protect yourself against new ways criminals pose as the IRS to trick you out of your money or personal information. These scams first tried to sting older Americans, newly arrived immigrants and those who speak English as a second language. The crooks have expanded their net, and now try to swindle virtually anyone. Here are several tips from the IRS to help you avoid being a victim of these scams:

  • Scams use scare tactics.  These aggressive and sophisticated scams try to scare people into making a false tax payment that ends up with the criminal. Many phone scams use threats to try to intimidate you so you will pay them your money. They often threaten arrest or deportation, or that they will revoke your license if you don’t pay. They may also leave “urgent” callback requests, sometimes through “robo-calls,” via phone or email. The emails will often contain a fake IRS document with a phone number or an email address for you to reply.
  • Scams use caller ID spoofing.  Scammers often alter caller ID to make it look like the IRS or another agency is calling. The callers use IRS titles and fake badge numbers to appear legit. They may use online resources to get your name, address and other details about your life to make the call sound official.
  • Scams use phishing email and regular mail.  Scammers copy official IRS letterhead to use in email or regular mail they send to victims. In another new variation, schemers provide an actual IRS address where they tell the victim to mail a receipt for the payment they make. All in an attempt to make the scheme look official.
  • Scams cost victims over $20 million.  The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, or TIGTA, has received reports of about 600,000 contacts since October 2013. TIGTA is also aware of nearly 4,000 victims who have collectively reported over $20 million in financial losses as a result of tax scams.

The real IRS will not:

  • Call you to demand immediate payment. The IRS will not call you if you owe taxes without first sending you a bill in the mail.
  • Demand that you pay taxes and not allow you to question or appeal the amount that you owe.
  • Require that you pay your taxes a certain way. For instance, require that you pay with a prepaid debit card.
  • Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
  • Threaten to bring in police or other agencies to arrest you for not paying.

If you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to think that you do:

  • Do not provide any information to the caller. Hang up immediately.
  • Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Use TIGTA’s “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” web page to report the incident.
  • You should also report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Use the “FTC      Complaint Assistant” on FTC.gov. Please add “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

If you know you owe, or think you may owe taxes:

  • Call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help you if you do owe taxes.

Stay alert to scams that use the IRS as a lure. For more, visit “Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts” on IRS.gov.

IRS YouTube Videos:

IRS Podcasts:

IRS Releases Draft of Form 8960 Net Investment Income Tax, the 3.8% Medicare Tax for 2013

Posted on by

Posted on August 13 2013 by Alice

On August 7, 2013 the IRS released the first draft of thehttp://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-dft/f8960–dft.pdf. Form 8960 will report the new 3.8% Medicare tax on net investment income and will be filed with the 2013 Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return and 2013 Form 1041 U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts.

Beginning this year, individuals, estates and trusts whose modified AGI (adjusted gross income) exceed the threshold amount will be subject to the new 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT). The threshold amounts are:

Married Filing Joint – $250,000
Married Filing Separate – $125,000
Single/Head of Household – $200,000
Estates/Trusts – $11,650

Net investment income for purposes of the NIIT calculation includes dividends, interest, rent, royalties, commercial annuities, net capital gains on assets that produce net investment income and passive trade or business income as well as income from financial instrument trading.  Net investment income is the income after deductions for expenses that are “properly allocable” to the income.

Investment income does not include wages, active business income, pension/IRA distributions, or tax-exempt income.

The IRS is accepting comments on Form 8960 until September 27th.  The instructions for Form 8960 will be released later this year

Should You Buy or Lease Your Next Vehicle?

Posted on by

Buying or leasing tips

  • Shop wisely. Advertised deals may be too good to be true once you read the fine print. To qualify for the deal, you may need to meet certain requirements, or pay more money up front.

  • To get the best deal, be prepared to negotiate the price of the vehicle and the terms of any loan or lease offer.

  • Read any contract you’re asked to sign, and make sure you understand any terms or conditions.

  • Calculate both the short-term and long-term costs associated with each option.

After declining dramatically a few years ago, auto sales are up, leasing offers are back, and incentives and deals abound. So if you’re in the market for a new vehicle, should you buy it or lease it? To decide, you’ll need to consider how each option fits into your lifestyle and your budget.

The chart below shows some points to compare.

Buying considerations Leasing considerations
Ownership When the vehicle is paid for, it’s yours. You can keep it as long as you want, and any retained value (equity) is yours to keep. You don’t own the car–the leasing company does. You must return the vehicle at the end of the lease or choose to buy it at a predetermined residual value; you have no equity.
Monthly payments You will have a monthly payment if you finance it; the payment will vary based on the amount financed, the interest rate, and the loan term. When comparing similar vehicles with equal costs, the monthly payment for a lease is typically significantly lower than a loan payment. This may enable you to drive a more expensive vehicle.
Mileage Drive as many miles as you want; a vehicle with higher mileage, though, may be worth less when you trade in or sell your vehicle. Your lease will spell out how many miles you can drive before excess mileage charges apply (typical mileage limits range from 12,000 to 15,000).
Maintenance When you sell your vehicle, condition matters, so you may receive less if it hasn’t been well maintained. As your vehicle ages, repair bills may be greater, something you generally won’t encounter if you lease. You generally have to service the vehicle according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. You’ll also need to return your vehicle with normal wear and tear (according to the leasing company’s definition), so you may be charged for dents and scratches that seem insignificant.
Up-front costs These may include the total negotiated cost of the vehicle (or a down payment on that cost), taxes, title, and insurance. Inception fees may include an acquisition fee, a capitalized cost reduction amount (down payment), security deposit, first month’s payment, taxes, and title fees.
Value You’ll need to consider resale value. All vehicles depreciate, but some depreciate faster than others. If you decide to trade in or sell the vehicle, any value left will be money in your pocket, so it may pay off to choose a vehicle that holds its value. A vehicle that holds its value is generally less expensive to lease because your payment is based on the predicted depreciation. And because you’re returning it at the end of the lease, you don’t need to worry about owning a depreciating asset.
Insurance If your vehicle is financed, the lien holder may require you to carry a certain amount of insurance; otherwise, the amount of insurance you’ll need will depend on personal factors and state insurance requirements. You’ll be required to carry a certain amount of insurance, sometimes more than if you bought the vehicle. Many leases require GAP insurance that covers the difference between an insurance payout and the vehicle’s value if your vehicle is stolen or totaled. GAP insurance may be included in the lease.
The end of the road You may want to sell or trade in the vehicle, but the timing is up to you. If you want, you can keep the vehicle for many years, or sell it whenever you need the cash. At the end of the lease, you must return the vehicle or opt to buy it according to the lease terms. Returning the vehicle early may be an option, but it’s likely you’ll pay a hefty fee to do so. If you still need a vehicle, you’ll need to start the leasing (or buying) process all over.

Vehicles and Section 179

Posted on by

One of the more popular uses of the Section 179 Deduction has been for vehicles. In fact, several years ago the Section 179 deduction was sometimes referred to as the “Hummer Tax Loophole,” because at the time it allowed businesses to buy large SUV’s and write them off. While this particular use (or abuse) of the tax code has been modified with the limits explained below, it is still true that Section 179 can be advantageous in buying vehicles for your business.

Vehicles used in your businesses qualify – but certain passenger vehicles have a total depreciation deduction limitation of $11,060, while other vehicles that by their nature are not likely to be used more than a minimal amount for personal purposes qualify for full Section 179 deduction. Here are the general guidelines for using the Section 179 Deduction for vehicle purchases (full policy statement available at: irs.gov)

Update / IRS Guidelines for Vehicles in 2013

The IRS has not yet released guidance concerning Section 179 and Bonus Depreciation as it relates to vehicles for the year 2013. The guidance will be published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin sometime after April 15th, 2013. So be patient, and check back here often for the release date.

Please note that there are a number of qualifications for vehicles, all with varying tax treatment.

What are the limits on Typical Passenger Vehicles?

For passenger vehicles, trucks, and vans (not meeting the guidelines below), that are used more than 50% in a qualified business use, the total deduction for depreciation including both the Section 179 expense deduction as well as Bonus Depreciation
is limited to $11,060 for cars and $11,160 for trucks and vans.

Exceptions include the following vehicles:

  • §Ambulance or hearse used specifically in your business;
  • §Taxis, transport vans, and other vehicles used to specifically transport people or property for hire;
  • §Qualified non-personal use vehicles specifically modified for business (i.e. van without seating behind driver, permanent shelving installed, and exterior painted with company’s name).

Limits for SUVs or Crossover Vehicles with GVWR above 6,000lbs
Certain vehicles (with a gross vehicle weight rating above 6,000 lbs but no more than 14,000 lbs) qualify for expensing up to $25,000 if the vehicle is financed and placed in service prior to December 31 and meet other conditions.

What Vehicles Qualify for the full Section 179 Deduction?

Many vehicles that by their nature are not likely to be used for personal purposes qualify for full Section 179 deduction including the following vehicles:

  1. Heavy “non-SUV” vehicles with a cargo area at least six feet in interior length (this area must not be easily accessible from the passenger area.) To give an example, many pickups with full-sized cargo beds will qualify (although some “extended cab” pickups may have beds that are too small to qualify).
  2. Vehicles that can seat nine-plus passengers behind the driver’s seat (i.e.: Hotel / Airport shuttle vans, etc.).
  3. Vehicles with: (1) a fully-enclosed driver’s compartment / cargo area, (2) no seating at all behind the driver’s seat, and (3) no body section protruding more than 30 inches ahead of the leading edge of the windshield. In other words, a classic cargo van.

Other Considerations

Vehicles can be new or used (“new to you” is the key).

The vehicle can be financed with certain leases and loans, or bought outright.

The vehicle in question must also be used for business at least 50% of the time – and these depreciation limits are reduced by the corresponding % of personal use if the vehicle is used for business less than 100% of the time.

Remember, you can only claim Section 179 in the tax year that the vehicle is “placed in service” – meaning when the vehicle is ready and available – even if you’re not using the vehicle. Further, a vehicle first used for personal purposes doesn’t qualify in a later year if its purpose changes to business.