The FAFSA and Your Income

Your income from two years prior is what counts on the FAFSA. For example, the 2021-2022 FAFSA will rely on income information in your 2019 tax return. FAFSA for 2021-2022 Academic Year Opens on October 1.   The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for the 2021-2022 year opens on October 1, 2020. The…

Read More

Temporary Payroll Tax Deferral: What You Need to Know

On August 8, 2020, the president issued an executive order to allow the deferral of certain payroll taxes during the last four months of 2020, and the IRS recently provided related guidance. This has implications for both employers and employees. Here’s a brief summary of the issues. Already-existing payroll tax deferral provisions There are generally…

Read More

IRS Clarifies COVID-19 Relief Measures for Retirement Savers

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed in March 2020 ushered in several measures designed to help IRA and retirement plan account holders cope with the financial fallout from the virus. The rules were a welcome relief to many people but left questions about the details unanswered. In late June, the IRS…

Read More

2019 IRA Contribution Deadline Has Been Extended

Due to the coronavirus tax filing extension, there’s still time to make a regular IRA contribution for 2019. You have until your tax return due date (not including extensions) to contribute up to $6,000 for 2019 ($7,000 if you were age 50 or older on December 31, 2019). For most taxpayers, the contribution deadline for…

Read More

Watch Out for Coronavirus Scams

Fraudsters and scam artists are always looking for new ways to prey on consumers. Now they are using the same tactics to take advantage of consumers’ heightened financial and health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Federal, state, and local law enforcement have begun issuing warnings on the surge of coronavirus scams and how consumers can…

Read More

HSA Deposit Limits for 2018-2019

The 2018 family maximum Health Savings Account contribution limit is $6,900.  It has been widely reported, erroneously, that the limit remains at $6,850.   The 2018 single maximum HSA deposit limit is $3,450. One financial planning strategy everyone can use is to allow your HSA balance to carryover from year to year and be invested in…

Read More