Articles

Social Security can be seized to pay debts – sometimes

If you don’t pay your debts, creditors can generally obtain a court order to garnish your wages. But what if your income comes from Social Security? In that case, the answer is a bit more complicated. For most types of debts (including credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans), Social Security benefits cannot legally be garnished to pay them off. But how this actually works in practice can be tricky. Suppose you receive $1,500 a month

Long-term care premiums dip for men, rise for women

On average, long-term care premiums are decreasing for men and increasing for women, according to a study by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, an industry trade group. For instance, a healthy 55-year-old man can expect to pay an average of $1,015 annually for a new policy offering $164,000 in long-term care benefits, which is down 4.2 percent from last year, according to the group. But for a woman in the same situation, the average

Medicare now covers conversations about end-of-life care

Did you know that 40 percent of people over age 65 haven’t written down their wishes regarding life support and other end-of-life treatment? One reason for this may be that people haven’t had a conversation with their doctor about the options that are available. In the past, Medicare didn’t cover these doctor-patient conversations – except during the patient’s initial “Welcome to Medicare” visit, a time when the topic might not seem very relevant. Under new regulations,

What you need to know if you’re an agent under a power of attorney

If someone has named you as an agent under a durable power of attorney, you’ll be allowed to handle that person’s finances. (The person who signs the power of attorney is known as the “principal”; you’ll be known as the agent or “attorney-in-fact.”) Here are answers to some questions you might have: What are my duties? You’re responsible for handling the principal’s financial affairs. Generally, you can step into his or her shoes and take whatever investment

Your business may qualify for this extended tax break

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit gives employers a tax credit for hiring veterans and others who are members of “target” groups. Normally, you have 28 days after an eligible worker’s first day to complete the necessary paperwork for the credit. But the 28-day rule has been extended for some new workers that you hired between January 1, 2015, and May 31, 2016. For certain employees hired within that time period, the deadline for filing the required

How to respond to an IRS notice

If you find yourself on the IRS mailing list, here’s what to do. Scan the heading. The first line, generally printed in bold type and centered beneath your name and address, will tell you why the IRS is contacting you. Questions about missing information, additional taxes owed, or payments due mean you’ll want to take prompt action to avoid more notices or assessments of interest and penalties. Review the discrepancy. You’ll find the tax form and

Report your foreign financial accounts by June 30

June 30, 2016, is the deadline for filing the 2015 Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, known as the FBAR. Not sure if you need to file? The general rule is that a return is due when you have a financial interest in, or signature authority over, foreign financial accounts if the aggregate value of those accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year. The requirement applies to both individuals and

Did you get your new “chip” card?

The latest credit cards have a new feature: a half-inch square on the card’s face that looks like a mini circuit board. The square is a small computer chip called an EMV. The acronym stands for Europay, MasterCard, and VISA, the developers of the technology. Over the next several years, these chip-embedded cards are expected to replace the familiar magnetic strip technology on cards that you now swipe at point-of-sale devices. When you use your EMV

Make June business tax planning time

Looking for suggestions to reduce your 2016 business tax liability? Here are three tips to consider as summer gets underway. Business trips. When you travel on business this summer, you can write off your expenses – including airfare, lodging, and 50% of the cost of meals – if the primary motive of the trip is business-related. Costs attributable to personal side trips are nondeductible. If you travel by car, deduct actual business-related auto costs or a

June 15 is the deadline for your second estimated tax payment

June 15, 2016, is the due date for making your second installment of 2016 individual estimated tax. You can pay online, by phone, with a credit or debit card, or by check. June 15 is also the due date for calendar-year corporations to make second quarter 2016 estimated tax payments.

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