A Health Savings Account (HSA) is an often-overlooked strategy that has tax advantages. An HSA allows individuals to set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for qualifying medical expenses. The savings account can be used to pay for insurance copayments and other expenses that can save money on overall healthcare costs.

It’s important to remember that employer contributions will also figure toward those amounts. Individuals that contribute more than the allowable amount will incur a 6 percent tax. However, not everyone can take advantage of an HSA.

The HSA funds can be utilized at any time, but funds can only be contributed if individuals have a high deductible health plan – such as those available through the Health Insurance Marketplace. In 2022, individuals can contribute up to $3,650 and up to $7,300 for families. The funds also roll over from year to year if they’re not spent. HSAs have the potential to earn interest or other benefits that aren’t taxable.

Contributions

Contributions are tax free. They can be made through a pre-tax payroll deduction and isn’t counted as income so it can’t be taxed. Self-employed people can make pre-tax contributions and it won’t count as taxable income.

Interest

An HSA is a savings account and it will earn interest like any other savings account. The good news is that interest earned won’t be deemed as taxable income.

Withdrawals

Withdrawing funds to pay for allowable medical expenses can be done without penalty. An added bonus is that the HSA will perform like a traditional IRA once an individual turns 65 years old. Funds can then be withdrawn for any reason, not just for medical care and costs. However, individuals will be taxed on the money if they do. Anyone that’s enrolled in Medicare won’t be able to contribute to the HSA any longer. The good news is that any unused money that rolled over for all those years will still be there to pay for medical expenses tax free.

At Peavy and Associates PC our mission is to assist you with all your tax preparations, payroll and accounting needs.  We provide our clients with professional, personalized accounting services and guidance in a wide range of financial and business needs. Give us a call today and discover why our clients return to Peavy and Associates, PC year after year!

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Filing income taxes can be difficult enough with the constant changes to IRS rules. The situation becomes significantly more difficult when a teen and their income are involved. You’ll need to have a variety of information at your fingertips. The IRS sets dollar amount limits and whether or not your teen will have to file a tax return will depend on their total income was from all sources.

Income Levels

Unlike adults, there’s more flexibility when a child is filing, but that can also make it more complicated. If your child has income above the level set by the IRS, he/she won’t need to file. However, when a child has both earned and unearned income, the two will have to be added together to determine their filing status.

Financial Support

You can claim your child if you provide more than 50 percent of their financial support, they live with you more than half the year, and they’re under the age of 19 during the entire year. You can claim them up to the age of 24 if they’re a full-time student, even if they live outside your home due to their education.

Wages and Salary

The type of income your child has will also affect their filing status. Dependent children that have earned income of more than $12,400 (as of 2020) through wages and salaries must file. They may also owe income taxes. A child’s standard deduction can’t exceed the larger of $1,100 or their earned income plus $350. The maximum is $12,400.

Investment Income

A child’s investment income is treated differently. It’s considered unearned income when acquired through dividend or interest payments, for example. If all the child’s money was unearned income, you can include it on your return and combine it with your income. However, doing so has the potential of elevating you to a higher tax bracket.

At Peavy and Associates PC our mission is to assist you with all your tax preparations, payroll and accounting needs.  We provide our clients with professional, personalized accounting services and guidance in a wide range of financial and business needs. Give us a call today and discover why our clients return to Peavy and Associates, PC year after year!

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A raise represents a welcome addition to your income, but it can also come with some pitfalls. You may be tempted celebrate by splurging on something you or the family have wanted. While a small purchase may be in order, it’s important to remember that the money will be doled out across multiple pay periods. You also won’t receive the entire $5,000 since taxes will take a percentage of each dollar.

Take Home Pay

Take stock of your current financial situation and figure out how many dollars more you’ll be taking home each pay period. You may also have to make adjustments to your withholdings your IRS W-4 form. Claiming too much in withholdings will net a large refund at the end of the year, but it can also bring unwelcome attention from the IRS. Claiming too little in withholdings can leave you owing a significant amount of money to the IRS that you’re ill-equipped to pay.

Address Debt

If you have credit card debt or a car loan, use the extra money each pay period to pay it down. It’s especially important if you have high-interest credit cards or long-term debt. It will also work to increase or maintain your credit rating.

Emergency Fund

A raise is a great way to build on an existing emergency fund or start one. You’ll have the needed funds if there’s a job loss, unexpected medical bills, or a major appliance needs to be replaced. Keep the money in a separate savings account so you won’t be tempted to spend it. Financial advisors recommend having enough money in an emergency fund to cover living expenses for 3 to 6 months.

Retirement Fund

It’s never too early to think about retirement. Contributing even 1 percent of your raise to retirement can make a big difference. Consider making it an automatic deduction from your pay check. If your employer matches your contributions, definitely take advantage of it.

Treat Yourself

It’s okay to set aside a little money to treat yourself or the family and enjoy your success. It’s your reward for hard work. Just keep it small and don’t go overboard. A treat doesn’t have to cost a fortune to be appreciated and savored.

At Peavy and Associates PC our mission is to assist you with all your tax preparations, payroll and accounting needs.  We provide our clients with professional, personalized accounting services and guidance in a wide range of financial and business needs. Give us a call today and discover why our clients return to Peavy and Associates, PC year after year!

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Over 55 million people are engaged in side hustles. Commonly known as the gig economy in today’s vernacular, people are turning to work they can do on their own terms to earn extra cash in addition to their regular jobs. Side hustles run the gamut from making handcrafts and freelance writing to dog walking and driving for ride-share companies.

The activities can generate significant funds to help people get out of debt, finance college, or save for retirement. It allows individuals to follow their passion, provides a measure of financial freedom, and allows for extreme flexibility on the part of the individual. What most people don’t realize is that they’ll also be responsible for paying taxes on their side hustle.

However, the IRS has an entirely different set of rules for people in the gig economy. If an individual makes more than $600 in a calendar year, they’ll have to report the money as earnings on their tax returns. The IRS then classifies individuals as self-employed and subject to a 15.3 percent self-employment tax.

To offset that, individuals will need to take every deduction possible and make sure they have enough money in savings to pay the taxes the IRS will impose. Failing to plan ahead will leave side hustlers with a large tax bill they may be ill-equipped to pay, which can set an entirely new set of problems in motion.

The first thing that side hustlers learn is to save every receipt. Individuals working from home can claim a portion of their home as office space. Expenses for driving to trade shows, assignments, and even internet services can be deducted, along with laptops, software and similar expenses for conducting the side job.

Performing work for others via online platforms is one of the most popular ways that people are engaging in side hustles. It’s important to know that these gig platforms typically don’t issue a form 1099 for taxes at all, and some only do if a certain income level is reached. Individuals will need to learn how to keep accurate records of expenses and income on their own.

At Peavy and Associates PC our mission is to assist you with all your tax preparations, payroll and accounting needs.  We provide our clients with professional, personalized accounting services and guidance in a wide range of financial and business needs. Give us a call today and discover why our clients return to Peavy and Associates, PC year after year!

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Keeping track of your tax records does not need to mean an overflowing file cabinet. Plenty of free online resources will help keep even the most chaotic offline tax records well organized. Finding out which records should be kept and where is just half the battle. Storing them properly takes discipline, without which you will be left with an over-loaded shoebox full of receipts.

There are many different ways that you can store and organize your records; some work better than others for different people. In the case of individual tax returns, it is easier to use accounting software to manage the accounting side of things; you simply record when you make a purchase, when you make a payment or write in a check. It would be much more time consuming, however, if you want to organize your receipts and other documents.

One of the first steps in keeping up with your records is to have a system in place for storing all of the receipts that come into your business. If you are using a single computer for all of your document filing and accounting needs, then you can easily install and use one of the free accounting software programs available online. You can then print out each receipt and store it in your receipt folder. If you have more than one location for your receipt and bookkeeping needs, you can use labels or tags to organize the documents as you see fit.

If you use accounting software to organize your tax records, you may also want to purchase a receipt scanner. With this tool, you can scan every receipt that comes into your office. These scanners are usually used by accountants and other individuals who have a lot of paperwork to process. There are even models available that can be mounted on the wall so you can scan everything that comes into your office. There are even some models available that will allow you to print out everything that is scanned. The benefit of using these products is that you will be able to save money by eliminating the cost of purchasing ink and paper.

In addition to using an accounting software product to organize tax records, you can also take advantage of available online resources. One of the best options available is the ability to use an online filing program. These types of programs will allow you to electronically file your income tax documents so that you can avoid the extra time and money spent filing by hand. When you file electronically, you can usually do it from any location with an Internet connection. This will allow you to access your files from any computer with an Internet connection. This option is often times very helpful if you have a home office because you can easily conduct your tax records there.

The tax records that you maintain should be organized so that you can easily retrieve them when you need them. There are a variety of ways that you can organize these documents. If you want to save time while filing your tax returns, consider buying an accounting software product that will help you organize your tax records. If you are unsure about how to organize your tax records, then you can hire a certified public accountant to help you. There are many advantages to keeping your tax records in order and using a tax software product that helps you organize your information.

At Peavy and Associates PC our mission is to assist you with all your tax preparations, payroll and accounting needs.  We provide our clients with professional, personalized accounting services and guidance in a wide range of financial and business needs. Give us a call today and discover why our clients return to Peavy and Associates, PC year after year!

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Knowing how to minimize your tax liabilities can help you avoid having to pay too much in taxes or using up too much of the tax season. Ways to minimize tax liabilities for your business include: Using an accountant or CPA. A certified public accountant will help you create a comprehensive year-end tax strategy, which can be used to reduce both your taxable income and your taxes. Accountants will also help you with tax-deductible expenses such as those related to buying equipment, selling assets, or increasing your tax deductible business expenses.

Create a Budget for Tax Liabilities Your budget should include a list of all your income, expenses, and assets. Divide income into your tax liability category in order of highest to lowest. Include your total annual expenses, including mortgage, insurance premiums, and property taxes. Add your investment earnings and include the total amount you pay to rent, repair or improve the house, and any other miscellaneous expenses. Do not include retirement contributions and interest income on retirement accounts or pensions.

Maximize your deductions When you are trying to minimize your tax bill, consider being audited by the government. Audits are designed to identify areas where business owners can make improvements to their business in order to minimize their tax liability. Some auditors will suggest that business owners meet with them before the audit to discuss their income taxes and assets.

Be sure to calculate a tax-free allowance If you don’t have enough taxable income to meet the asset limitation on your return, you may want to calculate a tax-free allowance. The tax-free allowance is the maximum amount of money that you can claim on your tax return for each taxable income class. For most people, the tax-free allowance is around 50% of their income. It is possible to increase this allowance over time, especially if you meet the eligibility requirements.

Estimate taxes payable annually One way to minimize your tax liabilities is to make an educated guess at how much you will owe. This method, though imperfect, will provide a ballpark figure for you. Many tax professionals will encourage you to make an annual estimate of taxes payable. Estimations are available from different sources such as the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, and your own payroll processor. If you don’t have access to these sources of information, there are many websites that offer free tax planning advice and tools.

All these steps will help you reduce your tax liability. Be prepared when tax season comes and do your homework. Educate yourself about income tax liabilities and strategies that could reduce your tax liability. You can always adjust your estimated tax liability for the current year when tax season arrives.

At Peavy and Associates PC our mission is to assist you with all your tax preparations, payroll and accounting needs.  We provide our clients with professional, personalized accounting services and guidance in a wide range of financial and business needs. Give us a call today and discover why our clients return to Peavy and Associates, PC year after year!

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