Trying to sell a house that’s sitting on the market without attracting a decent offer? Don’t give up. Think creatively and use a lease-with-an-option-to-buy strategy to get the cash flow flowing! When you find the right tenant, this arrangement can make sense for everyone concerned. But beware. There are tax traps that you’ll need to avoid if you want to come out a winner. … [Read more...]
Why tax-free IRA rollovers just became dangerous
An IRA is supposed to be a safe way to save for a secure retirement. But you’d better be careful! You see, in a recent court case, a judge overturned a long-standing rule on IRA rollovers that turns them toxic unless you handle things the right way. Make a mistake and you could be subject to income taxes, a 10% penalty, plus an additional 20% penalty! Want to avoid a huge … [Read more...]
What to do if you lose your tax records
There’s a dangerous myth floating around the Internet. It goes something like this: “If you lose your business records, don’t worry about it. All you have to do is sign an affidavit stating that ‘these are my deductions and I affirm they are correct’ and you’re home free.” If this sounds silly to you, think about how it sounds to the IRS or to a judge! Nope. If you lose … [Read more...]
How to use corporate advances to avoid double taxation
Do you own a C corporation? If you do, you have a nasty double-taxation problem. EXAMPLE: Let’s say your corporation has $10,000 of profits after paying your salary and other expenses. If you want to use that money for personal purposes, you have to: Pay the corporate tax on the income And pay a dividend tax on the transfer from the corporation to your personal bank … [Read more...]
Watch out for the dangerous “side business rules”
It’s no fun when your side business loses money. However there is a bright side. You can generally use your losses to offset other income or apply the losses to lower your income taxes. But be careful. If you don’t handle things the right way, the IRS might: Invoke the “hobby loss rule” Claim that you’re running your side business as a hobby Prohibit you from deducting … [Read more...]