It’s a fact … The IRS is going after taxpayers who fail to report their offshore accounts. Yes. You may have filed your FBAR and/or form 8938 and think you’re in good shape, but be aware … Uncle Sam has piled on a bunch of little-known international reporting requirements plus stiff penalties for non compliance. Want to stay out of big trouble with the IRS? Easy! Read … [Read more...]
Life Insurance
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Should your S corporation buy life insurance?
Benjamin Franklin said, “nothing is certain except death and taxes.” True. But there are often great ways to slash your tax bill (as readers of this publication know!). And life insurance can help survivors, even though it won’t do much good for you. So… what about having your S corporation buy life insurance? Is this a good idea? Sometimes it is a great idea. But … [Read more...]
How the IRS treats life insurance policy loans
Thinking about borrowing money from your life insurance policy? Before you do, you’d better ask yourself these three important questions… Am I using the loans for a business purpose? Am I repaying the loans? If I’m not repaying the loans, what happens when the money I’ve borrowed terminates my policy? If you haven’t answered these questions and thought about the … [Read more...]
How to protect insurance death-benefits from estate taxes
Careful life insurance planning has always been important. But come December 31, 2012, smart planning will be more important than ever! That’s because the current $5.12 million exemption from estate taxes expires on that date, and lawmakers have pegged the 2013 exemption at just $1 million and increased the tax rate from 35 to 55 percent! But don’t despair. With tax-smart … [Read more...]
How to avoid a life insurance tax trap
Do you own a life insurance policy? If you do, there’s a fact you should know. FACT: The build-up of cash value in your life insurance policy, coupled with loans against the policy, can create a whopping, unexpected tax bill. If you want to learn when life insurance policy loans create taxable income, I urge you to read my new article titled Tax Tips: Life Insurance Policy … [Read more...]