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Numerous tax breaks have been retroactively expanded for 2015 and beyond — or, in some cases, been made permanent — under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015. Now that the dust from the new law has settled,...

The Affordable Care Act established the health insurance premium tax credit (PTC). It first became available to taxpayers in the 2014 tax year. If you or a loved one is eligible for this refundable credit, it can be claimed even if the taxpayer...

Today's college students often leave school with an overwhelming amount of debt. In some cases, student loans are discharged (also known as being cancelled or forgiven). In other cases, these loans are paid off by an employer. Both actions have tax...

Some people think you can always deduct moving expenses on your federal income tax return. Not true. However, you can deduct some moving expenses if you meet the applicable eligibility rules. Good News, Bad News The good news is allowable moving...

Maybe it's a good thing that the April 15th federal tax deadline coincides with the urge to spring clean. It feels good to throw out some of the financial records stuffing your filing cabinets. But before you head for the dumpster, make sure you're...

For one reason or another, you may need to take some money out of an IRA before reaching retirement. You can withdraw money from an IRA at any time and for any reason, but it's important to keep in mind that most IRA withdrawals are at least...

Congress originally devised the alternative minimum tax (AMT) rules to ensure that high-income individuals who take advantage of multiple tax breaks will owe something to Uncle Sam each year. In recent years, however, that concept has eroded. Now,...

Many people itemize deductions on Schedule A of their tax returns, rather than taking the standard deduction. Your tax preparer will generally advise you to do so if your allowable itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction. Most itemized...

Attending college or graduate school is one of the biggest investments you'll ever make — and spring is the time schools normally announce who's in and who's out. If you or your child (or grandchild) plans to attend an institution of higher...

Medical expenses can be costly — and they're not always covered by insurance. But there may be a silver lining: You may be able to claim an itemized deduction for the amounts you pay for medical, dental and vision care, if you incur enough...

This year's presidential election has drawn significant attention, but the elections you make on your 2015 personal tax return can be just as important to your financial welfare. Here's a list of 10 potential elections for individuals (including...

Giving to charity can provide you with a warm feeling as well as a nice tax break. But you've got to itemize deductions on your tax return. And, like most tax breaks, charitable deductions come with a number of rules you must follow to actually...

There are several provisions in the U.S. income tax laws that make high income individuals also high income tax individuals as well. As income increases, so does the percentage of income that is paid in income and other taxes. First, we’ll...