Taxes - Individual

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Individual tax services consist of several elements depending on the complexity your taxable events.  Individual taxes are paid on homes, student loans, income, investments and a number of other things that can be simple or difficult to organize effectively.  There are a number of factors to consider each year and using a specialist to help organize you plan is recommended for anyone dealing with multiple variables or higher levels of income.

 

How do Individual Tax services work?

 

The individual tax services process consists of three primary components that should be reviewed during the year to ensure all possible taxes are being saved.      

 

     1)  Initial Review

          a)  Family status and dependents

          b)  Income, Interest, and Investment Return considerations

          c)  Loan payments and other write-off opportunities

          d)  Special situations for business owners

 

     2)  Needs & Services Proposals

          a)  Ongoing receipt collection

          b)  Document gathering

          c)  Review of income brackets and applicable taxes

          d)  Calculations of deductions and tax program savings

 

     3)  Annual Review

          a)  Document and Receipt Review

          b)  Document completion and approvals

 

Why are these services Important?

 

Individual tax services are an important service.  They are often ignored due to the expenses involved and the complexity of the services.  Most individuals don’t have very complicated tax liabilities, and the government is doing a better job at making it easy to determine what is owed and how to calculate it.  In the last couple years there have been resources created through the IRS website where consumers can calculate their own taxes free of cost using calculators and step by step programs.  It’s important to consider using a CPA if you feel there are enough outside variables to consider, otherwise if you qualify, you can get free help from the IRS. 

Will I be taxed on the growth of the cash value of my life insurance?

One of the advantages of cash value life insurance is that the cash value is allowed to grow without incurring a current tax liability.

Can I avoid the 10 percent penalty tax for early withdrawals from a traditional IRA?

Possibly. In most cases, the IRS imposes a 10 percent penalty tax on withdrawals made from traditional IRAs prior to reaching age 59½.

Can I take money from my IRA without any penalty?

It depends. If you are 59½ or older, you can take money from your IRA without penalty.

I need money--can I take funds from my IRA?

Yes, but you may be subject to a 10 percent penalty for early withdrawal if you're not yet age 59½.

Can I roll a retirement plan distribution into an IRA?

If you're asking this question, you probably have a 401(k) or other retirement plan through a former employer.

What are required minimum distributions and how are they calculated?

Required minimum distributions are the amounts that you must withdraw each year from your traditional IRA, employer-sponsored retirement plan, or tax-sheltered annuity.

Will I have to pay tax on my investment income?

The taxation of your investment income depends on several factors, including the type of investment income you have (e.g., tax exempt, ordinary, capital gain, or tax deferred).