Tax Advantages for Mortgage Loan Interest

When consumers purchase a home, the mortgage interest deduction and real estate tax deduction puts them above the standard yearly deduction allocated by the IRS, allowing them to deduct other expenses such as cash donations to your church, clothes you donated to charity, state and local income taxes, even tax preparation fees. In fact, the home mortgage deduction is on the rise, from about $20 billion in 1981 to $38.8 billion in 2002 to nearly $70 billion in 2003, according to estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation.

Top 7 Ways to Minimize Your Income Taxes

Are you paying too much in income taxes? Are you getting all the credits and deductions you are entitled to? Here are 7 tips to help you minimize taxes and keep more in your pocket:

Tax Deferral Power and Protection

What is a Tax-Deferred Annuity? A tax-deferred annuity is a contract between you and the insurance company with guaranteed interest and guaranteed annuity income options. There are no upfront sales charges or administrative fees during the life of your contract.

The 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange: What Are the Requirements?

Learn the ins and outs of a 1031 tax deferred exchange and take advantage of ways to preserve the equity in your property.

House to Recess After Two Major Tax Bills Pass

Before breaking for a five-week summer recess, the US House of Representatives has passed two major tax bills.

Calculating Depreciation For Your Investments

Analyzing real estate investments? Trying to understand the tax benefits of equipment depreciation? Make sure you tap Microsoft Excel's depreciation functions...

A Pain-Free Tax Season: Organization Tips For Small Businesses

Paying taxes might be painful, but preparing for tax season doesn't have to be! Learn how to get your small business finances organized and ready for this year's tax filing, and put away the aspirin!

New Jersey's Tax Exempt Property

Today, the property tax exemption battle continues. Should your church be able to build a large building to lease to a For Profit Day Care Center and with the rent money pay off the building's mortgage? Does a private school need a golf course for golfers who are not students when school is out so as to defray the expense of the golf course? These are the questions that local tax assessors, the courts and the government in Trenton struggles with daily.

Recommendations Of New Jersey's 1997 Property Tax Commission

Recommendations of the Governor's 1997 Property Tax Commission that through August 2, 2001 have been enacted by law or by regulation and those which have had just bills introduced. Governor Whitman asked the Property Tax Commission she created in 1997 to study the property tax problem in New Jersey and offer recommendations that would help county, school, and municipal officials ease the burden of property taxes on New Jersey residents. The 60 specific recommendations of the Commission are listed in summary form below. Following the specific recommendation is a citation to the law, regulation or bill that followed or a statement that (No law, regulation or bill has been forthcoming). It appears that after the 60 recommendations of the Governor's Property Tax Commission were issued in September of 1998, 11 recommendations had one or more bills introduced to implement them, 6 recommendations were implemented by Executive Order No. 88, and one recommendation was implemented by a constitutional amendment.

Michigan Lawmakers Abolish State Business Tax

Michigan state legislature has voted to approve the abolition of the state business tax starting in 2008. The move is a bid to boost investment and job creation.

A Car Donation Is A Great Way to Reduce Your Taxes

Gain a large tax reduction using a tax deductible car donation

List of Tax Records To Keep

When preparing your taxes, the goal is obviously to deduct every last penny you can. Many people are amazingly good at it. Just keep in mind you need receipts for the deductions.

Tax Refunds

If the tax you owe is less than the total of the amount of refundable tax credits that you can claim and the amount of the withholding that you paid, then you can expect a tax refund. Why? The most recent tax law provided for a new 10% tax bracket. This means that, depending on your tax category, the first $6,000 to $12,000 of your earnings will be taxed at 10 percent instead of 15 percent. To a lot of Americans, this seems like good news. But is it really?