Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance to retired individuals, regardless of their medical condition, and certain younger people with disabilities or end-stage renal disease. Medicare has several parts, many of which include a premium cost based on your tax filing status and income. If your income is high, in some cases you may be subject to a premium surcharge called the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA). What does Medicare cover? Medicare … [Read more...]
Home Energy Rebates Could Save You Money
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 included two provisions allowing rebates for home energy efficiency retrofit projects and home electrification and appliance projects. These home energy rebate programs are to be administered by state energy offices, with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) providing guidance and oversight. Many states have applied for or have received optional early funding to jumpstart their home energy rebate programs. Rebates are available in some states starting in … [Read more...]
It’s Complicated: Inheriting IRAs and Retirement Plans
The SECURE Act of 2019 dramatically changed the rules governing how IRA and retirement plan assets are distributed to beneficiaries. The new rules, which took effect for account owner deaths occurring in 2020 or later, are an alphabet soup of complicated requirements that could result in big tax bills for many beneficiaries. RMDs and RBDs IRA owners and, in most cases, retirement plan participants must start taking annual required minimum distributions (RMDs) from their non-Roth … [Read more...]
Birthday Benefits Quiz
Remember when you turned 16 and rushed to get your driver's license? Or earned the right to vote at 18 and enjoyed the privileges and responsibilities of adulthood at 21? There aren't many legal changes associated with birthdays after that until you turn 50, and then there are plenty. Can you match these ages to the related federal benefits and tax responsibilities? One age will be used twice. 50 55 59½ 62 65 67 70 73 75 ___ 1. Eligible for full Social … [Read more...]
Do You Need to Adjust Your Tax Withholding?
Once you've filed last year's tax return and can see where your finances are headed this year, it may be a good time to adjust your income tax withholding to help make sure you're having the right amount withheld from your paycheck. Tax withholding is a balancing act. If you have too much tax withheld, you will receive a refund when you file your income tax return. If you prefer to receive more in your paycheck instead, you will need to reduce your withholding. However, if you have too … [Read more...]
New SAVE Repayment Plan Offers Key Benefits
In July 2023, the Department of Education launched a new income-driven repayment (IDR) plan for federal student loans called the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan. The SAVE Plan is the most generous IDR plan to date, and like all IDR plans, it calculates a borrower's monthly payment amount based on income and family size. The SAVE Plan replaces the existing Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE) Plan, and all borrowers who are currently enrolled in REPAYE will be automatically transferred … [Read more...]
Adjusting Your Tax Withholding
Now that you've seen last year's tax results and can see where this year is heading, it may be a good time to consider adjustments to your income tax withholding. Getting It Right If you have too much tax withheld, you will receive a refund when you file your income tax return, but it might make more sense to reduce your withholding and receive more in your paycheck. However, if you have too little tax withheld, you will owe tax when you file your tax return and might owe a penalty. Two … [Read more...]
