10 Tips to Reduce Your Tax Burden

Tax Burden

10 Tips to Reduce Your Tax Burden

Updated: 1/3/13

With the start of a new year, tax season will soon be upon us. For 2012 returns, the tax filing deadline is April 15, 2013. Now is a good time to look for tax reduction strategies in preparation for filing your tax return.

Here are ten tips to help you get started:

Remember to report all income. It is hard to defend the exclusion of income. Reconcile your 1099s and Form W-2 to your tax return.

If you have a business or rental property, carefully review all expenses that were ordinary and necessary for the production of income.

Look for deductions to charities and costs associated with charitable work. Charities are required to give you receipts for goods and services donated to them during the year. Be aware, however, that some donations may not be the responsibility of the charity. For example, did you donate goods or services like driving the scouts to camp? You can deduct 14 cents a charitable mile. Hiring a babysitter while you performed charitable work is also deductible. The out-of-pocket costs for charitable costs and services add up to more deductions.

Can you make a contribution to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA)? If under 50 years of age at the end of 2012, you can contribute the smaller of $5,000 or taxable compensation for 2012. If over 50 years of age at the end of 2012, you may contribute up to the smaller of $6,000 or earned taxable compensation in 2012. The amount that you are allowed to contribute may be reduced depending on your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). IRA contributions can be made up to April 15, 2013 and may count as a 2012 deduction for income tax.

Do you have any tax credits that you can claim? Following is a list of credits to consider: earned income tax credit, health coverage credits, child tax credit, child and dependent care credit, education credit, and foreign tax credits. If you qualify for tax credits they may reduce your tax dollar for dollar.

If you inherited property and then sold it at a gain, remember to step your cost basis up to the fair market value at the date of death. This is often overlooked when preparing tax returns.

If you are a member of an LLC, did you incur any supplemental business expense that you did not submit for reimbursement? You may claim these expenses on Form 2106, Employee Business Expense, or Schedule SBE for Supplemental Business Expense.

If you were out of work, remember to review all costs associated with job hunting and starting a new job. This includes resume writing, travel expense to interviews, and moving expenses.

If you were fortunate to sell founder stock, be sure to review if you qualify for a 1202 exclusion on your capital gain. Depending on when you started your business you may exclude up to 75% of the gain from regular and alternative minimum taxable income. Also, if you started a new Qualified Small Business you may exclude up to 50% of the gain if the stock is held for five years and was acquired after 12/31/2011.

It is okay to take the deductions if you have substantial authority for the expense. Substantial authority include for example, private planes to visit your rental property, paying kids in your business, and business convention expense in Hawaii or Bermuda. Know the tax rules and how to tax advantage of lowering your income tax burden.

Alan L. Olsen is Managing Partner at Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & Co., LLP, a leading CPA firm in the San Francisco Bay Area. With more than 25 years of experience in public accounting, Alan works with some of the most successful venture capitalists in the world, developing innovative financial strategies for individuals and businesses. For information on filing your tax return this year, contact Alan at 866-CPA-2006 or at www.groco.com.

 

We hope you found this article about “10 Tips to Reduce Your Tax Burden” helpful.  If you have questions or need expert tax or family office advice that’s refreshingly objective (we never sell investments), please contact us or visit our Family office page  or our website at www.GROCO.com.  Unfortunately, we no longer give advice to other tax professionals gratis.

To receive our free newsletter, contact us here.

Subscribe our YouTube Channel for more updates.

Alan Olsen, CPA

Alan Olsen, is the Host of the American Dreams Show and the Managing Partner of GROCO.com.  GROCO is a premier family office and tax advisory firm located in the San Francisco Bay area serving clients all over the world.

Alan L. Olsen, CPA, Wikipedia Bio

 

 

GROCO.com is a proud sponsor of The American Dreams Show.

 

American-Dreams-Show-Accounting-firm-in-ca-cpa-tax-advisors-groco-alan-olsen

The American Dreams show was the brainchild of Alan Olsen, CPA, MBA. It was originally created to fill a specific need; often inexperienced entrepreneurs lacked basic information about raising capital and how to successfully start a business.

Alan sincerely wanted to respond to the many requests from aspiring entrepreneurs asking for the information and introductions they needed. But he had to find a way to help in which his venture capital clients and friends would not mind.

The American Dreams show became the solution, first as a radio show and now with YouTube videos as well. Always respectful of interview guest’s time, he’s able to give access to individuals information and inspiration previously inaccessible to the first-time entrepreneurs who need it most.

They can listen to venture capitalists and successful business people explain first-hand, how they got to where they are, how to start a company, how to overcome challenges, how they see the future evolving, opportunities, work-life balance and so much more..

American Dreams discusses many topics from some of the world’s most successful individuals about their secrets to life’s success. Topics from guest have included:

Creating purpose in life / Building a foundation for their life / Solving problems / Finding fulfillment through philanthropy and service / Becoming self-reliant / Enhancing effective leadership / Balancing family and work…

Untitled_Artwork copy 4

MyPaths.com (Also sponsored by GROCO) provides free access to content and world-class entrepreneurs, influencers and thought leaders’ personal success stories. To help you find your path in life to true, sustainable success & happiness.  It’s mission statement:

In an increasingly complex and difficult world, we hope to help you find your personal path in life and build a strong foundation by learning how others found success and happiness. True and sustainable success and happiness are different for each one of us but possible, often despite significant challenges.

Our mission at MyPaths.com is to provide resources and firsthand accounts of how others found their paths in life, so you can do the same.

Posted in
Leaving A Medical Career to Thrive in Entrepreneurship with Frédéric Brunner, CEO & Founder of Genioo

Leaving A Medical Career to Thrive in Entrepreneurship with Frédéric Brunner, CEO & Founder of Genioo

Introduction (Frédéric Brunner, from medical career to entrepreneurship) In this interview, Alan Olsen, CPA, MBA discusses leaving his medical career to become an entrepreneur.  Mr. Brunner is the CEO & Founder of Genioo. Transcript Alan Olsen Welcome to American Dreams. My guest today is Frederick Bruner. Frederick, welcome to today’s show. Frederic Brunner Thank you pleasure…

Celebrating Women's History Month

Celebrating Women’s History Month

Written by Traci Bullock. Women’s History Month Is an annual March celebration of the accomplishments and contributions of women throughout history. Women’s History Month is observed in the United States, Canada, and other countries. The celebration originated in the United States as a week-long event in 1981. Finally, in 1987, the Women’s History annual celebration…

My Entrepreneurial Journey with AI, an Interview with V Ray, co-founder of Valex Solutions

My Entrepreneurial Journey with AI, an Interview with V Ray, co-founder of Valex Solutions

Introduction (V Ray, an entrepreneurial journey with AI) In this interview, Alan Olsen, CPA, MBA discusses an AI entrepreneurial journey with with V Ray, Ms. Ray is the co-founder of Valex Solutions Transcript (software generated): V Ray AI has the ability to take in data and make decisions that would just seem so overwhelming for human…

Empowering Leaders of Family Businesses with Lee Brower

Empowering Leaders of Family Businesses

Introduction, in this interview, Alan Olsen, CPA, MBA discusses empowering leaders of family businesses with Lee Brower, Founder, Empowered Wealth LLC. Transcript (software generated): Alan Olsen Welcome to American Dreams. My guest today is Lee Brower. Lee, welcome to today’s show.   Lee Brower Alan, I’m delighted to be here. Thank you for having me.…