Articles & Videos
Introducing the “Total Return” Trust
Introducing the “Total Return” Trust The fundamental purpose of most trusts is to create a plan of financial protection for more than one beneficiary, often beneficiaries in different generations. “All the trust income to my surviving spouse, with the balance to be divided among our children at her death” might be used in a marital…
Making Tax-wise Investments
Making Tax-wise Investments Tax considerations are not, and should never be, the be-all and end-all of investment decisions. The choice of assets in which to invest, and the way in which you apportion your portfolio among them, almost certainly will prove to be far more important to your ultimate results than the tax rate that…
Reducing Risk With a Diversified Portfolio
Reducing Risk With a Diversified Portfolio Have you been worried about the stock market’s recent volatility? You’re not alone. The stock market in March was a roller-coaster ride that served as a reminder to investors that the market’s ups and downs can be a little dizzying. But a volatile market should not leave you feeling…
Are You Defining Items in QuickBooks Correctly?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Create item records in QuickBooks carefully, and QuickBooks will return the favor by running useful, accurate reports. Figure 1: Clearly-defined items result in precise reports. Obviously, you’re using QuickBooks because you buy and/or sell products and/or services. You want to know at least weekly — if not daily — what’s selling and what’s…
Saving Money for College: Education Credits
Saving Money for College: Education Credits Education credits are tax credits available for qualified education expenses paid by the taxpayer in the furthering of their education. Qualified education expenses are defined as an expense paid during the tax year for tuition and fees required by an eligible educational institution for student enrollment and attendance. Room…
Thinking About Giving up Your U.S. Citizenship? Think Twice
Thinking About Giving up Your U.S. Citizenship? Think Twice While not a lot of people ever entertain the thought of giving up their U.S. citizenship, there are more people every year that are making that choice. Among them are several wealthier people whose main reason for renouncing is to escape the country’s overloaded tax system;…
Health Care For Senior Citizens – Understanding Medicare!
Health Care For Senior Citizens – Understanding Medicare! By Dennis Wolfe In America having health care cost protection (also known as medical insurance) is not a right. Neither is it a right to access health care services. Health care services in strict economic definitions are simply services for which we consumers pay fees. As consumers…
Rate Yourself Using Debt-to-income Ratio
Rate Yourself Using Debt-to-income Ratio By Linda Stern WASHINGTON (Reuters) – If you were a company, what would the analysts be saying about you? Most investors use financial ratios to grade the companies the average debt to income ratio by age buy and sell, but they rarely subject their own finances to the same…
Where Should You Retire if You’re Wealthy?
Where Should You Retire if You’re Wealthy? Best Places Retire in USA if You’re Wealthy You’ve spent your lifetime accumulating wealth through your employment and other business endeavors. You have been successful at what you do and now the time has finally come when you’re ready to ride off into the sunset, so-to-speak. It’s time for…
Automatic Penalties for Late Form 5471s and Related Forms
Automatic Penalties for Late Form 5471s and Related Forms On January 1, 2009, the IRS will begin to automatically assess section 6038 penalties for each late-filed Form 5471, Information Return of U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Corporations, and late filing penalties under section 6651 for related forms. IRS is now sending out letters…
Selecting a Good Trustee – Factors to Consider When Choosing a Trustee
Selecting a Good Trustee – Factors to Consider When Choosing a Trustee By Rocco Beatrice WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A TRUSTEE When selecting a Trustee the most important qualities of a trustee are honesty, stability, dependability, organization, financial experience, and ability to devote time and energy on an impartial basis for the benefit of…
Gift Tax: Tips from the IRS
Gift Tax: Tips from the IRS Taxpayers who have given gifts exceeding $11,000 in value to a single individual must report the total gift amount to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The giver may owe taxes on the gifts. The recipient, however, does not have to report or pay taxes on the value of the…
Secondary Market May Impact 409A Valuations
Secondary Market May Impact 409A Valuations An issue gaining attention with respect to 409A valuations is the fact that many private company shares are increasingly being traded in the secondary market. There is a debate among valuation specialists over how transactions in private company stock impact the value of the company securities for 409A purposes.…
Five Tips for Recently Married or Divorced Taxpayers with a Name Change
Here are five tips for recently married or divorced taxpayers with a name change. If you changed your name after a recent marriage or divorce, the IRS reminds you to take the necessary steps to ensure the name on your tax return matches the name registered with the Social Security Administration. A mismatch between the…
You Thought FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Report – Form TD F 90-22.1) Was Bad?
You Thought FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Report – Form TD F 90-22.1) Was Bad? By Ron Cohen, CPA, MST Partner Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & Co., LLP PLEASE See: http://www.calcpa.org/Content/26096.aspx We are happy to help you meet these old & new disclosure requirements. Non-reporting subjects a taxpayer to horrendous penalties, even if no tax is due.…
What the IRS Has On File About You and How to Obtain Your Tax Files
What the IRS Has On File About You and How to Obtain Your Tax Files IRS liens and levies can wreak havoc on a person’s life, making it difficult to obtain financing on a home or a car and wiping out savings. Maybe you want access to your tax files to see where the problem…
How to Respond to That FATCA Letter You Just Received in the Mail
How to Respond to That FATCA Letter You Just Received in the Mail Are you among the many Americans who have a bank account(s) in another country? If you are, then you have probably received a letter in the mail recently from the IRS. If you haven’t, then it’s almost assuredly on its way. So…
Job Search Expenses Can be Tax Deductible
Can job search expenses be tax deductible? Summertime is the season that often leads to major life decisions, such as buying a home, moving or a job change. If you are looking for a new job that is in the same line of work, you may be able to deduct some of your job hunting…
GROCO Receives Recognition From Fremont Education Foundation
GROCO Receives Recognition From Fremont Education Foundation Fremont, CA – February 23, 2006 – Greenstein Rogoff Olsen & Co. (GROCO), Top Bay Area CPA Firm, is pleased to announce they were recognized by the Fremont Education Foundation as a Foundation Sponsor for 2006. At the Fremont Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 Fremont…
A Thorny Dilemma: The Ethics of Mortgage Walkaways
A Thorny Dilemma: The Ethics of Mortgage Walkaways By Steve Merrel, Partner Willow Ridge Capital Advisors In the aftermath of the housing bubble and the lending frenzy that fueled it, more and more families find themselves stuck owing a lot more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. Pressed with rising mortgage rates and…