Is Your 2015 Tax Plan Ready?

How did your 2014 tax season go? Was it a success, or did it lack something to be desired? Did you get a nice return, or did you end up owing the IRS more than you expected? Did you make any mistakes when you filed your taxes or discover after the fact that you missed out on a credit or deduction you could have qualified for? Let’s face it, people aren’t perfect and taxes are complicated. Put those two things together and maybe your tax season could have been better.

Important Questions to Ponder

So now that your 2014 taxes are over and done with, maybe now is the time to consider some important changes for next year. In order to do this try asking yourself some of these important questions:

  • Do I have the right tax advisor? – Any CPA can file a tax return, but you need to be certain that your CPA understands the tax code inside and out and that he/she gets you the best results possible before and after your return.
  • Does my wealth manager understand tax loss harvesting? – While many wealth managers can help you plan for the present and the future, one key ingredient to success is to understand tax loss harvesting and how to use it.
  • Do I pay enough in fees? – No one wants to pay more than they have to, but if your hire an accountant on the cheap, you will probably get what you pay for. Paying a little extra to make sure your CPA digs deep enough to find every possible credit and deduction is worth the price.
  • Is my team right for me? – Some people have good accountants that also try to help manage their wealth, or vise versa. In most cases, it’s a good idea to have two separate advisors. However, it’s up to you to make sure you put together the right team for your success.

GROCO Can Help

All of these are important questions that you need to ask yourself. If you need help with any of these questions you can contact GROCO. Our team can help you with your investments, tax planning and wealth management. Just contact us online or give us a call at 1-877-CPA-2006 for more help.

Posted in

“Madoff” or “Ponzi-Type” Tax Losses

“Madoff” or “Ponzi-Type” Tax Losses Update: 12/9/09 Wall Street Journal Article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124623441944466541.html In addition to other good information about the type and amount of refunds people are obtaining it says in the last paragraph: “On Monday, Sen. Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.) proposed a bill that seeks to further expand the carry-back period up to six…

Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003

Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003 On Nov. 11, 2003, President Bush signed into law the Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003. Among its provisions are these tax breaks related to military personnel: Death benefits The death gratuity paid to survivors of deceased Armed Forces members rises to $12,000 and is not taxable…

Voluntary Compliance Program for Withholding Agents

Voluntary Compliance Program for Withholding Agents In a memo dated February 25, 2005, the IRS Large & Mid-size Business Division, announced that based on recently received Chief Counsel Advice, withholding agents participating in the Section 1441 Voluntary Compliance Program (VCP) would not be subject to interest charges under certain circumstances. Section 1441 requires withholding agents…

Are Casualty and Theft Losses Tax Deductible?

Are Casualty and Theft Losses Tax Deductible? If your property is destroyed, damaged, or stolen due to casualty or theft, you may be entitled to a tax deduction. A casualty is the damage, destruction, or loss of property resulting from an identifiable event that is sudden, unexpected, and unusual. A sudden event is one that…