Learn the tax implications of transferring a home title to a child, including life estates, gift tax, basis, and home sale exclusions.
Itemized Deductions
Important Tax Deduction Changes Under Tax Reform
Tax deduction changes in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act affect almost every person who files itemized deductions on tax returns with the IRS in prior years. One favorable change is that tax reform is nearly twice the standard deduction for most taxpayers. This means that many individuals may prefer to take the standard deduction. This standard deduction makes tax filing more simple. However, some taxpayers will still itemize their total deductions when these deductions exceed the standard deduction amount for the taxpayers filing status.
Don’t Get Sick Over Medical Insurance and Taxes
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) put significant penalties on taxpayers and their families who do not have ACA-compliant health insurance. Even though the tax reform took out these penalties after 2018, they still apply for this year. And, they can be as high as the greater of $2,085 or 2.5% of the family’s household income. So, all taxpayers must carry medical insurance. Unfortunately, it is one of your largest expenses. While the penalty will go away in 2019, you must understand how to handle the health insurance expense for tax purposes. This is so you can get the most tax benefits possible.