Personal Finance

We are dedicated to keeping clients abreast of the latest developments and tax-saving strategies. This section includes a library of hundreds of timely articles about business, taxes, finances, trends and the like. The articles are categorized by subject matter, which can be accessed from the links. Click on your topic of interest and find a wealth of information.

YOUR HOME & TAXES

Financial transactions involving your home have great tax and financial implications to taxpayers and their families and should be approached with a well-informed understanding of the process. This section includes a variety of self-help tools to assist clients with various aspects of the process. If additional assistance is needed, please call for an appointment or a telephone consultation.

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Going Green At Home Has Tax Benefits
A reduced credit for home energy-savings improvements is available for 2011. The credit generally equals 10% of a homeowner’s cost of eligible energy-saving improvements, up to a maximum lifetime tax credit of $500. The cost of certain high-efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, water heaters and stoves that burn biomass all qualify, along with labor costs for installing these items. In addition, the cost of energy-efficient windows and skylights, energy-efficient doors, qualifying insulation and certain roofs also qualify for the credit, though the cost of installing these items do not count.

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Tax Credit to Aid First-Time Homebuyers
To stimulate home sales, Congress first established the first-time homebuyer credit in 2008, then modified it for 2009 (through November 30, 2009), and then extended it again through the middle of 2010 (2011 for certain service members) resulting in some complicated rules.

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A New Twist For Home Sales - Non-Qualified Use
Since the advent of the version of the home sale gain exclusion that became law back in the 1990s, taxpayers have been using that provision of the law as a popular strategy to exclude gain, not just from their primary residence, but also from rentals and second homes as well. 

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