<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" ><channel><title>RateNerd &#187; Taxes</title> <atom:link href="http://ratenerd.com/category/taxes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><link>http://ratenerd.com</link> <description>Great rates and deals from banks.</description> <lastBuildDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:16:42 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en</language> <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1</generator> <item><title>2011 and 2012 Tax Credits For College</title><link>http://ratenerd.com/2011-and-2012-tax-credits-for-college-3790</link> <comments>http://ratenerd.com/2011-and-2012-tax-credits-for-college-3790#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:16:42 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Rate Nerd</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[College Savings]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[2011 Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[2012 Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[529 plan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[529 Savings Plan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[American Opportunity Tax Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Coverdell ESA]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Discover Bank]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Federal Tax Return]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hope Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Lifetime Learning Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[student loan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tax Credit]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://ratenerd.com/?p=3790</guid> <description><![CDATA[Slash your college bills with tax credits  Other than buying a home and automobile, a college education is one of the biggest investments Americans typically make. On average, in-state tuition and fees at a four-year public college increased by more than 8 percent to $8,244 for the 2011-2012 academic year, and room and board now [...]<p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/2011-and-2012-tax-credits-for-college-3790">2011 and 2012 Tax Credits For College</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/2011-and-2012-tax-breaks-for-parents-and-homeowners-3593' rel='bookmark' title='2011 And 2012 Tax Breaks For Parents And Homeowners'>2011 And 2012 Tax Breaks For Parents And Homeowners</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/why-your-taxes-may-rise-tax-breaks-expiring-in-2011-and-2012-3694' rel='bookmark' title='Why Your Taxes May Rise: Tax Breaks Expiring in 2011 and 2012'>Why Your Taxes May Rise: Tax Breaks Expiring in 2011 and 2012</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/6-hidden-tax-law-changes-that-may-impact-your-2011-tax-return-3772' rel='bookmark' title='6 Hidden Tax Law Changes That May Impact Your 2011 Tax Return'>6 Hidden Tax Law Changes That May Impact Your 2011 Tax Return</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/paying-for-college-college-savings-accounts-student-credit-cards-3560' rel='bookmark' title='Paying For College &#8211; College Savings Accounts, Student Credit Cards'>Paying For College &#8211; College Savings Accounts, Student Credit Cards</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767' rel='bookmark' title='6 Key Tax Mistakes To Avoid'>6 Key Tax Mistakes To Avoid</a></li></ol>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><h1><strong><a href="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/student-credit-cards.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1076" title="student-credit-cards" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/student-credit-cards.jpg" alt="" width="57" height="57" /></a>Slash your college bills with tax credits</strong></h1><h2> <strong>Other than buying a home and automobile, a college education is one of the biggest investments Americans typically make.</strong></h2><p>On average, in-state tuition and fees at a four-year public college increased by more than 8 percent to $8,244 for the 2011-2012 academic year, and room and board now averages more than $17,000 per year.</p><p><img src="http://www.aracontent.com/images/14786_B42_rgb5.jpg" alt="" align="right" />Fortunately, you may be able to cut your college costs at income tax time with a variety of credits, deductions and savings plans.</p><p>The American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credits are likely to result in the biggest tax rewards on your tax year 2011 federal return due April 17, 2012. The following basic requirements apply to both <span id="more-3790"></span>credits:</p><ul><li>Filing status on the return cannot be &#8220;married filing separately.&#8221;</li><li>The student must be you, your spouse or a dependent for whom you claim an exemption.</li><li>A dependent cannot claim the credits if claimed on another person&#8217;s (e.g. parents&#8217;) return.</li><li>If you do not claim the dependent exemption (even if entitled to the exemption), you cannot claim a credit based on that dependent&#8217;s expenses.</li><li>Claim credits on Form 8863 and file with your Federal 1040.</li></ul><p>In addition, both credits cannot be claimed for the same student.  If multiple students are claimed on a return, the taxpayer should choose the credit that yields the biggest benefit for each student.</p><p>The American Opportunity Credit is a modified version of the Hope Credit. It&#8217;s worth up to $2,500 for tuition, fees and course materials per student for the first four years of postsecondary education. Even if you have zero tax liability, you can get up to 40 percent as a refund. It phases out at higher incomes.</p><p>The Lifetime Learning Credit is worth up to 20 percent of the first $10,000 in higher education expenses per family for an unlimited number of years. Like the American Opportunity Credit, it phases out at higher incomes.</p><p>Several other college and higher education tax breaks can also be claimed on this year&#8217;s federal tax returns.</p><p>Up to $2,500 in <a href="https://www.discover.com/student-loans/?ref=ratenerd.com" target="_blank">student loan</a> interest paid each year for qualified higher education expenses can be deducted, even if you don&#8217;t itemize. The deduction phases out at higher incomes and is reduced by nontaxable distributions from a Coverdell Education Savings Account, savings bond interest used for education expenses and scholarships or veteran&#8217;s education benefits. Married taxpayers filing separately and people claimed as a dependent on another return don&#8217;t qualify.</p><p>Additional exceptions may apply to the aforementioned tax breaks, and other educational tax benefits exist for Qualified Tuition Programs, student loan cancellations and repayment assistance, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, education savings bonds, employer-provided educational assistance and work-related education. Learn more about all education tax benefits in Publication 970 at <a href="http://www.irs.gov">www.irs.gov</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="http://www.aracontent.com/PrintSite/ViewTracker.aspx?ArticleId=14786&amp;ArticleNumber=8058940507&amp;MemberId=66871" alt="" /></p><p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/2011-and-2012-tax-credits-for-college-3790">2011 and 2012 Tax Credits For College</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p><div class="lightsocial_container"><a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F2011-and-2012-tax-credits-for-college-3790&amp;title=2011+and+2012+Tax+Credits+For+College" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/digg.png" alt="Digg This" title="Digg This" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" 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Google Reader)" title="Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/2011-and-2012-tax-breaks-for-parents-and-homeowners-3593' rel='bookmark' title='2011 And 2012 Tax Breaks For Parents And Homeowners'>2011 And 2012 Tax Breaks For Parents And Homeowners</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/why-your-taxes-may-rise-tax-breaks-expiring-in-2011-and-2012-3694' rel='bookmark' title='Why Your Taxes May Rise: Tax Breaks Expiring in 2011 and 2012'>Why Your Taxes May Rise: Tax Breaks Expiring in 2011 and 2012</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/6-hidden-tax-law-changes-that-may-impact-your-2011-tax-return-3772' rel='bookmark' title='6 Hidden Tax Law Changes That May Impact Your 2011 Tax Return'>6 Hidden Tax Law Changes That May Impact Your 2011 Tax Return</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/paying-for-college-college-savings-accounts-student-credit-cards-3560' rel='bookmark' title='Paying For College &#8211; College Savings Accounts, Student Credit Cards'>Paying For College &#8211; College Savings Accounts, Student Credit Cards</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767' rel='bookmark' title='6 Key Tax Mistakes To Avoid'>6 Key Tax Mistakes To Avoid</a></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://ratenerd.com/2011-and-2012-tax-credits-for-college-3790/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>6 Hidden Tax Law Changes That May Impact Your 2011 Tax Return</title><link>http://ratenerd.com/6-hidden-tax-law-changes-that-may-impact-your-2011-tax-return-3772</link> <comments>http://ratenerd.com/6-hidden-tax-law-changes-that-may-impact-your-2011-tax-return-3772#comments</comments> <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:31:50 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Rate Nerd</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[2011 Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[2012 Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Adoption Tax Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Alternative Minimum Tax]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[American Opportunity Tax Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Child Tax Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Federal Tax Return]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Health Coverage Tax Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[IRA]]></category> <category><![CDATA[IRS]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Making Work Pay Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Roth IRA]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tax Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[TurboTax]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://ratenerd.com/?p=3772</guid> <description><![CDATA[Changes impacting your taxes and this year&#8217;s refund from Uncle Sam In the way of tax legislation, 2011 was a relatively quiet year. However, that doesn&#8217;t mean there aren&#8217;t tax law changes that will affect this year&#8217;s tax returns. &#8220;The changes enacted at the end of 2010 will still impact this year&#8217;s and next year&#8217;s [...]<p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/6-hidden-tax-law-changes-that-may-impact-your-2011-tax-return-3772">6 Hidden Tax Law Changes That May Impact Your 2011 Tax Return</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/why-your-taxes-may-rise-tax-breaks-expiring-in-2011-and-2012-3694' rel='bookmark' title='Why Your Taxes May Rise: Tax Breaks Expiring in 2011 and 2012'>Why Your Taxes May Rise: Tax Breaks Expiring in 2011 and 2012</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/2011-and-2012-tax-breaks-for-parents-and-homeowners-3593' rel='bookmark' title='2011 And 2012 Tax Breaks For Parents And Homeowners'>2011 And 2012 Tax Breaks For Parents And Homeowners</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/inside-the-tax-relief-act-of-2010-3537' rel='bookmark' title='Inside the Tax Relief Act of 2010'>Inside the Tax Relief Act of 2010</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767' rel='bookmark' title='6 Key Tax Mistakes To Avoid'>6 Key Tax Mistakes To Avoid</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/inflation-retirement-savings-account-3547' rel='bookmark' title='Inflation&#8217;s Impact On Your Retirement Savings Account'>Inflation&#8217;s Impact On Your Retirement Savings Account</a></li></ol>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><h1><strong>Changes impacting your taxes and this year&#8217;s refund from Uncle Sam</strong></h1><p><strong>In the way of tax legislation, 2011 was a relatively quiet year. However, that doesn&#8217;t mean there aren&#8217;t tax law changes that will affect this year&#8217;s tax returns.</strong></p><p><img src="http://www.aracontent.com/images/14606_B41_rgb5.jpg" alt="" align="right" />&#8220;The changes enacted at the end of 2010 will still impact this year&#8217;s and next year&#8217;s federal tax returns,&#8221; says TaxACT spokesperson, Jessi Dolmage. &#8220;With the debate over the federal budget and taxes unlikely to end any time soon, who knows if the soon-to-be expired tax breaks will be extended. So, take advantage of all your benefits while you still can.&#8221;</p><p>Three out of four taxpayers receive a federal refund, and last year&#8217;s average refund totaled $2,805. To help you maximize your refund, here are some tax law changes you should know about before <span id="more-3772"></span>filing this year&#8217;s return.</p><p>* Your federal return must be filed by Tuesday, April 17, 2012. April 15 is a Sunday and Washington, D.C., is recognizing Emancipation Day April 16. Don&#8217;t use the extended deadline as an excuse to procrastinate, though. When you rush, you&#8217;re more likely to make mistakes that could cost you money and time. Furthermore, filing, paying or providing information late will result in IRS penalties that have increased this year.</p><p>* Amounts for standard mileage, standard deductions, personal exemptions and the Alternative Minimum Tax have increased. Note there are different standard mileage rates for miles driven before July 1 and after June 30. Details about all increases are in IRS Publication 17 at www.irs.gov.</p><p>* Among the tax breaks available last year but expired for this year are the Making Work Pay Credit and Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit (unless it was a new fuel cell vehicle). The Making Work Pay Credit was essentially replaced by the payroll tax holiday for 2011. Employees and self-employed already received the tax benefit in 2011 paychecks through a reduction in the FICA-OASDI Social Security taxes. Unlike the Making Work Pay Credit, employees who benefited from the payroll tax holiday don&#8217;t need to claim it on this year&#8217;s tax return.</p><p>* Unless lawmakers extend them, this will be the last year to claim the following breaks: Tuition and Fees Deduction, Nonbusiness Energy Credit, the refundable Adoption Credit, Educator Expense Deduction, option for those with itemized deductions to deduct state and local sales taxes paid in lieu of state and local income taxes paid and mortgage insurance premiums deduction.</p><p>* The amount of the Health Coverage Tax Credit decreased to 72.5 percent for qualified health insurance coverage received between March and December 2011.</p><p>* If you converted a traditional IRA over to a designated Roth IRA in 2010, or rolled over a qualified retirement plan to a Roth IRA, but did not report the taxable amount on your 2010 tax return (due April 2011), you must report half of the amount on this year&#8217;s return and the other half on your 2012 return. Details are available in IRS Publication 575.</p><p>For information about these and other tax law changes affecting this year&#8217;s tax return, visit <a href="http://www.irs.gov">www.irs.gov</a>.<br /> <img src="http://www.aracontent.com/PrintSite/ViewTracker.aspx?ArticleId=14606&amp;ArticleNumber=8058940407&amp;MemberId=66871" alt="" /></p><p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/6-hidden-tax-law-changes-that-may-impact-your-2011-tax-return-3772">6 Hidden Tax Law Changes That May Impact Your 2011 Tax Return</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p><div class="lightsocial_container"><a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F6-hidden-tax-law-changes-that-may-impact-your-2011-tax-return-3772&amp;title=6+Hidden+Tax+Law+Changes+That+May+Impact+Your+2011+Tax+Return" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/digg.png" alt="Digg This" 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class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/twitter.png" alt="Post on Twitter" title="Post on Twitter" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.google.com/buzz/post?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F6-hidden-tax-law-changes-that-may-impact-your-2011-tax-return-3772" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/google_buzz.png" alt="Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)" title="Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/why-your-taxes-may-rise-tax-breaks-expiring-in-2011-and-2012-3694' rel='bookmark' title='Why Your Taxes May Rise: Tax Breaks Expiring in 2011 and 2012'>Why Your Taxes May Rise: Tax Breaks Expiring in 2011 and 2012</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/2011-and-2012-tax-breaks-for-parents-and-homeowners-3593' rel='bookmark' title='2011 And 2012 Tax Breaks For Parents And Homeowners'>2011 And 2012 Tax Breaks For Parents And Homeowners</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/inside-the-tax-relief-act-of-2010-3537' rel='bookmark' title='Inside the Tax Relief Act of 2010'>Inside the Tax Relief Act of 2010</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767' rel='bookmark' title='6 Key Tax Mistakes To Avoid'>6 Key Tax Mistakes To Avoid</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/inflation-retirement-savings-account-3547' rel='bookmark' title='Inflation&#8217;s Impact On Your Retirement Savings Account'>Inflation&#8217;s Impact On Your Retirement Savings Account</a></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://ratenerd.com/6-hidden-tax-law-changes-that-may-impact-your-2011-tax-return-3772/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>6 Key Tax Mistakes To Avoid</title><link>http://ratenerd.com/6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767</link> <comments>http://ratenerd.com/6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767#comments</comments> <pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:29:51 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Rate Nerd</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[2011 Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Adoption Tax Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[American Opportunity Tax Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Child Tax Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Federal Tax Return]]></category> <category><![CDATA[IRS]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tax Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[TurboTax]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://ratenerd.com/?p=3767</guid> <description><![CDATA[Have you made these six tax mistakes? How to avoid them this year Tax time is a stressful time, even for the most prepared filer. And for the many people who aren&#8217;t perfectly prepared when the season rolls around, each commercial, ad or sign that mentions tax preparation can be a painful reminder that the [...]<p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767">6 Key Tax Mistakes To Avoid</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/why-your-taxes-may-rise-tax-breaks-expiring-in-2011-and-2012-3694' rel='bookmark' title='Why Your Taxes May Rise: Tax Breaks Expiring in 2011 and 2012'>Why Your Taxes May Rise: Tax Breaks Expiring in 2011 and 2012</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/tax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528' rel='bookmark' title='Tax and Retirement Check Up Time'>Tax and Retirement Check Up Time</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/2011-and-2012-tax-breaks-for-parents-and-homeowners-3593' rel='bookmark' title='2011 And 2012 Tax Breaks For Parents And Homeowners'>2011 And 2012 Tax Breaks For Parents And Homeowners</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/inside-the-tax-relief-act-of-2010-3537' rel='bookmark' title='Inside the Tax Relief Act of 2010'>Inside the Tax Relief Act of 2010</a></li></ol>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><h1><strong>Have you made these six tax mistakes? How to avoid them this year</strong></h1><p><strong>Tax time is a stressful time, even for the most prepared filer. And for the many people who aren&#8217;t perfectly prepared when the season rolls around, each commercial, ad or sign that mentions tax preparation can be a painful reminder that the daunting task still lies ahead</strong>.</p><p><img src="http://www.aracontent.com/images/14450_B31_rgb5.jpg" alt="" align="right" /></p><h4>Mistake 1: Rushing to file by April 15</h4><p>If you aren&#8217;t ready by the 15th, you don&#8217;t need to panic. Six month extensions are now an easy-to-use option. You no longer have to give a reason about why your taxes aren&#8217;t ready by the initial deadline &#8211; just fill out and file Form 4868, and you&#8217;ll give yourself some extra time to get it all complete.</p><h4>Mistake 2: Being a perfectionist</h4><p>Of course, you can&#8217;t and don&#8217;t want to lie on your tax return, but you don&#8217;t have to <span id="more-3767"></span>panic about making sure that each minute figure is perfect. The IRS isn&#8217;t going to hunt you down and send you to jail over a simple mistake &#8211; even they understand that we&#8217;re all human. If you&#8217;ve lost some information that&#8217;s necessary to your tax return, do your best to fill it out using reasonable estimates. Don&#8217;t let perfectionism get in the way of filing.</p><h4>Mistake 3: Going it alone</h4><p>We aren&#8217;t all tax experts, and that becomes particularly clear when you start filling out the labyrinthine forms. And if you&#8217;ve had any major (or even minor) changes to your life this year, the whole process can get even more confusing. Getting help from a tax professional is much more affordable than you might imagine, and can pay off in a lot of ways, not least of which could be a lower overall tax bill.</p><h4>Mistake 4: Not reviewing your work</h4><p>You had to do it for your homework, but you should be doing it for your taxes, too. Going back to your taxes with fresh eyes can help you catch mistakes or areas that were simply missed. Check the details. Are your Social Security numbers right? Were any credits or deductions missed?</p><h4>Mistake 5: Being afraid to ask questions</h4><p>The old axiom &#8220;there are no dumb questions&#8221; applies to your taxes. If you&#8217;re not an expert, there will almost certainly be something that you don&#8217;t understand or find confusing. Luckily, there are plenty of resources out there that can answer your questions.  You can go directly to the IRS website or the IRS help line, but if you still need more assistance, check with a tax professional.</p><h4>Mistake 6: Not being careful with direct deposit</h4><p>The advent of direct deposit has been a benefit to those waiting for their tax refunds, but you have to do the footwork for the IRS. They can only deposit the funds into the account you tell them to use, so make sure that the information you provide is correct. If there&#8217;s a mistake and your money is deposited into the wrong account, it&#8217;s a nightmare, at best, to get it back. At worst, you might not get it back at all.</p><p>Preparing taxes might never be your favorite activity, but it doesn&#8217;t need to be a painful experience. Get the help you need, be cautious and don&#8217;t let the stress get to you &#8211; tax season will be done before you know it.</p><p><img src="http://www.aracontent.com/PrintSite/ViewTracker.aspx?ArticleId=14450&amp;ArticleNumber=8054380708&amp;MemberId=66871" alt="" /></p><p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767">6 Key Tax Mistakes To Avoid</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p><div class="lightsocial_container"><a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767&amp;title=6+Key+Tax+Mistakes+To+Avoid" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/digg.png" alt="Digg This" title="Digg This" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767&amp;title=6+Key+Tax+Mistakes+To+Avoid" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/reddit.png" alt="Reddit This" title="Reddit This" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767&amp;title=6+Key+Tax+Mistakes+To+Avoid" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/stumbleupon.png" alt="Stumble Now!" title="Stumble Now!" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzz?targetUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767&amp;headline=6+Key+Tax+Mistakes+To+Avoid" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/yahoo_buzz.png" alt="Buzz This" title="Buzz This" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.dzone.com/links/add.html?title=6+Key+Tax+Mistakes+To+Avoid&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/dzone.png" alt="Vote on DZone" title="Vote on DZone" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?t=6+Key+Tax+Mistakes+To+Avoid&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/facebook.png" alt="Share on Facebook" title="Share on Facebook" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://delicious.com/save?title=6+Key+Tax+Mistakes+To+Avoid&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/delicious.png" alt="Bookmark this on Delicious" title="Bookmark this on Delicious" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.dotnetkicks.com/kick/?title=6+Key+Tax+Mistakes+To+Avoid&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/dotnetkicks.png" alt="Kick It on DotNetKicks.com" title="Kick It on DotNetKicks.com" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://dotnetshoutout.com/Submit?title=6+Key+Tax+Mistakes+To+Avoid&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/dotnetshoutout.png" alt="Shout it" title="Shout it" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767&amp;title=6+Key+Tax+Mistakes+To+Avoid&amp;summary=&amp;source=" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/linkedin.png" alt="Share on LinkedIn" title="Share on LinkedIn" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.technorati.com/faves?add=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/technorati.png" alt="Bookmark this on Technorati" title="Bookmark this on Technorati" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://twitter.com/home?status=Reading+http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/twitter.png" alt="Post on Twitter" title="Post on Twitter" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.google.com/buzz/post?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F6-key-tax-mistakes-to-avoid-3767" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/google_buzz.png" alt="Google Buzz (aka. 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If Congress continues to do nothing to provide a long-term permanent set of tax laws, many tax breaks will expire this year and next year. Major Individual Income Tax Benefits Expiring 12/31/2011: • Personal tax credits applied against [...]<p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/why-your-taxes-may-rise-tax-breaks-expiring-in-2011-and-2012-3694">Why Your Taxes May Rise: Tax Breaks Expiring in 2011 and 2012</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/2011-and-2012-tax-breaks-for-parents-and-homeowners-3593' rel='bookmark' title='2011 And 2012 Tax Breaks For Parents And Homeowners'>2011 And 2012 Tax Breaks For Parents And Homeowners</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/inside-the-tax-relief-act-of-2010-3537' rel='bookmark' title='Inside the Tax Relief Act of 2010'>Inside the Tax Relief Act of 2010</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/tax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528' rel='bookmark' title='Tax and Retirement Check Up Time'>Tax and Retirement Check Up Time</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/best-cd-rates-for-october-2011-3666' rel='bookmark' title='Best CD Rates for October 2011'>Best CD Rates for October 2011</a></li></ol>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><h1><strong><a href="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/poor-credit.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1037" title="poor-credit" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/poor-credit.jpg" alt="" width="57" height="57" /></a>Many Americans, and even tax professionals, aren&#8217;t aware that their tax bill could rise dramatically next year.</strong></h1><p><img class="alignright" src="http://www.gocollege.com/students-guide-to-taxes_clip_image002.jpg" alt="" width="249" height="173" />If Congress continues to do nothing to provide a long-term permanent set of tax laws, many tax breaks will expire this year and next year.</p><h4>Major Individual Income Tax Benefits Expiring 12/31/2011:</h4><p>• Personal tax credits applied against income tax no longer apply</p><p>• Higher alternative minimum tax exemptions revert back to extraordinarily-low thresholds</p><p>• $250 school teacher expense deduction ends</p><p>• Mortgage <span id="more-3694"></span>insurance premium deduction expires</p><p>• State and local sales tax deductions expire</p><p>• Tuition and related fees deduction end</p><p>• IRA to charity tax-free transfers stop</p><p>• 2% Social Security tax reduction ends</p><p><a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3292691-10457936" target="_blank">TurboTax® Online Federal Free Edition lets you file federal taxes online – FREE!</a><img src="http://www.awltovhc.com/image-3292691-10457936" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h4>Major Individual Income Tax Benefits Expiring 12/31/2012:</h4><p>• Marriage penalty equalization ends</p><p>• Dividends taxed at capital gains rates removed, taxed at regular rates now</p><p>• Capital gains low tax rates expires</p><p>• Removal of itemized deduction phase out for higher income Americans</p><p>• Removal of personal exemption phase out for higher income Americans</p><p>• Child care deduction limit of $3,000 reverts to $2,400</p><p>• Child credit reduces from $1,000 per child to $500 per child</p><p>• Low 10% tax bracket for low income Americans is eliminated</p><p>• Lower income tax rates and smaller brackets expires</p><p>• Refundable adoption credit and reduced deduction</p><p>• American Opportunity college education credit expires</p><p>• Major reduction in earned income credits and refunds</p><p>• Income tax exemption for debt forgiven on home foreclosures and repossessions</p><p>• Deduction for student loan interest ends</p><p>• Education IRA limit drops from $2,000 to $500</p><p><a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-3292691-10458073" target="_blank"><br /> <img src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/image-3292691-10458073" alt="TurboTax - Do your taxes for Free" width="120" height="60" border="0" /></a></p><p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/why-your-taxes-may-rise-tax-breaks-expiring-in-2011-and-2012-3694">Why Your Taxes May Rise: Tax Breaks Expiring in 2011 and 2012</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p><div class="lightsocial_container"><a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Fwhy-your-taxes-may-rise-tax-breaks-expiring-in-2011-and-2012-3694&amp;title=Why+Your+Taxes+May+Rise%3A+Tax+Breaks+Expiring+in+2011+and+2012" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/digg.png" alt="Digg This" title="Digg This" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Fwhy-your-taxes-may-rise-tax-breaks-expiring-in-2011-and-2012-3694&amp;title=Why+Your+Taxes+May+Rise%3A+Tax+Breaks+Expiring+in+2011+and+2012" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" 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Google Reader)" title="Google Buzz (aka. 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Although the filing deadline is months away, some of these tax benefits require forward planning. Others may influence decisions you make now about child care, college and your home. The easiest credit parents can claim [...]<p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/2011-and-2012-tax-breaks-for-parents-and-homeowners-3593">2011 And 2012 Tax Breaks For Parents And Homeowners</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/inside-the-tax-relief-act-of-2010-3537' rel='bookmark' title='Inside the Tax Relief Act of 2010'>Inside the Tax Relief Act of 2010</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/tax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528' rel='bookmark' title='Tax and Retirement Check Up Time'>Tax and Retirement Check Up Time</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/paying-for-college-college-savings-accounts-student-credit-cards-3560' rel='bookmark' title='Paying For College &#8211; College Savings Accounts, Student Credit Cards'>Paying For College &#8211; College Savings Accounts, Student Credit Cards</a></li></ol>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><h1><strong>Uncle Sam is handing out a few extra breaks to parents and homeowners on their 2011 and 2012 tax returns. </strong></h1><h2><strong>Although the filing deadline is months away, some of these tax benefits require forward planning. Others may influence decisions you make now about child care, college and your home.</strong></h2><p>The easiest credit parents can claim is the Child Tax Credit, says Jessi Dolmage, spokesperson for TaxACT. &#8220;By simple virtue of being a parent, you can claim $1,000 for each eligible dependent on your 2011 and 2012 returns. Even better, you can receive cash back for the credit, as long as your earned income is over $3,000 and your tax liability is less than the credit.&#8221;</p><p><img src="http://www.aracontent.com/images/13659_B36_rgb5.jpg" alt="" align="right" /></p><p>Daycare can account for a big chunk of working parents&#8217; income. Fortunately, you can recoup some of those costs with the expanded Child and Dependent Care Credit in 2011 and 2012. The credit is worth between 20 and 35 percent of up to <span id="more-3593"></span>$3,000 of qualified expenses per child under the age of 13, or $6,000 for two or more children. The credit amount decreases as adjusted gross income increases.</p><p>Parents who initiate and finalize an adoption by the end of 2012 may qualify for the expanded Adoption Credit. For 2011, the credit is worth up to $13,170 and is refundable (like the Child Tax Credit). In 2012, the maximum amount changes to $12,170 and becomes non-refundable. Keep in mind the IRS requires adoption documents and Form 8839 to be mailed with your return. It takes 6 to 8 weeks for mailed returns to be processed, so select direct deposit rather than a check for the fastest refund.</p><p>College costs are higher than ever, but so are the available tax breaks. The refundable American Opportunity Credit, expanded Student Loan Interest Deduction and expanded Coverdell Education Savings Accounts contribution limit add up to $7,000 in savings on 2011 and 2012 federal returns. Plus, you can deduct up to $4,000 in tuition and fees from your 2011 income.</p><p>Dolmage also notes, &#8220;For the first time in three years, there won&#8217;t be a homebuyer credit available on federal returns. However, homeowners can still save on taxes in other areas.&#8221;</p><p>The Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit is worth up to $500 for insulation, exterior windows and doors, central air conditioners, water heaters and other improvements. Caps have been placed on furnaces, water boilers, windows, water heaters, air conditioners and biomass stoves. In addition, if you claimed the credit on your 2009 or 2010 returns, you must subtract the collective amount from the $500 available for 2011.</p><p>Investing in solar hot water property, geothermal heat pumps and wind property before Dec. 31, 2016, also has tax benefits. The nonrefundable Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit allows you to claim 30 percent of the expenditures, although certain improvements have caps.</p><p>Depending on your adjusted gross income, mortgage insurance premiums paid on a qualified mortgage can count toward your 2011 mortgage interest deduction.<br /> <img src="http://www.aracontent.com/PrintSite/ViewTracker.aspx?ArticleId=13659&amp;ArticleNumber=8049330607&amp;MemberId=66871" alt="" /></p><p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/2011-and-2012-tax-breaks-for-parents-and-homeowners-3593">2011 And 2012 Tax Breaks For Parents And Homeowners</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p><div class="lightsocial_container"><a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F2011-and-2012-tax-breaks-for-parents-and-homeowners-3593&amp;title=2011+And+2012+Tax+Breaks+For+Parents+And+Homeowners" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" 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target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/technorati.png" alt="Bookmark this on Technorati" title="Bookmark this on Technorati" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://twitter.com/home?status=Reading+http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F2011-and-2012-tax-breaks-for-parents-and-homeowners-3593" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/twitter.png" alt="Post on Twitter" title="Post on Twitter" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.google.com/buzz/post?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2F2011-and-2012-tax-breaks-for-parents-and-homeowners-3593" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/google_buzz.png" alt="Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)" title="Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/inside-the-tax-relief-act-of-2010-3537' rel='bookmark' title='Inside the Tax Relief Act of 2010'>Inside the Tax Relief Act of 2010</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/tax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528' rel='bookmark' title='Tax and Retirement Check Up Time'>Tax and Retirement Check Up Time</a></li><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/paying-for-college-college-savings-accounts-student-credit-cards-3560' rel='bookmark' title='Paying For College &#8211; College Savings Accounts, Student Credit Cards'>Paying For College &#8211; College Savings Accounts, Student Credit Cards</a></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://ratenerd.com/2011-and-2012-tax-breaks-for-parents-and-homeowners-3593/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Inside the Tax Relief Act of 2010</title><link>http://ratenerd.com/inside-the-tax-relief-act-of-2010-3537</link> <comments>http://ratenerd.com/inside-the-tax-relief-act-of-2010-3537#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:10:54 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Rate Nerd</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[2010 Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[American Opportunity Tax Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Federal Tax Return]]></category> <category><![CDATA[IRS]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Retirement Savings]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tax Credit]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://ratenerd.com/?p=3537</guid> <description><![CDATA[What you need to know about the Tax Relief Act of 2010 It was hard to miss the news about the 2010 Tax Relief Act that Congress passed and President Obama signed into law at the end of last year. What many Americans probably found easy to miss, however, is how the act will affect [...]<p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/inside-the-tax-relief-act-of-2010-3537">Inside the Tax Relief Act of 2010</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/tax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528' rel='bookmark' title='Tax and Retirement Check Up Time'>Tax and Retirement Check Up Time</a></li></ol>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><h1><strong><a href="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/fair-credit.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-849" title="fair-credit" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/fair-credit.jpg" alt="" width="57" height="57" /></a>What you need to know about the Tax Relief Act of 2010</strong></h1><h2><strong> It was hard to miss the news about the 2010 Tax Relief Act that Congress passed and President Obama signed into law at the end of last year. What many Americans probably found easy to miss, however, is how the act will affect them as they prepare to file their 2010 tax returns this April 18.</strong></h2><p>The 2010 Tax Relief Act, in part, continued the lower tax rates created during the presidency of George W. Bush, and removed some near-term planning uncertainty. Consider these immediate action steps that may help you to better position yourself from a financial and <a href="http://www.prudential.com/view/page/public/11684">retirement planning</a> perspective:</p><h4>Use Social Security tax rate reduction to increase retirement savings.</h4><p><img src="http://www.aracontent.com/images/12577_B40_rgb5.jpg" alt="" align="right" />For 2011 the individual Social Security tax rate has been lowered from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent. For an individual making $75,000, this 2 percent reduction could mean $1,500 more in his paycheck over the course of the year. In terms of planning, consider using <span id="more-3537"></span>this found money by contributing more to your 401(k) plan or funding a Roth or traditional IRA.</p><h4>Use IRA distributions to make charitable contributions.</h4><p>Prior tax law permitted individuals age 70 1/2 or older to use up to $100,000 per year of IRA distributions to make charitable contributions and avoid paying income tax on that amount. The 2010 Tax Relief Act reinstated it for 2010 and extended the provision through 2011.</p><h4>Consider selling certain capital assets over the next two years.</h4><p>The 2010 Tax Relief Act maintains the top capital gains tax rate of 15 percent as well as the special qualified dividends tax rate of 15 percent. As you consider your investment options over the next two years and whether you want to sell any assets, you should consider how these lower tax rates could benefit you.</p><h4>Consider deferring tax liability on 2010 Roth IRA conversions to 2011/2012.</h4><p>Earlier changes in tax law eliminated income limits on conversions from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA and provided for a special one-time opportunity for 2010 conversions. You can opt to pay the taxes on the conversion entirely on your 2010 return, or defer them and pay half in 2011 and the other half in 2012. Prior to the 2010 Tax Relief Act it seemed like paying the tax in 2011 and 2012 at higher rates would be a bad choice. With the continuation of lower tax rates for 2011 and 2012 most taxpayers should now choose to defer this tax liability.</p><p>A trap for the unwary here is not planning to pay the conversion tax liability in 2011 and 2012. To avoid this trap you should estimate how much your tax liability will be for both years and then make sure you either adjust your withholding from your employer or make estimated payments so that you have the liability covered when you file your 2011 and 2012 tax returns.</p><h4>Revisit estate planning.</h4><p>Thanks to the 2010 Tax Relief Act the federal estate tax exemption is now $5 million. This means most people won&#8217;t have to worry about estate planning to minimize or avoid federal estate taxes, though there are many other reasons besides taxes to do estate planning. Also, this provision is only effective for two years and could change after 2012. Estate and inheritance tax rules for a state may be different and generate tax issues at a lower amount than the $5 million federal exemption.</p><h4>Plan for possible higher rates.</h4><p>Traditional tax planning would have you defer a tax liability in order to keep more money in your pocket, earning interest, longer. However, since the 2010 Tax Relief Act only provides for continued lower rates for two years and rates could go up after that, it could make sense to trigger the income tax on an asset sooner and pay tax now. One way to do this is to convert non-Roth assets, which could be in your 401(k) or traditional IRA, into Roth assets. The creation of Roth assets allows you to hedge against increasing future tax rates and have after-tax assets to manage your tax position once in retirement.</p><p>Of course, you and your tax and financial advisers are in the best position to determine which of these strategies make sense for your personal circumstances. Be sure to consult with your tax and legal advisers regarding your personal circumstances. Keep in mind that that 2010 Tax Relief Act continues the recent history of an unsettled and uncertain tax environment, and the best way to defend against such uncertainty is to keep your focus on your financial and retirement plan goals and stay in action.</p><p><img src="http://www.aracontent.com/PrintSite/ViewTracker.aspx?ArticleId=12577&amp;ArticleNumber=8044840808&amp;MemberId=66871" alt="" /></p><p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/inside-the-tax-relief-act-of-2010-3537">Inside the Tax Relief Act of 2010</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p><div class="lightsocial_container"><a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Finside-the-tax-relief-act-of-2010-3537&amp;title=Inside+the+Tax+Relief+Act+of+2010" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/digg.png" alt="Digg This" title="Digg This" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a 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href="http://twitter.com/home?status=Reading+http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Finside-the-tax-relief-act-of-2010-3537" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/twitter.png" alt="Post on Twitter" title="Post on Twitter" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.google.com/buzz/post?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Finside-the-tax-relief-act-of-2010-3537" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/google_buzz.png" alt="Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)" title="Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://ratenerd.com/tax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528' rel='bookmark' title='Tax and Retirement Check Up Time'>Tax and Retirement Check Up Time</a></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://ratenerd.com/inside-the-tax-relief-act-of-2010-3537/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Tax and Retirement Check Up Time</title><link>http://ratenerd.com/tax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528</link> <comments>http://ratenerd.com/tax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:47:58 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Rate Nerd</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[2010 Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[2011 Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Federal Tax Return]]></category> <category><![CDATA[IRA]]></category> <category><![CDATA[IRS]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Retirement Savings]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tax Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[TD Ameritrade]]></category> <category><![CDATA[TurboTax]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://ratenerd.com/?p=3528</guid> <description><![CDATA[Tax season is a great time to conduct a retirement checkup. Every year there are routine obligations to fulfill &#8211; visiting the doctor for a checkup, doing your taxes, seeing a dentist. But is evaluating your retirement plan one of those annual rituals? For many, a lack of proactive planning will only lead to added [...]<p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/tax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528">Tax and Retirement Check Up Time</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><h1><strong><a href="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/balance-transfer-credit-cards.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-771" title="Bank Deals at RateNerd.com" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/balance-transfer-credit-cards.jpg" alt="" width="57" height="57" /></a>Tax season is a great time to conduct a retirement checkup.</strong></h1><h2><span>Every year there are routine obligations to fulfill &#8211; visiting the doctor for a checkup, doing your taxes, seeing a dentist. But is evaluating your retirement plan one of those annual rituals? For many, a lack of proactive planning will only lead to added stress.</span></h2><p>In fact, a recent survey released by TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation found that nearly one-third (31 percent) of pre-retirees are concerned they may not achieve financial success.<br /> <img src="http://www.aracontent.com/images/12801_B12_rgb5.jpg" alt="" align="right" /></p><div>When it comes to assessing your readiness for retirement, tax time can be a great time to do so. What many don&#8217;t realize is that the paperwork needed for taxes is the same paperwork needed to plan for retirement.   Filing taxes can be quiet burdensome. If you are planning on doing you own taxes this year, we highly recommend using TurboTax, an <strong><a title="online taxes" href="http://turbotax.intuit.ca/personal-tax-software/online-comparison-chart.jsp" target="_blank">online taxes</a></strong> website, to ensure up-to-date information and accuracy while maximizing your returns.  Since you&#8217;re already gathering the information and will potentially have extra money in the bank from your refund, it&#8217;s a logical time to <span id="more-3528"></span>check in and make necessary adjustments to your retirement plan or contributions.</div><div id="_mcePaste">&#8220;Starting early with planning and investing for retirement is key, but it&#8217;s important to remember that you don&#8217;t have to develop a comprehensive plan all at once,&#8221; says Lule Demmissie, managing director, investment products and retirement, TD Ameritrade, Inc., a brokerage subsidiary of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation. &#8220;Breaking it up into pieces and getting your plan started during tax time makes good sense. You can always build upon it in phases.&#8221;</div><div id="_mcePaste">So where do you begin? If you haven&#8217;t yet given much thought to retirement, assessing your current financial situation will help you determine your next move. TD Ameritrade&#8217;s WealthRuler is an innovative, online retirement calculator that helps investors review their projected retirement savings and expenses. WealthRuler is free and available to everyone. If you want to speak to someone in person, you can also visit a TD Ameritrade branch for a quick retirement checkup discussion.</div><h4>After you&#8217;ve determined your level of preparedness for retirement, it may be time to act. Consider these four key areas when planning for retirement:</h4><div id="_mcePaste"><ul><li><strong>Lifestyle</strong>. Try to envision where you&#8217;ll want to live when you are retired and the associated travel costs, taxes and proximity to key items of importance such as health care services. Try to picture what types of activities you will enjoy in retirement and how much they will cost, in addition to the money necessary to maintain your current lifestyle.</li><li><strong>Budget</strong>. Consider any expenses that will cease to exist upon retirement. Then, factor in costs that you expect to increase, such as health care expenses and travel. See how your retirement budget compares to your current budget and plan accordingly.</li><li><strong>Resources</strong>. Conducting an annual inventory on the different types of income you&#8217;ll receive in retirement can give you a clearer picture of what your retirement outlook will be.</li><li><strong>Investments</strong>. You want your money to last in retirement, so be sure to have a plan in place that can help you achieve this. If you are not sure where to begin to develop such a plan, consider going online or consulting a financial professional who could shed light on helpful tips such as investing in a tax-free environment compared to a taxable account.</li></ul></div><div id="_mcePaste">When it comes to planning for retirement, the earlier you begin, the better. However, even if you are getting a late start or lost retirement savings in the recent recession, it&#8217;s never too late to start planning. It may mean that your expectations will need to be adjusted or that you need to work a little longer, but there is still time to formulate a practical plan.</div><div id="_mcePaste">&#8220;The reality is that 70 percent of people today plan to work during retirement, so the idea of retirement may need to be redefined for many,&#8221; Demmissie said. &#8220;Just because you may have a change of plans, it doesn&#8217;t equate to failure. It&#8217;s about being prepared and knowing your financial situation ahead of time so that you may have a better chance to reach financial success in retirement.&#8221;</div><p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/tax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528">Tax and Retirement Check Up Time</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p><div class="lightsocial_container"><a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Ftax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528&amp;title=Tax+and+Retirement+Check+Up+Time" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/digg.png" alt="Digg This" title="Digg This" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Ftax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528&amp;title=Tax+and+Retirement+Check+Up+Time" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/reddit.png" alt="Reddit This" title="Reddit This" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Ftax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528&amp;title=Tax+and+Retirement+Check+Up+Time" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/stumbleupon.png" alt="Stumble Now!" title="Stumble Now!" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzz?targetUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Ftax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528&amp;headline=Tax+and+Retirement+Check+Up+Time" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/yahoo_buzz.png" alt="Buzz This" title="Buzz This" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.dzone.com/links/add.html?title=Tax+and+Retirement+Check+Up+Time&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Ftax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/dzone.png" alt="Vote on DZone" title="Vote on DZone" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?t=Tax+and+Retirement+Check+Up+Time&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Ftax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/facebook.png" alt="Share on Facebook" title="Share on Facebook" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://delicious.com/save?title=Tax+and+Retirement+Check+Up+Time&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Ftax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/delicious.png" alt="Bookmark this on Delicious" title="Bookmark this on Delicious" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.dotnetkicks.com/kick/?title=Tax+and+Retirement+Check+Up+Time&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Ftax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/dotnetkicks.png" alt="Kick It on DotNetKicks.com" title="Kick It on DotNetKicks.com" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://dotnetshoutout.com/Submit?title=Tax+and+Retirement+Check+Up+Time&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Ftax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/dotnetshoutout.png" alt="Shout it" title="Shout it" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Ftax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528&amp;title=Tax+and+Retirement+Check+Up+Time&amp;summary=&amp;source=" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/linkedin.png" alt="Share on LinkedIn" title="Share on LinkedIn" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.technorati.com/faves?add=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Ftax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/technorati.png" alt="Bookmark this on Technorati" title="Bookmark this on Technorati" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://twitter.com/home?status=Reading+http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Ftax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/twitter.png" alt="Post on Twitter" title="Post on Twitter" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.google.com/buzz/post?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Ftax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/google_buzz.png" alt="Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)" title="Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://ratenerd.com/tax-and-retirement-check-up-time-3528/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Which Tax Credits Expire on December 31, 2010?</title><link>http://ratenerd.com/which-tax-credits-expire-on-december-31-2010-3267</link> <comments>http://ratenerd.com/which-tax-credits-expire-on-december-31-2010-3267#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 15 Oct 2010 12:56:03 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Rate Nerd</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[2010 Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Federal Tax Return]]></category> <category><![CDATA[IRS]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tax Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[TurboTax]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://ratenerd.com/?p=3267</guid> <description><![CDATA[Several Federal tax credits are set to expire by year&#8217;s end. If you have been delaying that home improvement project, you may find that waiting too long is detrimental to your wallet. On Dec. 31, the federal tax credit worth up to $1,500 for energy-efficient home improvements will expire, leaving procrastinating homeowners out in the [...]<p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/which-tax-credits-expire-on-december-31-2010-3267">Which Tax Credits Expire on December 31, 2010?</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><h1><strong><a href="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/balance-transfer-credit-cards.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-771" title="Bank Deals at RateNerd.com" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/balance-transfer-credit-cards.jpg" alt="" width="57" height="57" /></a>Several Federal tax credits are set to expire by year&#8217;s end.</strong></h1><h2><strong>If you have been delaying that home improvement project, you may find that waiting too long is detrimental to your wallet.</strong></h2><p><img src="http://www.aracontent.com/images/11654_B2_rgb5.jpg" alt="" align="right" />On Dec. 31, the federal tax credit worth up to $1,500 for energy-efficient home improvements will expire, leaving procrastinating homeowners out in the cold.  But other important tax credits expire at the end of the year as well &#8211; see the full list below.</p><h4>The residential energy tax credit <span id="more-3267"></span>incentives cover:</h4><p style="padding-left: 30px;">1) high-efficiency heating, venting, and air onditioning equipment (including boilers, furnaces, and air source heat pumps),</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">2) high-efficiency water heaters,</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">3) high-performance windows, storm windows and doors,</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">4) insulation weatherizing (weather stripping, caulk, sealant, house wrap),</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">5) roofing (special energy star rebates)</p><p>&#8220;The timing couldn&#8217;t be better for value shoppers to make the investment into new energy efficient windows for their homes,&#8221; says Erin Johnson, window expert for Edgetech I.G. &#8220;Special offers and tax credits will add up through December, but the long-term savings on energy bills will be long-lasting if consumers do their homework to find the right windows to meet all of their needs.&#8221;</p><h4>Other tax credits scheduled to expire on December 31, 2010 include:</h4><ul><li>Increased child tax credit. After 2010, the current $1,000 credit is scheduled to revert back to $500. (expires on 12/31/2010)</li><li>$3,000 threshold for determining the refundable portion of the child tax credit. (expires on 12/31/2010)</li><li>Alternative motor vehicle tax credit for advanced lean burn technology motor vehicles and qualified hybrid motor vehicles that are passenger automobiles or light trucks. Note: In addition to this expiration date, the provision begins to phase out over a one-year period beginning on the date the manufacturer has manufactured and sold at least 60,000 qualified vehicles. (expires on 12/31/2010)</li><li>Increased (45%) earned income tax credit percentage for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children and increased phase-out threshold for couples who are married filing jointly. (expires on 12/31/2010)</li><li>Making work pay tax credit of up to $400, $800 for couples married filing jointly. (expires on 12/31/2010)</li></ul><p><strong>Make sure you check with your accountant or tax advisor, or use a produce like </strong><a title="Turbo Tax " href="http://ratenerd.com/go/Turbotax-turbo-tax" target="_blank"><strong>TurboTax </strong></a><strong>to make sure you are eligible and then take all tax credits due to you.</strong></p><p><em>&#8211; ARA Content contributed to this post</em></p><p><img src="http://www.aracontent.com/PrintSite/ViewTracker.aspx?ArticleId=11654&amp;ArticleNumber=8046410203&amp;MemberId=66871" alt="" /></p><p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/which-tax-credits-expire-on-december-31-2010-3267">Which Tax Credits Expire on December 31, 2010?</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p><div class="lightsocial_container"><a class="lightsocial_a" 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href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?t=Which+Tax+Credits+Expire+on+December+31%2C+2010%3F&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Fwhich-tax-credits-expire-on-december-31-2010-3267" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/facebook.png" alt="Share on Facebook" title="Share on Facebook" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://delicious.com/save?title=Which+Tax+Credits+Expire+on+December+31%2C+2010%3F&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Fwhich-tax-credits-expire-on-december-31-2010-3267" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/delicious.png" alt="Bookmark this on Delicious" title="Bookmark this on Delicious" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.dotnetkicks.com/kick/?title=Which+Tax+Credits+Expire+on+December+31%2C+2010%3F&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Fwhich-tax-credits-expire-on-december-31-2010-3267" target="_blank"><img 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/></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.technorati.com/faves?add=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Fwhich-tax-credits-expire-on-december-31-2010-3267" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/technorati.png" alt="Bookmark this on Technorati" title="Bookmark this on Technorati" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://twitter.com/home?status=Reading+http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Fwhich-tax-credits-expire-on-december-31-2010-3267" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/twitter.png" alt="Post on Twitter" title="Post on Twitter" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.google.com/buzz/post?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Fwhich-tax-credits-expire-on-december-31-2010-3267" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/google_buzz.png" alt="Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)" title="Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://ratenerd.com/which-tax-credits-expire-on-december-31-2010-3267/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>College Tax Savings Breaks For 2010</title><link>http://ratenerd.com/college-tax-savings-breaks-for-2010-2906</link> <comments>http://ratenerd.com/college-tax-savings-breaks-for-2010-2906#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:29:55 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Rate Nerd</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[College Savings]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[2010 Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[529 Savings Plan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[American Opportunity Tax Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Federal Tax Return]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hope Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[IRS]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Lifetime Learning Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[savings]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tax Credit]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://ratenerd.com/?p=2906</guid> <description><![CDATA[Cut your college costs with these 2010 tax breaks. Financing a college education in the 21st century is no small feat. According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees at a four-year private college for the 2009-2010 academic year was $26,273 and $7,020 for a four-year public university.  Add several thousands [...]<p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/college-tax-savings-breaks-for-2010-2906">College Tax Savings Breaks For 2010</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><h1><strong><a href="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/student-credit-cards.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1076" title="student-credit-cards" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/student-credit-cards.jpg" alt="" width="57" height="57" /></a>Cut your college costs with these 2010 tax breaks.</strong></h1><h2><strong>Financing a college education in the 21st century is no small feat</strong>.</h2><p>According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees at a four-year private college for the 2009-2010 academic year was $26,273 and $7,020 for a four-year public university.  Add several thousands more for room, board, books and supplies. Fortunately, students, parents and graduates can get some of that money back on their 2010 federal tax return.</p><p><img class="alignright" src="http://www.alexandercitygateway.com/Images/GraduateGirl.jpg" alt="" width="274" height="450" />The American Opportunity, Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits are likely to yield the biggest tax savings. However, only one of these credits can be claimed per student per year. The American Opportunity and Hope Credits cannot both be claimed on the same return for any students in the same household. However, if the American Opportunity or Hope Credit is claimed for one student, the Lifetime Learning Credit can still be claimed on the same return for another student.</p><h4>The following requirements apply to all three credits:</h4><ul><li>Filing status on the return cannot be married filing separately.</li><li>The student must be you, your spouse or dependent for whom you claim <span id="more-2906"></span>an exemption.</li><li>A dependent cannot claim the credits if claimed on another person&#8217;s (i.e. parents&#8217;) return.</li><li>If you do not claim the dependent exemption (even if entitled to the exemption), you cannot claim a credit based on that dependent&#8217;s expenses.</li><li>Claim credits on Form 8863 and file with your Federal 1040.</li></ul><p>The American Opportunity Credit, scheduled to expire after 2010, is a modified version of the Hope Credit. It&#8217;s worth up to $2,500 for tuition, fees and course materials per student for the first four years of postsecondary education. Even if you have zero tax liability, you can get up to 40 percent as a refund. It phases out at higher incomes and cannot be claimed with the Hope Credit on the same return.</p><p>The Hope Credit is worth up to $1,800 per student for the first two years of postsecondary education. Expenses may include tuition, fees and course-related materials (as long as the expense for those materials are required to be paid to the educational institution). It phases out at higher incomes, and a student or family claiming the Lifetime Learning Credit or Tuition and Fees Deduction for that same student is ineligible.</p><p>If you don&#8217;t qualify for the American Opportunity or Hope Credits, consider the Lifetime Learning Credit. Up to 20 percent of the first $10,000 in higher education expenses per family can be claimed for an unlimited number of years. It phases out at higher incomes.</p><p>You may also qualify for the Tuition and Fees Deduction, given on a per-student, per-year basis. In other words, you cannot claim the deduction for Student A if you&#8217;re claiming one of the above credits for that student, but you may still claim the deduction for Student B. You can deduct up to $4,000 for tuition and fees on Form 8917, regardless of whether you itemize or take the standard deduction. The deduction phases out at higher incomes, and cannot be claimed if you&#8217;re married filing separately or claimed as a dependant on another return.</p><p>In addition to these credits or deductions, up to $2,500 in student loan interest paid each year for qualified higher education expenses can be deducted on your Federal 1040, even if you don&#8217;t itemize. This deduction phases out at higher incomes, and is reduced by non-taxable distributions from a Coverdell Education Savings Account, savings bond interest used for education expenses and scholarships or veteran&#8217;s education benefits. Married taxpayers filing separately and people claimed as a dependent on another return don&#8217;t qualify.</p><p>2010 is also the last year costs paid or incurred for computer technology, equipment and Internet service for students living at home count as a qualified expense for Qualified Tuition Programs (aka 529 Savings Plans). Items must be used by the beneficiary and beneficiary&#8217;s family during the years enrolled at an eligible institution.</p><p>Additional exceptions may apply to the aforementioned tax breaks, and other educational tax benefits exist for student loan cancellations and repayment assistance, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, education savings bonds, employer-provided educational assistance and work-related education. Learn more about all education tax benefits in Publication 970 at <a href="http://www.irs.gov/">www.irs.gov</a>.</p><p><em>- Article Courtesy of ARAContent</em></p><p><img src="http://www.aracontent.com/PrintSite/ViewTracker.aspx?ArticleId=10017&amp;ArticleNumber=8039720101&amp;MemberId=66871" alt="" /></p><p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/college-tax-savings-breaks-for-2010-2906">College Tax Savings Breaks For 2010</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p><div class="lightsocial_container"><a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Fcollege-tax-savings-breaks-for-2010-2906&amp;title=College+Tax+Savings+Breaks+For+2010" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/digg.png" alt="Digg This" title="Digg This" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" 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href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Fcollege-tax-savings-breaks-for-2010-2906&amp;title=College+Tax+Savings+Breaks+For+2010&amp;summary=&amp;source=" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/linkedin.png" alt="Share on LinkedIn" title="Share on LinkedIn" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.technorati.com/faves?add=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Fcollege-tax-savings-breaks-for-2010-2906" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/technorati.png" alt="Bookmark this on Technorati" title="Bookmark this on Technorati" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://twitter.com/home?status=Reading+http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Fcollege-tax-savings-breaks-for-2010-2906" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/twitter.png" alt="Post on Twitter" title="Post on Twitter" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a class="lightsocial_a" href="http://www.google.com/buzz/post?url=http%3A%2F%2Fratenerd.com%2Fcollege-tax-savings-breaks-for-2010-2906" target="_blank"><img class="lightsocial_img" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/plugins/light-social/google_buzz.png" alt="Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)" title="Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://ratenerd.com/college-tax-savings-breaks-for-2010-2906/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Top 7 Tax Deductions For Homeowners</title><link>http://ratenerd.com/top-7-tax-deductions-for-homeowners-2699</link> <comments>http://ratenerd.com/top-7-tax-deductions-for-homeowners-2699#comments</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:39:51 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Rate Nerd</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Mortgage]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[2009 Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[2010 Taxes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Federal Tax Return]]></category> <category><![CDATA[interest]]></category> <category><![CDATA[IRS]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Private Mortgage Insurance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tax Credit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[TurboTax]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">http://ratenerd.com/?p=2699</guid> <description><![CDATA[At tax time, your house is not simply a home: It&#8217;s also a tax deduction. But there are other tax deductions besides mortgage interest you can take on your principal residence or second home &#8212; such as property taxes &#8212; and in some cases the cost of Private Mortgage Insurance. You know that you can [...]<p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/top-7-tax-deductions-for-homeowners-2699">Top 7 Tax Deductions For Homeowners</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - unadvertised deals from banks.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><h1><strong><a href="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/check-mark.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-756" title="check-mark" src="http://ratenerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/check-mark.jpg" alt="" width="57" height="57" /></a>At tax time, your house is not simply a home: It&#8217;s also a tax deduction.</strong></h1><h2><strong>But there are other tax deductions besides mortgage interest you can take on your principal residence or second home &#8212; such as property taxes &#8212; and in some cases the cost of Private Mortgage Insurance.</strong></h2><p>You know that you can get an <a href="http://ratenerd.com/go/Turbotax-turbo-tax" target="_blank">income tax deduction</a> on the mortgage interest you pay.  Your home also provides a shelter from taxes you may not have considered.  <strong>You get to deduct:<img class="alignright" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:5BIiWU7qn0cW5M:http://www.bb.ustc.edu.cn/ocw/NR/rdonlyres/Global/3/3463E543-290C-482D-A46B-E4963E555C6C/0/chp_gov_bldg_tax_form.jpg" alt="" width="110" height="120" /><br /> </strong></p><ul><li><strong>Your property taxes.</strong> And if you bought the home in 2009, you may be able to deduct more property taxes than you think. Don’t forget to include taxes you may have reimbursed the seller for—taxes the seller had already paid before you took ownership. You won&#8217;t get a 1098 report listing these taxes. Instead, that amount will be shown on the settlement sheet.</li><li><strong>Property taxes for taxpayers who don&#8217;t itemize.</strong> You can increase your 2009 standard deduction by up to $500 for real estate taxes paid in 2009 or by up to $1,000 for real estate taxes paid in 2009 if you are married and file jointly.</li><li><strong>The <a href="https://www.mortgagematch.com/">mortgage loan</a> interest on your primary residence, as well as on a second residence. </strong>(There are limits, but relatively few taxpayers are affected.)</li><li><strong>The interest on up to $100,000 borrowed on a home equity loan or home equity line of credit</strong>, regardless of the reason for the loan.</li><li><strong>Points that you paid</strong> when you purchased the house (or those that you convinced the seller to pay for you).</li><li><strong>The premiums paid for Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) in 2009, but only for policies issued after 2006. </strong>The right to this deduction disappears as Adjusted Gross Income rises from $100,000 to $110,000 (or <span id="more-2699"></span>$50,000 to $55,000 for those who use married filing separately status.)</li><li><strong>Home improvements required for medical care.</strong></li></ul><p><strong>How much can you save? </strong>The actual amount of money you save on your annual income tax bill depends on a variety of factors:</p><ul><li>Your filing status (single, head of household, married filing jointly, married filing separately)</li><li>Your standard deduction amount</li><li>Your other itemized deductions</li><li>Your taxable income</li><li>Your home-related itemized deductions, plus your other itemized deductions must add up to more than the standard deduction (increased by the amount of property taxes noted earlier that are allowed to non-itemizers), or they won&#8217;t save you any money.</li></ul><p><strong>What can&#8217;t I deduct?  <span style="font-weight: normal;">You can&#8217;t deduct the following payments for a personal residence:</span></strong></p><ul><li>Dues to a homeowners association</li><li>Insurance on your home</li><li>Appraisal fees for your home</li><li>The cost of improvements to your home, except in the relatively rare case where they qualify as a medical expense. (But keep those receipts. They may help you reduce your taxes when you sell your home.)</li></ul><p><strong>And dont forget these important tax credits you may be eligible for:</strong></p><h4><strong>New Home Tax Credit.  <span style="font-weight: normal;">If you purchased a home in 2009, you may qualify for the first-time homebuyer tax credit. Keep in mind the name of the tax credit is deceiving, as current and past homeowners may also qualify. The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the purchase price, up to either $6,500 or $8,000, depending on the purchase date, price, whether you’ve owned a primary residence and when you last owned a primary residence. Income level and filing status also affect eligibility. Those claiming the tax credit must mail their federal returns along with certain documentation for the home.</span></strong></h4><p><strong><strong>Energy Efficiency Tax Credit.  <span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://ratenerd.com/7-tax-cuts-you-may-have-missed-2606#" target="_blank">Energy efficient</a> improvements made in 2009 and 2010 may give homeowners up to $1,500 through the Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit. Up to 30 percent of the costs for qualifying improvements to a primary residence can be claimed.</span></strong></strong></p><p><strong>Use </strong><a href="http://ratenerd.com/go/Turbotax-turbo-tax" target="_blank"><strong>TurboTax</strong></a><strong> to help ensure you don’t miss any of the deductions or credits you deserve, so you get your biggest refund, guaranteed.</strong></p><p><a onmouseover="window.status='http://turbotax.intuit.com/internal/cjtto?cid=all_cjtto-3292691_int_3468341816';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/77104efolfn265C59C4243973368" target="_blank"><br /> <img src="http://www.awltovhc.com/51106kpthnl6A9G9DG8687DB77AC" border="0" alt="TurboTax - Do your Taxes for Free - It's Easy " /></a></p><p><em>– Content courtesy of </em><em><a href="http://ratenerd.com/go/Turbotax-turbo-tax" target="_blank">TurboTax</a> contributed to this article</em></p><p><a href="http://ratenerd.com/top-7-tax-deductions-for-homeowners-2699">Top 7 Tax Deductions For Homeowners</a> is a post from: <a href="http://ratenerd.com">RateNerd</a> - 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