McSwain & Company, PS
Tips for Tax Season
January 1, 2025 · Blog, Financial Planning, Uncategorized
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These articles provide general information on tax, accounting, and financial topics for small businesses and individuals. They are educational in nature and are not specific legal, accounting, financial, tax, or other professional advice, and should not be relied upon as such. This content was prepared by Service2Client and may have been reviewed or edited by the website owner for accuracy and compliance. Look for a trust mark below for verification details. No representation is made that any approach described will achieve a particular result, and no regulatory or professional body has reviewed or endorsed this content. Because each situation is different, readers should consult a qualified professional about their specific circumstances before acting. Images accompanying these articles are protected by copyright and may not be copied or reused.
January 1, 2025
Published by Service2Client on January 1, 2025
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min readWhether you file your income tax return early or at the last minute, there are ways to simplify the process and reduce what you owe – or even increase your refund – before the deadline. Filing Simplification Tip Once you receive your W-2 and/or 1099 tax forms, see what income tax bracket you fall under to determine whether you should itemize expenses or take the standard deduction. Thinking about this step first can save you a lot of time. If you don’t come near the standard deduction amount, you will not be itemizing expenses. And if you are not itemizing expenses, you won’t have to gather all the receipts (e.g., mortgage interest, property tax, state and […]
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December 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on December 1, 2024
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No matter the type of business or industry, being able to analyze and deduce patterns is essential to discovering a business’ financial health. Here are four commonly used calculations to help internal and external…
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December 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on December 1, 2024
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 3 min readAll bills not enacted by the end of the 118th congressional session on Jan. 3, 2025, will expire. Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 (HR 82) – This bill, with 330 bipartisan sponsors and a similar bill in the Senate, was introduced by Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) on Jan. 9, 2023. It passed in the House on Nov. 12 of this year and is likely to pass in the Senate before the year’s end. The purpose of the bill is to eliminate the government pension offset that reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who receive other benefits, such as a pension from a state or local government. In the private sector, this would have a similar effect to withholding Social […]
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December 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on December 1, 2024
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min read Personal Income Tax Planning Strategies for Year-End 2024 As 2024 draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to review your personal income tax situation and implement strategies to minimize your tax liability for the year. Proactive year-end tax planning can lead to significant savings, as well as ensure that you take full advantage of tax credits, deductions and other opportunities available to you. 1. Maximize Contributions to Retirement Accounts One of the most effective ways to reduce your taxable income is by contributing to tax-advantaged retirement accounts. In 2024, you may contribute up to $23,000 to a 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored plan, with an additional $7,500 catch-up contribution if you’re over age 50. These […]
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December 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on December 1, 2024
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Yep, it’s the end of another year! Chances are, you didn’t keep every resolution you made last year; for example, those goals about working out. (No shame here; we all do this!) However, the good…
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December 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on December 1, 2024
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 5 min readStep 7: Find Your Raison d’Etre What do you consider to be your purpose in this world? Few people think about their life that way. In Japan, they call it your ikigai. In France, they refer to your raison d’etre. For Americans, that roughly translates to your purpose in life or your reason for being. It’s easy to consider your family or even your career as your reason to live. But true embracement of the ikigai concept is more of a lifestyle, not a specific person, place or thing. Your purpose may not even be something you’ve pursued in your adult life. Many of us follow the socially expected path: higher education, a good job, a […]
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December 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on December 1, 2024
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min readThe holiday season is when most people go on shopping sprees and travel. This season also witnesses a surge in online activities in today’s digital world. Unfortunately, cybercriminals take advantage of this period to launch attacks. Therefore, cybersecurity should be the top priority for a business gearing up for peak sales or a shopper looking for the best deal. Understanding Holiday Cyber Threats Businesses and consumers face unique challenges during the holiday season. For businesses, the increase in traffic and online transactions can overwhelm systems. This may make them vulnerable to attacks. Cybercriminals may use tactics such as ransomware, phishing scams and fraudulent transactions during the busy season. Consumers, on the other hand, get lured by […]
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November 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on November 1, 2024
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min readSocial media has evolved from a simple networking platform to a powerful business tool. Businesses today use these platforms with billions of active users worldwide to connect with their target audience. Social media allows businesses of all sizes to reach audiences in a way that traditional advertising, such as print or television, cannot. The Role of Social Media Marketing in Business Growth Social media marketing uses social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok to promote a business’ products or services. This is done through sharing content like posts, videos and ads to engage a targeted audience and eventually make sales. With 5.22 billion social media users as of October 2024, businesses can reach […]
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November 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on November 1, 2024
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🖨 Print⏱ 5 min readStep 6: Looking to Legacy Planning to Address Future Needs of Family How do you want to be remembered? People often view their legacy as a way of disseminating assets to charitable venues to be remembered as passionate and generous supporters. That is one aspect of a legacy. But perhaps the most important legacy plan is how you want to be remembered by your family, friends and loved ones. If you do not develop an estate plan and communicate it with your loved ones, if you leave your financial accounts and investments in a state of disarray by not keeping files organized and beneficiaries updated, then you leave a huge burden behind when you pass away. […]
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November 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on November 1, 2024
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It’s that time of year again. Halloween has just come and gone – and now we’re hurtling headlong into Thanksgiving and Christmas. For holiday shopping, it’s tempting to turn a blind eye and put everything on your…
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November 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on November 1, 2024
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 3 min readEnhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024 (HR 9106) – During an election year, the Department of Homeland Security identifies major presidential and vice-presidential candidates in consultation with a committee of congressional leaders. This bipartisan bill instructs the U.S. Secret Service to use the same criteria for establishing the level of protection for major candidates as provided for presidents and vice presidents. The bill was introduced by Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY) on July 23. It passed in the House on Sept. 20, in the Senate on Sept. 24, and was signed into law by the president on Oct. 1. COCOA Act of 2024 (HR 6513) – This bipartisan Act, titled the Confirmation of Congressional Observer Access Act, […]
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November 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on November 1, 2024
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 2 min read According to estimates, inflation adjustments to the Internal Revenue Code are expected to yield increases of 2.8 percent compared to 2024 amounts. This means wider tax brackets and increased exemptions, among other things. With the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index (CPI) moderating, this increase is about 50 percent less than 2024’s inflation adjustment. Below, we’ll look at what the projected 2025 inflation adjustment means in terms of dollars and cents for you and your taxes. Individual Income Tax Brackets The tables below illustrate the individual income tax rates and brackets for 2025. Individual Income Tax Brackets & Rates: Tax Year 2025 Single Taxpayers 10% 0 – $11,925 12% $11,926 – $48,475 22% […]
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November 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on November 1, 2024
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This metric, which is also referred to as the cash cycle or the net operating cycle, looks at the time a business takes to recover its investment in inventory to eventually sell. The process starts from selling its goods, collecting…
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October 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on October 1, 2024
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Analyzing a company's Accounts Receivables is an effective way to measure its current cash flows and the likelihood of maintaining healthy cash flows. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Index (Third Quarter 2024), 68 percent…
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October 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on October 1, 2024
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min read Former President and current candidate Donald Trump introduced a new policy of his in a recent Arizona rally: No more income tax on overtime pay. This follows both Trump and Vice President Harris’ proposal for a no income tax on tips policy, as well. Below we will look at the two recent proposals and what they could mean for both taxpayers and businesses. No Tax on Tips The no tax on tips policy looks to lighten the tax burden on service industry workers. According to the Fair Labor and Standards Act, anyone who “customarily and regularly” receives $30 or more in tips per month is considered a tipped worker. The mechanism to exempt tip income […]
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October 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on October 1, 2024
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🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readAs technology evolves, so have data breaches, which have become a significant threat to businesses of all sizes. We frequently hear reports of high-profile attacks on major organizations, global corporations, and even government agencies. Emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence and machine learning make cybersecurity more challenging. They enable cybercriminals to automate attacks, create sophisticated phishing schemes, and develop advanced malware to evade traditional security measures. Hence, companies have no choice but to change how they approach cybersecurity. To deal with these modern threats, Zero Trust security models are gaining widespread adoption as the preferred standard for effectively protecting against data breaches. What is Zero Trust? Zero Trust is a cybersecurity framework based on the […]
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October 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on October 1, 2024
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Annuities are one of many products that folks have in their nest egg. But first, what exactly is an annuity?Simply put, itâ??s a contract with an insurance company that promises to pay the buyer a steady stream of income in the future.
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October 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on October 1, 2024
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 5 min readStep 5: Estate Plan The value of an estate plan is twofold. Yes, you want to pass your assets on to heirs in a seamless and tax-efficient manner. But it is also a roadmap to help your heirs understand the full breadth of your assets, where they are located, and how they should be disseminated according to your wishes. Two important components of your estate plan come into play before you pass away. The first is a Power of Attorney. This document appoints someone you trust – a relative, a friend or a custodial like a bank – to handle your finances on your behalf should you become incapacitated. The second is a Health Care Directive, […]
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October 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on October 1, 2024
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min readContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (HR 9747) – This continuing resolution was introduced on Sept. 22 as a “clean” extenuation of the federal budget to fund the government until Dec. 20. Up until this point, a handful of Republicans had attached unrelated bills pertaining to November election restrictions, which they did not have the votes to pass in the House and would never have passed in the Senate. After several weeks of threatening to shut down the government by not passing a continuing appropriations bill, the House Speaker proposed this “last-minute” tied over with the minimum appropriations necessary to keep the government up and running. While it still does not solidify the federal budget for the […]
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September 1, 2024
Published by Service2Client on September 1, 2024
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 5 min readStep 4: Putting Together a Health Plan Planning for healthcare in retirement is a tricky business. Some hardcore smokers live past 100, while some hardcore exercise and fitness gurus drop dead in their sixties. You just don’t know – which is why you need a plan. Medicare Once you turn 65, Medicare is available to most Americans. The problem is deciding what type of Medicare plan to purchase. Here is an overview: Medicare Part A – This plan covers hospital stays, skilled nursing, hospice and some home health services. It is free for eligible beneficiaries but caps some benefit coverage and requires a deductible for each inpatient hospital stay. When a hospital stay is longer than […]
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