Business owners who wish to set up a retirement plan for themselves and their employees may be worried about the financial commitment and administrative burdens involved. This article looks first at a “simplified employee pension” (SEP). Small business owners who establish and contribute to a SEP by the due date of their 2023 tax returns can still see tax savings for 2023. A sidebar describes a second retirement saving option, which is a “savings incentive match plan for employees” or SIMPLE.
Businesses that are seeking to hire should be aware of a valuable tax credit for hiring individuals from one or more targeted groups. Employers can qualify for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which is worth as much as $2,400 for most eligible employees ($4,800, $5,600 and $9,600 for certain veterans and $9,000 for long-term family assistance recipients). The credit is generally limited to eligible employees who begin work for the employer before January 1, 2026.
At one time, life insurance played a much bigger role in estate planning than it does now. That’s because life insurance was needed to pay estate tax, which affected more people than it does now. With the federal gift and estate tax exemption now at $13.61 million for 2024, far fewer families must pay estate tax. Here’s how to evaluate your life insurance needs in light of circumstances today.
Parents know that raising children is expensive. Although some of the enhancements of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) have expired, the credit is still available for eligible parents of children under age 17. Plus, there’s still time for taxpayers to claim the CTC on their 2023 tax returns, if they haven’t filed yet. This short article reviews the current rules.