Will your child have to file a tax return?

Your child may have to file a 2015 income tax return depending on several factors, including the total amount of income he or she received. For instance, if wages are the only source of income, your child can generally earn up to $6,300 during 2015 before a federal tax return is necessary. However, unless your child can claim an exemption from withholding, a return may be required even when wages earned are lower than the filing requirement. That's because filing is the only way to claim a refund of overpaid taxes. In addition, self-employment income, tips, and interest, dividends, and stock sales can affect the filing requirement. Contact us at (518) 798-3330 if you want details.

TAX TIP: CONSIDER MAKING TAX-FREE GIFTS

If you are in a position to give, making annual gifts can be an excellent strategy for reducing both your estate and income tax liability. Doing your gift-giving well before year-end is especially smart if you are giving income-producing property. You will then remove more income from your 2015 tax return. The annual tax-free limit for 2015 gifts is $14,000 to as many individuals as you like.

BACK TO SCHOOL? CHECK THIS TAX CREDIT

If you or a member of your family is off to college this fall, you may be eligible for the American Opportunity Tax Credit. Eligible students may take this credit for the first four years of higher education. The credit can be up to $2,500 annually. Expenses that qualify for the credit include tuition, fees, and related expenses. Forty percent of the credit is refundable, meaning you may be able to get up to $1,000 of the credit as a refund even if you don't owe any taxes.

IRS GIVES WORKER CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA

Since independent contractor payments are not subject to payroll taxes, there is a temptation to classify some employees as independent contractors when they should not be. The IRS uses certain criteria to help determine who should be classified as an employee subject to payroll taxes and eligible for employee benefits. Here's a partial list –

*                    Who controls when, where, and how the work is to be done?

*                    Who sets the working schedule?

*                    Is the payment by the hour or by the job?

*                    Whose tools will be used to accomplish the work?

*                    Does the contractor provide services to the general public?

ACCURATE INVENTORY NUMBERS ARE CRUCIAL FOR YOUR BUSINESS

For many companies, inventory is a significant dollar amount on the company's financial statements. So it's crucial that recorded inventory balances reflect actual values.

HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD GET STARTED IN BUSINESS

Perhaps you're thinking of helping one of your children get started in business. Since the failure rate for new businesses is high, you need to do whatever you can to increase your child's chances of success.

ARE ITEMIZED DEDUCTIONS WORTH THE EFFORT?

Knowing the difference between the standard and itemized deduction might save you a lot of time and trouble, and some taxes to boot.

POSTPONE TAXES WITH THIS STRATEGY

The tax law provides a valuable tax-saving opportunity to business owners and real estate investors who want to sell property and acquire similar property at about the same time. This tax break is known as a like-kind or tax-deferred exchange.

BUSINESS TIP: DON'T SELL PROPERTY; EXCHANGE IT

A tax-deferred exchange is a tax planning technique which should be considered by any taxpayer that is relocating or disposing of property. Often referred to as a "tax-free exchange," the tax-deferred exchange allows you to exchange certain business or investment property for other "like-kind" business or investment property and pay no income taxes currently. Your tax liability is deferred until you later dispose of the property for which you traded. Exchanges require careful planning and professional assistance.