How to leverage the 0% capital gains bracket as bitcoin surges
Hispanolistic | E+ | Getty Images Crypto investors could face higher taxes amid the surging price of bitcoin. But if you’re in the 0% capital gains bracket, you can reduce future taxes with a lesser-known strategy, experts say. The tactic, known as tax-gain harvesting, is selling profitable crypto in a lower-income year. You can leverage the […]
The stakes on tax policy are high as the election nears. Here’s how to prepare
Investors have a close eye on the Nov. 5 presidential election, but Congressional contests deserve attention — as they could shape tax policy and the next steps investors take to prepare. “Whatever happens with the election next week, it’s still going to take time for some significant tax law to come through,” said Stephen Bigge, […]
How to leverage higher income limits for the 0% capital gains bracket
dowell | Moment | Getty Images The earnings limit for the 0% capital gains bracket will rise in 2025, which could offer tax planning opportunities, financial experts say. At sale, profitable assets owned for more than one year qualify for lower taxes — known as long-term capital gains. Those rates are 0%, 15% or 20%, […]
Here’s how to know if active ETFs are right for your portfolio
Izusek | E+ | Getty Images Exchange-traded funds are generally known for passive strategies. But there has been a surge in actively managed ETFs as investors seek lower costs and more precision, experts say. Active ETFs represented just more than 2% of the U.S. ETF market at the beginning of 2019. But these funds have […]
Here’s how to reduce a ‘tax bomb’ on an inherited IRA
Greg Hinsdale | The Image Bank | Getty Images If you’ve inherited a pretax individual retirement account since 2020, you could face a sizable tax bill without proper planning, experts say. Previously, heirs could take inherited IRA withdrawals over their lifetime, known as the “stretch IRA.” However, the Secure Act of 2019 enacted the “10-year […]
How to use required minimum distributions to improve your portfolio
Richard Drury | Digitalvision | Getty Images After funneling money into pretax retirement accounts, you will eventually face mandatory withdrawals in retirement known as required minimum distributions, or RMDs. Since RMDs can trigger higher taxes, the withdrawals can be a nuisance for some retirees who do not need the money. But the yearly activity could […]
How to calculate capital gains taxes when selling your home
Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images As home values climb, more Americans owe capital gains taxes when selling property. But knowing how to calculate your home’s profit could reduce your bill, experts say. Most Americans do not owe taxes for selling a primary residence because of a special tax break — known as the Section […]
How to reduce capital gains taxes on your home sale
The Good Brigade | Digitalvision | Getty Images More Americans are paying capital gains taxes on home sale profits amid soaring property values — but there are ways to reduce your bill, experts say. In 2023, nearly 8% of U.S. home sales yielded profits exceeding $500,000, compared with about 3% in 2019, according to an […]
How to avoid ‘ghost preparers’ and other tax scams as deadline nears
As the April 15 federal tax deadline draws near, most taxpayers have less than two weeks to submit their 2023 individual tax return or file an extension — but for scammers, that’s still ample time to try to steal filers’ personal and financial information. Last year, the IRS received 294,138 complaints of reported identity theft, […]
How to avoid the ‘survivor’s penalty’ before a spouse passes
Jessie Casson | Digitalvision | Getty Images It’s hard to lose a spouse, and a costly surprise makes it even more difficult, especially for older women — higher taxes. But financial experts say there are several ways to prepare. In 2022, there was a 5.4-year life expectancy gap between U.S. sexes, according to data from […]