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Medicare Premiums may Lead to Tax Savings

Sarah B

If you pay premiums for Medicare health insurance, you may be able to combine them with other qualifying expenses and claim them as an itemized deduction for medical expenses on your tax return. This includes amounts for “Medigap” insurance and Medicare Advantage plans, which cover some costs that Medicare Parts A and B don’t cover.

Generally, you can deduct medical expenses only if you itemize deductions and only to the extent that total qualifying health care expenses exceeded 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. But, if you’re self-employed people or a shareholder-employees of an S corporation, you can generally claim an above-the-line deduction for your health insurance premiums, including Medicare premiums. That means it’s not necessary for you to itemize deductions to get the tax savings.



Contact the office with questions about claiming medical expense deductions on your personal tax return. Also, be sure to ask for help identifying an optimal overall tax-planning strategy based on your personal circumstances.

November 2024: Upcoming Tax Due Dates

By Sarah Bolton • November 16, 2024
November 15 Employers: Deposit Social Security, Medicare and withheld income taxes for October if the monthly deposit rule applies. Employers: Deposit nonpayroll withheld income tax for October if the monthly deposit rule applies. Calendar-year exempt organizations: File a 2023 information return (Form 990, Form 990-EZ or Form 990-PF) if a six-month extension was filed. Pay any tax, interest and penalties due. December 10  Individuals: Report November tip income of $20 or more to employers (Form 4070).

Recovering Lost Documents and Receiving Tax Relief After a Natural Disaster

By Sarah Bolton • November 16, 2024
It’s common for individual and business taxpayers to lose financial records during a natural disaster. Unfortunately, you usually need such records to document losses for your insurance company and to qualify for federal assistance. But if you visit the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript), you can view or obtain copies of your historical tax returns, wage and income statements, and other tax account information.  Requesting online access to your records is the fastest method, but even physical transcripts can be expected to arrive in the mail within 10 calendar days. Call your bank, credit card issuers and other financial service providers for copies of other needed documents. If you were the victim of a natural disaster this year, you also may be eligible for filing extensions and other tax relief. Visit the IRS website for more information: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations

Use It or Lose It: Your 2024 Gift Tax Annual Exclusion

By Sarah Bolton • November 16, 2024
As the year winds down, you may want to combine estate planning with tax savings by taking advantage of the gift tax annual exclusion. It allows you to give cash or property up to a specified amount to an unlimited number of family members and friends each year without gift tax implications.  That specified amount is subject to annual inflation adjustments. For 2024, the amount per recipient is $18,000. Notably, in 2025, this amount will increase to $19,000 per recipient. Why is this significant? The amount was stagnant at $15,000 for several years (2018 to 2021). Beginning in 2022, the amount has increased by $1,000 annually due to inflation. Each year you need to use your annual exclusion by December 31. The exclusion doesn’t carry over from year to year. For example, if you don’t make an annual exclusion gift to your granddaughter this year, you can’t add the $18,000 unused 2024 exclusion to next year’s $19,000 exclusion to make a $37,000 tax-free gift to her next year. Contact the office with any questions.
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