Are you paying for higher-education for yourself or a dependent? Don't overlook the tax credits offered by the IRS.

There are two credits available to help taxpayers offset the costs of higher education:  The American Opportunity Tex Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit. 

Employers who provide paid family and medical leave to their employees might qualify for a credit that can reduce the taxes they owe. Here are some facts about the credit to help employers determine if they are able to claim it.

To be eligible, an employer must:

Have a written policy that meets several requirements. Provide: 

If you pay quarterly estimated tax payments, you may want to revisit the amount you pay.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed the way most taxpayers calculate their tax. These taxpayers include those with substantial income not subject to withholding, such as small business owners and self-employed individuals. The tax reform changes include:

The new tax law, effective after 2017, and how it affects Charitable Contributions and Medical Expenses:

Charitable Contributions

- The 50% limitation under Code Sec. 170(b) for an individual’s cash contributions to public charities and certain private foundations is increased to 60% for cash contributions made in 2018 through 2015.

What changed?

- The new law increases the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000.

- Eligibility factors for the credit have not changed. As in past years, a taxpayer can claim the credit if all of these apply:
     • the child was younger than 17 at the end of the tax year
     • the taxpayer claims the child as a dependent
     • the child lives with the taxpayer for at least six months of the year

One of the changes brought about by Tax Reform legislation passed in December 2017 allows businesses to write off most depreciable business assets in the year they place them in service.

The 100% depreciation deduction generally applies to depreciable business assets with a recovery period of 20 years or less and certain other property. Machinery, equipment, computers, appliances and furniture generally qualify.

If you have been itemizing deductions on your 1040, you may be affected by changes from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. You should take a few minutes to use the IRS Withholding Calculator to make sure your employer is withholding the appropriate amount of tax from your paychecks for your financial situation.

A new provision of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) creates a new tax credit for employers who pay wages for family and medical leave. The new credit, which takes effect in 2018, only lasts through 2019. However, there is a chance it could be extended by future legislation. Eligible employers can claim a credit equal to a percentage of wages paid to qualifying employees on leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

The IRS has not yet fully described some of the provisions, but here are the highlights:

On Wednesday the IRS posted a NEW W-4 Form for 2018; the Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate and Personal Allowances Worksheet . It is recommended that employees consider re-doing this form and worksheet each year as life situations may have changed and you may want to consider instructing your employer to change your withholding.  

The IRS also has a new Online Calculator.  If you are an employee, the Withholding Calculator helps you determine whether you need to give your employer a new Form W-4. You can use your results from the Calculator to help fill out the form and adjust your income tax withholding.  

The IRS encourages everyone to use the Withholding Calculator to perform a quick “paycheck checkup.”  This is even more important this year because of recent changes to the tax law for 2018.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, enacted Dec. 22, suspends from 2018 until 2026 the deduction for interest paid on home equity loans and lines of credit, unless they are used to buy, build or substantially improve the taxpayer’s home that secures the loan.

Under the new law interest on a home equity loan used to build an addition to an existing home is typically deductible, while interest on the same loan used to pay personal living expenses, such as credit card debts, is not. As under prior law, the loan must be secured by the taxpayer’s main home or second home (known as a qualified residence), not exceed the cost of the home, and meet other requirements.

For anyone considering taking out a mortgage, the new law imposes a lower dollar limit on mortgages qualifying for the home mortgage interest deduction. Beginning in 2018, taxpayers may only deduct interest on $750,000 of qualified residence loans. The limit is $375,000 for a married taxpayer filing a separate return. These are down from the prior limits of $1 million, or $500,000 for a married taxpayer filing a separate return.  The limits apply to the combined amount of loans used to buy, build or substantially improve the taxpayer’s main home and second home.

The following examples illustrate these points.