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Ideas to Improve Your Personal Cash Flow
November 14 2022 RgKAdmin14 Others 0 comments Tags: improving cash flow

Lack of proper cash flow is one of the most common reasons businesses fail. The same is often the case in many households. Here’s how the concept of cash flow pertains to you and some ideas to improve it.


Cash flow defined

Cash flow equals cash coming in (wages, interest, Social Security benefits) and cash going out such as the bills you pay and money you spend. If more is coming in than going out, you have positive cash flow. If the opposite is true, you have negative cash flow. Calculating and forecasting cash flow, unfortunately, can get complicated. Some bills are due weekly, others monthly. A few larger bills may need to be paid quarterly or annually.


Create your cash flow snapshot

Before improving your cash flow, you need to be able to visualize it. Although there are software tools to generate a statement of cash flow you can also take a “snapshot” of your cash flow by creating a simple monthly spreadsheet:

  • Type each month across the top of the spreadsheet with an annual total.
  • Note all your revenue (cash inflows), then create a list of expenses (cash outflows) in the left-hand column.
  • Enter your income and bills by month. Create a monthly subtotal of all your inflows. Do the same for your cash outflows. Then subtract the expenses from income. Positive numbers? You have positive cash flow. Negative numbers? You have negative cash flow.
  • Create a cumulative total for the year under each month to see which months will need additional funds and which months will have excess funds.

Ideas to improve your cash flow

  • Identify your challenges. See if you have months where more cash is going out than is coming in to your bank account. This often happens when large bills are due. If possible, try to balance these known high-expense months throughout the course of the year. Common causes are:
    • Holidays
    • Property tax payments
    • Car and homeowners insurance
    • Income tax payments
    • Vacations
  • Build a reserve.If you know there are challenging months, project how much additional cash you will need and begin to save for this in positive cash months.
  • Cut back on annuities.See what monthly expense drivers are in your life. Can any of them be reduced? Can you live with fewer cell phone add-ons? How about cutting costs in your cable bill? Is it time for an insurance review?
  • Shop your current services.Some of your larger bills may create an opportunity for savings. This is especially true with home and car insurance.
  • Create savings habits to add to cash flow.Consider paying a bill to yourself in your cash outflows. This saved money is a simple technique to create positive cash flow each month to build an emergency reserve.

Understanding and looking at your cash flow situation will help you in the long term. Robert J. Kratz is available to answer any questions or concerns you may have by calling the office at 610-296-2500.

This blog provides summary information regarding the subject matter at the time of publishing. Please call our office at 610-296-2500 with any questions on how this information may impact your situation. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. All rights reserved.

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Debit Cards: How to Use Them Safely
September 21 2022 RgKAdmin14 Others 0 comments
Save money and potential headaches with these debit card tips:
• Only use in-network ATMs. All debit cards are also ATM cards and used by many to access cash. One of the most common fees appears when you use an out-of-network ATM.
 
What you can do: Understand the ATM fees charged by your bank. Only choose a bank that provides free ATM withdrawals for in-network locations. Look at the back of your debit card to see what ATM networks are considered in-network. Then use only those ATMs.
 
• Fraud protection benefits are different. Most credit cards provide zero liability on any unauthorized charges. Debit cards also provide protection against fraudulent purchases, but there may be limitations depending on which financial institution issued your card. According to federal law, the maximum number of fraudulent transactions you’ll be responsible for depends on when you notify your bank that your card is lost or stolen:
 
What you can do: Immediately notify your financial institution as soon as you realize that your debit card is lost or stolen. Frequently review transactions online to identify any unknown charges. Also check with your bank to verify the liability coverage and the timing required to report fraud on your debit card.
o Immediately notify your bank before any unauthorized charges are made: Zero liability
o Within two business days: Up to $50
o After two business days but within 60 days: Up to $500
o Fail to notify within 60 days: Unlimited
 
• Have multiple ways to access your cash. If your debit card gets lost or stolen, have another way to pay bills until your new debit card is issued. This is especially true if you’re traveling.
 
What you can do: Ask your bank about its options for issuing multiple debit cards for the same checking account. If you’re opening an account other than a free checking account, ask about potential fees, service charges and balance limitations.
 
• A debit card is not always the best payment method. Remember that a debit card provides financial access to your bank account. If it goes bad, your ability to pay other bills can be affected. For example, a stolen debit card may require you to lock your checking account. What does that mean for your other outstanding payments, like your mortgage, vehicles or utilities? Your financial life can be thrown into chaos.
 
What you can do: Avoid using a debit card on websites that are targets for scammers. Avoid using it for air travel given all the recently cancelled flights, as you could easily empty your checking account while trying to get refunds. Consider using a credit card or a separate bank account as a backup in case the account linked to your debit card needs to be shut down.
 
While debit cards are quickly overtaking checks and cash as the most popular method of payment, it is important to evolve your use of them to maximize their benefit to you. Get advice from your banker or talk to us at Robert J. Kratz 610-296-2500.
This blog provides summary information regarding the subject matter at the time of publishing. Please call our office at 610-296-2500 with any questions on how this information may impact your situation. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. All rights reserved.
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Protect Your Emergency Fund From Inflation
May 17 2022 RgKAdmin14 Others 0 comments

Most financial experts suggest keeping three – to – six months’ worth of household expenses in savings to help in case of an emergency. But with record inflation, that task just got a lot harder to accomplish as virtually every safe place to put your emergency funds will not provide interest rates that keep pace with inflation. But that does not mean you cannot increase the rate of return on these funds.

Here are some ideas to reduce the impact of inflation on your emergency funds.

  • Actively monitor your savings account rate.

    Earlier this year the Federal Reserve increased interest rates for the first time since 2018. In addition, the head of the Federal Reserve is suggesting there may be several of these rate increases in the next twelve months. This should increase the interest you can earn on the cash in your emergency account.

What you need to know: Not all savings accounts are created equal. When the Fed increases the interest rate, your saving account rate should also go higher. . . immediately. But this is not always the case. If your bank is slow to raise your savings rate, be willing to monitor and shift funds to a bank that does. Just make sure the funds are still FDIC insured and are kept at a reputable bank.

  • Take a look at Series I Savings Bonds.

    Series I Savings bonds are issued and backed by the U.S. government and feature two interest rate components: a fixed rate and an inflation rate. The fixed rate is set when the bond is issued and never changes during the life of the bond. The inflation rate resets semi-annually based on the Consumer Price Index.

What you need to know: You must hold an I bond for at least 12 months before redeeming it. And although you can redeem it after one year, you’ll have to pay a penalty worth the interest of the previous three months if you redeem the bond within five years. And remember, you must be prepared to pay the penalty if you need the funds for an emergency.

  • Creative use of Roth IRA funds in an emergency. Roth IRAs are funded with after-tax dollars. Because of this, early removal of the initial contribution is tax and penalty-free. If you dip into the earnings, however, you will not only be subject to income tax but also may be subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty.

What you need to know: Use of a Roth IRA is often a creative way to fund your emergency account while achieving higher returns with conservative investment choices, but it is not for the faint of heart. If you get this one wrong, it could cost you in taxes, penalties, and lost fund value in a bear market. Prior to removing funds from any IRA, it makes sense to conduct a tax planning session.

This blog provides summary information regarding the subject matter at the time of publishing. Please call our office at 610-296-2500 with any questions on how this information may impact your situation. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. All rights reserved.

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The Secret to a Quick Tax Refund
April 04 2022 RgKAdmin14 Others 0 comments

Here’s how to get your overpayment as soon as possible

Delayed tax refunds, penalties for not filing 2020 tax returns on time that were actually filed on time, and timely tax payments being flagged as late are just some of the headaches taxpayers are grappling with due to a massive backlog of several million unprocessed tax returns the IRS is trying to wade out from under.

What you need to know

Here’s how to avoid getting your tax refund delayed and steer clear from late-filing and payment penalties resulting from the IRS backlog:

  • E-file your return! The secret to getting a quick tax refund is to e-file your 2021 tax return! The IRS says approximately 90% of the more than 160 million individual tax returns expected for the 2021 tax year will be e-filed. The majority of these taxpayers will avoid any issues filing their return and getting their refund. If you do e-file, don’t forget to sign Form 8879, which authorizes the e-filing of your return.
  • Stay calm if you receive a letter from the IRS. You may receive an IRS notice indicating you have an unfiled tax return or that you have an unpaid balance on your account. If the notice was mailed because of the backlog and you indeed filed the tax return in question or paid the amount due listed, the IRS says there is no need to call or respond to the notice as it’s continuing to process prior-year tax returns as quickly as possible.
  • Certified mail is your friend. If you receive an IRS notice for a situation not related to the backlog, you’ll want to respond in a timely fashion via certified mail. This will provide proof of your timely correspondence. So even if your response gets lost or caught up in the backlog, you’ll have evidence that you responded by the deadline listed on the notice. Remember that delays in responses could generate penalties and additional interest payments.
  • Be patient if you need to talk with the IRS. The IRS received a record 282 million phone calls during its 2021 fiscal year, according to National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins. Only 32 million of these calls were answered. Collins said the best time to call the IRS are Wednesdays through Fridays, especially early mornings starting at 7 am Eastern time.

This blog provides summary information regarding the subject matter at the time of publishing. Please call our office at 610-296-2500 with any questions on how this information may impact your situation. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed without permission, except as noted here. All rights reserved.

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American Rescue Plan Act May Impact Your Child Tax Credit
October 26 2021 RgKAdmin14 Others 0 comments

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 modifies several tax provisions, including a third round of direct stimulus payments, enhancements of many personal credits meant to benefit people with lower incomes and children, extensions of highly popular payroll tax credits for employers first instituted at the beginning of the pandemic, and changes related to retirement plan funding. This blog explains the changes to the child tax credit that may affect you.

The American Rescue Plan includes a significant overhaul of the child tax credit, but only for the 2021 tax year. Under current law, the amount of the child tax credit is equal to $2,000 per child, but only $1,000 of that amount is refundable (meaning that the taxpayer receives the credit even if there is an insufficient amount of taxes to be credited against). The American Rescue Plan increases the amount to $3,000 per child (or $3,600 for a child under the age of six) and makes the credit amount fully refundable. The American Rescue Plan also increases the maximum age of qualifying children to include 17-year-old children.

The excess of the amount of the credit over the present-law $2,000 amount is phased out by $50 for every $1,000 of modified adjusted gross income in excess of the threshold amount ($150,000 for joint filers, $112,500 for head of household filers, and $75,000 for single filers). Once the excess amount is eliminated, the amount of the credit remains at $2,000 until the present law phaseout thresholds are reached ($400,000 for joint filers, $200,000 for all other filers).

The Treasury and IRS were directed by the American Rescue Plan to issue advance payments of half of the credit amount beginning in July. The advance payments are issued monthly, if feasible, or as frequently as possible if monthly payments are not feasible. The remaining half of the credit not paid in advance is received when filing 2021 returns, as the full amount is claimed on the return but reduced by the aggregate amount received in advance.

In the case of a taxpayer who received advance payments in error (for example, where a 2019 or 2020 return indicated a dependent child who is no longer a dependent in 2021), the American Rescue Plan provides a “hold-harmless” provision, protecting taxpayers from having to pay back overpayments of up to $2,000 per child. The full $2,000 amount is reduced for taxpayers with income above a threshold amount ($40,000 for single filers, $50,000 for head of household filers, and $60,000 for joint filers). The $2,000 is completely eliminated for taxpayers with income double the applicable threshold amounts, and the entirety of the overpayment must be paid back.

Congress has directed the IRS and Treasury to create a website for taxpayers to opt-out of receiving advance payments or to provide information on status changes that would impact the amount of the credit.     

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-update-portal

If you have any questions on how the changes to the child tax credit under the American Rescue Plan affect you, please call our office at 610-296-2500.

 

This blog provides summary information regarding the subject matter at the time of publishing. Please call with any questions on how this information may impact your situation. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed without permission, except as noted here. This blog includes, or may include, links to third-party internet websites controlled and maintained by others. When accessing these links the user leaves this blog. These links are included solely for the convenience of users and their presence does not constitute any endorsement of the Websites linked or referred to nor does ROBERT J KRATZ & CO have any control over, or responsibility for, the content of any such Websites. All rights reserved.

 

 

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Get Your Child Tax Credit Payments NOW!
September 28 2021 RgKAdmin14 Others 0 comments

The first advance payment from the newly expanded child tax credit was sent out in July by the IRS. Payments are scheduled to be made on the 15th of each month through December. By this week you should have received three payments, one in July, one in August, and one in  September.

Here’s what you need to know about the child tax credit and the advance payments.

Background

For the 2021 tax year, an expanded child tax credit reduces your tax bill by $3,600 if you have a qualifying child that’s age 5 or under, or by $3,000 if you have a qualifying child from age 6 to 17. If the total amount of the child tax credit for your family exceeds the total taxes you owe, you’ll receive the amount of the credit as a refund.

Child tax credit advance payments

Instead of waiting to file your tax return to receive the entire amount of your child tax credit, the IRS is directed by Congress to send 50% of the credit to you in six monthly payments beginning in July 2021.

For example, say you have three kids, ages 10, 12 and 16. Also assume your income is not too high and your children meet the IRS definition of a qualifying child. Instead of waiting until 2022 when you file your 2021 tax return to receive the entire $9,000 child tax credit, you can get paid half of the child tax credit amount, or $4,500, in 2021.

The advance payments began July 15 and continue for six months until December 15. The family in this example would receive six payments of $750 starting July 15, for a total of $4,500.

What you need to know

The monthly payments are automatic. You’ll automatically receive advance payments if:

  • You filed a 2019 or 2020 tax return and claimed the credit, OR
  • You gave information in 2020 to receive the Economic Impact Payment using the IRS non-filer tool, AND
  • The IRS thinks you are eligible, AND
  • You did not opt-out of the early payments.

Register with the IRS. If you didn’t file a 2019 or 2020 tax return but are otherwise eligible for the child tax credit, you’ll need to register with the IRS to receive the child tax credit. Click here to visit the IRS website to find out if you need to register.

Consider if you should opt out of the advance payments. Getting half of your child tax credit ahead of time may not be the right move for everyone. For example, if your 2021 income ends up higher than expected, you may need to pay back the advance payments when you file your tax return. To opt out, click here to visit the IRS’s child tax credit update portal.

This blog provides summary information regarding the subject matter at the time of publishing. Please call our office at 610-296-2500 with any questions on how this information may impact your situation. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed without permission, except as noted here. This blog includes, or may include links to third-party internet websites controlled and maintained by others. When accessing these links the user leaves this blog. These links are included solely for the convenience of users and their presence does not constitute any endorsement of the Websites linked or referred to nor does ROBERT J KRATZ & CO have any control over, or responsibility for, the content of any such Websites. All rights reserved.

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Helping People: IRS Taxpayer Relief Initiatives
May 19 2021 RgKAdmin14 Others 0 comments

The IRS is highlighting reasonable cause assistance available through IRS procedures for failure to file, failure to pay and failure to deposit penalties. First time abatement relief is also available for the first time a taxpayer is subject to one or more of these tax penalties.

  • For individual taxpayers receiving notices (letters about a tax bill) with tax liabilities up to $250,000 for Tax Year 2019 only, the IRS can offer one Installment Agreement opportunity with no lien filed.
  • The IRS is extending the short-term payment plan timeframe to 180 days (normally 120 days).
  • The IRS is easing paperwork requirements to allow individuals more flexibility to get non-streamlined Installment Agreements up to $250,000 without financial verification, if their case is not yet assigned to a revenue officer.
  • Extend guidance to automatically include new tax year balances accrued in existing Installment Agreements. (Individuals and Out of Business entities only)
  • The IRS will provide relief for taxpayers having difficulty meeting the terms of previously accepted offers.

Have questions? Call our office at 610-296-2500.

This blog provides summary information regarding the subject matter at the time of publishing. Please call with any questions on how this information may impact your situation. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed without permission, except as noted here. This blog includes, or may include, links to third party internet web sites controlled and maintained by others. When accessing these links the user leaves this blog. These links are included solely for the convenience of users and their presence does not constitute any endorsement of the Websites linked or referred to nor does ROBERT J KRATZ & CO have any control over, or responsibility for, the content of any such Websites. All rights reserved.

 

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Answers to Common Tax Questions
March 17 2021 RgKAdmin14 Tax Tips, Others 0 comments Tags: Common tax questions, Federal tax questions

With the April 15 tax filing deadline right around the corner, here are answers to some common tax questions.

  • When will I get my refund?The pandemic and additional stimulus payments will, in all probability, delay refund payments. But as of now here are the old wait times to receive your refund.* E-file return with a direct deposit – 1 to 3 weeks

    * E-file return with a mailed check – 1 month

    * Paper file return with a direct deposit – 3 weeks

    * Paper file return with a mailed check – 2 months

    NOTE: If you want exact information on the status of YOUR refund go to www.irs.gov/refund and follow their instructions.

  • What’s the most common delay in completing a tax return? Missing items! W-2 and 1099 forms are some of the most common tax documents to go missing. If you have multiple jobs, whether full-time or part-time, you’ll be getting multiple documents in the mail. It’s easy to lose track of all these documents if you don’t have one place you put them once received.
  • Can I still get a stimulus payment? If you’re still waiting on either the 2020 or 2021 stimulus payment, file your 2020 tax return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. This is why it is important to keep track of any payments you receive from the government during the year. You will need them to account for any missing payments or underpayments.
  • Can I correct a tax form that has an incorrect dollar amount? If you receive a tax document with incorrect information, contact the company that issued the document and try to get it fixed immediately. If you can’t get a corrected form right away, include both the incorrect form and the correct dollar amount when turning in your tax documents to have your return prepared.
  • Can I deduct charitable contributions if I don’t itemize? In 2020 you can claim a $300 charitable contribution deduction regardless of whether or not you itemize your deductions. If you missed this window of this above-the-line donation in 2020, never fear as it is also available in 2021 with an increased limit to $600 for married couples. So save those donation receipts!
  • Is this taxable? While there are always exceptions, the most common taxable items that are questioned include unemployment benefits and withdrawals from non-Roth retirement accounts. Some things, like Social Security, are often, but not always, taxable.

This blog provides summary information regarding the subject matter at the time of publishing. Please call our office at 610-296-2500 with any questions on how this information may impact your situation. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed without permission, except as noted here. This blog includes, or may include links to third-party internet websites controlled and maintained by others. When accessing these links the user leaves this blog. These links are included solely for the convenience of users and their presence does not constitute any endorsement of the Websites linked or referred to nor does ROBERT J KRATZ & CO have any control over, or responsibility for, the content of any such Websites. All rights reserved.

 

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New Security Measures Help Protect Against Tax-Related Identity Theft
December 04 2020 RgKAdmin14 Others 0 comments
WASHINGTON – As part of the Security Summit effort, the Internal Revenue Service announced Wednesday, December 2, that starting in January the Identity Protection PIN Opt-In Program will be expanded to all taxpayers who can properly verify their identities.

The Summit partners, including state tax agencies, the nation’s tax industry and the IRS, marked the third day of the National Tax Security Awareness Week by urging taxpayers who want the proactive protection against identity theft to opt into the Identity Protection PIN program in 2021.

The IP PIN is a six-digit number assigned to eligible taxpayers to help prevent the misuse of their Social Security number on fraudulent federal income tax returns. An IP PIN helps the IRS verify a taxpayer’s identity and accept their electronic or paper tax return. The online Get An IP PIN tool at IRS.gov/IPPIN immediately displays the taxpayer’s IP PIN.

“When you have this special code, it prevents someone else from filing a tax return with your Social Security number,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “The fastest way to get an Identity Protection PIN is to use our online tool but remember you must pass a rigorous authentication process. We must know that the person asking for the IP PIN is the legitimate taxpayer.”

The online tool uses Secure Access authentication which uses several different ways to verify a person’s identity. Before using the “Get an IP PIN” tool, the IRS encourages taxpayers to review the requirements at IRS.gov/ SecureAccess .

For those who cannot pass Secure Access authentication, there are alternatives. Taxpayers with incomes of $72,000 or less and with access to a telephone should complete Form 15227 and mail or fax it to the IRS. An IRS assistor will call the taxpayer to verify their identity with a series of questions. For additional security reasons, taxpayers who pass authentication will receive an IP PIN the following tax year.

Taxpayers who cannot verify their identities remotely or who are ineligible to file a Form 15227 may make an appointment, visit a Taxpayer Assistance Center and bring two forms of picture identification. Because this is an in-person identity verification, an IP PIN will be mailed to the taxpayer within three weeks.

Taxpayers who obtain an IP PIN should never share their code with anyone but their trusted tax provider. The IRS will never call to request the taxpayer’s IP PIN, and taxpayers must be alert to potential IP PIN scams.

Here’s what taxpayers need to know about the IP PIN before applying:

  • The Get an IP PIN tool will be available in mid-January. This is the preferred method of obtaining an IP PIN and the only one that immediately reveals the PIN to the taxpayer.
  • Taxpayers who want to voluntarily opt into the IP PIN program do not need to file a Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit.
  • The IP PIN is valid for one year. Each January, the taxpayer must obtain a newly generated IP PIN.
  • The IP PIN must be properly entered on electronic and paper tax returns to avoid rejections and delays.
  • Taxpayers with either a Social Security number or Individual Tax Identification Number who can verify their identities are eligible for the opt-in program.
  • Any primary taxpayer (listed first on the return), secondary taxpayer (listed second on the return) or dependent may obtain an IP PIN if they can pass the identity proofing requirements.
  • The IRS plans to offer an opt out feature to the IP PIN program in 2022 if taxpayers find it is not right for them.

There is no change in the IP PIN program for confirmed victims of tax-related identity theft. Those taxpayers should still file a Form 14039 if their e-filed tax return rejects because of a duplicate SSN filing. The IRS will investigate their case and once the fraudulent tax return is removed from their account, confirmed victims automatically will receive an IP PIN via postal mail at the start of the next calendar year.

IP PINs will be mailed annually to confirmed victims only and participants enrolled prior to 2019. Because of security risks, confirmed identity theft victims cannot opt out of the IP PIN program. Confirmed victims also can use the Get an IP PIN tool to retrieve lost IP PINs assigned to them.

The IRS, state tax agencies, the private sector tax industry, including tax professionals, work in partnership as the Security Summit to help protect taxpayers from identity theft and refund fraud. This is the third in a week-long series of tips to raise awareness about identity theft. See IRS.gov/securitysummit for more details.

This blog provides summary information regarding the subject matter at the time of publishing. Please call with any questions on how this information may impact your situation. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed without permission, except as noted here. This blog includes, or may include, links to third party internet web sites controlled and maintained by others. When accessing these links the user leaves this blog. These links are included solely for the convenience of users and their presence does not constitute any endorsement of the Websites linked or referred to nor does ROBERT J KRATZ & CO have any control over, or responsibility for, the content of any such Websites. All rights reserved.

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Retirement Savings Tips for Small Business Owners
November 24 2020 RgKAdmin14 Others 0 comments

As an owner of a small business, you’ve proven that you’re a self-starter by operating a successful private enterprise. Of equal importance is applying your skills towards saving for your future. Here are some of the most popular tax-advantaged retirement vehicles for small business owners in 2020 and some tips on saving for retirement.

Options if you’re not currently enrolled in a plan

For small business owners not currently enrolled in a retirement plan, here are three of the most popular retirement account options:

  • Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA Account. Contribute as much as 25% of your business’s net profit up to $57,000 for 2020.
  • 401(k) Plan. Contribute up to $57,000 of your salary and/or your business’s net profit.
  • Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRA Account. You can put all your business’s net profit in the plan, up to $13,500 plus an additional $3,000 if you’re 50 or older.

Which plan should you choose? SEP and SIMPLE IRAs are ideal for either sole proprietors or really small businesses (no more than one or two dozen employees). Due to higher administrative costs, 401(k) plans are usually more suited for larger small businesses (more than one or two dozen employees).

Tips to maximize your retirement contributions

For small business owners who are currently enrolled in a retirement plan, here are some suggestions for maximizing your annual contributions into your retirement accounts:

Pay yourself first. Instead of funding your retirement account with whatever is left over after paying your monthly bills, decide at the beginning of each month how much you want to set aside to fund your retirement. Make funding your retirement each month as important as your other bills. Then assume that you pay your retirement bill first. If you run out of money before paying all your bills, decide if there are any expenses that can be pared back for subsequent months so you can meet your monthly retirement savings goal.

List your retirement contributions on your income statement. It is easy to forget about retirement planning when running the day-to-day operations of your business. To keep retirement contributions top-of-mind, record these as a separate line item on your business’s income statement.

Review your tax situation at least twice a year. Tax planning is now more important than ever with the uncertainty caused by the recent pandemic. So review your tax situation at least twice every 12 months to see how to maximize each year’s retirement contributions.

This blog provides summary information regarding the subject matter at the time of publishing. Please call with any questions on how this information may impact your situation. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed without permission, except as noted here. This blog includes, or may include, links to third party internet web sites controlled and maintained by others. When accessing these links the user leaves this blog. These links are included solely for the convenience of users and their presence does not constitute any endorsement of the Websites linked or referred to nor does ROBERT J KRATZ & CO have any control over, or responsibility for, the content of any such Websites. All rights reserved.

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