The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2012 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2012, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

• 55.5 cents per mile for business miles driven
• 23 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

The rate for business miles driven is unchanged from the mid-year adjustment that became effective on July 1, 2011. The medical and moving rate has been reduced by 0.5 cents per mile.

The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs as determined by the same study. Independent contractor Runzheimer International conducted the study.

Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates.

A taxpayer may not use the business standard mileage rate for a vehicle after using any depreciation method under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) or after claiming a Section 179 deduction for that vehicle. In addition, the business standard mileage rate cannot be used for more than four vehicles used simultaneously.

These and other requirements for a taxpayer to use a standard mileage rate to calculate the amount of a deductible business, moving, medical or charitable expense are in Rev. Proc. 2010-51.

Notice 2012-01 contains the standard mileage rates, the amount a taxpayer must use in calculating reductions to basis for depreciation taken under the business standard mileage rate, and the maximum standard automobile cost that a taxpayer may use in computing the allowance under a fixed and variable rate plan.

WASHINGTON — For tax year 2012, personal exemptions and standard deductions will rise and tax brackets will widen due to inflation, the Internal Revenue Service announced today.

By law, the dollar amounts for a variety of tax provisions, affecting virtually every taxpayer, must be revised each year to keep pace with inflation. New dollar amounts affecting 2012 returns, filed by most taxpayers in early 2013, include the following:

• The value of each personal and dependent exemption, available to most taxpayers, is $3,800, up $100 from 2011.
• The new standard deduction is $11,900 for married couples filing a joint return, up $300, $5,950 for singles and married individuals filing separately, up $150, and $8,700 for heads of household, up $200. Nearly two out of three taxpayers take the standard deduction, rather than itemizing deductions, such as mortgage interest, charitable contributions and state and local taxes.
• Tax-bracket thresholds increase for each filing status. For a married couple filing a joint return, for example, the taxable-income threshold separating the 15-percent bracket from the 25-percent bracket is $70,700, up from $69,000 in 2011.

Credits, deductions, and related phase outs.

• For tax year 2012, the maximum earned income tax credit (EITC) for low- and moderate- income workers and working families rises to $5,891, up from $5,751 in 2011. The maximum income limit for the EITC rises to $50,270, up from $49,078 in 2011.The credit varies by family size, filing status and other factors, with the maximum credit going to joint filers with three or more qualifying children.
• The foreign earned income deduction rises to $95,100, an increase of $2,200 from the maximum deduction for tax year 2011.
• The modified adjusted gross income threshold at which the lifetime learning credit begins to phase out is $104,000 for joint filers, up from $102,000, and $52,000 for singles and heads of household, up from $51,000.
• For 2012, annual deductible amounts for Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs) increased  from the tax year 2011 amounts; please see the table below.

The $2,500 maximum deduction for interest paid on student loans begins to phase out for a married taxpayers filing a joint returns at $125,000 and phases out completely at $155,000, an increase of $5,000 from the phase out limits for tax year 2011. For single taxpayers, the phase out ranges remain at the 2011 levels.

Estate and GiftFor an estate of any decedent dying during calendar year 2012, the basic exclusion from estate tax amount is $5,120,000, up from $5,000,000 for calendar year 2011. Also, if the executor chooses to use the special use valuation method for qualified real property, the aggregate decrease in the value of the property resulting from the choice cannot exceed $1,040,000, up from $1,020,000 for 2011.

The annual exclusion for gifts remains at $13,000.

Other Items

• The monthly limit on the value of qualified transportation benefits exclusion for qualified parking provided by an employer to its employees for 2012 rises to $240, up $10 from the limit in 2011. However, the temporary increase in the monthly limit on the value of the qualified transportation benefits exclusion for transportation in a commuter highway vehicle and transit pass provided by an employer to its employees expires and reverts to $125 for 2012.
• Several tax benefits are unchanged in 2012. For example, the additional standard deduction for blind people and senior citizens remains $1,150 for married individuals and $1,450 for singles and heads of household.

Details on these inflation adjustments can be found in Revenue Procedure 2011-52, which will be published in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2011-45 on November 7, 2011.

If you have a farming business, there are several tax issues to consider before filing your federal tax return.  The IRS has compiled a list of 10 things that farmers may want to know.

1. Crop Insurance Proceeds —You must include in income any crop insurance proceeds you receive as the result of crop damage. You generally include them in the year you receive them.
2. Sales Caused by Weather — Related Condition If you sell more livestock, including poultry, than you normally would in a year because of weather-related conditions, you may be able to postpone reporting the gain from selling the additional animals due to the weather until the next year.
3. Farm Income Averaging — You may be able to average all or some of your current year’s farm income by allocating it to the three prior years. This may lower your current year tax if your current year income from farming is high, and your taxable income from one or more of the three prior years was low. This method does not change your prior year tax, it only uses the prior year information to determine your current year tax.
4. Deductible Farm Expenses — The ordinary and necessary costs of operating a farm for profit are deductible business expenses.  An ordinary expense is an expense that is common and accepted in the farming business. A necessary expense is one that is appropriate for the business.
5. Employees and Hired Help — You can deduct reasonable wages paid for labor hired to perform your farming operations. This includes full-time and part-time workers. You must withhold social security, medicare and income taxes on employees.
6. Items Purchased for Resale — You may be able to deduct, in the year of the sale, the cost of items purchased for resale, including livestock and the freight charges for transporting livestock to the farm.
7. Net Operating Losses — If your deductible expenses from operating your farm are more than your other income for the year, you may have a net operating loss. You can carry that loss over to other years and deduct it. You may get a refund of part or all of the income tax you paid for past years, or you may be able to reduce your tax in future years.
8. Repayment of Loans — You cannot deduct the repayment of a loan if the loan proceeds are used for personal expenses. However, if you use the proceeds of the loan for your farming business, you can deduct the interest that you pay on the loan.
9. Fuel and Road Use —You may be eligible to claim a credit or refund of federal excise taxes on fuel used on a farm for farming purposes.
10. Farmer’s Tax Guide — More information about farm income and deductions is in IRS Publication 225, Farmer’s Tax Guide, which is available at http://www.irs.gov or by calling the IRS at 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

Links:

IRS Publication 225, Farmer’s Tax Guide

Here is some information from the IRS about a special tax deduction for the self-employed. You may be able to deduct premiums paid for medical and dental insurance and qualified long-term care insurance for you, your spouse, and your dependents if you are one of the following:

• A self-employed individual with a net profit reported on Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Business, Schedule C-EZ (Form 1040), Net Profit From Business, or Schedule F (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Farming.
• A partner with net earnings from self-employment reported on Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), Partner’s Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc., box 14, code A.
• A shareholder owning more than 2% of the outstanding stock of an S corporation with wages from the corporation reported on Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement.

The insurance plan must be established under your business.

• For self-employed individuals filing a Schedule C, C-EZ, or F, the policy can be either in the name of the business or in the name of the individual.
• For partners, the policy can be either in the name of the partnership or in the name of the partner. You can either pay the premiums yourself or your partnership can pay them and report the premium amounts on Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) as guaranteed payments to be included in your gross income. However, if the policy is in your name and you pay the premiums yourself, the partnership must reimburse you and report the premium amounts on Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) as guaranteed payments to be included in your gross income. Otherwise, the insurance plan will not be considered to be established under your business.
• For more-than-2% shareholders, the policy can be either in the name of the S corporation or in the name of the shareholder. You can either pay the premiums yourself or your S corporation can pay them and report the premium amounts on Form W-2 as wages to be included in your gross income. However, if the policy is in your name and you pay the premiums yourself, the S corporation must reimburse you and report the premium amounts on Form W-2 as wages to be included in your gross income. Otherwise, the insurance plan will not be considered to be established under your business.

For more information see IRS Publication 535, Business Expenses, available at http://www.IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
Links:

IRS Publication 535, Business Expenses ( PDF)

If you itemize your deductions on Form 1040, Schedule A, you may be able to deduct expenses you paid in 2010 for medical care – including dental – for yourself, your spouse, and your dependents. Here are six things the IRS wants you to know about medical and dental expenses and other benefits.

1. You may deduct only the amount by which your total medical care expenses for the year exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. You do this calculation on Form 1040, Schedule A in computing the amount deductible.
2. You can only include the medical expenses you paid during the year. Your total medical expenses for the year must be reduced by any reimbursement. It makes no difference if you receive the reimbursement or if it is paid directly to the doctor or hospital.
3. You may include qualified medical expenses you pay for yourself, your spouse, and your dependents, including a person you claim as a dependent under a multiple support agreement. If either parent claims a child as a dependent under the rules for divorced or separated parents, each parent may deduct the medical expenses he or she actually pays for the child. You can also deduct medical expenses you paid for someone who would have qualified as your dependent except that the person didn’t meet the gross income or joint return test.
4. A deduction is allowed only for expenses primarily paid for the prevention or alleviation of a physical or mental defect or illness. Medical care expenses include payments for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or treatment affecting any structure or function of the body. The cost of drugs is deductible only for drugs that require a prescription except for insulin.
5. You may deduct transportation costs primarily for and essential to medical care that qualify as medical expenses. The actual fare for a taxi, bus, train, or ambulance may be deducted. If you use your car for medical transportation, you can deduct actual out-of-pocket expenses such as gas and oil, or you can deduct the standard mileage rate for medical expenses. With either method you may include tolls and parking fees.
6. Distributions from Health Savings Accounts and withdrawals from Flexible Spending Arrangements may be tax free if you pay qualified medical expenses.

For additional information on medical deductions and benefits, see Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses or Publication 969, Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans, available at http://www.irs.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
Links:

• Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses (PDF)
• Publication 969, Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans (PDF) 

1. Reimbursed job expenses
2. Diets and health club dues
3. Primary telephone landlines
4. Home improvements
5. Campaign expenses
6. Commuting costs
7. Charitable services
8. Pet Care
9. Attorney’s fees

To read Ms. Erb’s article, please go to http://aol.it/fK67mc.

Individual Tax Rate Provisions

      • Income tax rates. The Act extends the 10% individual income tax bracket as well as the 25%, 28%, 33%, and 35% individual income tax brackets for an additional two years, through 2012.

      • Capital gains rates. The Act allows the capital gains rates to remain at 0% for taxpayers below the 25% bracket and 15% for taxpayers in the 25% rate and above, through 2012. Without the legislation, the capital gains rates were scheduled to expire at the end of 2010, and revert to 10% and 20%, respectively.

      • Dividends taxed at capital gains rates. The current dividend rates of 0% for taxpayers below the 25% bracket and 15% for taxpayers in the 25% bracket and above are extended through 2012. Without the legislation, these rates were set to expire at the end of 2010, taxing dividends at the ordinary income rates.

      • Phaseout of marriage penalty in the 15% bracket. The 15% regular income tax bracket for married couples filing joint returns set at twice the corresponding bracket for an unmarried individual filing a single return (marriage penalty relief for the 15% bracket) is extended through 2012.

      • Employee payroll tax cut. For 2011 only, the Act reduces the Social Security (OASDI) tax rate on employees to 4.2% (from 6.2%) and reduces the self-employment tax (SECA) rate to 10.4% (from 12.4%). However, the Act does not reduce the OASDI contribution base, which is $106,800 for 2011. Thus, the maximum OASDI tax in 2011 for employees is $4,485.60. In addition, the rate reduction is not taken into account in determining the SECA tax deduction allowed for determining net earnings from self-employment. As a result, the deduction for 2011 remains 7.65% of self-employment income (determined without regard to the deduction).

Alternative Minimum Tax Relief

      • Alternative minimum tax exemption amount and credit relief. The Act puts in place a 2-year patch for the AMT. The Act increases the AMT exemption amount to $72,450 for tax years beginning in 2010, and $74,450 for tax years beginning in 2011. For an individual who is not married and is not a surviving spouse, the  exemption amount is $47,450 for tax years beginning in 2010, and $48,450 for tax years beginning in 2011. For married taxpayers filing separate returns, the exemption amount is 1/2 of the married filing jointly amount. In addition, both the personal credits and nonrefundable credits can offset AMT through 2011.

Individual Deductions and Credits

      • Elimination of marriage penalty in standard deduction. The Act extends, from 2010, the basic standard deduction for married couples filing joint returns that is twice the basic standard deduction for an unmarried individual filing a single return, through 2012.

      • Repeal of phaseout for personal exemptions. You may recall that the phase out of the personal exemption (referred to as PEP) for higher income individuals had been gradually decreasing, so that by 2010, the phaseout was entirely repealed. The Act extends the repeal of PEP for an additional two years, through  2012. Thus, personal exemption amounts will continue to be allowed regardless of the taxpayer’s income.

      • Phaseout of overall limitation on itemized deductions. Similar to the PEP, the phase-out of the overall limitation on deductions for higher income taxpayers had gradually decreased until its 2010 complete repeal. The Act extends this repeal for an additional two years, through 2012.

      • Modifications to child tax credit. Generally, taxpayers with income below certain threshold amounts may claim the child tax credit to reduce federal  income tax for each qualifying child under the age of 17. Prior legislation increased the credit from $500 to $1,000 (per child), allowed the credit to offset AMT as well as regular tax, and converted it from nonrefundable to refundable for certain taxpayers. The Act preserves the child tax credit amount at $1,000 per child, extends the allowance against the regular tax as well as AMT, and maintains the refundability provision by allowing earnings above $3,000 to count towards the refundable portion of the credit (subject to the 2009 special rules discussed below) through 2012.

      • Expansion of adoption credit and adoption assistance programs. The Act extends for one additional year, through 2012, the $13,170 adoption credit amount and the income exclusion of the same amount for employer-assistance programs. Note, however, that although the current refundable credit will still exist through 2011, the 2012 credit is presently slated to become nonrefundable and return to the inflation-adjusted lower amount of $12,170. For 2013 and after, barring further legislation, the credit will revert back to its pre-2001 levels and only adoptions for special needs children will qualify for the credit or assistance exclusion

      • Dependent care credit. This is a credit based on an applicable percentage of child and dependent care expenses for children under age 13 and disabled  dependents. Eligible expenses of $3,000 for one eligible child/disabled dependent and $6,000 for two or more eligible children/disabled dependents, along with the increased applicable percentage of 35% are extended for an additional two years, through 2012.

      • Earned income credit. Legislation in 2009 increased the earned income credit to 45% of a working family’s first $12,570 (inflation-adjusted $12,590 for 2010) of earned income for families with three or more children and also increased the beginning point of the phase-out for married couples filing a joint return. The Act extends, through 2012, the increases to the credit percentage and the married filing jointly phase-out threshold.

      • Refunds disregarded in the administration of Federal programs and federally assisted programs. The Act disregards all refundable tax credits, such as the refundable portion of the EITC and the child tax credit, as income for means tested programs. However, this provision does not apply to amounts received after December 31, 2012.

      • Deduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers. The Act extends, from 2009, the $250 above-the-line deduction for professional expenses incurred by elementary and secondary schoolteachers through 2011.

      • Deduction of state and local taxes. The Act extends, from 2009, the election available to taxpayers who itemize their deductions to deduct state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes.

      • Contributions of capital gain real property made for conservation purposes. The Act extends, from 2009, the increased contribution limitations and carryover period for charitable contributions of certain conservation property for contributions made through December 31, 2011.

      • Tax-free distributions from individual retirement plans for charitable purposes. Through 2011, the Act allows taxpayers age 701/2 or older to make tax-free distributions to charities from their traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and Roth IRAs up to $100,000 per taxpayer, per taxable year. Although this provision expired at the end of 2009, the Act permits individuals to make charitable transfers during January of 2011 as if they were made during 2010.

      • Employer-provided mass transit and parking benefits. The Act extends the increase (set at $230 in 2010) in the combined monthly exclusion for employer-provided transit and vanpool benefits through the end of 2011.

      • Deduction for mortgage insurance premiums. The Act extends for one year, through 2011, the itemized deduction for the cost of mortgage insurance on a qualified personal residence. The deduction is phased-out ratably by 10% for each $1,000 by which the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds $100,000, so that the deduction is unavailable for a taxpayer with an AGI in excess of $110,000.

Education Benefits

      • Above-the-line deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses. The Act extends, from 2009, the above-the-line deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses through 2011. The maximum deduction is $4,000 for taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes not exceeding $65,000 ($130,000 for joint returns) and $2,000 for taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes not exceeding $80,000 ($160,000 for joint returns).

      • Coverdell education savings accounts. These are tax-exempt savings accounts used to pay the higher education expenses of a designated beneficiary. The $2,000 annual contribution amount and expanded definition of education expenses to include elementary and secondary school expenses are extended by the Act for an additional two years, through 2012.

      • Exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance.  An employee may exclude from gross income up to $5,250 for income and employment tax purposes per year of employer-provided education assistance. Earlier legislation expanded this provision to include graduate as well as undergraduate education through the end of 2010. The Act extends this expansion of the exclusion for an additional two years, through 2012.

      • Student loan interest deduction. Individuals who have paid interest on qualified education loans may claim an above-the-line deduction for the interest  expenses up to $2,500. Before 2001, taxpayers were allowed this deduction only for 60 months and it was phased out for taxpayers with incomes between $40,000 and $55,000 ($60,000 and $75,000 for joint filers). Legislation in 2001 eliminated the 60-month rule and increased the income phase-out to $55,000 to $70,000 ($110,000 and $140,000 for joint filers). The Act extends the 2001 changes to this provision for an additional two years, through 2012.

      • Exclusion of certain amounts received under the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program and the F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program. The National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program and the F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program provide education awards to participants on the condition that the participants perform certain services. Legislation in 2001 created an exclusion from gross income for scholarships to apply to these programs. The Act extends the income exclusion for these programs for an additional two years, through 2012.

      • American Opportunity Tax Credit. The Act extends this temporary expansion of the Hope Credit through 2012. Generally, the credit is for up to $2,500 of the cost of tuition and related expenses paid during the taxable year. The credit is allowable for the first four year of post-secondary education and 40% of the  credit is refundable. The credit is subject to a phase-out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $80,000 ($160,000 for married couples filing  jointly).

Energy Incentives

      • Extension of grants for specified energy property in lieu of tax credits. The Act extends through 2011 the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provision that allows taxpayers to apply for grants for specified energy property in lieu of tax credits.

      • Credit for non-business energy property. The Act extends, from 2010, the non-business energy property credit to property placed in service on or before  December 31, 2011, but utilizes the credit structure and rates that existed before the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Thus, for property  installed after December 31, 2010, the credit is 10%, with a maximum of $500, with $200 of that for windows. The Act prohibits taxpayers from taking the credit for expenditures for qualified energy efficiency improvements made from subsidized energy financing.

      • Alternative fuel vehicle refueling property. The Act extends, from 2010, the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit to any non-hydrogen related property placed in service on or before December 31, 2011.

Stock/Bond Provisions

      • Empowerment Zone tax incentives. Qualified Zone Academy bonds (QZABs) are a form of tax credit bond designed to provide funds for state and local governments in cooperation with businesses to enhance the academic curriculum and increase public school graduation and employment rates within a qualified zone or enterprise community. QZABS offer the holder a federal tax credit instead of interest. The Act extends the QZAB program by providing an additional $400 million for 2011.

      • Exclusion of 100 percent of gain on certain small business stock. The Act extends the 100% exclusion of the gain from the sale of qualifying small business  stock acquired before 2012, and held for more than five years. In addition, the alternative minimum tax preference item attributable for the sale remains eliminated. Qualifying small business stock is stock from a C corporation whose gross assets do not exceed $50 million (including the proceeds received from the  issuance of the stock) and that meets a specific active business requirement. The amount of gain eligible for the exclusion is limited to the greater of 10 times the taxpayer’s basis in the stock or $10 million of gain from stock in that corporation.

Disaster/Economic Development Incentives

      • Empowerment Zone tax incentives. The Act extends for two years (through 2011) the designation of certain economically depressed census tracts as Empowerment Zones, within which individual residents are eligible for special tax incentives.

      • Tax incentives for investment in the District of Columbia. The Act extends for two years (through 2011) the designation of certain economically depressed census tracts within the District of Columbia as the District of Columbia Enterprise Zone, within which individual residents are eligible for special tax incentives. The Act also extends for two years (through 2011) the $5,000 first-time homebuyer credit for the District of Columbia.

      • Increase in rehabilitation credit. The increased rehabilitation credit for qualified rehabilitation buildings and certified historic structures located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone expired after December 31, 2009. The Act extends the increased credit for two years, through December 31, 2011.

      • Low-income housing credit rules for buildings in GO zones. Additional allocations of low-income housing credits made in 2006, 2007, and 2008 for buildings located in the GO Zone, the Rita GO Zone, or the Wilma GO Zone require that the buildings be placed in service before January 1, 2011. The Act extends the placed-in service date for one year, through December 31, 2011.

As you can see, the Act extends many, but not all, of the various provisions proposed and discussed throughout 2010. Please contact our office so that we can review your particular circumstances in order to maximize your tax benefits for 2010, as well as discuss plans for 2011.

(From the Bureau of National Affairs)

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service issued the 2011 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2011, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

• 51 cents per mile for business miles driven
• 19 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs as determined by the same study. Independent contractor Runzheimer International conducted the study.

A taxpayer may not use the business standard mileage rate for a vehicle after using any depreciation method under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) or after claiming a Section 179 deduction for that vehicle. In addition, the business standard mileage rate cannot be used for any vehicle used for hire or for more than four vehicles used simultaneously.

Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates.

Revenue Procedure 2010-51 contains additional details regarding the standard mileage rates.

 by W. Murray Bradford, CPA

This article gives you the knowledge you need to deduct your holiday party. The deduction depends on two factors:

First, whom did you invite to the party?

Second, what did you do at this party?

The “whom” and “what” are intertwined, so that’s the way we will discuss them in this article.

Employees

The cost of a holiday party for your employees is automatically deductible. No business meeting need occur. No business activity need occur.

Further, this party is not subject to the 50 percent cut that applies to entertainment expenses. Thus, make sure that your chart of accounts or other tax records contain a classification for entertainment that’s 100 percent deductible.

Spouses of Employees

You may allow your employees to bring their spouses to the holiday party. You deduct the cost of entertaining the spouses just as you deduct the cost of entertaining the employees. Thus, a holiday party for employees and their spouses is 100 percent deductible.

To read the rest of Mr. Bradford’s article (and learn more about inviting customers or patients and how to document your party!), please go to http://bit.ly/c2YGPw.

1. Take cash out of a 529 College Savings Plan. Distributions from a 529 plan are tax-free as long as the funds are used to pay for tuition, room and board, books, supplies, and computer equipment and software.

To read the rest of this article by William Perez, please go to http://bit.ly/aSiUuj.