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Holiday Tax Deductions: Gifts to Charity

It’s almost time to bust out the wrapping paper and tinsel!

Yes, it’s that time of year again. It’s the season of giving. Before you get wrapped up in holiday parties and stocking stuffers, you’ll want to make sure that you’re mind isn’t blurred with visions of sugarplums and too much eggnog.

January marks the start of tax season and we want to make sure that you’re ready. That includes reporting those holiday gifts to charity as tax deductions.

How do I donate?

We tend to think that the only way we can help out in society is by breaking out our checkbooks and tacking on as many zeros as our bank accounts will allow. Money is great. But it’s not the only way. It’s also probably the main reason why the majority of us end up doing nothing. We simply can’t afford to.

Seeing as our daily lives revolve around checking up on ourselves (our bank accounts, our smartphone notifications, our Tinder profiles), it’s easy to forget that taking the time out for others is also considered a charitable donation.

If you can write out a check, then all the more power to you! If you can’t, don’t downgrade the time you can spend helping out at your local soup kitchen or cleaning out your closet to donate those jeans and blazers you never ended up wearing. Your nearest Goodwill or Salvation Army will take them off your hands.

Where should I donate?

The dilemma for some of us is that we don’t know where our hard earned dollars are going when we donate to a charity. We understand! Who wants to spend time researching a reputable charity to support and then not be certain that they are using your money the right way? Continue reading “Holiday Tax Deductions: Gifts to Charity”

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What You Need to Know About Claiming Your Dependent Relative

Taking care of an aging parent or relative can be hard, not to mention expensive. The good news is that you may be able to claim them on your tax return and get a bigger refund.

Supporting a relative can impact many areas of your life.  The most obvious are the changes to your living situation, amount of free time you have, and your finances.

To help relieve the financial strain of caring for a relative, you can report these relatives as dependents on your tax return. Doing so can save you thousands of dollars in taxes, because for every qualified dependent you claim your taxable income is reduced by $3,950.

Your dependent will belong to either one of the two following categories:

  • qualifying child 
  • qualifying relative

To learn more about claiming a qualifying child, refer to this RapidTax post.

Who Can I Claim as a Qualifying Relative Dependent?

The term “relative” may be unclear. For example, is your cousin’s wife considered your relative? How about his ex-wife? Continue reading “What You Need to Know About Claiming Your Dependent Relative”

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What You Need to Know About Claiming Your Dependent Child

Here’s what you should know about claiming a dependent child on your taxes…

When filing your taxes, you’ll want to report the expenses that come along with the responsibilities of raising a child.

One way to do this is by claiming your child as a dependent. Each dependent you claim on your tax return will lower your total taxable income by one exemption. That means you’ll end up receiving a larger tax refund!

Keep in mind, however, each dependent can only be claimed by one tax filer. Additionally, the dependent you’re claiming must qualify as either of the following:

  1. a qualifying child
  2. a qualifying relative

Who is considered a Qualifying Child Dependent?

In order to claim someone as your qualifying child, he or she must meet the following criteria:

  • Be your biological or adopted child, stepchild, foster child, sibling, half-sibling, stepsibling, or a descendant of one of these
  • They are under the age of 19, or  if a full-time student, under age 24 (There is no age limit if the child is permanently disabled.)
  • Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident, or a resident of Canada or Mexico
  • Unmarried, or married but not filing a joint return
  • Have lived with you for at least half the year, unless absent due to illness, education, business, vacation, or military service
  • Have not provided more than half of his or her own support Continue reading “What You Need to Know About Claiming Your Dependent Child”