If you purchased a new home in 2018, file your residential homestead exemption application by April 30, 2019, to effectively remove part of the value of your property from taxation and lower your taxes. In addition to the $25,000 exemption that all homestead owners receive, those age 65 or older qualify for a $10,000 homestead […]
According to the Austin Board of Realtor’s Year End 2018 report, the median price for single-family homes increased annually by 3.6%, reaching $310,400 in the Austin/Round Rock area. Kevin P. Scanlan, 2019 Austin Board of REALTORS® president, said this past year “was the highest-grossing year on record. For the first time, the median price for […]
Overall spending on graduation gifts in 2018 was $5.2 billion, with an average gift purchase of $102.51. According to an annual survey on graduation gift spending, graduates will soon have wallets filled with gift cards and cash of that amount—often spent on items that won’t serve them long term. Consider a gift with greater longevity […]
For your Austin Asset advisor, maximizing the tax efficiency of your portfolio isn’t an annual practice, but an ongoing activity. We review our diversified taxable portfolios regularly for tax-loss harvesting opportunities and, using your up-to-date tax information, make the best decisions for you and your portfolio. There’s still time to make a regular IRA contribution […]
Our CEO, Eric Hehman, sat down with Tab Schadt, CEO of DoubleHorn, to discuss best practices in wealth management and our growth over the past 30 years. Listen and hear about Eric’s recently published book, Success and Succession, in which he outlines the complexities of leadership transition and strategies for its success.
As 2018 comes to a close, we want to make you are prepared and positioned for a wonderful year ahead. If you have not done so already, please post an electronic copy of your 2017 tax return to your secure investment portal. Tax planning is an integral part of our service offering, and we work […]
Everyone likes to save on taxes. Making the most of deductions is one avenue available to taxpayers to reduce their tax bill. All taxpayers have the option to either itemize deductions or take the standard deduction, which is currently $12,700 for a married couple under age 65. If a couple’s standard and itemized deductions are close to being the same amount each year, there is an opportunity to plan these expenses in a way that may reduce the overall tax bill.
The Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) allows you to deduct 30% of the cost of solar electric or solar water heating installations from your federal taxes. A 2015 legislative amendment extends the credit for both residential and commercial projects through the end of 2019, then gradually decreases to 26% in 2020 and 22% in 2021 […]
Each year the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration publish cost-of-living adjustments, retirement plan contribution limits, and other tax-related items. Here are a few notable updates: Retirement Savings Increased Limits In 2019, you can contribute up to $19,000 in your 401(k) and other employer plans and up to $6,000 in a Roth or […]