If you watched any football over the weekend, you probably saw this year’s version of the popular tax software maker* touting “free taxes” or some such. Not only was the commercial fairly disturbing (it involves impalement of a person played as a joke), but the underlying message also leaves a little to be desired. *Name of said software maker withheld … Read More
Common Sense Taxpayer Information Security for Capital Planning Associates, LLC Clients
We’re gearing up for tax season around here, already beginning to help certain Southwest Louisiana clients get their returns ready for filing (yes, this early) when the IRS begins allowing receipt of electronically-filed returns on the 29th of this month. And while we have been doing so, we have heard some things I wanted to tell you about … You … Read More
Joshua L. Ortego’s 2018 Tax Preparation Checklist
Yes, you *thought* 2017 was in the rearview mirror, didn’t you? Well, not for the IRS it isn’t. That’s because, as you probably know, we are now beginning the process of doing what we do best: effectively, legally, and ethically reporting our clients’ financial lives to the government for maximum savings — i.e., tax return preparation. And while the government last week … Read More
4 Goals To Jumpstart Your Financial Freedom In Southwest Louisiana In 2018
It feels VERY good to turn the page on 2017, doesn’t it? There were so many hard things that we faced as a nation that the opportunity to start fresh feels particularly bright this week. Obviously, and as I’ve already written about in some detail, we have a brand new tax regime under which we are NOW operating. The year-end … Read More
4 Key Year-End Tax Strategies With Tax Reform In Mind For Southwest Louisiana Taxpayers
We’re in that annual holiday lull during which most of the country takes things real easy, tries to recover from all of the parties, and gears up for a new beginning. For tax professionals, however … well, let’s just say that we don’t often get a “normal” holiday season, and this year is even more intense as we process all … Read More
2018 Tax Reform Update And A Holiday Prayer from Joshua L.
Well, we seem to have a final tax plan in place, and if everything goes according to what Capitol Hill watchers say, it should pass both the House and Senate this week, and be signed into law by President Trump. And my, oh my, are there changes. One that I should point out to you, since I mentioned it last … Read More
Conventional Financial Advice May Not Always Be Best by Joshua L. Ortego
Just to give you a little snapshot of why it’s taking so long to get tax reform done (and I know — you’re surely waiting with bated breath), consider this: under certain circumstances with the proposed reform, some people would face a marginal tax rate of over 100%. The WSJ did the analysis over the weekend, and it is correct by my reckoning. … Read More
Ortego’s Four Good Reasons To Give Charitably, Aside From Tax Deductions
As I write this, the Senate has passed their version of the tax reform bill, and now we wait for the final version of the bill. The process isn’t yet finished (it needs to go through the “reconciliation” process, and the President needs to sign it), but we have some basic ideas about what’s to come for 2018. I’ll do … Read More
Get Lower Taxes: 4 Last-Minute Tax Moves For Southwest Louisiana Taxpayers
The first round of holiday festivities are behind us, and the nation turns its eyes to Washington DC to see if this December will be festive or glum. Well … perhaps that’s an exaggeration. Most of us don’t take our cues from DC! Either way, this season marking the end of 2017 will be particularly bright — but I will … Read More
2017’s Been Hard For Our Nation, Can We Still Give Thanks in Southwest Louisiana?
Here we are, suddenly finding ourselves in the week that we have set aside as a nation for the giving of thanks. 2017 seems to have been a difficult year for many to find glimpses of the light, to find goodness in the midst of seeming chaos and lots of bad news. But, as I like to do, I’ll remind … Read More