Jill on Money Radio Show: Mortgage or No Mortgage?

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Semi-retired and looking to buy a new house. The big question is whether or not to take out a mortgage or pay cash? That’s the gist of our call this week as we chat with Ryan from Seattle.

The rest of hour one was trying to clean out the inbox. Haha, yeah right. We’ve got thousands of emails, and all I can say folks is that we’re doing the best we can.

What could be more basic than preparing your taxes? After a tumultuous 2020, tax season is officially open, a few weeks later than years in the past. The deadline to file and pay any tax owed reverts to April 15th, after last year’s COVID-19 related extension.

By now, you should have received most of your tax preparation documents (W-2s, 1099s, as well as bank, investment, mutual fund and mortgage company documents).

If you didn’t learn the lesson of electronic filing last year, this is the year to dump the paper. After all, those who had electronic files with the IRS got those stimulus checks faster than those who had to wait weeks and sometimes months for their money.

Additionally, be sure to choose direct deposit, which is “the safest, most accurate and fastest way to get a refund,” according to the IRS.

Because of all the various changes that went into effect last year as the pandemic unfolded, this tax season could be a tricky one.

To help us break it down, we're joined by the one and only Ed Slott, the ultimate tax guru and founder of IRA Help.

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Tax Season Tips with Ed Slott

After a tumultuous 2020, the IRS will open tax filing season on Friday, February 12th, a few weeks later than years in the past. The deadline to file and pay any tax owed reverts to April 15th, after last year’s COVID-19 related extension.

To celebrate the upcoming opening of tax season, this weekend we're bringing you the second of three tax-related episodes,

Each will be sponsored by H&R Block.

As you're getting ready to file your taxes, remember that H&R Block has all your tax needs covered. Their experts have an average of 10 years’ experience. They’ve seen it all and can help get all the credits and deductions you deserve.

The first episode was all about your taxes and COVID-19, and in case you missed it, you can find it here.

This weekend is more of a general dive on everything you need to know as you prepare to file.

And just like the first episode, we're once again joined by the one and only Ed Slott, the ultimate tax guru and founder of IRA Help.

Have a money question? Email me here.

Please leave us a rating or review in Apple Podcasts.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Your Taxes and COVID-19 with Ed Slott

This weekend we're bringing you the first of three tax-related episodes that will run between now and late February.

Each episode will be sponsored by H&R Block.

As you're getting ready to file your taxes, remember that H&R Block has all your tax needs covered. Their experts have an average of 10 years’ experience. They’ve seen it all and can help get all the credits and deductions you deserve.

This first episode will focus on your taxes and COVID-19.

Because of all the various changes that went into effect last year as the pandemic unfolded, this tax season could be a tricky one.

To help us break it down, we're joined by the one and only Ed Slott, the ultimate tax guru and founder of IRA Help.

Have a money question? Email me here.

Please leave us a rating or review in Apple Podcasts.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Radio Show: Coronavirus and Your Money Continued

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

And that’s a wrap on what was by far the most bizarre first half of a year that I’ve ever experienced. And unless you’re way up there in age, and were around in 1940, I’m guessing the same applies to you!

In keeping with the Groundhog Day pattern, we’re beginning the second half the same way we ended the first half, answering your coronavirus related money questions.

Happy Independence Day weekend!

Yes, we're officially in the summer months, and for millions of Americans, thanks to the coronavirus, the early summer weeks will include preparing and paying taxes.

Because of the pandemic’s timing and impact, the IRS delayed the tax-filing and payment deadlines from April 15th to July 15th. The agency also moved back Q2 quarterly estimates, which would have been due on June 15th, to July 15th.

To help us break down all the ins and outs of this "new" tax season, we're joined in hour two by Ed Slott, the ultimate tax guru and founder of IRA Help.

If you’ve been impacted by the pandemic, here’s a bunch of helpful links:

Pandemic Lifeline Resources

NYT F.A.Q. on Coronavirus Bill

Prioritizing Bills Tool

Coronavirus State Unemployment Benefits Filing Info

Coronavirus Mortgage Relief

Coronavirus Student Loan Information

Coronavirus Guide for Small Businesses

Coronavirus NYT Small Business Program Q&A

Have a money question? Email me here.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Coronavirus: Taxes in July Part Two

Yes, we're officially in the summer months, and for millions of Americans, thanks to the coronavirus, the early summer weeks will include preparing and paying taxes.

Because of the pandemic’s timing and impact, the IRS delayed the tax-filing and payment deadlines from April 15th to July 15th. The agency also moved back Q2 quarterly estimates, which would have been due on June 15th, to July 15th.

To help us break down all the ins and outs of this "new" tax season, we're joined by Ed Slott, the ultimate tax guru and founder of IRA Help.

Have a money question? Email me here.

Please leave us a rating or review in Apple Podcasts.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Coronavirus: Taxes in July Part One

Yes, we're officially in the summer months, and for millions of Americans, thanks to the coronavirus, the early summer weeks will include preparing and paying taxes.

Because of the pandemic’s timing and impact, the IRS delayed the tax-filing and payment deadlines from April 15th to July 15th. The agency also moved back Q2 quarterly estimates, which would have been due on June 15th, to July 15th.

To help us break down all the ins and outs of this "new" tax season, we're joined by Ed Slott, the ultimate tax guru and founder of IRA Help.

Have a money question? Email me here.

Please leave us a rating or review in Apple Podcasts.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Tax Season Planning with Ed Slott

Tax season is open, which means there’s another opportunity to: (a) vent about how much you hate this time of year, (b) complain about the complexity of the U.S. code, and (c) whine about your refund being lower than previous years, even though you know that a refund is just the return of the extra money that you paid Uncle Sam, on which he paid zero interest.

The Internal Revenue Service is hoping that this year’s filing season will be less fraught than last year’s, because the government has remained open (remember the 35-day shutdown of 2018-2019?) and it will be the second time that the American taxpayers will be filing under the new rules that emerged from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).

The deadline to file 2019 tax returns and pay any tax owed is Wednesday, April 15, 2020 and the IRS expects that more than 150 million individual tax returns will be filed.

Back with us for his annual tax season appearance is Ed Slott, the ultimate tax guru and founder of IRA Help.

The best way to prepare for this season is to grab last year’s return as a guide to what’s missing and then to start organizing your documents (W-2s, 1099s, as well as bank, investment, mutual fund and mortgage company documents) in a simple file. While most of tax year 2019 will look like 2018, there are inflation adjustments to the standard deduction, tax bracket ranges and many tax credits. 

There are also a few notable changes which we’ll discuss with Ed.

Have a money question? Email me here.

Please leave us a rating or review in Apple Podcasts.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Secure Act 101

After I wrote about the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, I received a slew of questions from readers. 

So to help clear up some of the confusion, we’re bringing on IRA guru Ed Slott. (Ed will also join us for a tax season related episode)

The Secure Act includes significant changes to retirement accounts, including:

Age Limit Eliminated for Traditional IRA Contributions

Beginning in 2020, the new law eliminates the age limit for traditional IRA contributions (formerly 70 ½). Now, those who are still working can continue to contribute to a traditional IRA, regardless of their age.

RMD Age Raised to 72

The SECURE Act also raises the age for beginning RMDs to 72 for all retirement accounts subject to RMDs. IRA owners reaching age 70 ½ in 2020 catch a break and will not have to take their first RMD in 2020 now that the RMD deadline has been extended to age 72.

New Exception to the 10% Penalty for Birth or Adoption

The SECURE Act adds a new 10% penalty exception for birth or adoption, but the distribution is still subject to tax. It is limited to $5,000 over a lifetime. The birth or adoption distribution amount can be repaid at any future time (re-contributed back to any retirement account).

IRA Contributions with Fellowship and Stipend Payments

Additionally, the new law allows taxable non-tuition fellowship and stipend payments to be treated as compensation to qualify for an IRA (or Roth IRA) contribution.

Employer Liability Protection for Annuities in Plans

The SECURE Act provides a safe harbor for employer liability protection for offering annuities in an employer plan. This is expected to open the door for more annuity products to be available as investment choices in employer plans.

Good Bye, Stretch IRA

Beginning for deaths after December 31, 2019, the stretch IRA is replaced with a ten year rule for the vast majority of beneficiaries. The rule requires accounts to be emptied by the end of the tenth year following the year of death. There are no annual RMDs. Instead, the only RMD on an inherited IRA is the balance at the end of the 10 years after death. For deaths in 2019 or prior years, the old rules would remain in place.

There are five classes of “eligible designated beneficiaries” who are exempt from the 10-year post-death payout rule and can still stretch RMDs over life expectancy. These include surviving spouses, minor children, disabled individuals, the chronically ill, and beneficiaries not more than ten years younger than the IRA owner.

Have a money question? Email me here.

Please leave us a rating or review in Apple Podcasts.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Tax Season Tips with Ed Slott

With tax season in full swing, it can only mean one thing. It’s time for our annual chat with Ed Slott, the ultimate tax guru, and founder of IRA Help.

Here is your tax season boot camp for the first tax year of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).

Itemized vs. Standard Deduction: Every taxpayer needs to determine whether it makes sense to claim one of these two deductions, both of which reduce the amount of income subject to tax. TCJA nearly doubled the Standard Deduction to $12,000 for Single and Married Filing Separately, $24,000 for Married Filing Jointly and $18,000 for Head of Household.

A couple of caveats on itemized deductions:

Your total deduction for state and local income, sales and property taxes is limited to a combined, total deduction of $10,000 ($5,000 if Married Filing Separate). Any state and local taxes you paid above this amount cannot be deducted.

The deduction for home mortgage and home equity interest was modified. It is now limited to interest you paid on a loan secured by your main home or second home that you used to buy, build, or substantially improve your main home or second home. So if you used a home equity loan or line of credit to pay off another debt, like a credit card or student loan, it would not be deductible.

There is a new dollar limit on total qualified residence loan balances. If your loan was originated or treated as originating on or before Dec. 15, 2017, you may deduct interest on up to $1,000,000 ($500,000 if you are married filing separately) in qualifying debt. If your loan originated after that date, you may only deduct interest on up to $750,000 ($375,000 if you are married filing separately) in qualifying debt.

Deduction for alimony is eliminated for agreements executed after December 31, 2018, or for any divorce or separation agreement executed on or before December 31, 2018, and modified after that date. In conjunction with this change, alimony and separate maintenance payments are no longer included in income based on these dates.

Claim Credits: Now that personal exemptions have been eliminated, credits are even more important.

The Child Tax Credit has increased to a maximum of $2,000 per qualifying child under the age of 17. Up to $1,400 of the credit can be refundable for each qualifying child as the additional child tax credit. In addition, the income threshold at which the child tax credit begins to phase out increased to $200,000, or $400,000 if married filing jointly.

There are two different education credits available: the American Opportunity Tax Credit (formerly Hope Credit), which is partially refundable, and the Lifetime Learning Credit. Both may apply to expenses you pay for yourself, your spouse and any dependents.Have a money question?

Have a money question? Email me here.

We love feedback so please leave us a rating or review in Apple Podcasts.

"Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

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