401(k) contributions

When it comes to 401k contribution limits, or the combined total contribution you can make per year to all of your 401(k) plans including traditional 401(k) plan and Roth 401(k) plan, there are two rules that govern the maximum contribution amount. First is the percentage of your pay that your employer allows you to contribute. [...]

The contribution limit for IRA did not change for 2010. Like 2009, the maximum you may contribute to your Traditional and Roth IRAs combined is $5,000. If you are 50 years and older, your contribution limit is $6,000 (due to $1,000 catch-up contribution allowance). Note this is a per individual limit and as a married [...]

Understanding the many tax deductions can be nothing short of a minefield, and many taxpayers are unaware of the many deductions that can be used to legally reduce your tax bill. This article highlights just a few of the tax deductions that you can claim if your circumstances lend themselves.

Standard Deductions
A standard deduction varies depending [...]

Up until about 10 years ago, there was one type of IRA, the traditional IRA which was deducted from your taxable income, grows tax deferred, and upon withdrawal, is taxed at whatever rate you find yourself. Its cousin, the Roth IRA is the mirror image, the money you put in is after tax money, but [...]

We hear a lot about diversifying across asset classes — owning stocks, bonds, real estate, etc. We also hear a lot about diversifying within asset classes — owning mutual funds of hundreds of stocks rather than owning a few individual stocks. But there’s another, lesser-known form of diversification from which you could benefit: Tax diversification.

Photo [...]

Converting to a Roth IRA is not new, so what with all the buzz about about this Roth IRA Conversion event in 2010? What makes it such a big deal is that up until then, most people couldn’t convert to a Roth IRA because their income was too high. For example, in 2009 if an [...]

Welcome to the 76th edition of Money Hacks Carnival. In this edition, I’ll be presenting some interesting and fun facts about money along with the submissions. For editor’s picks, please look for entries noted with (EP).

Money Fact #1: $1 bills wear out in about 17 months. Bills of larger denomination last longer because they are [...]

The following article contains information about the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)’s officially released 2009 federal income tax brackets. You’ll need this information to prepare and file your 2009 tax return in early 2010. To the extent that the information in this article helps summarize the changes in Federal Income Tax, you should consult the official [...]

Well, it finally happened to me. Last Friday, my company announced that it is halting 401(k) matching contributions, raises, and promotions for the remainder of the year. This is definitely better than losing my job, but between the match and the raise, that’s a good 5-7% loss of income. I am sure many of you [...]

In my TurboTax Online Review, I mentioned that I owe some federal income tax and is thinking about opening a SEP IRA, or a Simplified Employee Pension Plan. Aside from reducing my tax liabilities, I want to maintain my safe harbor from having to pay quarterly income taxes in 2009.
Since I am already doing my [...]