Energy tax incentives — A conservation plan for your tax bill

Over the last few years, Congress has created a variety of tax incentives for individuals and businesses that invest in energy-efficient appliances, cars, equipment and buildings. This year’s stimulus bill — the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) — expands many of these incentives and makes them even more valuable. But most of the energy tax breaks are temporary. So if you want to take advantage of them, begin planning now. This article explores tax breaks for individuals and businesses, including those related to home improvement and alternative energy. A sidebar warns that not every investment you make in energy-saving products and materials will necessarily qualify for a tax break.
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Why there’s nothing shabby about a Crummey trust

You probably know about the annual gift tax exclusion. It allows you to give up to $13,000 per year (the limit in 2009) tax free, to an unlimited number of people — and without using up any of your $1 million lifetime gift tax exemption. If you elect to split gifts with your spouse, you can give away up to $26,000 per recipient. What you may not know is that the annual gift tax exclusion is available only for gifts of a present interest. Contributions to a trust ordinarily don’t count, because a beneficiary’s interest in a trust is considered a future interest. But what if you want to take advantage of the annual gift tax exclusion without simply handing over the cash to your children or grandchildren? This article offers one solution: a carefully designed Crummey trust.
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When are transportation expenses deductible?

Most workers and employers know that you generally can’t deduct the cost of commuting between home and work — that’s considered a personal expense. But there are certain situations in which commuting costs are deductible as transportation expenses. This article explains what the IRS considers to be commuting and the tax benefits to employers and employees.
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Tax Tips

This article briefly looks at small business stock, strategies to enhance cash flow, the domestic production activities deduction, and generation-skipping and dynasty trusts.
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