Leading Accounting, Tax and Business Valuation Firm Gettry Marcus Lists 2013 Tax Year Deadlines that Extend into 2014
Woodbury, NY (PRWEB) January 13, 2014 -- The definitive arrival of the New Year does not spell doom for all tax savings opportunities for 2013. A few options remain for taxpayers.
Gettry Marcus CPA, P.C., a leading accounting, tax and business valuation firm, discusses various 2013 tax guidelines that will extend into 2014.
IRAs
Taxpayers have until April 15, 2014 to make tax-deferred contributions to a traditional individual retirement account (IRA). The amount any one taxpayer may contribute to an IRA is limited to $5,500 per taxpayer ($6,500 for taxpayers age 50 or older).
This amount begins to phase out after the taxpayer has adjusted gross income (AGI) over a certain amount ($59,000 for single and head of household filers; $95,000 for married filers). The phase out is complete once the taxpayer’s AGI exceeds $69,000 (single and head of household filers) or $115,000 (married filers).
If the taxpayer has already contributed to an IRA for 2013 (including a Roth IRA), the allowed $5,500 contribution is reduced by the amount of those previous contributions.
HSAs
Taxpayers covered under a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) also have until April 15, 2014, to make tax-deferred contributions to a health savings account (HSA). An HSA is a tax-exempt trust or custodial account established for the purpose of paying the beneficiary’s qualified medical expenses.
Estimated tax
Taxpayers who realize they should have been making estimated payments of tax throughout the year can avoid penalties for the fourth quarter of 2013 by making an estimated tax payment on or before January 15, 2014.
Other notable tax deadlines, other than the looming April 15, 2014 deadline for individual returns, include:
March 15: Taxpayers who contributed funds during 2013 to an employer-sponsored cafeteria plan through a flexible spending arrangement (FSA) have until March 15, 2014 to use them on any qualified medical expenses. Generally taxpayers must use all funds contributed to an FSA before the end of the year, unless their employer has amended the cafeteria plan to allow a grace period up until March 15. Taxpayers who are unsure of whether or not their flexible spending arrangement provides this grace period should contact their employer.
April 1: Taxpayers that have traditional IRAs are required to start taking minimum distributions from their IRAs in the year in which they turn age 70½. These are called required minimum distributions (RMDs), and they are calculated based on the account holder’s life expectancy. RMDs are required for traditional IRAs, but not Roth IRAs.
Taxpayers who just turned 70½ during 2013 may delay the first payment until April 1, 2014. However, for all years thereafter, the taxpayer must take the RMD by December 31 of the tax year. This means that a taxpayer who delays his or her first RMD payment until April 1, 2014, will be required to report two RMDs in his or her 2014 income.
Account owners who do not withdraw the full RMD amount by the deadline will be liable for tax at the rate of 50 percent on the amount not withdrawn.
IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.
Gettry Marcus CPA, P.C., a top New York City and Long Island CPA firm with offices in Woodbury, Long Island and New York City. We provide accounting, tax, and consulting services to commercial businesses, high net worth individuals and various industries which include real estate and health care. We have one of the premier and most credentialed business valuation, litigation and forensic accounting groups in the New York Area. Our experience in diverse industries and a highly talented and experienced professional staff gives us the ability to share valuable insights into our clients’ businesses, to better understand their goals and problems and to help them attain the vision they have for their company.
Gettry Marcus is "Always Looking Deeper" to build value for our clients.
Media inquiries: Contact Fayellen Dietchweiler at 516-364-3390 ext. 225 or at fdietchweiler(at)gettrymarcus(dot)com.
Scott Darrohn, fishbat, http://fishbat.com, +1 855-347-4228, [email protected]
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