Links to 2012 Year End Tax Planning Guide PDF
Download the 2012 Year End Tax Planning Guide and organize your taxes.
For assistance with organizing your taxes down load the 2012 Year End tax planning Guide PDF or contact Lopato & Associates at (858)5491295
Year-End Tax Planning for 2012
Strategies for individual taxpayers
Oportunities For Business Owners
A Window of Opportunity for Family Business Owners
Can You Qualify for a Tax Credit?
Family Loans — Tax Considerations
Good Intentions, Bad Tax Results
Make Sure Your Tax Payments Are on Track
Saving for Retirement Tax Benefits Can Help
Traps When Moving IRA and Retirement Plan Assets
Caution: This Estate Includes IRD
FILING STATUS AND EXEMPTIONS
You need to know your filing status to determine your tax bracket (see table below), the extent to which certain phaseouts and limitations apply to you, and how large a standard deduction you may claim if you don't itemize deductions. Married couples generally receive more favorable tax treatment filing jointly, but not always. Depending on your respective itemized deductions (see page 8) and income, you could owe less tax by fil ing separately.
You can claim a personal exemption for yourself, your spouse, and for any qualified dependent. In 2012, each exemption you claim reduces your taxable income by $3,800.
Rate (%) |
Single | Head of household |
Married filing jointly (& surviving spouses) |
Married filing separately |
10 | $0.00 - 8.700 | $0.00 - 12,400 | $0.00-17,400 | $0.00 - 8,700 |
15 | $8,701 - 35,350 | $12,401 - 47,350 | $17,401 - 70,700 | $8,701 - 35,350 |
25 | $35,351 - 85,650 | $47,351 -122,300 | $70,701 - 142,700 | $35,351 - 71,350 |
28 | $85,651 - 178,650 | $122 ,301 - 198,050 | $142,701 - 217,450 | $71,351 - 108,725 |
33 | $178,651 - 388,350 | $198,051 - 388.350 | $217,451-388,350 | $108,726 - 194,175 |
35 | Over $388,350 | Over $388,350 | Over $388,350 | Over $194,175 |
Do you have a child in college?
Check to be sure he or she still qualifies as your dependent. There are some very specific requirements. For example, your child must be younger than 24 as of year-end, be enrol led as a full -time student for some part of at least five calendar months during the year, and live with you for more than half the year (treating temporary absences from home due to education, illness, military service, and certain other special circumstances as t ime spent living with you). Also, your child cannot provide more than half of his or her own support.