Masters & Jorgensen, Inc.

How will the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act affect your estate plan?

January 3, 2018

Effective January 1, 2018, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) reduces individual and corporate tax rates, eliminates a host of deductions and credits, enhances other breaks and makes numerous additional changes. One thing the TCJA doesn’t do is repeal the federal gift and estate tax, as originally contemplated by the House of […]

Congress passes biggest tax bill since 1986

December 25, 2017

On December 20, the House passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA), which the Senate had passed the previous day. It’s the most sweeping tax legislation since the Tax Reform Act of 1986. The bill makes small reductions to income tax rates for most individual tax brackets, significantly reduces the income tax […]

2018 gift tax exclusion rises to $15,000; other cost-of-living adjustments increase modestly

November 8, 2017

The IRS recently issued its 2018 cost-of-living adjustments. In a nutshell, to account for inflation, many amounts increased, but some stayed at 2017 levels. As you implement 2017 year-end tax planning strategies, be sure to take these 2018 adjustments into account in your planning. (However, keep in mind that, if Congress passes a new tax […]

2018 tax calendar

October 4, 2017

To help you make sure you don’t miss any important 2018 deadlines, we’ve provided this summary of when various tax-related forms, payments and other actions are due. Be aware that some deadlines have been moved up or pushed back compared to previous years. Please review the calendar and let us know if you have any […]

GOP’s proposed tax reform plan significantly changes the rules for individuals and businesses

September 26, 2017

Earlier this week, U.S. Senate Republicans declined to vote on the Graham-Cassidy health care bill because there weren’t enough votes to pass it. Yesterday, President Trump and Republican congressional leaders turned their attention to tax reform by releasing an outline of their long-awaited tax reform plan. The nine-page “Unified Framework for Fixing Our Broken Tax […]

Defer tax with a Section 1031 exchange, but new limits apply this year

August 28, 2017

Normally when appreciated business assets such as real estate are sold, tax is owed on the appreciation. But there’s a way to defer this tax: a Section 1031 “like kind” exchange. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) reduces the types of property eligible for this favorable tax treatment. What is a like-kind exchange?Section […]

New law clears the way for small businesses to offer standalone HRAs

December 21, 2016

When President Obama signed into law the 21st Century Cures Act on December 13, 2016, most of the media coverage focused on the provisions related to medical innovation. But the law also includes some good news for small businesses that have been prohibited in recent years from providing their employees with Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). […]

Looking for a retirement plan for your business? Here’s one SIMPLE option

September 7, 2016

Has your small business procrastinated in setting up a retirement plan? You might want to take a look at a SIMPLE IRA. SIMPLE stands for “savings incentive match plan for employees.” If you decide you’re interested in a SIMPLE IRA, you must establish it by no later than October 1 of the year for which […]