MONARCH ACCOUNTING GROUP
  • Home
  • Solutions
    • CFO Services
    • Cloud ACCOUNTING
    • Bookkeeping Services
    • QuickBooks Training
    • Income Taxes
    • Other Services
  • Resources
    • Tax Rates
    • SmartVault
    • Tax Tips
    • Tax Organizer
    • Record Retention Schedule
  • Reviews
  • Meet Us
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Effective and Marginal Tax: Know Yours!

9/26/2022

0 Comments

 

Understanding the difference between these two tax rates

Picture
The tax code is filled with terms we rarely use in everyday conversation. Two of the more common are Marginal Tax Rates and Effective Tax Rates. Knowing what they mean can help you think differently about your potential tax obligation.

Definition
Marginal Tax Rate: This is the tax rate applied to the next dollar you earn. Since our income tax rates are progressive, the next dollar you earn could be taxed at as little as zero or as high as 37%!
Effective Tax Rate: This is the tax rate you actually pay. It is total taxes paid divided by your total taxable income. Said another way, after taking your income and then applying taxes, deductions, credits, exemptions, and other adjustments, you are left with your true tax obligation. This obligation is a percent of your income.

A Simple Example
Consider two single people; Joe Cool who earns $50,000 and Chuck Browne who earns $500,000. If we had a flat tax of 10%, Mr. Cool would pay $5,000 in tax and Mr. Browne would pay $50,000 in tax. Both of their Effective Tax Rates would be 10% AND their Marginal Tax Rates would also be 10% because each additional dollar they earn would be taxed at the same 10%. However it is a different picture when you apply our progressive tax rates:

If we use the 2022 U.S. tax table for a single filer, Joe Cool pays $6,617 and Chuck Browne pays $148,753 in federal tax. This is because tax rates applied to Joe Cool’s income are (10 – 22%) while Chuck's income over $50,000 gets Marginal Tax Rates of (22 – 35%). Ignoring other tax factors, our two taxpayers’ tax rates are:

Why Care?
  • Calculating Returns. The true return you receive on any taxable investment will be determined by your Marginal Tax Rate. A $500 profit from a new investment could cost Joe Cool 15% in federal tax, but it could cost Chuck Browne 35% in federal tax.
  • Phaseouts can provide a dramatic impact on Effective Tax Rates. The simple examples above do not account for income limits applied to many tax benefits. Additional income could have a very dramatic impact on Joe Cool if it triggers losing things like an Earned Income Credit, or Child Tax Credit. This could increase Joe's Effective Tax Rate while not touching his Marginal Tax Rate.
  • Extra work can help the taxman more than you. There have been cases where adding a second job can actually cost you money by not understanding the impact of the income on your Effective Tax Rate. This is especially true for retired workers receiving Social Security Retirement Benefits. That extra job may make your Social Security benefits taxable.
  • It’s not that simple. In addition to all the different income phase-outs for credits and deductions, your Effective Tax Rate could be impacted by the elimination of itemized deductions, the Alternative Minimum Tax, and the marriage penalty.


So look at last year’s tax return and calculate your Effective Tax Rate. Then look at your income and determine the Marginal Tax Rate to be applied on your next dollar of income. Finally, if you anticipate an increase in earnings, consider forecasting the impact on your Effective Tax Rate.


"Tax Tips" are published to provide current tax information, tax-cutting suggestions, and tax reminders. If you would like more information on anything in "Tax Tips," or if you'd like to be on our mailing list to receive other tax information from time to time, please contact our office.
 
The tax information contained in this site is of a general nature and should not be acted upon in your specific situation without further details and/or professional assistance.
 
We are trusted CPA advisors servicing Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Willowbrook, Darien, Naperville, and all Chicagoland area. 

Do you need assistance with your business and/or personal tax returns? Would you like to have a trusted source for your accounting, allowing you additional time to focus on increasing your business? Do you use QuickBooks, or plan to in the future, for your accounting? We include these in all our service packages, customized to fit your personal or business needs.  
 
We are currently accepting new clients. Your initial consultation is free, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Our experienced staff is available to help you streamline your accounting, giving you more free time for yourself. Set up an appointment today by calling (630) 320-3720 or email us at info@monarchaccountinggroup.com. 
 
For more free resources, such as Tax Organizers, and Record Retention Schedules, access our website www.monarchaccountinggroup.com.

Mia Verc, CPA;  Janice Papais, CPA
0 Comments

Reduce Your Medical Expenses

9/20/2022

0 Comments

 

Tax smarts that make a difference

Picture
Medical expenses are on the rise. According to the Milliman Medical Index, the average family of four on an employer-sponsored plan will spend $30,260 on healthcare in 2022 – a $4,699 increase from 2020. Below are some ways you can save tax dollars when paying those medical bills:
​

  • Contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA). If you have a high deductible health plan, you can open an HSA account to pay your medical bills. If your health insurance deductible is $1,400 ($2,800 for family) or more, you can make contributions to an HSA to reduce your taxable income. The HSA contribution limit is $3,650 for 2022 ($7,300 for family).
  • Contribute to a Flexible Savings Account (FSA). Unlike an HSA, an FSA has to be set up by your employer. Like an HSA, you and your employer can make pre-tax payroll contributions to the account to cover qualified medical expenses. One benefit of an FSA is your total annual election amount is available to you on Jan. 1. On the flip side, if you don’t use your FSA dollars by year-end, you lose the funds.
  • Deduct your self-employed health insurance premiums. If you are self-employed, you can deduct amounts paid for health insurance premiums for you and your family. To be eligible to make the deduction, your self-employed business needs to show a profit for the tax year. This is an above-the-line deduction, so it can reduce your taxable income even if you are claiming the standard deduction.
  • Deduct medical expenses as an itemized deduction. For 2022, the IRS will allow you to include medical expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI) as an itemized deduction. For example, using the US Census Bureau’s average household income of $67,500, any medical expense above $5,063 may be deducted. If you are not taking the standard deduction, these medical expenses can be used to reduce your income.


If you would like to discuss how these options may work for you, please call.

"Tax Tips" are published to provide current tax information, tax-cutting suggestions, and tax reminders. If you would like more information on anything in "Tax Tips," or if you'd like to be on our mailing list to receive other tax information from time to time, please contact our office.
 
The tax information contained in this site is of a general nature and should not be acted upon in your specific situation without further details and/or professional assistance.
 
We are trusted CPA advisors servicing Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Willowbrook, Darien, Naperville, and all Chicagoland area. 

Do you need assistance with your business and/or personal tax returns? Would you like to have a trusted source for your accounting, allowing you additional time to focus on increasing your business? Do you use QuickBooks, or plan to in the future, for your accounting? We include these in all our service packages, customized to fit your personal or business needs.  
 
We are currently accepting new clients. Your initial consultation is free, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Our experienced staff is available to help you streamline your accounting, giving you more free time for yourself. Set up an appointment today by calling (630) 320-3720 or email us at info@monarchaccountinggroup.com. 
 
For more free resources, such as Tax Organizers, and Record Retention Schedules, access our website www.monarchaccountinggroup.com.

Mia Verc, CPA;  Janice Papais, CPA
0 Comments

The New $7,500 Tax Credit That Isn't

9/12/2022

0 Comments

 

What you need to know

Picture
A highly-touted tax credit in the recently-passed Inflation Reduction Act is meant to incentivize Americans to purchase electric vehicles or other clean burning fuel vehicles. The bottom line, however, is that practically speaking YOU CAN’T GET IT.

Why few credits will be seen
As the new legislation is currently written, nearly all the electric vehicles sold today do not qualify for the new credit that begins in 2023. This is because:
  • The vehicle must be manufactured in North America AND
  • Powered by batteries with materials sourced in either the U.S. or from free trade partners AND
  • If by some stroke of luck you find a new vehicle that qualifies, the price must be below $55,000 for a sedan and $80,000 for a van, truck or SUV.

Tax code as behavior modification
The new electric vehicle tax credit is a classic example of the continued shift from using income taxes to pay for federal spending to using the tax code to get us to do what the government wants. In this case:
  • The government is trying to get manufactures to shift sourcing away from countries like China.
  • The government wants to motivate the creation of manufacturing jobs in the U.S.
  • The government wants to incentivize the manufacturing of lower-priced electric vehicles and alternative clean energy vehicles.

What this means for you
What this means for the average consumer is little to anything…right now. If you have your sights set on getting an electric vehicle, make the decision without the influence of the credit. If maximizing the credit is important for you, you now need to pay attention to income limits and will need to wait for some time to see if the credit influences manufacturers to change their sourcing and assembly plans.

"Tax Tips" are published to provide current tax information, tax-cutting suggestions, and tax reminders. If you would like more information on anything in "Tax Tips," or if you'd like to be on our mailing list to receive other tax information from time to time, please contact our office.
 
The tax information contained in this site is of a general nature and should not be acted upon in your specific situation without further details and/or professional assistance.
 
We are trusted CPA advisors servicing Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Willowbrook, Darien, Naperville, and all Chicagoland area. 

Do you need assistance with your business and/or personal tax returns? Would you like to have a trusted source for your accounting, allowing you additional time to focus on increasing your business? Do you use QuickBooks, or plan to in the future, for your accounting? We include these in all our service packages, customized to fit your personal or business needs.  
 
We are currently accepting new clients. Your initial consultation is free, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Our experienced staff is available to help you streamline your accounting, giving you more free time for yourself. Set up an appointment today by calling (630) 320-3720 or email us at info@monarchaccountinggroup.com. 
 
For more free resources, such as Tax Organizers, and Record Retention Schedules, access our website www.monarchaccountinggroup.com.

Mia Verc, CPA;  Janice Papais, CPA
0 Comments

Reminder: Third Quarter Estimated Taxes Due

9/6/2022

0 Comments

 

Now is the time to make your estimated tax payment

Picture
If you have not already done so, now is the time to review your tax situation and make an estimated quarterly tax payment using Form 1040-ES. The third quarter due date is now here.

Due date: Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022
Remember, you are required to withhold at least 90 percent of your current tax obligation or 100 percent of last year’s obligation.* A quick look at last year’s tax return and a projection of this year’s obligation can help determine if a payment is necessary. Here are some other things to consider:
  • Underpayment penalty. If you do not have proper tax withholdings during the year, you could be subject to an underpayment penalty. The penalty can occur if you do not have proper withholdings throughout the year. A quick payment at the end of the year may not help avoid the underpayment penalty.
  • W-2 withholdings have special treatment. A W-2 withholding payment can be made at any time during the year and be treated as if it was made throughout the year. If you do not have enough funds to pay the estimated quarterly payment now, you may be able to adjust your W-2 withholdings to make up the difference.
  • Self-employed. Remember to account for the need to pay your Social Security and Medicare taxes as well. Creating and funding a savings account for this purpose can help avoid the cash flow hit each quarter when you pay your estimated taxes.
  • Don't forget state obligations. With the exception of a few states, you are often also required to make estimated state tax payments if you're required to do so for your federal taxes. Consider conducting a review of your state obligations to ensure you meet these quarterly estimated tax payments as well.


*If your income is over $150,000 ($75,000 if married filing separately), you must pay 110 percent of last year’s tax obligation to be safe from an underpayment penalty.


"Tax Tips" are published to provide current tax information, tax-cutting suggestions, and tax reminders. If you would like more information on anything in "Tax Tips," or if you'd like to be on our mailing list to receive other tax information from time to time, please contact our office.
 
The tax information contained in this site is of a general nature and should not be acted upon in your specific situation without further details and/or professional assistance.
 
We are trusted CPA advisors servicing Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Willowbrook, Darien, Naperville, and all Chicagoland area. 

Do you need assistance with your business and/or personal tax returns? Would you like to have a trusted source for your accounting, allowing you additional time to focus on increasing your business? Do you use QuickBooks, or plan to in the future, for your accounting? We include these in all our service packages, customized to fit your personal or business needs.  
 
We are currently accepting new clients. Your initial consultation is free, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Our experienced staff is available to help you streamline your accounting, giving you more free time for yourself. Set up an appointment today by calling (630) 320-3720 or email us at info@monarchaccountinggroup.com. 
 
For more free resources, such as Tax Organizers, and Record Retention Schedules, access our website www.monarchaccountinggroup.com.

Mia Verc, CPA;  Janice Papais, CPA
0 Comments

    BLOG

    To better serve our clients and friends, to keep you up-to-date and informed, our blog is a resource for tax tips and overall accounting related articles. We hope you find this useful!


    CATEGORIES​

    All
    Business Owners: Must Know
    IRS Tax Tip
    Monthly Newsletter
    Tax Return: Must Know
    Tax Tip Of The Week


    ARCHIVES

    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015

    RSS Feed

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Phone: (630) 320-3720

Monarch Accounting Group Inc
145 Tower Drive, Suite 10
Burr Ridge, IL 60527-7836
Email: Info@MonarchAccountingGroup.com


Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
  • Home
  • Solutions
    • CFO Services
    • Cloud ACCOUNTING
    • Bookkeeping Services
    • QuickBooks Training
    • Income Taxes
    • Other Services
  • Resources
    • Tax Rates
    • SmartVault
    • Tax Tips
    • Tax Organizer
    • Record Retention Schedule
  • Reviews
  • Meet Us
  • Blog
  • Contact Us