Sam and Sue are married and age 65.  Sam has a full time job that pays $80,000 and Sue's full time job pays $85,000.  They have worked since age 16 and are planning on keeping their jobs and signing up for social security when they each reach age 66.   An friend of the couple heard that social security benefits might be taxable and suggested that the couple file for divorce to get more money from social security and also avoid taxes on social security.  The statement from social security indicated that Sam would receive $1,800 per month if he waits until full retirement. Sue can't find her letter, but over her working career, she made as much and sometimes more than Sam did.    What is their best tax planning strategy?

6 Holly and Zachary Neal, from Dublin, Virginia, are preparing to file their 2020 income taxes. Their children are grown; however, Holly's mother, Martha, has moved in with them. As Holly is mow caring for her mother, she is no longer working. Martha is dependent on their income for support except for her $525.24 monthly Social Security benefit. Zachary works for a software company and earns anough to keep their heads above water; however, he had to discontinue paticipation in his retirement plan so they could pay the bills. Holly is taking this opportunity to work toward her master's degree. They know they will file jointly but need your help preparing their tax return. They have gathered all of the appropriate records: a. Are Martha's unreimbursed medical expense deductible on the Neals' tax return? Why or why not? b. Is Martha required to file a tax return? Why or why not? c. What tax advantage(s), attributable to Holly's education expenses, can the Neals include on their return? d.…

Frankie lives in NJ, is divorced with one child, and made $80,000 last year. He qualified for several below the line, itemizable deductions (He paid $5,600 in mortgage interest, $9,500 in property taxes, and he donated $550 worth to charity during the year). Frankie can claim one child tax credit of $2,000. His ex-spouse agreed that he can claim head of household this year. Use the Income Tax Table Reference Sheet to answer the following questions. 1. Should Frankie itemize his taxes or take the standard deduction? * A. Itemize B. Standard Please answer very soon will give rating surely

Bruce and Amanda are married during the tax year. Bruce is a botanist at Green Corporation. Bruce earns a salary of $56,000 per year. Green Corporation has an accountable reimbursement plan. During the year, Bruce has $5,000 of employee expenses. Green Corporation reimburses Bruce for only $4,000 of expenses.Bruce decides to put $5,500 into a Traditional IRA. Amanda owns a financial consulting firm as a sole proprietor (it qualifies as a full trade or business). Amanda generates $80,000 of revenues during the year. She has the following business payments associated with her firm:● Utilities: $2,000● Office Rent: $14,000● Self-Employment Tax: $5,000● Salary for her secretary: $20,000● Fines/Penalties: $8,000● Payroll Taxes (Employer Portion): $1,000● Business Meals: $2,000● Bribe to police officer to forgive parking violation $1,500Due to the income and expenses above, Amanda has $39,500 of Qualified Business Income. Also, during the year a tornado damaged the roof of their personal…

Mark and Parveen are the parents of three young children. Mark is a store manager in a local supermarket. His gross salary is $75,000 per year. Parveen is a full-time stay-at-home mom. Use the easy method to estimate the family's life insurance needs.

Pam is separated from her husband, Ted. Ted moved to an apartment in the same city two years ago, but they have not finalized their divorce yet. They live in a common law state. They have one daughter, Rainey, who is eight years old and lives with Pam most of the time. She spends every other weekend and usually one week night with her father. Ted works for XYZ International. He earned a salary of $96,000 for the current year. His salary was his only source of income.   Pam works for ABC Corp. as an accountant. Her salary for the current year was $88,000. ABC is a great place to work. Pam’s health insurance (valued at $4,800 per year) and $6,000 in childcare benefits are provided by ABC Corp. She even received a Christmas bonus of $2,500 in addition to her salary. She held on to the check until January when she cashed it to use on a ski vacation for her and Rainey.   Pam slipped and fell at work. She had to undergo surgery on her ankle. She received worker’s compensation benefits…

Jane and Ben are married and usually file a joint return. They live in a separate property state (rather than a community property state). Jane is a partner in a law firm and typically generates income of $162,000. Ben is a grade school teacher with wage income of $75,000. The couple has investment income that is less than their standard deduction. With enactment of the deduction for qualified business income, the couple is wondering if they should continue to file as married filing jointly or instead use the married filing separately status. Why do they wonder this, and what advice would you offer them and why? If each spouse files separately, Jane's income is close to the threshold relevant for , such as the law firm. The use of the married filing jointly filing status will result in QBI deduction. Therefore, from a tax viewpoint, it would probably benefit Jane and Ben to file .

Wade (49) and Colleen (50) are married. They have two children, Jacob (20) and Lucella (15), who both lived with their parents all year. Jacob is not a student, but he has a part-time job. Lucella is still in high school. Wade and Colleen provide more than 50% support for both children. Wade's wages were $27,500; Colleen's wages were $17,900; Jacob's gross income was $5,100; Lucella's was $0.   1, What is Wade's correct and most favorable 2019 filing status? 2. Does Wade meet the qualifications for claiming the Child Tax Credit/Additional Child Tax Credit or the Other Dependent Credit? Choose the best answer. Wade is eligible to claim the Child Tax Credit/Additional Child Tax Credit.   Wade is eligible to claim the Other Dependent Credit.   Wade is not eligible to claim the Child Tax Credit/Additional Child Tax Credit or the Other Dependent Credit. 3. Wade (49) and Colleen (50) are married. They have two children, Jacob (20) and Lucella (15), who both lived with their parents…

Phil's two-year-old daughter, Daisy, attends a day care center while Phil works three days a week as a security guard. The daycare charges $375 for three days a week and $475 for five days a week. Sometimes when he has errands to run or wants to spend time with friends, Phil pays the extra money for the full week of day care. What is Phil's qualifying deductible expense amount as it relates to the Child and Dependent Care Credit?

Bob, age 67, and Jane, age 58, are married and have one son, Will, who lives with them. They provide over \\( 50 \\% \\) of Will's support. Will is 20 years old, and a part-time college student, with \\(\\$ 5,000 \\) of income from a part-time job. How much is Bob and Jane's total standard deduction for 2023 ?