Did not want to scare you with the title of this post…. after all it is a Friday!
The initial new tax proposals have finally been released and we are on them…but not too deep as of yet!
For the record the initial proposal is not too terribly strict …. Certainly not near as strong as some of the headlines you may have seen!
Keep in mind, these are PROPOSALS and will be different once in law….. but we like to get a jump start on things for planning purposes… but NOT take actions until set in stone/law….
Friday
With a big week of posts, we will let you off easy … No Promises for next week!
Be good, be well, be safe, and Enjoy your Weekend and Friday!
Today is the due date for Quarter 3 2021 Estimated Taxes!
Between the last two years of jockeying the dates for regular returns and filings, and the odd timed ES filing (note below Q 2 is only a two month gap) if you have forgotten or are off on your days…. do not worry you are not alone.
While the postal system is getting better, as mentioned here it may be a good idea to file your ES both Federal and State Electronically!
This is the exact link to the Federal deposit site do not want bad guys jumping in front of your browser, make sure your browser gets to this link.
We know many of you are old fashion and want to send it via coupon and mail, no worries, just make sure it gets in the mail to be postmarked by tomorrow and use that handy cell phone as your scanner and take picture of the coupon, check and envelope for proof if there is a delay!
For the period: Due date: Jan. 11 – March 31 …….. April 15 April 1 – May 31 ………. June 15 June 1 – Aug. 31 ……… Sept. 15 Sept. 1 – Dec. 31 ……… Jan. 18, next year
Form 1040 Instructions : ES Coupon Page 11 and Fillable
Here is the link to the IRS booklet that has blank ES Coupons, specifically Q 3 is on page 11…
Again, the booklet is fillable for those such as myself who’s handwriting has fallen off a cliff in clarity! haha, not kidding!
Multiple frauds occurring in continuous weeks, led us to write this post, reminding those that the fraudsters are still at it.
Their latest game…using stolen Socials and Employment information to gain unsuspecting employers Unemployment compensation.
While likely some accidentally fall through the cracks, we have yet to experience anything other than a mild inconvenience….
But do not let your guards down and if a victim, keep your eyes peeled for other items for the near term!
Child Tax Credit Confusion
After repeated confusion, here in this post we outline the new ADVANCED child tax credit payments than sneakily commenced several months ago…
Also a warning of an overworked IRS to keep line of sight to the funds in case we need to pay them back in the form of a higher tax bill when completing our 2021 Form 1040 Personal income tax return in April of 2022!
Capital Market Comments
Kyle Bass Forecasts
In this podcast derived post, we re-visit Kyle Bass again after a few year hiatus…
Here are his latest forecasts…. hopefully they come true
The Federal Reserve will continue to support the markets with continued purchases.
Federal Reserve feels responsible for Capital Markets … i.e. Every Federal Reserve member has a Bloomberg Investment terminal on their desk and post public talks, Fed members go back to their office to check the markets reactions to their comments.
Much more inflation than actually as printed by CPI – (Consumer Price Index) Example of car price increases up 300% over last thirty years, but CPI auto costs increased 5% over that period.
Cost of Food increases may cause social inequity problems.
Oil hits $100 per barrel this year … due to mal investment over the last 7 years.
Short term interest rates not to go higher than 1.5% and long term (10 year) rates will not go higher than 2.5%. i.e. Bernanke Helicopter speech outlines the difficulty in raising rates a lot once they are at a lowered level for some time.
We push through the Delta Variant and there is a REAL re-opening effect that works its way through the economy (Hope this is correct!)
Have a Great Day, Talk to You at the End of September!
Approximately two and a half months ago, advanced Child Tax Credit funds commenced deposit on the IRS’s estimate of who is deserved (The IRS is juggling a lot of balls right now!)
We have been in contact with folks who have never received a Child Tax Credit that are receiving the advance…. with the note above of how busy the IRS is, it may be a good idea to keep line of sight to these funds until you file your taxes, just in case you need to cough the advance back up at tax time in the form of a higher amount due!
IRS Statement of Child Tax Credit and Thresh Hold Levels of Qualifications
This is the best summary we could find, although a bit deep, here from the IRS :
A2. Yes. The Child Tax Credit phases out in two different steps based on your modified adjusted gross income (AGI) in 2021.
The first phaseout can reduce the Child Tax Credit to $2,000 per child.
That is, the first phaseout step can reduce only the $1,600 increase for qualifying children ages 5 and under, and the $1,000 increase for qualifying children ages 6 through 17, at the end of 2021.
The second phaseout can reduce the remaining Child Tax Credit below $2,000 per child.
For additional information on the amounts of modified AGI that reduce the 2021 Child Tax Credit, see Q C4 and Q C5, below.
A3. For purposes of the Child Tax Credit and advance Child Tax Credit payments, your modified AGI is your adjusted gross income (from the 2020 IRS Form 1040, line 11, or the 2019 IRS Form 1040, line 8b), plus the following amounts that may apply to you.
A4. The Child Tax Credit begins to be reduced to $2,000 per child if your modified AGI in 2021 exceeds:
$150,000 if married and filing a joint return or if filing as a qualifying widow or widower;
$112,500 if filing as head of household; or
$75,000 if you are a single filer or are married and filing a separate return.
The first phaseout reduces the Child Tax Credit by $50 for each $1,000 (or fraction thereof) by which your modified AGI exceeds the income threshold described above that is applicable to you.
A5. The Child Tax Credit won’t begin to be reduced below $2,000 per child until your modified AGI in 2021 exceeds:
$400,000 if married and filing a joint return; or
$200,000 for all other filing statuses.
The second phaseout reduces the Child Tax Credit by $50 for each $1,000 (or fraction thereof) by which your modified AGI exceeds the income threshold described above that is applicable to you.
Have a Great ” Child Tax Credit Advance Payment Deep Dive” Day!
This is your formal reminder, if you are close to a phase out or did not receive the Part 3 Stimulus of $1400 AND you filed an extension, AND your return may get you qualified for the $1400 stimulus, GET THOSE TAXES FILED!
Third Stimulus Look Back Reminder IMPORTANT Tax Filing Date Those Close To Phase Out
As mentioned here in great detail and in our Q 2 2021 Newsletter, one week from today, the IRS will look back on those who were phased out by their incomes on their 2019 Returns and did not receive phase III stimulus of $1400 …
Individuals earning $75k will be phased out at $80k and JT $150k phased out at $160k
Individuals/Families who had a higher 2019 income that knocked them out of some or all of the stimulus original money but a lower 2020 income assuming this person would have qualified for the $1400 per person stimulus based on year 2020 … what the IRS is going to do concerning this matter is on September 1st 2021 they’re going to review all of the 2020 tax returns for folks who had not received the $1400 credit for them and their family and if they meet that threshold they will then receive the $1400 credit period remember this is the much faster phaseout of only $160k and $80k Joint and for an individual.
Bottom Line: If you are close to the phase out and have not filed your Tax return, do so before September 1, 2021!
IRS Refunds and Tax Return Processing Very Delayed
In this Break In Post, after having discussions with several of you, and then touching our CPA contacts we came to the conclusion that the IRS is delayed in processing returns and more importantly REFUNDS!!!
Before we could get the news to you, this Yahoo Finance Article nicely summarizes that the IRS is behind on a whopping 20% of returns or over 30 million !
With a September 1, 2021 IRS stimulus check lookback (those who did not get the last round of stimulus will be reviewed by the IRS to see if they qualify) the IRS has their hands very full….
All together…. PATIENCE! They will eventually get to us!
Fingers Crossed For a Hot (Large) COLA Increase
Catching wind through our contacts of a possible HOT (read Large!) COLA adjustment this year for Social Security and possibly those lucky ones that have a COLA adjuster on their Pension or other retirement plan we dug in here in this post and outlined the methodology used by the SSA. The line in the sand for adjustment is later in the year but as can be seen by the latest CPI-W running at 6.1%, with a little luck, we may have a very nice adjustment on our hands!
Capital Market Comments
Valuations are Getting Better but Expectations are WAY out of Line!
In this post and with the help of our Friends at JPMorgan we happily reviewed the far right hand smartly turning graph, that is headed in the correct direction for better valuations… YAY
A bit later in the month we ran across a wonderful but somewhat worrisome poll done by Natixis of over 8000 investors and their expected return over the next 10 years…. Way off base in our minds….
Likely to see this last poll make its way into the Newsletter as these numbers are likely so exaggerated, we want more air time!
Ok…that’s a wrap for the July review….
Have a Great Day, Talk to You at the End of August!
BREAK IN – After multiple inqueries this week regarding missing or delayed refunds, then a field touch of Tax Professionals and other expected refunders we came to the comfortable conclusion there are delays.
Before we could get this to you, this yahoo finance story breaks, saying as many as 20% of all returns (35 million- yikes) may be delayed… wow- but good detective instincts by us!
So if you have a refund due, and it is late, don’t worry, the IRS is behind but will get to us eventually!
Branson Hits the Skies
Ya ya, a bunch of Billionaires racing to the skies… we get the negative, but you cannot take away the fact that Branson (Musk and Bezos in line too) took to the skies and was the first outer space self funded and self manned traveling vessel.
These things crash and explode… frequently… heck Branson did not even wear a helmet… cavalier, maybe…. ego driven…. maybe, accomplishment, for sure!
Crazy Billionaire…. Maybe!
Survey Results Preview
We have run into a terrific survey that we cannot believe. Over 8000 folks were surveyed across the globe with some startling results….
Planned on having it mid-week this week, but did not get Copyright clearing until later….
Look out next week, we cannot wait to review…. it may even be good enough for a Two Part Series… will see…
Trials and Tribulation of the Summer Tech Update
Literally the day we posted our initial announcement of our summer technology update on Friday…. Our WIFI at the office went out…
“Nothing to do with the update, we assure you!”
Ok, fine … Monday of the week found several of us no access to our contact information and email….
Luckily the cell and Ipad were working great UNTIL – Thursday.. Boom, down ….but fixed with a call to said IT folks…
If you happen to send an email to us and not receive a response, please resend, we MAY have not received it!
Next week fingers crossed for a smooth “Cut Over” (Techie term for new services)
Ahhhhhh…. but today is a Friday…. you guys know how much I like the summer sun, yep its hot, but that’s ok, enjoy your day, your weekend, and be sure to spend time with those special in your life if possible – talk next week!
Ohhh, and one more thing… it is a British Open Golf Weekend, where Golf will be available first thing in the AM for those who fancy such!
Just when we happily said goodbye to a very long tax season due to the various extensions provided by the IRS, in comes a seemingly odd late tax form.
Form 5498 Reminder
Form 5498 is headed to some of our mailboxes over the next two to four weeks, again due to various extensions in the IRS filing due date, here are some of the reasons why:
Rollover of a 401k or the like to an IRA – Most frequent
Contribution to an IRA
Contribution to a SEP
One of the most confusing parts of this form is that even though you may have made a qualified contribution for a prior year i.e. 2020, if you made that contribution in 2021, depending on the type of contribution the Form 5498 MAY show your contribution in year 2021.
Not to worry, the IRS knows there are frequently a seemingly miss match of years and accounts for this.
Earlier this week the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) led by Jerome Powell, released their Economic analysis update along with a interview after a pre-prepared reading by Powell himself. The release, which also included the “dot plot”, which is an anonymous estimate by all the reserve members, voting and non voting on where they think the economy, is carefully scrutinized by all in the investment community.
We will take a deeper dive next week as there were some interesting cross currents post announcement and interview .. even with summer doldrums dragging along!
Newsletter Update
We are happily putting the final touches on the Newsletter, some of which partial pieces have been reviewed here, on our Blog, but with a longer Newsletter form we go into greater detail in our subject matters that we hope you will enjoy reading as much as we enjoyed creating.
Friday
Ahhhh…. But today is a Friday, for those that have been following… the rain has left us, the steam is subsiding from an abnormally fast early summer, the heat wave is reminding us why there is a saying in Texas:
“If you don’t like the weather, just wait a few it certainly will change!”
Have a great weekend, don’t forget to spend time with those special in your life and we will talk to you next week!
The most common type of Retirement Plan, the 401k in 2021 has a maximum deferral amount of $19,500 with a catch up provision for those age 50 or greater of $6.500 for a total of $26,000 again in year 2021.
Why You Do Not Want to Overfund Your Retirement Plan
Should you accidentally over fund your retirement plan … what occurs is a double taxation!
You do not get the deduction for the contribution
You will likely pay taxes on the eventual distribution
This is not the end of the world, especially if a very small dollar amount, but you still do not want this to happen…
How Does Overfunding a 401k Occur ? – Job Change
While it may seem puzzling at first, upon second thought the most common reason for overfunding a retirement plan is a job change.
It is impossible for your new employer to know your prior contributions, so an accidental overzealous withholding that throws you over the annual maximum will not be allowed from a IRS tax standpoint.
If you change jobs mid year, be sure to carefully determine your prior withholdings and monitor you new withholdings throughout the year as the burden is on us the employee to keep ourselves in check with the maximum.
For those gainfully employed at the same employer we have not seen an accidental over allowance in a very long time, so most employers have systems set up to automatically stop your contribution once the maximum is achieved. Should your employer merge with another company or change administrators, it is a good idea to make sure they pick up your prior contributions, which can be achieved by checking your paycheck’s ytd retirement plan withholdings after the change.
The good news is there are ways in certain cases to unwind this overpayment, but they are frequently very complicated, may create a tax issue for the IRS to review, and in some cases just not available.
With an original Mid-March Corporate Tax Deadline, a regular estimated tax (ES 2021) April deadline … a most states extend 1040 to May deadline and then a June Taxes deadline for Texas and a few other states this could have been the longest tax season ever!
Next week marks the final full finish line of this most confusing and marathon like tax filing year. Thank you very much for your collective patience as it was very confusing to all across the country.
Possible New Economic Tracker
Next week we hope to preview another newly found very cool website that can monitor indirectly the economy, this one … unlike our TSA tracker… does not involving airplanes but boats! With a little luck we will get copyright privileges and can show you directly.
Ahhh … but that is next week, today is a Friday heading into an almost summer weekend. As mentioned near Memorial Day, a hope for an Ark …the rain has stopped …it’s still very wet here but slowly drying …some monster mosquitos that can carry small pets away …. But all good!
Have a great Friday a Super Weekend and talk to you next week!
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, please consult your financial advisor prior to investing!
Background
The is the vocal portion of J.K. Financial, Inc. a Dallas Texas Based Fee Only Total Wealth Financial Planning Firm. Founded by John Kvale, a Dallas Texas Fee only Financial Planner and Total Wealth Manager.
August 2021 Financial Planning and Capital Market Review – By John Kvale
Hello and Welcome to our August 2021 Financial Planning and Capital Market Update!
If you are too busy to read, feel free to listen as we describe our post and thoughts in friendly podcast audio format as well as Video!
Newbies –
We like to articulate our thoughts and review on a Monthly basis our Financial Planning Tips, Capital Markets and current events!
Hope you enjoy!
August 2021 Video
YouTube
Financial Planning Tip(s)
Unemployment Fraud Alert
Multiple frauds occurring in continuous weeks, led us to write this post, reminding those that the fraudsters are still at it.
Their latest game…using stolen Socials and Employment information to gain unsuspecting employers Unemployment compensation.
While likely some accidentally fall through the cracks, we have yet to experience anything other than a mild inconvenience….
But do not let your guards down and if a victim, keep your eyes peeled for other items for the near term!
Child Tax Credit Confusion
After repeated confusion, here in this post we outline the new ADVANCED child tax credit payments than sneakily commenced several months ago…
Also a warning of an overworked IRS to keep line of sight to the funds in case we need to pay them back in the form of a higher tax bill when completing our 2021 Form 1040 Personal income tax return in April of 2022!
Capital Market Comments
Kyle Bass Forecasts
In this podcast derived post, we re-visit Kyle Bass again after a few year hiatus…
Here are his latest forecasts…. hopefully they come true
Have a Great Day, Talk to You at the End of September!
John A. Kvale CFA, CFP
Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.
A Dallas Texas based fee only
Financial Planning Total Wealth
Management firm.
jkfinancialinc
street-cents
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Posted in Audio, Clients/Clients Only, General Financial Planning, Investing/Financial Planning, Market Comments, Monthly Review, Retirement Planning, Tax Related, Video
Tagged Advanced Child Tax Credit, Child Tax, Child Tax Credit, Fraud, IRS, IRS Refunds, Kyle Bass, Unemployment Fraud, Unemployment Insurance