2007 Tax Questions/ Tips

[soomdy]

Let us use this thread to share all our questions and tax saving tips for 2007.

My question is, would be great if somebody puts here 2007 tax brackets.

My tips to dodge uncle sam whenever possible are as follows
1) For those who itemize, make sure you have charity donations before 31st Dec 2007.
2) Maxed out both my and my spouse's 401k.
3) All savings money on kid's account as they don't pay taxes or lower tax brqackets upto 1st 1700 $s.
4) Capital gains on stocks: Can claim stock losses upto 3000. Last day to sell your loss stocks is again 31st dec 2007.
Wanted to confirm one thing here. If I made profit on 2 stocks of say 3000 $s and then sold other 3 stocks for a cumulative loss of 6000. The first 3000 losses got adjusted against my proft of 3000, so no taxes on my proftis. Is this correct? And the other 3000 loss, I get to adjust in my AGI to skip taxes. Is this correct?

Feel free to share your favorite tax saving tip/s

[gurusw]

4) Capital gains on stocks: Can claim stock losses upto 3000. Last day to sell your loss stocks is again 31st dec 2007.
Wanted to confirm one thing here. If I made profit on 2 stocks of say 3000 $s and then sold other 3 stocks for a cumulative loss of 6000. The first 3000 losses got adjusted against my proft of 3000, so no taxes on my proftis. Is this correct? And the other 3000 loss, I get to adjust in my AGI to skip taxes. Is this correct? [/quote]

CorrectoMundo!

[shreekarthik]

if you have business income (say through ebay) do you have to pay self employment tax ? This is just additional income not your main income.

[layman]

3) All savings money on kid's account as they don't pay taxes or lower tax brqackets upto 1st 1700 $s.
[/quote]
Do you have any links regarding this? Are you talking about minor kids? For minor kids won't the tax assessment be done on parents for interest on kids' account?

[soomdy]

2007 tax bracket link

http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=164272,00.html

[soomdy]

Do you have any links regarding this? Are you talking about minor kids? For minor kids won't the tax assessment be done on parents for interest on kids' account?[/quote]

I remember reading somewhere for minor kids upto 1st 850 $s no taxes. Next 850 was at 10 or 15 %. will try to find the link and post it if I come across it.

[nivasi]

We ( the USCs ) planned to R2I in Jul 08.
My question: Can we deduct the moving expenses and travel expenses using Form 3903 for the tax year 2008.

thanks

[saisree]

Hello All,

Is it possible to claim relocation expense R2I when filing tax returns. I’m USC. Pls advise. Or point to any threads discussed on this. Thanks in advance.

[Jaggudada]

I'm not itemizing deductions, in Box 14 of my W-2, there are two entries
1) Uway - Which was the contribution made to United Way
2) Health - I believe this was the employee contribution to health insurance.

Is there a way to get some deductions for the above two entries listed in Box 14?

- where do you take deductions, if you had made contribution to charitable organizations?

- Where do you take deductions, if you had paid some margin interest charges on your brokerage account?

[Desi]

I'm not itemizing deductions, in Box 14 of my W-2, there are two entries
1) Uway - Which was the contribution made to United Way
2) Health - I believe this was the employee contribution to health insurance.

Is there a way to get some deductions for the above two entries listed in Box 14?

- where do you take deductions, if you had made contribution to charitable organizations?

- Where do you take deductions, if you had paid some margin interest charges on your brokerage account?[/quote]

You cannot take box 14 deductions unless you itemize. Typically health is pretax in most cases and reflected in taxable wages reported.

Investment interest paid or margin interest goes on form 4952 and then on schedule A. If your itemized deductions do not exceed standard deduction, your margin interest expense does not help in saving taxes.