Meridian Star Business

Business Beat

2012-02-05T06:00:57-06:00

Who has to file a 2011 income tax return

2012-02-05T06:00:40-06:00

Taxes are a frequent topic of conversation at this time of year, and a common question is, who has to file a tax return? The rules for filing 2011 tax returns are straightforward for most people.

Are people really retiring later?

2012-02-05T06:00:19-06:00

True or false? You may have heard this claim before (or something like it): “Many Americans are being forced to retire later because their savings and investments took a hit in the Great Recession.”

What’s your emergency fund range?

2012-01-29T06:00:00-06:00

Dear Dave,
In your plan, you talk about Baby Step 3 as saving enough to have three to six months of expenses in your emergency fund. My husband and I were wondering how you can determine whether you need to be on the low end or high end of that range?
Amanda

Remember ‘nanny tax’

2012-01-29T06:00:00-06:00

Though it hasn’t made headlines recently, the nanny tax is still around – and it still applies to other household workers in addition to nannies. Here’s what you need to know.

Highlight these tax dates on your 2012 calendar

2012-01-22T06:00:50-06:00

Get out your red pen and circle these dates on your 2012 calendar if any of the following upcoming tax deadlines apply to you or your business.

RMD precautions and options

2012-01-22T06:00:27-06:00

After you turn 70, the IRS requires you to withdraw some of the money in your retirement savings accounts each year. These withdrawals are officially called Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs).

Getting off on the right foot in 2012

2012-01-15T06:30:53-06:00

Every year brings some financial change, so here are some relevant changes relating to investment, tax and estate planning for 2012.

Hold your investments where taxes will be lowest

2012-01-15T06:30:36-06:00

How much does it matter whether you hold your stock and bond investments in a taxable account or a retirement account?

Congress extends payroll tax cut for employees

2012-01-08T06:02:21-06:00

In the end, the Democrats and Republicans in Congress agreed to disagree. Before adjourning for the year, the feuding factions were finally able to set aside their differences to temporarily extend the “payroll tax holiday” for two months.