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Tax Planning for Beginners: Useful Strategies & Best Practices to Know

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According to a 2021 report from the United States Sentencing Commission, 370 people in the United States were involved in defrauding the state, with 63.3% sent behind bars.

While intentionally evading these contributions is the number one reason why many are convicted of such crimes, some are slapped with huge fines and possible jail time due to a lack of knowledge.    

But did you know that planning your taxes can lower your burden, help you stay on the right side of the law, and even increase the amount of money the government refunds?

This article will uncomplicate tax planning, explaining what it is and sharing invaluable strategies that will minimize what you pay now and in the future.

What is Tax Planning?

This is the process of scrutinizing and organizing an individual’s or organization’s taxes to minimize their debt.

In other words, it’s a strategy that puts people and businesses at an advantage to pay a minimal contribution to state revenue while still abiding by the law.

Who is It For?

Tax planning services are perfect for:

  • People with an income that is eligible for state revenue contributions
  • Businesses
  • Soon-to-be retirees
  • People who have received a windfall or estate

5 Tax Planning Strategy Concepts for Beginners

The complexity of laws governing state revenues is undeniable, especially for beginners.

For this reason, we share helpful tax strategies and concepts that ensure you capitalize on various breaks and reduce your overall debt.   

Know how much you should pay

The first tax planning strategy is knowing your income’s deductible percentage.

The United States, for instance, has seven tax brackets, and since its deduction system is progressive, many people don’t pay the same rates on the entire money they bring in.

What do we mean?

A person earning $10,000 will part with 10% of their entire income. However, a person earning $15,000 will contribute 10% of the first $10,000, then 12% for the remaining $5,000.

Note that these brackets differ for single filers and those filing jointly. Also, considering that they change from time to time to factor in inflation, talking to a professional helps you identify where you fall and the benefits you can leverage. 

Understand credits and deductions

An excellent way to lower your debt especially if you are getting ready for retirement taxes is leveraging credits and deductions.

Deductions will reduce the amount of gross income while credits are deducted dollar for dollar from the debt. But considering they are more than a handful, knowing the ones you are eligible for is vital.

In this case, a tax advisor in Portland, OR can advise you on how best to take advantage of these benefits based on your financial situation, location, industry, or business.

Keep records of previous state revenue contributions

Having a trail of records that show your previous payments will not directly bring down what you owe but can be beneficial in case the IRS has its eyes on you. 

The IRS is required to conduct audits within three years, but even with such statutes of limitations, there are exceptions. If, for instance, you filed fraudulent returns, didn’t file at all, claimed for a loss from bad debt or worthless securities, or only reported 75% of your income or less, make sure you keep your records as they may prevent or minimize penalties.

Take advantage of the health insurance deductibles

Did you know that the self-employed can deduct the premiums they pay as medical expenses from what they owe the state? And not only do they allow you to deduct the amounts paid for yourself but also those for your spouse, dependants, and non-dependants below 27 years.

However, you must be eligible for the deductions to enjoy the perks. Talk to a financial planner to find out if you qualify.

Which works best: standard deductions for itemizing?

Standard or itemized deductions are other legal tactics that you can leverage to pay fewer taxes. The former lowers your gross income by a preset amount while the latter involves using any set of eligible deductions to minimize your burden.

The one to pick depends on your unique financial situation, which is where professional tax planning advice comes in.

It’s not That Complicated

As daunting as it may seem, such planning is not overly complex. It’s about finding the ideal action plan that works in your favor even as your income increases and your business grows. Retirement tax planning, in particular, is what ensures you retain more money to use long after employment.

Still have questions?

Interactive Wealth Advisors are professional financial planners that will help you understand state revenue contributions and how to ensure you pay the least amount possible.

Book your consultation today.

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Wanna Win at Gambling? Here’s What You Should Do

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Any casino game has the potential to drain all of your funds if you’re not careful. Therefore, picking the gambling games with the best winning odds is crucial. Otherwise, you can find yourself spending all of your money on games.

How do you determine which games have the best odds, then? To provide you with the top casino games for winning money, we have done a lot of research for this article. By doing this, you can place wise bets and win large. However, it should be noted that gambling harms your finances and might become addicting.

The Best Online Casinos

We advise researching your selected casino before playing at any online casino. You have to check the games’ game compatibility with your devices and Internet connection speed, as well as the payment % and payout speed. Some games you can play include casino slot machines online and baccarat.

Low House Edges

There is a house edge in every casino game. In essence, this is the casino’s statistical edge over the player. So try to pick games and bets with the smallest house edge possible if you want to win.

For instance, the straightforward one-roll “proposition bets” in craps are known to have a bigger house edge than the pass line wager. This is because it pays 30:1 to “hop the hard 10” (bet that the next roll will be a five and a five, which is more difficult to roll than a six and a four).

Refresh your knowledge of your tactics to make sure that your wagers and plays will keep the odds in your favor.

Moving On

Occasionally, a session starts off with you in a downward spiral. It’s critical to keep in mind that this does occasionally occur statistically.

Please keep your cool. You have to try to win it right away by placing larger bets or taking riskier risks when the house edge is low. There is even a phrase for this tendency in poker: “tilt.” Other players become aware of it and profit from your bad choices as soon as this occurs.

Recognize when you are losing consistently, accept these losses, and resist the urge to wager more than the session bankroll.

Invest in Strategy

For games of chance, luck plays a crucial role in your wins. However, your skill in strategy is another factor that comes in handy. Players compete against one another in strategy games like poker. More often than not, knowledgeable players triumph over less experienced ones because they know how to manage their bankroll and what to do at crucial betting moments. Numerous free educational resources, including Blackjack Academy, are available and beneficial.

You can always have a little knowledge when playing a strategy game for real money.

Quit While on a Streak

In online casino games, it can be tempting to keep betting when you are on a winning run to increase your winnings.

However, in the long run, it is more probable they will lose the cash they just earned, yet this is a common trap many gamers fall into. Therefore, even if you win more than your anticipated amount, you should make a budget and adhere to it.

Wrapping Up

How to win at casino games has no one right answer. A few strategies may help you prevail, though. First, you can participate in a gambling game with a minimal wager. Doing so boosts your chances of winning and receiving extra turns.

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5 Simple Ways to Grow Your Wealth

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Simple Ways to Grow Your Wealth

Regardless of your financial situation, there are plenty of ways to grow your wealth. These ideas are simple and will have you on your way to financial freedom.

Tax refunds

Using tax refunds to improve your financial situation and well-being is not something to be overlooked. Not only can you use the money for an emergency fund, but you can also invest it in your future.

Investing in your tax refund can make you feel more secure and provide peace of mind. Of course, tax refunds may be less exciting than an exotic vacation. Still, they are just as crucial to your overall well-being.

Investing your tax refund in the stock market can be a great way to improve your financial well-being. Stock Rover offers a two-week free trial of their Premium Plus plan. You don’t need a credit card to sign up for this trial, and you’ll receive unlimited access to research reports. Reviewing Motley Fool Stock Advisor vs. Stock Rover will give you the best stock-picking services and provide real-time data on company reports and analyst recommendations. So not only will your money be secure, but you can also get a head start investing for retirement and pay off your debts.

Single-family house

Having a single-family home is an excellent way to grow your wealth. It has numerous advantages, and it’s also very easy to finance. It also offers complete control of the investment. However, there are some disadvantages.

First, the house is not designed for renting. Therefore, you cannot change the floor plan. However, there are ways to overcome these hurdles. For example, you can remodel the property into a special needs home, an assisted living facility, a duplex, or a bed and breakfast.

Second, rents for single-family homes are rising. Rent prices for single-family homes in the United States are expected to increase by 6.6% in 2020. This is the highest increase in 16 years. As a result, inflation is expected to reach nine percent in 2022. It is also likely that household formation will continue to increase.

Investing in blockchain

Investing in cryptocurrency isn’t for the faint of heart. This type of investment is a volatile gamble. The price can go up and down, and you could lose all your money. However, it can also help you grow your wealth. While investing in crypto may sound like a cynical ploy, it’s an effective way to gain exposure to emerging technology. You can do this indirectly by buying stocks of companies with a crypto stake.

Cryptocurrencies can help you hedge your other investments. Some even pay high yields. However, investing in crypto is still in its infancy. So be sure to educate yourself on the industry. In addition, you’ll want to watch the drive and follow the best practices to minimize your risk.

Identifying low-cost risks

Identifying low-cost risks is a must if you want to grow your empire. One of the best ways to do this is to get your hands on the latest security technology. By taking an integrated approach to security, you can avoid costly and time-consuming lockouts and snatch of keys. This is especially true if you’re a small business owner. The most crucial component is to find an empathetic and educated partner. Thankfully, there are many vendors to choose from. Some companies even offer an integrated and secure one-stop shop for all your security needs. You’ll be glad you found them. For more information, contact a certified security specialist today. Using a security guard with a proven track record is a great way to ensure the safety of your employees and your organization’s reputation.

Hiring a financial advisor

Whether you are trying to get out of debt, looking for tax advice, or want to maximize your wealth, hiring a financial advisor can help. A financial advisor will analyze your needs, find the best investment opportunities, and recommend an investment product.

Before you hire an advisor, you should know how the advisor will be paid. Some advisors will work on a commission basis, while others will charge a flat or hourly rate. Ultimately, you want to find someone who puts your best interests first.

Some financial advisors are fiduciaries, so they must put your interests first. This means they must be completely independent of any other influences and make their recommendations only in their best interest. Others work as non-fiduciaries, which means they earn money by selling products. For example, they may earn commissions from investments they sell.

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How PayPal Are Helping to Tackle Problem Gambling

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Users of PayPal are used to some of PayPal’s measures to keep their purchases safe and secure, but not all are aware that they can help with protecting your spending in other ways too. Earlier this year the international payment processor introduced GamBan. The idea behind the software is to give users in the US and the UK the option to be able to stop gambling transactions on their smart devices.

The Protection of Gamblers

Both the UK and the US take gambling seriously, especially in regard to the protection of vulnerable gamblers. Taking part in games at online casinos and placing sports bets is something that should always be fun, however, for some, it can become an issue. Spending more than you can afford to on betting or having it take up a majority of your day is not something that anyone would encourage. Online gambling platforms are encouraged to look for signs that people might be gambling irresponsibly and to take steps on their platforms to ensure that they promote responsible gambling wherever possible. There are different ways that companies can work with their users to help protect them, but the introduction of software such as GamBan is a great idea too.

What is GamBan?

Available on laptops, PCs and smart devices GamBan is a piece of software that is designed to stop those that have signed up from accessing online gambling platforms. The software is able to stop browser access via devices as well as casino apps on smartphones on both iOS and Android.

GamBan itself is not new; in fact, it has been around since 2015. It now works in conjunction with GamStop in the UK. GamStop is a non-profit charity that helps to tackle gambling problems throughout the UK. In general, GamBan is a pay-for-service, with options to pay either monthly or annually. However, those that are accessing GamStop services for help within the UK with problem gambling are able to get free access.

The software itself is intuitive in knowing what websites and apps it should block access to. It works on a filter system of keywords, so if there are any words relating to betting, gambling and/or casinos then access to the platform is automatically blocked. On top of that those that are signed up to the software can add any links, they want manually, so if there are websites they know they would like banned they can do this too. GamBan also has its own list of websites and casino providers that are automatically blocked by the software. The hope is that people who are problem gamblers won’t be able to play at a PayPal casino if they have GamBan installed on their computers and/or smartphones.

What Part Does PayPal Play in This?

With gambling on the increase in the UK and the US PayPal has decided that it is time to take action and do what it can to help gamblers in the two countries. With payment options varied across these online casino platforms, many of them now offer PayPal as a payment option; which could be what has driven PayPal to get involved.

PayPal recently launched a new exclusion tool which allows users in the UK and the US to use the optional blocking feature – meaning that payments to gambling platforms would simply be denied.  Currently, anyone with a PayPal account in either of these countries can opt to have the software added to their PayPal account.

Once the software is in place all payments to online casinos, sports betting websites, lotteries and any other gambling category will be banned from that PayPal account. It is thought that preventing easy access to gambling websites and making it hard for payments to be made will help to reduce the chances of people taking part in gambling that they really should not do.

How Does The Gambling Industry Feel?

The gambling industry in general is used to organisations such as the UK Gambling Commission putting measures in place to make gambling harder for groups of people. There is a Government whitepaper that has been in the works since 2020 which looks set to discuss things like gambling VIP schemes and sporting event sponsorships, which could make things even harder for some users. The whitepaper is designed to stop the encouragement of betting for those that can’t afford it – for example by removing schemes where people can get access to better games if they spend a certain amount on a platform.

Although the gambling industry obviously benefits from users spending as much on gambling as possible, none of them wants to see problem gambling hitting the headlines. After all, it is important for people new to online gambling to feel safe and not as though they are being dragged into a hobby that is going to cause them issues later down the line. By promoting responsible gambling and encouraging the use of these tools they are helping give users peace of mind that stepping away from gambling will be easy if they ever need to in the future.

The Future of Gambling Tools

Both the UK and the US already have a number of tools available to those that want to make gambling harder for themselves to access. GamBan is available on a number of payment provider platforms including PayPal and Neteller. There are also various online and offline support services that are already in place for those that feel they need to access some support for problem gambling. Although no one can say for sure what tools the gambling industry is likely to see in the future when you consider what is already in place it is easy to see that there are already plenty of support services in place for those that need them. The gambling industry is likely to continue to embrace these and you may even see similar tools rolled out to other countries as the problem of vulnerable gamblers is tackled worldwide.

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