Personal Property Tax

Personal Property Tax

Almost everything in America is subject to taxation. It’s as though you can never get away from the government. If you don’t pay your taxes, they’ll come after you like hunters, seeking to acquire the money they need to cover the country’s expenses. Everything is taxed, from fast food to living in a neighborhood. You’re effectively running the government since the country can’t function if you don’t pay your taxes. You will be required to pay taxes if your neighborhood requires road maintenance. Overall, you and your neighbors are responsible for maintaining the neighborhood clean and well-kept. Personal property tax is one of the many taxes you must pay, and that is what we will be discussing today in this article.

What is Personal Property Tax?

A personal property tax is a levy imposed by state or municipal governments on certain types of properties held by residents. Personal property refers to assets that are not considered real property, such as land or houses. Personal property taxes are typically collected by the local government or the state for purposes such as funding public works projects. This might involve things like road construction and school construction. Property tax is not required in every state, and the states that do levy it have varied rates. It’s critical to understand the distinction between personal and real property. Personal property is moveable and cannot be permanently placed in one area. Some personal property taxes are calculated as a percentage of the total value of the item. Cars, furniture, boats, and other valued items are examples of personal property taxes.

What are Some Examples of Personal Property?

Every state has its own set of rules for determining whether assets are taxable. Many states that levy a personal property tax take into account goods like machinery, equipment, and furniture that are utilized for business, sold, or stored. The following are examples of possible items:

  • Aircraft
  • Automobiles
  • Mobile homes
  • Office equipment and furnishings
  • Boats
  • Trailers
  • Farm machinery and equipment
  • Supplies other than inventory supplies
  • Books, media, CDs, and other equipment all available at libraries. Including the library itself.

What Items are Not Subject to Personal Property Tax?

As previously stated, each state has its own set of rules, and the types of personal property that are taxable differ. The following are some of the most common goods that aren’t taxed as personal property:

  • Intangible personal property: intangible personal property includes shares of stock, bones, money at interest, patents, trademarks, company records, notes, computer software, designs, and surveys, which are not subject to personal property tax.
  • Personal property tax does not apply to farm animals.
  • Personal property tax will not apply to household goods, clothing, or equipment used for personal purposes around the house.

How to File and Pay Personal Property Tax?

Personal Property Tax

Personal property taxes are usually due and assessed on January 1 in states that have them. After being assessed, the final tax bill is mailed to the individuals or businesses who owe taxes. When you buy certain types of properties, such as those described above, it is recommended that you register them with your local tax office, either online or in-person, using a form. It is up to you to decide whether or not to fill out this form based on where you live. There may be a yearly deadline for submitting this form.

To learn more about whether your recent property purchase is subject to property tax, call your best tax preparer in Miami.

Failing to Pay Personal Property Tax:

If your state levies property taxes, you are obligated to pay those taxes, nevertheless. Failure to do so will result in further fines and penalties. If personal property taxes are not paid on time, the taxpayer will receive a notice in the mail along with a copy of the overdue tax bill, including penalties and interest. If the taxpayer still fails to pay the outstanding tax, the tax authority could go to court and ask for access to the taxpayer’s wages or bank accounts in order to reclaim the money owed. The tax authority can also issue a warrant for the seizure and forced sale of personal property if the situation is extreme.

The Benefits of a 403(b) Retirement Plan

403 Retirement Plan

Setting money aside for retirement is always a good idea; it is the wisest decision you can make for your future. Many Americans ignore all of these retirement plans, and when it comes time to retire, they find themselves with very little money. That amount of money will not be enough to ensure them a secure future and a comfortable retirement. Contributing effortlessly to a retirement plan provided by your workplace is the greatest way to save money for retirement. These may differ based on your employer and the type of employment you have. A 401(k) plan is offered by many private organizations; however, a 403(b) plan is only available to certain types of employees and workplaces.

What is a 403(b) Plan?

403 Retirement Plan

A 403(b) plan, commonly known as a Tax-Sheltered Annuity (TSA) plan, is a type of retirement savings plan. A 403(b) plan is similar to a 401(k) plan, but it is only available at specific workplaces. It is for those who work for tax-exempt organizations, certain healthcare groups, or public school employees who meet certain criteria. Government and religious employees may be qualified for the 403(b) plan in some cases. To learn if you are eligible for the 403(b) plan, contact your Miami Personal Tax Accountant immediately.

Your employer determines the type of plan you will receive. The 403(b) plan has a variety of investment options, including mutual funds, that can help you build a portfolio that best suits your risk tolerance. This plan includes an annuity arrangement, so keep that in mind. This affects a few scenarios and results in a few penalties:

  1. Except for a few circumstances, most withdrawals are subject to a 20% federal income tax withholding.
  2. A fee of up to 8% will be charged if a 403(b) plan’s annuity investment is attempted to be dissolved.

Contact your Miami Tax Accountant today to learn which plan is ideal for you and how to resolve these issues.

How does a 403(b) Plan Work?

Many employers deduct payments to 403(b) plans from employees’ paychecks. In most cases, the deduction is given as a percentage. For example, suppose you earn $3,500 every pay period and only want to contribute 5% to your 403(b) plan. Your employer will then deduct $175 from each of your paychecks and put it into your 403(b) plan. Keep in mind that payments to retirement plans under a 403(b) plan are withdrawn from your paycheck before taxes are applied. This lowers your tax payment for the next few paydays, but the underpaid amount will reappear when you withdraw money in the future. If your workplace offers a Roth 403(b), you’ll have to pay taxes when you make contributions.

Employers also match contributions in the same way that they do in a 401(k) retirement plan. They might match a set proportion of your earnings or employ a dollar-for-dollar match. Employer matching is quite advantageous because it essentially amounts to free money that you can put toward your retirement.

What are my Contribution Limitations for my 403(b) Plan?

The United States government supports retirement plans, which is why it offers so many tax-advantaged 403(b) plans to its residents. That does not, however, imply that you can invest all of your money in a tax-advantaged account. The programs have limits in place to ensure that employees do not contribute excessively.

The contribution limits for a 403(b) plan are identical to those for a 401(k) plan. Contribution amounts are capped at $19,500 per year in 2021. As of 2021, employees aged 50 and older can make additional contributions to their plans worth up to $6,500 per year. There is also a benefit in a 403(b) retirement plan for employees who have worked for the same company for 15 years. This benefit is not dependent on your age; if you have worked for the same employer for 15 years, you will be eligible for it. Employers in the foregoing situation are eligible for additional catch-up contributions from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Withdrawing Money from a 403(b) Plan:

Employees can withdraw money from their retirement plans within certain timeframes. If employees withdraw money before reaching the age of 59 ½ they will be required to pay taxes as well as a 10% penalty from the IRS. If you have a Roth account, this will not happen. If you have a Roth account that is five years old, you can withdraw your contributions without penalty. If your workplace offers a Roth account, take advantage of it as soon as possible.

Keep in mind that after you reach the age of 71 1/2, you must begin taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from your non-Roth 403(b) accounts. You’ll have to pay taxes on RMDs as well. To understand more about retirement plans and what would work best for you, contact Miami Tax Preparers firm like SDG Accountants.

401(k) Plans: The Complete Beginner’s Guide

401(k) Plans

What is a 401(k) Plan?

A 401(k) plan is a type of retirement savings account that is primarily offered by employers to their workers. The 401(k) plan is tax-advantaged, meaning it is tax-free. The 401(k) plan gets its name from a section of the Internal Revenue Code in the United States. Automatic payroll withholding to their 401(k) account could be used to make contributions to the plan. The contributions might then be matched by the employers for their employees. Withdrawals and the IRA plan are chosen for the 401(k) plans both affect taxes. Investment earnings will not be taxed until the employee withdraws the money if a traditional 410(k) was used. Employees will be taxed when contributions are made to a Roth 401(k).

How Do 401(k) Plans Work?

Traditional 401(k)s and Roth 401(k)s, also known as “designated Roth accounts,” are the two most common types of 401(k) accounts. Traditional and Roth 401(k)s are similar in many ways, but there are some differences in terms of withdrawals and taxes. Let’s take a closer look at it now.

Contributing to a 401(k) Plan:

A defined contribution plan is a tax-deferred retirement savings account that accumulates tax-free until the investor takes withdrawals. 401(k) and 403(b) plans are examples of defined contribution plans. Contributions to the account are subject to dollar limits set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Both the employee and the employer can contribute until the dollar cap is reached. A traditional pension plan, on the other hand, is not the same as a traditional 401(k). Traditional pensions are a defined benefit plan, which means the business is responsible for paying the employee a set amount of money when they retire. Many firms choose to offer their employees a 401(k) plan because it is more efficient and eliminates the stress of having to save for retirement for their employees.

Employees are given a variety of specific investments to choose from in their 401(k) plans, and they are responsible for picking from the options provided by their employer. Typically, the employer’s choices include mutual funds for stocks and bonds, as well as funds that are a mix of stocks and bonds. A Guaranteed Investment Contract (GIC) is an insurance company policy that promises a rate of return in exchange for retaining a deposit for a specified amount of time.

What are my Contribution Limits?

The contribution limit, or the maximum amount that an employer or employee can contribute, is changed to account for inflation on a regular basis. The following are the basic contribution limitations for 2020 and 2021. The annual contribution maximum for employees under the age of 50 is $19,500. The annual contribution maximum for workers over the age of 50 is $26,500.

If the company wishes to contribute as well, or if the employee wants to make additional non-deductible after-tax payments to their traditional 401(k), the numbers above will vary. This is only possible if the employer’s plan permits it. As of 2021, the ceiling for workers under the age of 50 would be $58,000, or 100 percent of employee compensation. As of 2021, the maximum for workers over the age of 50 will be $64,500.

Employer Matching:

Employee contributions to their 401(k) accounts are sometimes matched by their employers. Employers calculate the match using various formulas. Employers frequently use the $1 for every dollar an employee contributes up to a particular proportion of their salary formula. Employees should contribute enough to their 401(k) plans to receive the full employer match, according to most financial consultants.

Contributing to Both a Traditional and Roth 401(k):

If the employer wishes, some firms allow employees to contribute to both traditional and Roth 401(k)s at the same time. Contributions could be divided into two categories: regular 401(k) and Roth 401(k). Keep in mind, however, that the total contributions to both accounts, depending on the employee’s age, cannot exceed the maximum.

Making Withdrawals from a 401(k) Plan:

401(k) Plans

Employees who deposit money into a 401(k) account are unable to withdraw it without incurring a penalty. Employees should set aside a specific amount of money outside of their 401(k) plan for emergencies. This money is inaccessible, and it would be pointless to deposit all your savings into a 401(k) account if you couldn’t access it.

Earnings in a traditional 401(k) account are tax-deferred. Earnings in a Roth 401(k) account are tax-free. When you take money out of a traditional 401(k) account, you will have to pay taxes on it. It would be subject to regular income taxation. Withdrawals from a Roth 401(k) plan, on the other hand, are tax-free and will not be taxed because the money was taxed when you originally contributed it.

How Can SDG Accountants Help?

It may be difficult to comprehend all these retirement and contribution options. Particularly when these plans are incorporated into your federal, state, and local income taxes. We operate to help you include your 401(k) plan in your federal income tax. Contact your Miami Tax Accountant today to find out which plan is ideal for you and to discuss all your other tax requirements.