BEST TAX RELIEF ATTORNEY

Debt is a way of life for many Americans. We owe money on our homes, our cars, our possessions (from furniture to clothes), and our education. Many Americans are so mired in debt they aren’t even sure just how much they owe and to whom — even worse they sometimes don’t even remember just what caused their debt.

Some debt is good for you. For example, what you owe on your home can provide a nice way to balance out your income tax. A little debt is not a bad thing either as making regular payments to various creditors helps build your credit rating which makes it easier for you to obtain loans at good rates. However the truth is that most Americans have more than a little debt — and many owe far too much money and are already, or soon will be, in financial trouble as a result.

Finding yourself owing a lot of money is not the end of the road and you can stop your cycle of debt by taking four positive steps to break the cycle.

First, attack your high-cost debts. This likely includes credit cards where you may be paying high minimum payments and high interest rates. Pay off the balances on credit cards carrying the highest interest rates first. Continue making your minimum payments for lower-interest cards but concentrate on paying off the highest interest. When the high-cost cards are paid off then work to eliminate the balances on your other cards.

Second, reach out to your creditors. If you are going to be late or have difficulty paying your minimum payments then contact the credit card company. Even if you can make all your payments in a timely fashion there are two benefits you can reap from contacting the card issuer. First, you may be able to negotiate lower rates or more favorable terms. Second, they might be able to recommend alternatives that can minimize damage to your credit rating.

Third, consolidate your debts as much as possible. You can accomplish this a number of ways. One possibility is simply transferring balances from one credit card to another with a lower rate, but be aware of transfer fees before choosing this option. Another possibility, if you own your own home, is to take out a home-equity loan or line of credit which should have a lower interest rate than most credit cards can offer as well as offering tax deductions. Finally, you can also consider a secured loan offering the value in another form of property, your vehicle for example.

Fourth, don’t sacrifice your retirement savings. Obviously paying off your debt should be a high financial priority but cutting what you save for retirement to do so may not be the wisest course — especially if that becomes a long term habit or if you are losing out on your employer’s matching funds as a result. Perhaps you may be able to borrow against (or from) your retirement funds at a lower interest rate which will allow you to continue to save for retirement while also getting out from under your debt.

While owing money may well be the American way it can also be a tremendous burden to bear. You can shed the weight of your load or at least trim it down to a more manageable level by taking these four steps.

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<!– Top iFrame –> <!– Bottom iFrame –>
[removed]// <![CDATA[ var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_INFINITE_LOOP_COUNT = 300; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_MAX_HIGHLIGHTS = 50; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_ID = "leoHighlights_top_iframe"; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_ID = "leoHighlights_bottom_iframe"; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_DIV_ID = "leoHighlights_iframe_modal_div_container"; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOTAL_COLLAPSED_WIDTH = 520; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOTAL_COLLAPSED_HEIGHT = 391; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOTAL_EXPANDED_WIDTH = 520; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOTAL_EXPANDED_HEIGHT = 665; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_POS_X = 0; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_POS_Y = 0; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_WIDTH = 520; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_HEIGHT = 294; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_POS_X = 96; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_POS_Y = 294; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_COLLAPSED_WIDTH = 425; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_COLLAPSED_HEIGHT = 97; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_EXPANDED_WIDTH = 425; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_EXPANDED_HEIGHT = 371; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_SHOW_DELAY_MS = 300; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_HIDE_DELAY_MS = 750; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_BACKGROUND_STYLE_DEFAULT = "transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%"; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_BACKGROUND_STYLE_HOVER = "rgb(245, 245, 0) none repeat scroll 0% 0%"; var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_ROVER_TAG = "711-36858-13496-14"; createInlineScriptElement("var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_DEBUG = false;
var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_DEBUG_POS = false; var _leoHighlightsPrevElem = null; /** * Checks if the passed in class exists * @param c * @return */
function _leoHighlightsClassExists(c) { return typeof(c) == "function" && typeof(c.prototype) == "object" ? true : false;
} /** * Checks if the firebug console is available * @param c * @return */
function _leoHighlightsFirebugConsoleAvailable(c) { try { if(_leoHighlightsClassExists(_FirebugConsole) && window.console && console.log && (console instanceof _FirebugConsole)) { return true; } } catch(e){} return false;
} /** * General method used to debug exceptions * * @param location * @param e * @return */
function _leoHighlightsReportExeception(location,e)
{ try { if(_leoHighlightsFirebugConsoleAvailable() ||LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_DEBUG) { var logString=location+": "+e+"\n\t"+e.name+"\n\t"+ (e.number&0xFFFF;)+"\n\t"+e.description; if(_leoHighlightsFirebugConsoleAvailable()) { console.error(logString); console.trace(); } } if(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_DEBUG) alert(logString); } catch(e){}
} /** * This will log a string to the firebug console * * @param str * @return */
function _leoHighlightsDebugLog(str)
{ try { if(_leoHighlightsFirebugConsoleAvailable()) { console.log(typeof(_FirebugConsole)+" "+str); } } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception("_leoHighlightsDebugLog() "+str,e); }
} /** * This will get an attribute and decode it. * * @param elem * @param id * @return */
function _leoHighlightsGetAttrib(elem,id)
{ try { var val=elem.getAttribute(id); return decodeURI(val); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception("_leoHighlightsGetAttrib()",e); } return null;
} /** * Checks if this is within a frame by checking for a parent. * * @return */
function _leoHighlightsIsFrame()
{ try { return (window!=top) } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception("_leoHighlightsIsFrame()",e); } return false;
} /** * This is a dimensions object * * @param width * @param height * @return */
function LeoHighlightsDimension(width,height)
{ try { this.width=width; this.height=height; this.toString=function() { return ("("+this.width+","+this.height+")");}; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception("new LeoHighlightsDimension()",e); } } /** * This is a Position object * * @param x * @param y * @return */
function LeoHighlightsPosition(x,y)
{ try { this.x=x; this.y=y; this.toString=function() { return ("("+this.x+","+this.y+")");}; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception("new LeoHighlightsPosition()",e); } } var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_ADJUSTMENT = new LeoHighlightsPosition(3,3);
var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_SIZE = new LeoHighlightsDimension(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_WIDTH,LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_HEIGHT);
var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_HOVER_SIZE = new LeoHighlightsDimension(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_COLLAPSED_WIDTH,LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_COLLAPSED_HEIGHT);
var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_CLICK_SIZE = new LeoHighlightsDimension(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_EXPANDED_WIDTH,LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_EXPANDED_HEIGHT); var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_DIV_HOVER_SIZE = new LeoHighlightsDimension(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOTAL_COLLAPSED_WIDTH,LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOTAL_COLLAPSED_HEIGHT);
var LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_DIV_CLICK_SIZE = new LeoHighlightsDimension(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOTAL_EXPANDED_WIDTH,LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOTAL_EXPANDED_HEIGHT); /** * Sets the size of the passed in element * * @param elem * @param dim * @return */
function _leoHighlightsSetSize(elem,dim)
{ try { // Set the popup location elem.style.width = dim.width + "px"; if(elem.width) elem.width=dim.width; elem.style.height = dim.height + "px"; if(elem.height) elem.height=dim.height; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception("_leoHighlightsSetSize()",e); } } /** * This can be used for a simple one argument callback * * @param callName * @param argName * @param argVal * @return */
function _leoHighlightsSimpleGwCallBack(callName,argName, argVal)
{ try { var gwObj = new Gateway(); if(argName) gwObj.addParam(argName,argVal); gwObj.callName(callName); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception("_leoHighlightsSimpleGwCallBack() "+callName,e); }
} /** * This gets a url argument from the current document. * * @param url * @return */
function _leoHighlightsGetUrlArg(url, name )
{ name = name.replace(/[\[]/,”\\\[").replace(/[\]]/,”\\\]”); var regexS = “[\\?&]“+name+”=([^]*)”; var regex = new RegExp( regexS ); var results = regex.exec(url); if( results == null ) return “”; else return results[1];
} /** * This allows to redirect the top window to the passed in url * * @param url * @return */
function _leoHighlightsRedirectTop(url)
{ try { top.location=url; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”_leoHighlightsRedirectTop()”,e); }
} /** * This will find an element by Id * * @param elemId * @return */
function _leoHighlightsFindElementById(elemId,doc)
{ try { if(doc==null) doc=document; var elem=doc.getElementById(elemId); if(elem) return elem; /* This is the handling for IE */ if(doc.all) { elem=doc.all[elemId]; if(elem) return elem; for ( var i = (document.all.length-1); i >= 0; i–) { elem=doc.all[i]; if(elem.id==elemId) return elem; } } } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”_leoHighlightsFindElementById()”,e); } return null;
} /** * Get the location of one element relative to a parent reference * * @param ref * the reference element, this must be a parent of the passed in * element * @param elem * @return */
function _leoHighlightsGetLocation(ref, elem) { _leoHighlightsDebugLog(”_leoHighlightsGetLocation “+elem.id); var count = 0; var location = new LeoHighlightsPosition(0,0); var walk = elem; while (walk != null && walk != ref && count < LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_INFINITE_LOOP_COUNT) { location.x += walk.offsetLeft; location.y += walk.offsetTop; walk = walk.offsetParent; count++; } _leoHighlightsDebugLog(”Location is: “+elem.id+” – “+location); return location;
} /** * This is used to update the position of an element as a popup * * @param IFrame * @param anchor * @return */
function _leoHighlightsUpdatePopupPos(iFrame,anchor)
{ try { // Gets the scrolled location for x and y var scrolledPos=new LeoHighlightsPosition(0,0); if( self.pageYOffset ) { scrolledPos.x = self.pageXOffset; scrolledPos.y = self.pageYOffset; } else if( document.documentElement && document.documentElement.scrollTop ) { scrolledPos.x = document.documentElement.scrollLeft; scrolledPos.y = document.documentElement.scrollTop; } else if( document.body ) { scrolledPos.x = document.body.scrollLeft; scrolledPos.y = document.body.scrollTop; } /* Get the total dimensions to see what scroll bars might be active */ var totalDim=new LeoHighlightsDimension(0,0) if (document.all && document.documentElement && document.documentElement.clientHeight&&document;.documentElement.clientWidth) { totalDim.width = document.documentElement.scrollWidth; totalDim.height = document.documentElement.scrollHeight; } else if (document.all) { /* This is in IE */ totalDim.width = document.body.scrollWidth; totalDim.height = document.body.scrollHeight; } else { totalDim.width = document.width; totalDim.height = document.height; } // Gets the location of the available screen space var centerDim=new LeoHighlightsDimension(0,0); if(self.innerWidth && self.innerHeight ) { centerDim.width = self.innerWidth-(totalDim.height>self.innerHeight?16:0); // subtracting scroll bar offsets for firefox centerDim.height = self.innerHeight-(totalDim.width>self.innerWidth?16:0); // subtracting scroll bar offsets for firefox } else if( document.documentElement && document.documentElement.clientHeight ) { centerDim.width = document.documentElement.clientWidth; centerDim.height = document.documentElement.clientHeight; } else if( document.body ) { centerDim.width = document.body.clientWidth; centerDim.height = document.body.clientHeight; } // Get the current dimension of the popup element var iFrameDim=new LeoHighlightsDimension(iFrame.offsetWidth,iFrame.offsetHeight) if (iFrameDim.width <= 0) iFrameDim.width = iFrame.style.width.substring(0, iFrame.style.width.indexOf(’px’)); if (iFrameDim.height <= 0) iFrameDim.height = iFrame.style.height.substring(0, iFrame.style.height.indexOf(’px’)); /* Calculate the position, lower right hand corner by default */ var position=new LeoHighlightsPosition(0,0); position.x=scrolledPos.x+centerDim.width-iFrameDim.width-LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_ADJUSTMENT.x; position.y=scrolledPos.y+centerDim.height-iFrameDim.height-LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_ADJUSTMENT.y; if(anchor!=null) { //centerDim in relation to the anchor element if available var topOrBottom = false; var anchorPos=_leoHighlightsGetLocation(document.body, anchor); var anchorScreenPos = new LeoHighlightsPosition(anchorPos.x-scrolledPos.x,anchorPos.y-scrolledPos.y); var anchorDim=new LeoHighlightsDimension(anchor.offsetWidth,anchor.offsetHeight) if (anchorDim.width <= 0) anchorDim.width = anchor.style.width.substring(0, anchor.style.width.indexOf(’px’)); if (anchorDim.height <= 0) anchorDim.height = anchor.style.height.substring(0, anchor.style.height.indexOf(’px’)); // Check if the popup can be shown above or below the element if (centerDim.height – anchorDim.height – iFrameDim.height – anchorScreenPos.y > 0) { // Show below, formula above calculates space below open iFrame position.y = anchorPos.y + anchorDim.height; topOrBottom = true; } else if (anchorScreenPos.y – anchorDim.height – iFrameDim.height > 0) { // Show above, formula above calculates space above open iFrame position.y = anchorPos.y – iFrameDim.height – anchorDim.height; topOrBottom = true; } _leoHighlightsDebugLog(”_leoHighlightsUpdatePopupPos() – topOrBottom: “+topOrBottom); if (topOrBottom) { // We attempt top attach the window to the element position.x = anchorPos.x – iFrameDim.width / 2; if (position.x < 0) position.x = 0; else if (position.x + iFrameDim.width > scrolledPos.x + centerDim.width) position.x = scrolledPos.x + centerDim.width – iFrameDim.width; _leoHighlightsDebugLog(”_leoHighlightsUpdatePopupPos() – topOrBottom: “+position); } else { // Attempt to align on the right or left hand side if (centerDim.width – anchorDim.width – iFrameDim.width – anchorScreenPos.x > 0) position.x = anchorPos.x + anchorDim.width; else if (anchorScreenPos.x – anchorDim.width – iFrameDim.width > 0) position.x = anchorPos.x – anchorDim.width; else // default to below position.y = anchorPos.y + anchorDim.height; _leoHighlightsDebugLog(”_leoHighlightsUpdatePopupPos() – sideBottom: “+position); } } /* Make sure that we don’t go passed the right hand border */ if(position.x+iFrameDim.width>centerDim.width-20) position.x=centerDim.width-(iFrameDim.width+20); // Make sure that we didn’t go passed the start if(position.x<0) position.x=0; if(position.y<0) position.y=0; _leoHighlightsDebugLog(”Popup info id: ” +iFrame.id+” – “+anchor.id + “\nscrolled ” + scrolledPos + “\ncenter/visible ” + centerDim + “\nanchor (absolute) ” + anchorPos + “\nanchor (screen) ” + anchorScreenPos + “\nSize (anchor) ” + anchorDim + “\nSize (popup) ” + iFrameDim + “\nResult pos ” + position); // Set the popup location iFrame.style.left = position.x + “px”; iFrame.style.top = position.y + “px”; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”_leoHighlightsUpdatePopupPos()”,e); }
} /** * This will show the passed in element as a popup * * @param anchorId * @param size * * @return */
function _leoHighlightsShowPopup(anchorId,size)
{ try { var popup=new LeoHighlightsPopup(anchorId,size); popup.show(); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”_leoHighlightsShowPopup()”,e); } } /** * This will transform the passed in url to a rover url * * @param url * @return */
function _leoHighlightsGetRoverUrl(url)
{ var rover=LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_ROVER_TAG; var roverUrl=”http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/”+rover+”/4?&mpre;=”+encodeURI(url); return roverUrl;
} /** * Sets the size of the bottom windown part * * @param size * @return */
function _leoHighlightsSetBottomSize(size,clickId)
{ /* Get the elements */ var iFrameBottom=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_ID); var iFrameDiv=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_DIV_ID); /* Figure out the correct sizes */ var iFrameBottomSize=(size==1)?LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_CLICK_SIZE:LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_HOVER_SIZE; var divSize=(size==1)?LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_DIV_CLICK_SIZE:LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_DIV_HOVER_SIZE; /* Refresh the iFrame’s url, by removing the size arg and adding it again */ leoHighlightsUpdateUrl(iFrameBottom,size,clickId); /* Clear the hover flag, if the user shows this at full size */ _leoHighlightsPrevElem.hover=size==1?false:true; _leoHighlightsSetSize(iFrameBottom,iFrameBottomSize); _leoHighlightsSetSize(iFrameDiv,divSize);
} /** * Class for a Popup * * @param anchorId * @param size * * @return */
function LeoHighlightsPopup(anchorId,size)
{ try { _leoHighlightsDebugLog(”LeoHighlightsPopup() “); this.anchorId=anchorId; this.anchor=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(this.anchorId); this.topIframe=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_ID); this.bottomIframe=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_ID); this.iFrameDiv=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_DIV_ID); this.topIframe.src=unescape(this.anchor.getAttribute(’leoHighlights_url_top’));; this.bottomIframe.src=unescape(this.anchor.getAttribute(’leoHighlights_url_bottom’));; _leoHighlightsDebugLog(”1) LeoHighlightsPopup() (”+this.topIframe.style.top+”, “+this.topIframe.style.left+”)”); _leoHighlightsDebugLog(”2) LeoHighlightsPopup() (”+this.bottomIframe.style.top+”, “+this.bottomIframe.style.left+”)”); leoHighlightsSetSize(size); this.updatePos=function() { _leoHighlightsUpdatePopupPos(this.iFrameDiv,this.anchor)}; this.show=function() { this.updatePos(); this.iFrameDiv.style.visibility = “visible”; this.iFrameDiv.style.display = “block”; this.updatePos(); _leoHighlightsDebugLog(”3) LeoHighlightsPopup() (”+this.topIframe.style.top+”, “+this.topIframe.style.left+”)”); _leoHighlightsDebugLog(”4) LeoHighlightsPopup() (”+this.bottomIframe.style.top+”, “+this.bottomIframe.style.left+”)”); } this.scroll=function() { this.updatePos();}; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”new LeoHighlightsPopup()”,e); }
} /** * updates the url for the iFrame * * @param iFrame * @param size * @param clickId * @return */
function leoHighlightsUpdateUrl(iFrame,size,clickId,destUrl)
{ try { _leoHighlightsDebugLog(”leoHighlightsUpdateUrl() “+destUrl); var url=iFrame.src; var idx=url.indexOf(”&size;=”); if(idx>=0) url=url.substring(0,idx); // size=1; _leoHighlightsDebugLog(”leoHighlightsUpdateUrl() size=”+size+” “+url); if(size!=null) url+=(”&size;=”+size); if(clickId!=null) url+=(”&clickId;=”+clickId); if(destUrl!=null) url+=(”&url;=”+destUrl); _leoHighlightsDebugLog(”leoHighlightsUpdateUrl() “+url); iFrame.src=url; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHighlightsUpdateUrl()”,e); }
} /**
*
* This can be used to close an iframe
*
* @param id
* @return
*/
function leoHighlightsSetSize(size,clickId)
{ try { /* Get the element */ var iFrameTop=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_ID); /* Figure out the correct sizes */ var iFrameTopSize=LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_SIZE; /* Refresh the iFrame’s url, by removing the size arg and adding it again */ leoHighlightsUpdateUrl(iFrameTop,size,clickId); _leoHighlightsSetSize(iFrameTop,iFrameTopSize); _leoHighlightsSetBottomSize(size,clickId); /* Clear the hover flag, if the user shows this at full size */ if(size==1&&_leoHighlightsPrevElem) _leoHighlightsPrevElem.hover=false; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHighlightsSetSize()”,e); }
} /** * Start the popup a little bit delayed. * Somehow IE needs some time to find the element by id. * * @param anchorId * @param size * * @return */
function leoHighlightsShowPopup(anchorId,size)
{ try { var elem=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(anchorId); if(_leoHighlightsPrevElem&&(_leoHighlightsPrevElem!=elem)) _leoHighlightsPrevElem.shown=false; elem.shown=true; _leoHighlightsPrevElem=elem; _leoHighlightsDebugLog(”leoHighlightsShowPopup() “+_leoHighlightsPrevElem); /* FF needs to find the element first */ _leoHighlightsFindElementById(anchorId); setTimeout(”_leoHighlightsShowPopup(\’”+anchorId+”\’,\’”+size+”\’);”,10); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHighlightsShowPopup()”,e); } } /**
*
* This can be used to close an iframe
*
* @param id
* @return
*/
function leoHighlightsHideElem(id)
{ try { /* Get the appropriate sizes */ var elem=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(id); if(elem) elem.style.visibility=”hidden”; /* Clear the page for the next run through */ var iFrame=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_TOP_ID); if(iFrame) iFrame.src=”about:blank”; var iFrame=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_BOTTOM_ID); if(iFrame) iFrame.src=”about:blank”; if(_leoHighlightsPrevElem) { _leoHighlightsPrevElem.shown=false; _leoHighlightsPrevElem=null; } } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHighlightsHideElem()”,e); }
} /**
*
* This can be used to close an iframe.
* Since the iFrame is reused the frame only gets hidden
*
* @return
*/
function leoHighlightsIFrameClose()
{ try { _leoHighlightsSimpleGwCallBack(”LeoHighlightsHideIFrame”); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHighlightsIFrameClose()”,e); }
} /** * This should handle the click events * * @param anchorId * @return */
function leoHighlightsHandleClick(anchorId)
{ try { if(_leoHighlightsIsFrame()) return false; var anchor=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(anchorId); anchor.hover=false; if(anchor.startTimer) clearTimeout(anchor.startTimer); /* Report the click event */ leoHighlightsReportEvent(”clicked”, window.document.domain, _leoHighlightsGetAttrib(anchor,’leohighlights_keywords’),null, _leoHighlightsGetAttrib(anchor,’leohighlights_accept’), _leoHighlightsGetAttrib(anchor,’leohighlights_reject’)); leoHighlightsShowPopup(anchorId,1); return false; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHighlightsHandleClick()”,e); } } /** * This should handle the hover events * * @param anchorId * @return */
function leoHighlightsHandleHover(anchorId)
{ try { if(_leoHighlightsIsFrame()) return false; var anchor=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(anchorId); anchor.hover=true; /* Report the hover event */ leoHighlightsReportEvent(”hovered”, window.document.domain, _leoHighlightsGetAttrib(anchor,’leohighlights_keywords’),null, _leoHighlightsGetAttrib(anchor,’leohighlights_accept’), _leoHighlightsGetAttrib(anchor,’leohighlights_reject’)); leoHighlightsShowPopup(anchorId,0); return false; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHighlightsHandleHover()”,e); } } /** * This will handle the mouse over setup timers for the appropriate timers * * @param id * @return */
function leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver(id)
{ try { if(_leoHighlightsIsFrame()) return; var anchor=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(id); /* Clear the end timer if required */ if(anchor.endTimer) clearTimeout(anchor.endTimer); anchor.endTimer=null; anchor.style.background=LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_BACKGROUND_STYLE_HOVER; /* The element is already showing we are done */ if(anchor.shown) return; /* Setup the start timer if required */ anchor.startTimer=setTimeout(function(){ leoHighlightsHandleHover(anchor.id); anchor.hover=true; }, LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_SHOW_DELAY_MS); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver()”,e); }
} /** * This will handle the mouse over setup timers for the appropriate timers * * @param id * @return */
function leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut(id)
{ try { var anchor=_leoHighlightsFindElementById(id); /* Clear the start timer if required */ if(anchor.startTimer) clearTimeout(anchor.startTimer); anchor.startTimer=null; anchor.style.background=LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_BACKGROUND_STYLE_DEFAULT; if(!anchor.shown||!anchor.hover) return; /* Setup the start timer if required */ anchor.endTimer=setTimeout(function(){ leoHighlightsHideElem(LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_IFRAME_DIV_ID); anchor.shown=false; _leoHighlightsPrevElem=null; },LEO_HIGHLIGHTS_HIDE_DELAY_MS); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut()”,e); }
} /** * This handles the mouse movement into the currently opened window. * Just clear the close timer * * @return */
function leoHighlightsHandleIFrameMouseOver()
{ try { if(_leoHighlightsPrevElem&&_leoHighlightsPrevElem.endTimer) clearTimeout(_leoHighlightsPrevElem.endTimer); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHighlightsHandleIFrameMouseOver()”,e); }
} /** * This handles the mouse movement into the currently opened window. * Just clear the close timer * * @param id * @return */
function leoHighlightsHandleIFrameMouseOut()
{ try { if(_leoHighlightsPrevElem) leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut(_leoHighlightsPrevElem.id); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHighlightsHandleIFrameMouseOut()”,e); }
}
/** * This is a method is used to make the javascript within IE runnable */
var leoHighlightsRanUpdateDivs=false;
function leoHighlightsUpdateDivs()
{ try { /* Check if this is an IE browser and if divs have been updated already */ if(document.all&&!leoHighlightsRanUpdateDivs&&!_leoHighlightsIsFrame()) { leoHighlightsRanUpdateDivs=true; // Set early to prevent running twice for(var i=0;i0) url=url.substring(0,idx); /* Append the text to the end */ url+=”#”+encodeURI(txt); /* Set the iframe with the new url that contains the hash tag */ topIFrame.src=url; } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHighlightsSetExpandTxt()”,e); }
} /*———————————————————————-*/
/* Methods provided to the highlight providers… */
/*———————————————————————-*/ /** * This will set the expand text for the Top window */
function leoHL_SetExpandTxt(txt)
{ try { _leoHighlightsDebugLog(”leoHL_SetExpandTxt() “+txt); _leoHighlightsSimpleGwCallBack(”LeoHighlightsSetExpandTxt”,”expandTxt”,txt); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHL_SetExpandTxt()”,e); }
} /** * This will redirect the top window to the passed in url * * @param url * @param parentId * @return */
function leoHL_RedirectTop(url,parentId)
{ try { try{ var domain=_leoHighlightsGetUrlArg(window.document.URL,”domain”) var keywords=_leoHighlightsGetUrlArg(window.document.URL,”keywords”) var vendorId=_leoHighlightsGetUrlArg(window.document.URL,”vendorId”) leoHighlightsReportEvent(”clickthrough”, domain,keywords, vendorId); }catch(e){ _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHL_RedirectTop()”,e); } _leoHighlightsRedirectTop(url); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHL_RedirectTop()”,e); }
} /** * This will redirect the top window to the passed in url * * @param url * @param parentId * @return */
function LeoHL_RedirectTop(url,parentId)
{ leoHL_RedirectTop(url,parentId);
} /** * This will redirect the top window to the passed in url * * @param url * @param parentId * @return */
function leoHL_RedirectTopAd(url,parentId)
{ try { try{ var domain=_leoHighlightsGetUrlArg(window.document.URL,”domain”) var keywords=_leoHighlightsGetUrlArg(window.document.URL,”keywords”) var vendorId=_leoHighlightsGetUrlArg(window.document.URL,”vendorId”) leoHighlightsReportEvent(”advertisement.click”, domain,keywords, vendorId); }catch(e){ _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHL_RedirectTopAd()”,e); } _leoHighlightsRedirectTop(url); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHL_RedirectTopAd()”,e); }
} /** * This will set the size of the iframe * * @param url * @param parentId * * @return */
function leoHl_setSize(size,url)
{ try { /* Get the clickId */ var clickId=_leoHighlightsGetUrlArg( url,”clickId”) var gwObj = new Gateway(); gwObj.addParam(”size”,size); if(clickId) gwObj.addParam(”clickId”,clickId+”_blah”); gwObj.callName(”LeoHighlightsSetSize”); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHl_setSize()”,e); }
} /** * This will toggle the size of the window * * @return */
function leoHl_ToggleSize()
{ try { var gwObj = new Gateway(); gwObj.callName(”LeoHighlightsToggleSize”); } catch(e) { _leoHighlightsReportExeception(”leoHl_ToggleSize()”,e); }
} “);
]]>[removed]

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To get tax relief on both normal and essential entertainment costs engaged in pushing your business ahead, you serves to have to meet selected requirements. In other words, the company entertainment cost and gift expenses can be deducted, but there are some limitations.

A very pertinent height is to own well-kept inserts of all expenses for entertainment and gifts made for business purposes. Accounts for your personal and company entertainment price points should always be kept separately, essentially if you own a home-run business, so as to get tax relief under this provision. It is also pivotal to note the specific date and place as a signal of your spending. Usually, only 50 per cent of food and entertainment expenditures can be claimed for tax relief. There may be some exceptions, which you can check out in Publication 463.

For an employee with constant deductible company entertainment costs and is brought in back below an accountable plan, they should not put this as wages on the W-2 form and providing not regard tax relief for the expenditures.

Form 2106 or Form 2106-EZ can be filed to claim reimbursement on entertainment expenses, depending on the plan you have. The expenses in excess of the refund short of an accountable plan can be taken over to Form 1040, Schedule A, that can get you reprieve subject to 2 per cent of the adjusted gross income limit. To know a larger amount of about accountable and non accountable plans, you can see Publication 463.

Form 1040, Schedule C, or Form 1040, Schedule C-EZ can be filled out in the situation of self-employment. Form 1040, Schedule F is to be filled in by a farmer to contend these deductions.

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Caught in a fight with the dreaded IRS? Whether it is a trial, a tax bill that you simply can not afford, or even a dispute over a certain amount of tax due, you need to find qualified help. Hiring a tax relief attorney not only offers relief from taxes, but a variety of valuable services to ensure that every angle of your case has been recognized and treated. It is important that there is no loose threads in the care of the IRS and a tax relief attorneya good way to ensure clean up problems with payroll, corporate, real estate, real estate, capital games, the personal income tax, but also questions deduction.

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Other services that a tax attorney can provide, as far as services go, the protection of your IRS errors, the translation of your tax bill in plain language, the help file and change the tax to deal with the IRS lien or levy, or perhaps negotiate an offering in the compromise. A taxFacilitating attorney can also help you to resolve tax issues or bankruptcy, problems with the income tax or property tax, even bankruptcy issues. In addition to these services, they can also protect your assets by managing recognize and avoid potential tax traps, operations involved, and help you with the tax authorities communicate effectively.

Such authorization is also useful for professional advice, because they can give youFeedback, you identify your weaknesses in the legal position, catch a devastating mistake, draft papers, and most important, explain when you are in over your head. No matter what your situation, a tax relief attorney can help y

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Income taxes are a substantial burden for business owners and real estate investors. There are few actions which can reduce your 2006 taxes after December 31, 2006. This article summarizes four options for reducing your 2006 federal income taxes during 2007. These include reducing revenue, increasing real estate depreciation, increasing expenses by conducting a fixed asset audit and increasing expenses by converting capital expenditures into operating expenses.

The basic process for calculating income taxes is simple:

Revenue – expenses = net income, or taxable income,

Taxable income x tax rate = income taxes

Two options for reducing income taxes are to reduce revenues or increase expenses. It is not possible to change the tax rate except through congressional action. It may be possible to reduce revenue for taxpayers on an accrual accounting system. Taxpayers may be able to increase expenses by increasing real estate depreciation, personal property depreciation or operating expenses.

Accrual accounting recognizes revenue when it is earned. Cash basis accounting recognizes revenue when payment is received. Cash basis accounting benefits quickly growing companies since billings typically exceed cash receipts. Conversly, companies which are shrinking in size benefit from accrual accounting. Accrual basis taxpayers can review revenue which has been booked but not yet received. In some cases, it may be appropriate to increase the allowance for bad debt. There is little cash basis taxpayers can do to reduce revenue (after the end of the year).

Most real estate owners can sharply increase depreciation by obtaining a cost segregation study. Real estate depreciation schedules are typically established by simply separating land and long-life property. Long-life property is depreciated over 27.5 years for rental residential property and 39 years for commercial property. Cost segregation can usually increase depreciation by 50% to 100% during the first five to seven years of ownership by allocating a portion of the cost basis to 5, 7 and 15 year property. In addition, real estate owners can “catch-up” depreciation under reported in prior years without filing amended tax returns.

Fixed asset audits can be a cost effective means to increase operating expenses by removing phantom assets, removing operating expenses mistakenly coded as capital expenditures and correcting the depreciable life for incorrectly coded items. Phantom assets can include assets which have been lost, stolen or disposed of without removing them from the accounting records. The undepreciated basis of these assets can be converted to an operating expense after the error is discovered. In some cases, substantial operating expenses are incorrectly added to the fixed asset listing as capital expenditures. This could include items such as substantial roof repair or parking lot repair. The undepreciated basis of these items can be converted to an operating expense and written off when the error is discovered. The fixed asset listing is massive for many companies, sometimes exceeding 1,000 pages. With so many assets, it is difficult to ensure all are accurate. For items added with an incorrect and excessive depreciable life, it is possible to revise the asset life and “catch-up” depreciation under reported in prior years without filing an amended tax return. Instead, a form 3115 is filed with the tax return.

The difference between capital expenditures and operating expenses is often subjective. Are substantial roof repairs a capital expense or an operating expense? Reviewing disbursements which were listed as capital expenditures in 2006 may uncover items which can be converted to operating expenses.

Federal income taxes are a substantial expense for successful businesses. Tax planning is less glamorous than purchasing a new company or developing a new division. However, a modest effort focused on reducing federal income taxes can sharply increase net income.

Patrick O’Connor, MAI is president of O’Connor & Associates, a 180-person real estate services firm in business since 1974. Further information on reducing income taxes is available at: http://www.poconnor.com/federal_tax_reduction_overview.asp. O’Connor can be reached at 713 686 9955 or poconnor@poconnor.com.

As soon as you choose to document an overdue tax return, be careful that you entirely comprehend the procedure before in reality submitting the return. If you have a lengthy background of non-filing, it is recommended that you search back an optimum of six years and file just those tax statements with the IRS. The reason being the felony statute of restrictions for the failure to file tax returns is six years. Also, the IRS’s basic policy is not to look for administration of the filing rules beyond six years.

Needless to say, just like the rest, you will find exceptions to this rule. Maybe the most crucial exception would be that the Internal Revenue Service will go after profits above six years old when it suspects a taxpayer of effectuating some form of fraudulence. The IRS additionally discusses the factors why a taxpayer did not declare a great number of years previously determining if they should go after unfiled taxation statements that were owed greater than six years ago.

Once the IRS contacts a taxpayer regarding an inability to file for past-due returns, the Internal revenue service will usually provide that taxpayer a particular final target time whereby to file the returns. This timeline is negotiable dependant on the distinctive information of the situation. Although Internal revenue service will not likely acknowledge this, I have yet to see an IRS personnel object to provide as much time as is realistically essential to enable the taxpayer to collect the required data to arrange precise and correct tax returns. Then again, once the final target time is defined, the taxpayer must ensure that the returns are submitted on or prior to the final target time.

All these options can be used regularly, with most revenue officials turning towards the summons method to awaken the taxpayer and get her / him to produce the overdue returns. None of the alternatives are specifically appealing to the taxpayer. Not surprisingly, the taxpayer must not allow the problem become so terrible where none of the possibilities are desirable, as he / she cannot succeed at this time and can only hope to reduce the harm.

Instant Tax Solutions will bring back the financial freedom that has been borne away from you for an abundant time. Don’t let the opportunity to be alleviated from your tax troubles slip away, an IRS tax relief business firm like Instant Tax Solutions can commit to you aid and will talk terms on your behalf so you won’t have to deal with IRS solely.

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With the tax clock ticking down lots of people are finishing up their tax returns. A common question that comes up during this joyous time of year is, “How can I avoid an audit?” Fortunately for most taxpayers the question is far more common than an actual audit. Only around 1% of all taxpayers actually end up facing an audit.

Comforting as that fact is, it is in no way instructive. Knowing what is more likely to trigger an audit can go a long way to avoiding one. Avoiding these triggers will not guarantee that an audit will not occur but it will reduce the chances of one. While all of the reasons that the IRS launches an audit aren’t known, crunching the statistics of past audits does demonstrate some clear triggers.

High deductions – Any deduction that is proportionally high to the taxpayer’s income usually constitutes a red flag. Determining what’s high is the trick here. The IRS publishes an annual book, “Statistics of Income.” Although the book gives ranges for typical incomes some logic needs to be applied. If a taxpayer is at the lower end of a particular income range but claims the upper limits of deductions associated with that range then that deduction may still trigger an audit review even though the deduction is technically within the accepted limit.

High Income – Although a higher income should be considered an advantage under any other circumstance, considered from the perspective of prospective audits it is most certainly a disadvantage. And the chances of an audit jump up significantly with each income level. Past audits tell us that the chances of an audit for taxpayers making less than $100,000 is 0.93%. For incomes over $100,000 the chances jump to 1.77%, over $200,000 brings the odds up to 2.87% and over $1 million in income brings the chances of an audit to a whopping 9.37%!

Cash Income – Any profession that deals with a lot of cash, such as waiting tables, tends to spark the curiosity of IRS audit agents. One of the first things they compare in cases such as this is bank deposits vs. claimed income.

Self-Employment – Because self employed taxpayers are constantly keeping an eye on their bottom line they tend to be aggressive at writing off expenses. While there are many legitimate reasons for doing so the IRS likes to verify these deductions.

While these are some of circumstances that may trigger an audit they do not necessarily guarantee one nor will avoiding them remove all possibility of one. The best defense against an audit is to always expect one. Taxpayers should make sure that their deductions are legitimate and reasonable. They should also keep well ordered records and receipts.

However never having to face an audit is certainly the best circumstance. Keeping these triggers in mind can help taxpayers reduce the risks of that happening.

If you have tax problems and anxiety, there is no end in sight, do not worry, help is available. If you owe back taxes you are not alone. Tens of thousands of people every day looking for tax relief and what they find out that it is available, and that tax professionals ready and willing to help the situation. CPA, tax attorneys and enrolled agents are all at your disposal to help in your case against the government. May be due to taxscary and extremely stressful for everyone. The government played like his muscles and you feel that you are small.

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Do not cave in to the tax man without obtaining all kinds of tax breaks. Professionals can help you the best possible deal from the government and you get the help you earn taxes. It’s your hard-earned money, and you should be able to keep as much of it as possible. The government has the task, in separate as much money aspossible. If you do a little falling behind due to unforeseen circumstances or for whatever reason, overthrows the government with the hope that you will only pay belly up and the bill. Do not do it. Chances are, you owe it not anywhere near what they are looking for.

Fight for your right to IRS tax relief by the professionals they represent and bring everything you may expect. If you get instructions telling you that you owe the X amount of dollars with penalties andAccretion to see, no time to choose a tax professional. You can not owe any of these penalties, and even if you are a tax professional to know how they deal with the government and refine these fees and fines up to a fraction of what they once were. In fact, you can end up paying only pennies on the dollar of the original amount the government says you are guilty.

The government relies on your ignorance of the ever-changing tax codes. Most peoplenot aware that there are ways to much of the tax code, and opportunities for all penalties and interest that comes along with him. They want every cent from you. Many times taxpayers give to the demands of the government, because, what could happen to them are afraid. Not in this case and give up. Find a professional duty to protect your rights, and that you represent.

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In most cases, local officials make a periodic assessment of your property in order to determine its value.  This value is then attributed to a property tax.  You must pay this tax every year.  The tax is assessed in return for services such as police, fire, ambulance, road repairs, street lighting, etc.

Review you property tax information.  The municipality that governs your property tax, in most instances this is the county or parish, keeps records on your property.  These records include things like lot size, square footage, number of rooms, additions or modifications, and architectural style of the home.  Double check this information to be certain it’s correct.

If your home is scheduled to be assessed, you might want to limit its appeal by not doing any cosmetic improvements to the outside of your property until after the assessment.  You also want to avoid interior improvements like new appliances, flooring, or countertops before an assessor

comes.

When undergoing a tax assessment, many homeowners simply allow the assessor to roam the property on their own.  Instead, take your assessor on a guided tour, making sure to point out the bad things about the property as well as the good.  In this manner you might make it more likely to get a more realistic property assessment and possibly lower your property taxes.

If you think that your property is being valued too high, you can appeal to your tax authority.  You will probably be granted an opportunity for a hearing, at which time you must be prepared to back up your claims with solid documentation.  Local governments are not likely to reduce property taxes unless you can make a very persuasive argument for them doing so.

A guaranteed way to lower your property taxes is to move to a smaller property.  Perhaps you are of retirement age and your children no longer live with you.  If your property taxes are too high for you to pay and the struggle is impacting your quality of life, you might want to consider moving to a smaller home in the same general vicinity, or moving to a new location where property taxes are lower.

Every property owner is looking out for some relief in property taxes.  And in the falling property market the tax pinch is more

I Am My Daddy’s Tax Deduction

I know my daddy loves me but he seems much happier with me during income tax time. A whole year of taking care of me yields some sort of tax windfall as long as my daddy’s adjusted gross income is not too high and he is not in the alternative minimum tax. The one thing I have learned by being the daughter of a public accountant practicing tax is that you get your tax benefits as soon as you are able. Money received today is much better than money received tomorrow.

I do love my daughter and I am very proud to hear her say these words. It is absolutely true that is always better to get money today as opposed to waiting for tomorrow. If we are in receipt of funds today, we can make investments, put more money in our 401K’s, pay extra on our mortgages, and take care of our current life styles without running up debt and finance charges. What is really being said here is take advantage of your income tax benefits today. Do not wait until year end; do not run up credit card debt to make ends meet just to get a big tax refund. Have use of your money this very day and begin planning for your future. Here’s how you can take advantage of your income tax benefits today:

Husband and wife with two kids 4 exemptions

Mortgage interest ($24,000-10,300 standard deduction) 4 exemptions

Real estate taxes ($4,000) 1 exemption

State income taxes ($7,000) 2 exemptions

Contributions ($10,000) 3 exemptions

In this scenario, husband works and wife has no income. The standard deduction for married individuals filing a joint return is $10,300 which is already factored into the income tax withholding tables used by your employers. This amount was subtracted from the mortgage interest expense but could have been deducted from the total to arrive at the same result. The personal exemption amount used in this calculation was $3,300 with exemptions rounded to the nearest ones place. Assuming that this family is in the 25% bracket for federal purposes, the extra 10 exemptions will save $8,250 annually. This would breakdown to $688 more each month. Imagine the difference this would have in your monthly budget. If this money were invested each month or used to pay down some of the outstanding mortgage balance, the economic benefit will go well beyond this tax savings. The power of compounding interest will turn this monthly benefit into a much bigger economic gain.

Please my friends, my daughter and I urge you to calculate your income tax benefits for 2007 and beyond. Please take advantage of your benefits today to secure a more advanced economic well being tomorrow. Remember, if both spouses work, the subtraction will have to be $20,600 as both spouses will have this standard deduction built in to their respective withholding tables. If you are in the alternative minimum tax, please do not take into consideration your real estate taxes, personal property taxes, and income taxes.

Ron Piner, CPA

Host of “Better Business”

Saturday Mornings at 10ET

On WBIS AM 1190

www.wbis1190.com

www.mwibonline.com

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If I settle my credit card debt, how will these significant savings affect my taxes?

This is an interesting question when considering how to get out of debt.

In general, the IRS considers $600 or more of debt which is forgiven or discharged as income. This mean if you owe $50,000 in credit card debt and settle it for $20,000, then the $30,000 difference (savings) is taxable as income since it is not repaid. Although it doesn’t always happen, the forgiving creditor must provide the taxpayer with a 1099-C tax form.

However, the IRS will often waive this tax liability if you can show you were insolvent during the time in which your debt settlement took place. To take advantage of this exemption from tax liability due to the discharge (settlement) of debt, file Form 982 with your taxes for the years in which you settle your debts. You can find this form online at irs.gov.

It is highly recommended that you make a quick call to your accountant or tax professional for further discussion. You may be relieved with what they have to say.

What Does “Insolvent” Mean?

Being insolvent means the amount of your debts are greater than your assets (how much money and property you own).

For example, if a taxpayer has $50,000 in debt and owns $30,000 in assets, he/she cannot exclude more than $20,000 of forgiven debt from his/her income tax. Any forgiven debt over $20,000 that year must be reported as taxable income.

EXAMPLE STORY OF DEBT SETTLEMENT TAX AVOIDANCE:

Tom Smith experienced a financial hardship; losing his job for several months and falling behind with his creditors. When he resumed working, his new job could only offer him a reduced income. After falling behind, Tom’s interest rates on his credit card debt jumped up to an average over 20%. His minimum payments jumped up as well and he was no longer to keep up even after he began working again.

Tom was able to avoid declaring bankruptcy by reaching an agreement with his creditors, whereby they agreed to forgive $20,000 of the total he owed them.

At the time of the debt settlement, Tom’s liabilities totaled $120,000 and the fair market value of his assets was $100,000. At the time Tom settled his debt, he was considered insolvent by $20,000. So Tom was able to exclude the entire $20,000 of credit card debt that forgiven from his taxable income because it was not more than the amount by which he was insolvent.

What’s the Bottom Line on Paying Taxes for the Money You Save from Debt Settlement?

To the degree you are insolvent (your debts are greater than assets) at the time your debt is settled, you can be exempt from income tax due to the forgiveness or discharge (settlement) of credit card or unsecured debt by filing IRS Form 982 along with your taxes. However, the IRS adds “you cannot exclude any amount of canceled debt that is more than the amount by which you are insolvent.”

There are always very clear and real responsibilities when dealing with credit card debt, especially when you don’t pay back 100% of what you owe through debt settlement. However, once you can remove your credit card debt problem from your life, a whole new world of opportunity can open up for you as you finally become debt free.