Advanced Child Tax Credit (CTC)

The IRS has announced the advanced CTC will begin July 15th and will be issued through direct deposit, paper checks, and debit cards on the 15th of each month there after.

Eligible families will receive up to $300 per month for each child under six years old and up to $250 per month for each child between the ages of 6 and 17.

The advanced payments will reduce the credit received when filing your tax return at the end of 2021.

Available soon there will be an option for taxpayers to opt out of the advanced payments and update personal information for change in dependents and expected income at the link below.

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021

2021 Tax Changes

Charitable Deductions – in 2021 single taxpayers can deduct $300 and married joint filers can deduct $600 when taking the standard deduction. Also, continuing into 2021 is the ability for those who itemized deductions on Schedule A to deduct charitable contributions up to 100% of AGI.

Business Meal Deductions – in 2021 and 2022 businesses may deduct 100% of meal and beverage expenses, an increase from 50% in 2020. This includes meals and beverages that are take-out and delivery.

Hurdles To Deduct Vacation Home Losses

Renting a vacation home allows for the deduction of certain expenses such as mortgage interest, property taxes, repairs, utilities, and insurance against the rental income. A loss may be taken if two tax hurdles are met.

Tax Hurdle #1: Personal use of vacation home cannot exceed the greater of (a) 14 days or (b) 10% of the time the home is rented out.

Tax Hurdle #2: If the taxpayer “materially participates” (i.e. spending more than 500 hours a year on the activity) in the vacation home rental activity they may avoid the passive activity loss rules that limit losses to the amount of other passive income.

Note that contemporaneous records must be kept documenting material participation.