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What to consider before lending money to family and friends

 

When your best friend views your nest egg as a source of start-up funds for his latest business venture, or your nephew hits you up for a car loan, your first impulse may be to reach into your bank account to help. But it's a fact that loans to family and friends often end up straining both finances and relationships. As Shakespeare said, "Loan oft loses both itself and friend." In other words, if you lend money to friends, you often don't get paid back, and the friendship itself may disintegrate.

 

It's best to consider a loan to someone you love as an "arm's length" transaction. If you're pondering such a loan, keep the following in mind:

 

* You can just say "no." It's your money, after all. Do you really want to raid an emergency fund or dip into your child's college account to finance a friend's business idea? Think like a bank. It's reasonable to ask tough questions about the person's bank accounts, potential sources of income, planned use of loan proceeds, and spending habits before extending credit.

 

* Consider a gift. If you're comfortable sharing your resources, you may want to provide a monetary gift with no strings attached. In many cases, this is the best solution because neither you nor your friend expect the money to be paid back. Unlike a loan, this type of arrangement can forestall misunderstandings and hurt feelings later on. Of course, you should not give money if doing so would unduly strain your own finances.

 

* Formalize loans. If you decide to lend more than a small amount to a friend or family member, it's generally best to draft a written agreement. This can be as simple as filling out a promissory note (available online or at office supply stores). Such forms spell out the basic terms of the loan -- amount, interest rate, payback period -- and provide some limited protection should you and the borrower end up in small claims court. Another recent innovation is the use of direct lending (also called social lending or peer-to-peer lending) websites to facilitate loans between family and friends. For a fee, such sites can prepare loan documentation, send payment reminders, issue regular reports, even facilitate electronic fund transfers. If the loan involves a significant amount of money, check with your attorney.

 

Remember: Many personal relationships have been damaged when loans go awry. So proceed with caution.

 

15 July 2015
How do you maximize tax breaks for your vacation home?

Posted in tax

Hi guys, this is Noel Dalmacio, your ultimate CPA at lowermytaxnow.com

How do you maximize tax breaks for your vacation home?

If you own a vacation home, a boat or an RV that you also rent out to others, keep track of the rental use during the year to maximize your tax breaks.

Here are some tax strategies you need to consider:

Number 1. Receive tax-free income. Yes! You heard it right!

If you rented it out for 14 days or less during the year, you don't have to report the income. You get tax-free income!

You can generally deduct mortgage interest and real estate taxes, but you can't deduct any other rental expenses. Hey, tax-free income is still  great stuff!

Number 2 - Limit your personal use so you can deduct all your rental expenses.

If you limit your personal use to NOT more than 14 days or 10% of the time the home is rented, all rental expenses are deductible.

However, conversely, number 3* If you use the property personally for more than 14 days or 10% of the number of days it's rented, the rules change. Your rental deductions (except for taxes and mortgage interest) are limited to the amount of your rental income.

So here’s an example: You stayed in your vacation home 20 days last year. It was rented at fair market value for 190 days. In this example, your personal use exceeded the 10% limit (19 days). Therefore, your rental deductions are limited to the rental income you received.

Number 4. Convert the property as your primary home, and the gain when you sell may be tax-free. If you use your vacation home as your principal residence for two out of the five years before you sell it, you may exclude up to $250,000 of gain ($500,000 for married couples) from your income. However, you will have to pay tax on gain to the extent of certain depreciation you previously taken after May 6 , 1997 and you might need to allocate the gain on sale between the primary home and the rental.

The rules are a little bit complex, but a basic understanding of the rules and good recordkeeping will help you get the best tax breaks from your vacation home.

If you like to learn more, click the link lowermytaxnow.com and subscribe to my weeklyblog.

Until then, this is Noel Dalmacio, your ultimate CPA at lowermytaxnow.com

Last Updated by Admin on 2015-07-15 05:24:57 PM