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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.
Posted in general
Are you aware that there is a tax code that can potentially “0” your taxes?
If you are a real estate investor and working in a real estate business, you are in a unique position to take advantage of this powerful tax strategy that could potentially “0” your taxes. It’s called the “real estate professional” designation.
Hello, this is Noel Dalmacio, your ultimate CPA at lowermytaxnow.
Under this law, if you are a real estate professional, you can fully deduct rental losses against your W-2, business income and other income without limitation. What does that mean? It means, if you understand the tax rules and apply it correctly, you can potentially “0” your taxes.
REQUIREMENTS:
1. 50% test – You must spend more than half (51%) of your working hours in a real property trade or business like purchase, rental, management or sales.
2. 750-hour test – You must spend 751 hours in real property trade or business
3. You must be at least a 5% owner of real property trade or business
4. The 50% test and 750-hour test must be met by only one spouse in the case of married taxpayers
5. You must materially participate in the management operations of your own rental real estate. Married couples can combine their hours to meet the material participation hours.
To recap, a “real estate professional” designation is one of the most powerful tools that you can use in order to legally zero out your taxes! So make sure you understand the rules and keep good records.
If you like to learn more, click the link lowermytaxnow.com and sign-in to receive my weekly blog.
Until then, this is Noel Dalmacio, your ultimate CPA at lowermytaxnow.com.
Last Updated by Admin on 2016-09-01 06:07:55 PM