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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 tax
What should you do if you find that you made a mistake on your 2012 tax return after it's been filed? Perhaps you find that you missed a big deduction. Perhaps you receive a late notice of income you earned. Or perhaps you receive a corrected Form 1099 from your broker. The answer is not to panic. You can correct the mistake with an amended return.
The general rule is that you have three years to amend a personal or business return. Special rules may apply if you paid your taxes late, or are claiming certain business losses or carrybacks. You may have as long as seven years if you are filing to claim a loss on a worthless security or bad debt.
Many amended returns are filed each year. Form 1040X is used to show the items of income or deductions that you want to change or the different elections you want to make. A separate form must be filed for each previous year you want to change. You?ll have to file a paper copy to amend your return, even if you originally filed electronically or by telephone. If you want to change a corporate return, you file a Form 1120X, but the procedures are similar.
If you owe additional tax because of the change, you should send a check at the time you file your amended return. The IRS will let you know if you owe additional interest or penalties.
Please contact our office if you have questions about any return that's already been filed. We can let you know whether you need to file an amended return and help you with any of the necessary paperwork.
Last Updated by Tax on 2014-02-12 11:41:01 AM