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For many, Medicare open enrollment is an opportunity to fine tune their healthcare coverage needs and assess (or anticipate) what coverage may be needed in the coming year.
Open enrollment may also allow you to save money as plans are reevaluated and adjusted and in some instances, improve coverage where you recognize you may have gaps. While the open enrollment plan changes may seem confusing, it is your opportunity to switch Medicare health and prescription drug plans to better suit your needs.

What is the Medicare open enrollment period?

The Medicare open enrollment period is the time during which people with Medicare can make new choices and pick plans that work best for them. Each year, Medicare plans typically change what the plans cost and cover. In addition, your health-care needs may have changed over the past year. 

What we're reading today:

Aug. 28, 2017  WASHINGTON –– Hurricane Harvey victims in parts of Texas have until Jan. 31, 2018, to file certain individual and business tax returns and make certain tax payments, the Internal Revenue Service announced today.

For many parents, the idea of getting their kids ready for back-to-school conjures up both a welcome relief and a financial frenzy. According to NEAToday.org, in 2016, parents spent $200, on average, per elementary student and $330 and $375 per middle and high school student, respectively. That is a lot of paper and pencils!  

For many, being in the position to either sell your primary residence or rent the property is a powerful one. Rental income can be a great additional source of income and the investment, if managed properly against the rest of one’s financial portfolio, can contribute to a nice tax shelter. 

Thinking about income taxes should not just be an end-of-year or pre-April-15-panic occurrence. The well-informed taxpayer will think about these seven mid-year tax tips that could help save on his next income tax filing, as well as yours. 

The 2018 health savings account (HSA) guidelines were recently released by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These guidelines outline the inflation-adjusted contribution, deductible, and out-of-pocket spending limits for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) for calendar year 2018. 

If you discover an error after filing your return, you may need to amend your return. The IRS may correct mathematical or clerical errors on a return and may accept returns without certain required forms or schedules.

In these instances, there's no need to amend your return. However, do file an amended return if there's a change in your filing status, income, deductions, or credits. Use Form 1040X (PDF), Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, to correct a previously filed Form 1040 (PDF), Form 1040A (PDF), Form 1040EZ (PDF), Form 1040NR (PDF), Form 1040NR-EZ (PDF), or to change amounts previously adjusted by the IRS.

You can also use Form 1040X to make a claim for a carryback due to a loss or unused credit; however, you may also be able to use Form 1045 (PDF), Application for Tentative Refund, instead of Form 1040X. Also, if the Form 8938 (PDF), Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets, applies to you, file it with an annual return or an amended return. See the Form 8938 Instructions for more information.

Learn more about income tax planning from the Zinner & Co. tax team

Many clients ask if it is more advantageous to pay quarterly tax estimates or utilize their tax withholding. I wish there were a simple, cookie-cutter answer. However, as no two taxpayers are alike, the same goes for the manner in which one can pay one’s taxes.