Search found 338 matches

by mister_sparkle
Fri Dec 15, 2023 3:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Fidelity free Turbotax 2023
Replies: 435
Views: 157003

Re: Fidelity free Turbotax 2023

I have to commend Fidelity and Turbotax this year. I hadn't been thinking about tax software until I stumbled upon this thread. So I decided to check the bottom of my Portfolio page and found the TT free offer ($5 Premium) there. Clicked on it, which brought me to the TT page. Logged into TT, then downloaded Premier after paying $5. Easy peasy. This is in contrast to prior years where finding the offer at Fidelity, then trying to figure out how to get the download version when TT steered you to the online version was needlessly complicated. As in many of my prior posts, I highly recommend (actually insist) that BHers use the download version over the online version. It provides many more features and benefits, most particularly the ability...
by mister_sparkle
Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:41 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Nobody knows nothing episode [Invested in Microsoft]
Replies: 13
Views: 2561

Re: Nobody knows nothing episode [Invested in Microsoft]

I find Jim Cramer entertaining, but find that he's wrong a good % of the time, so I mostly treat him as a contrary indicator. :sharebeer
by mister_sparkle
Mon Dec 12, 2022 8:11 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRS Form 8962 - what does it do?
Replies: 12
Views: 2012

Re: IRS Form 8962 - what does it do?

Elle_N wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 5:52 pm
mister_sparkle wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 4:08 pm
Elle_N wrote: Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:57 am The following tool is quick, easy, invaluable and in my experience, reliable for identifying the SLCSP: https://www.kff.org/interactive/subsidy ... ator-2022/.
Thank you for this -- I was unsuccessful in finding the SLCSP amount for 2022 for my state.
Did you put in your information, click on submit," and then scroll down to "Without financial help, your silver plan would cost:"? The dollar figure in the latter section of the kff.org calculator site is the cost of the SLCSP.
I meant that, before, I had searched and couldn't find a working link, but yours did the job.

Also thanks for the explanation on the out of pocket max figures, that helps!
by mister_sparkle
Mon Dec 12, 2022 5:43 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Reversing vs. recharacterizing a Roth contribution in a high income tax year
Replies: 3
Views: 456

Re: Reversing vs. recharacterizing a Roth contribution in a high income tax year

I also made a $3000 Roth IRA contribution at the beginning of the year, but later changed my mind about this due to likely not having sufficient earned income, so I reversed my contribution in September via TD Ameritrade.

I contributed $3000 but only got back $2330 due to losses. I'm just wondering how the IRS will know that my net contribution is $0 vs. $670, the difference between what I put in vs. what I was sent after requesting the reversal.
by mister_sparkle
Mon Dec 12, 2022 4:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRS Form 8962 - what does it do?
Replies: 12
Views: 2012

Re: IRS Form 8962 - what does it do?

For end of year tax planning with regard to one's ACA subsidy, including estimating the effect of Trad-to-Roth IRA conversions, one needs the numbers to insert into Form 8962, Part II, Line 11(a), Line 11(b) and Line 11 (f). From your insurer's monthly invoices, you might already know the total amounts for 2022 for Line 11(a) and Line 11(f). For Line 11(b), one needs the cost of the "Second Lowest Cost Silver Plan" (SLCSP). The following tool is quick, easy, invaluable and in my experience, reliable for identifying the SLCSP: https://www.kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator-2022/. Make sure you use the age that you used when completing the ACA marketplace application. As needed for quickly sussing out what the SLCSP is, for &qu...
by mister_sparkle
Sat Dec 10, 2022 1:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: IRS Form 8962 - what does it do?
Replies: 12
Views: 2012

IRS Form 8962 - what does it do?

Before the end of the year, I would like to do Roth IRA conversions up to a certain income (MAGI) level, to try to convert as much as I can without conflicting with my ACA marketplace premium subsidy. I'm starting to work up an estimate for ACA subsidy reconciliation on form 8962 and Part II calculations area is confusing me, so I'm wondering if anyone can put into simple English what Part II annual/monthly calculation fields are attempting to do...?
by mister_sparkle
Fri Dec 09, 2022 11:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Printing postage & labels and shipping from home
Replies: 28
Views: 2405

Re: Printing postage & labels and shipping from home

I've used Endicia (for Mac) for over a decade and it's good. I believe it's now owned by Stamps.com.

The same discounted pricing as you can get with other online sites, but it costs $17/month.
by mister_sparkle
Fri Dec 09, 2022 11:49 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: TD Ameritrade to Schwab
Replies: 161
Views: 13777

Re: TD Ameritrade to Schwab

Does anyone know if this will affect my ability to use Thinkorswim?
by mister_sparkle
Wed Nov 09, 2022 6:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Experian account hijacking; major security risk? seems so
Replies: 8
Views: 1568

Re: Experian account hijacking; major security risk? seems so

I ended up jumping through the hoops that Experian provided (faxing them various documents including my SS card...ridiculous) and they will delete the account and allow me to create a new one. Just a terrible way of doing business IMO.
by mister_sparkle
Sat Nov 05, 2022 3:18 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Experian account hijacking; major security risk? seems so
Replies: 8
Views: 1568

Re: Experian account hijacking; major security risk? seems so

This just happened to me; e-mail from Experian noting my new e-mail address when I haven't contacted them. Clicking on the forgot username link shows that it goes to a Hotmail account belonging to someone else. I've e-mailed Experian to get them to reverse this, but wondering if there's anything else I should be doing.

Very annoying!
by mister_sparkle
Tue Feb 22, 2022 7:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Best way to sell house if I don't "need" to sell
Replies: 13
Views: 1749

Best way to sell house if I don't "need" to sell

I am currently living in a new construction house I bought in December 2019 in a somewhat up & coming medium-sized city in North Carolina, but I have found myself in a situation where I am living alone in a too-large house. It's a very comfortable environment and I love all the space, plus amenities like a garage (not the norm here) and screened-in back porch. My net mortgage per month after deducting loan payoff and tax benefit from mortgage interest and property taxes comes out very close to what I would have to pay renting a much smaller (2br) apartment, so there isn't a huge financial impetus to selling the house. If I can afford the current monthly nut, which I can, then as long as my house appreciates modestly, I should come out a...
by mister_sparkle
Sun Jan 30, 2022 7:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Coinbase and taxes
Replies: 25
Views: 4136

Re: Coinbase and taxes

I made a little money trading Ethereum in 2021 on Coinbase's platform. They're not providing any tax forms, just a statement of transactions including profit/loss. I'm just trying to verify that I need to enter these on Schedule D and pay regular capital gains tax?
by mister_sparkle
Mon Dec 27, 2021 4:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax loss harvesting partner for bond fund AGG
Replies: 6
Views: 1068

Tax loss harvesting partner for bond fund AGG

I have a few grand in losses in Ishares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG), and am looking into selling my losers for a TLH loss. I'm wondering if another Ishares bond ETF would work as a TLH partner to buy in, rather than holding the proceeds for 31 days. Ishares has a lot of bond ETF options (> 100), but I'd rather stick to as close to a total bond market tilt as possible.

I have no idea how the IRS would view another fund vs. AGG's holdings. Any suggestions for how to approach this?
by mister_sparkle
Fri Nov 19, 2021 1:34 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: TurboTax TY2021
Replies: 265
Views: 40597

Re: TurboTax TY2021

I looked for "Turbotax" on my Fidelity page today and there is a link to go to the Intuit site to buy a discounted version of the Deluxe download, but nowhere does the discount appear and they try to charge me full boat. Has anyone successfully used the discount?
by mister_sparkle
Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Import Fidelity into Turbotax
Replies: 53
Views: 6214

Re: Import Fidelity into Turbotax

AussieDad wrote: Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:23 pm My Fidelity tax forms say to check back on 2/13.
I checked today and now it says 2/27.

:annoyed
by mister_sparkle
Tue Oct 13, 2020 2:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Replies: 85
Views: 14314

Re: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Where else can you use pay with points besides Amazon and Target? I admit it isn't something I've explored; I typically default to Amazon only.
by mister_sparkle
Tue Oct 13, 2020 1:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Replies: 85
Views: 14314

Re: Chase Sapphire Reserve

My CSR annual fee of $550 is due later this month and because I didn't travel this year and likely won't be flying until late 2021 at the earliest, the card just isn't worth the AF, so I am considering either downgrading to the Sapphire Preferred ($95 AF) or just cancelling the card outright. I have a Chase Freedom Visa and a Chase Freedom Unlimited Visa, and they have recently bumped up the points on the Freedom Unlimited card so that its $0 AF makes it adequate enough for the time being. I know my credit score will take a hit with the lower credit balance, so I was thinking of asking Chase to allocate a chunk of my CSR credit limit to the Freedom Unlimited card before cancelling it -- they have accommodated a similar request for me in the...
by mister_sparkle
Thu Jul 16, 2020 7:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 215631

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

prettybogle wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2020 1:50 pm
prettybogle wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2020 8:53 am
bonfireofthevanities wrote: Wed Jul 15, 2020 12:05 pm I had my remote closing on Monday 7/13 (2.875%, 30 yr), but have not heard anything since. Anyone know what the timeline is for funding a refi?
Did you request for remote closing or are they doing it because of Covid virus issue ? How was the experience with remote closing ? Never done it before. Please share information. Thanks
Anyone else had remote closing ? Curious how this works
I used Lenderfi a few weeks ago and they had a local notary come to my house and we sat in the garage to get all the paperwork signed/stamped. We both wore masks and sat 10 feet apart, so no worries.
by mister_sparkle
Thu Jul 02, 2020 12:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 215631

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

Applied on 3/2 but they went radio silent due to the crush of applications. Got an update on 3/23: "The Fed announced that it would start unlimited bond buying which should bring the rates back down. If we can wait a few days I would love to lock you in at the rate you applied." So, here I am, waiting a few days and hoping for the best. :| I locked in a 3.125%/30-year refi today, which is a huge relief. I was beginning to think it wasn't gonna happen, especially after watching rates rise again. Lopped off 1/2 a point at a net cost of zero. Not too shabby. :sharebeer Had some hiccups in getting this done -- the loan amount on the May 4 settlement statement didn't match what it should have been, and no one at their title company Am...
by mister_sparkle
Wed May 06, 2020 7:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity brokerage account
Replies: 7
Views: 916

Re: Fidelity brokerage account

nix4me wrote: Wed May 06, 2020 7:09 pm Your CMA required a brokerage account so you already have one. Buy some ETFs! Like VTI or ITOT.
AGG, ITOT and IXUS are my jam. :sharebeer

There is a Fidelity ad airing now that shows some more advanced researching features in their brokerage accounts, so that's what I was interested in viewing. I might just be missing seeing that section of the website...or not.
by mister_sparkle
Wed May 06, 2020 7:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity brokerage account
Replies: 7
Views: 916

Re: Fidelity brokerage account

I am well aware. I was merely asking a question about the differences between the 2 different types of accounts.
by mister_sparkle
Wed May 06, 2020 6:57 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity brokerage account
Replies: 7
Views: 916

Fidelity brokerage account

I currently have a few accounts with Fidelity like some IRAs, an HSA, plus an individual account with a cash management feature.

How does a brokerage account with Fidelity differ from what I have now? Is there any downside to opening a brokerage account, assuming I decide to get into more active trading?
by mister_sparkle
Mon Apr 06, 2020 7:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 215631

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

mister_sparkle wrote: Wed Mar 25, 2020 9:36 pm Applied on 3/2 but they went radio silent due to the crush of applications.

Got an update on 3/23: "The Fed announced that it would start unlimited bond buying which should bring the rates back down. If we can wait a few days I would love to lock you in at the rate you applied."

So, here I am, waiting a few days and hoping for the best. :|
I locked in a 3.125%/30-year refi today, which is a huge relief. I was beginning to think it wasn't gonna happen, especially after watching rates rise again.

Lopped off 1/2 a point at a net cost of zero. Not too shabby. :sharebeer
by mister_sparkle
Fri Mar 27, 2020 10:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How are you going to use your stimulus money?
Replies: 222
Views: 16636

Re: How are you going to use your stimulus money?

I filed my 2019 taxes already, so I'm getting bupkiss.

Otherwise, if it were based on 2018 AGI, I was going to donate whatever I got to local music venues to help pay their staffs.
by mister_sparkle
Thu Mar 26, 2020 8:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks continue to soar!
Replies: 22381
Views: 2139881

Re: New Bull Market!

striker79 wrote: Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:36 pm Highest jobless claims in the history of our nation and peak of the coronavirus is still 3-4 weeks away. Yes, this is definitely the start of a bull market.
+also, the U.S. now the nation with the most confirmed cases of COVAD-19, yet the market jumped almost 6% today.

We're living in Bizarro world.
by mister_sparkle
Wed Mar 25, 2020 9:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: My LenderFi refinance is going well
Replies: 1849
Views: 215631

Re: My LenderFi refinance is going well

Applied on 3/2 but they went radio silent due to the crush of applications.

Got an update on 3/23: "The Fed announced that it would start unlimited bond buying which should bring the rates back down. If we can wait a few days I would love to lock you in at the rate you applied."

So, here I am, waiting a few days and hoping for the best. :|
by mister_sparkle
Wed Mar 25, 2020 8:50 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: So bottom is probably behind us....right?
Replies: 709
Views: 77349

Re: So bottom is probably behind us....right?

We're only back to late 2018 price levels. The pandemic numbers are going to become very alarming over the next week or two. Unemployment figures are going to be brutal, and the run on the hospital systems is going to be very bad. And large swaths of the country are not adopting very stringent stay-at-home policies, so the virus is going to continue to find a foothold.

My primary worry is that the strain on the medical system will include doctors and nurses becoming infected, worsening things even farther. I just don't believe we're anywhere near the bottom.
by mister_sparkle
Tue Mar 24, 2020 11:14 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Todays +10 percent gain from QE?
Replies: 52
Views: 4807

Re: Todays +10 percent gain from QE?

My sense is that people are not pricing in a pandemic that overwhelms our medical system and eventually effectively shutting down most economic activity in almost every state, at least for a few months and possibly much longer.

Today was a classic DCB. This situation is not temporary, and will not be resolved in a few weeks. We're in for at least a few months of this, until we get our testing rolled out to nearly everyone who's affected.
by mister_sparkle
Sun Mar 08, 2020 7:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 30 year mortgage under 3%
Replies: 301
Views: 54433

Re: 30 year mortgage under 3%

BogleBoogie wrote: Sat Mar 07, 2020 9:02 am
mister_sparkle wrote: Wed Feb 26, 2020 5:56 pm I have made literally one payment on my 3.625% 30-year mortgage.

Am I insane for even considering a re-fi?
Someone else who knows more can chime in, but I'm told there is a "seasoning period" of time where you can't refinance. One broker told me 6 months. I'm not in the industry so don't know for a fact. I don't think you are insane if you can take it down 1/2 a point and the fees are reasonable. Calculate all the fees and divide that by the money per month you would save to figure out your break even point where you will actually start to save.
Where would I look to determine if I can re-fi or not?
by mister_sparkle
Sun Mar 08, 2020 5:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 30 year mortgage under 3%
Replies: 301
Views: 54433

Re: 30 year mortgage under 3%

I received this in an e-mail from LenderFi yesterday: Thank you for applying with LenderFi! Given the unprecedented number of homeowners trying to refinance right now due to the low rates, it is taking us longer than usual to call everyone right back. Due to the slight delay, we will be giving everyone special pricing not shown on our website if you already had your credit pulled. We don't think you should miss out on these great rates due to such a high volume of requests, so we are going to make it right. We underwrite your loan upfront to give you peace of mind that your loan will actually close, which includes checking to see if you are eligible for an appraisal waiver. We truly value you as a client and hope you can understand we are t...
by mister_sparkle
Fri Mar 06, 2020 6:42 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: I once held a stock that went to zero
Replies: 23
Views: 2507

Re: I once held a stock that went to zero

Years ago before the Boglehead style of investing, I once held a stock that went bankrupt and was sued for the dividends the stock paid over several years. Was in no way involved in management or employment of the company. Said it was a fraudulent transfer, a number of people were sued for the same thing. Some entity bought the debt the company owed and then dragged people to court. I was absolutely floored. With a number of others, I paid an attorney to represent for a summary judgement thinking it was a shakedown and any reasonable judge would throw it out, but the judge like too many was "everyone gets their day in court." Our group decided to settle, got quotes what it would cost to fight it in court, it was just not worth it...
by mister_sparkle
Mon Mar 02, 2020 9:54 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 30 year mortgage under 3%
Replies: 301
Views: 54433

Re: 30 year mortgage under 3%

Thanks for the LenderFi recommendation. I checked them out and they were offering a 30-year 3.125% re-fi with a net cost of $0 after lender credits, so I pulled the trigger and applied and was conditionally approved. This will lop off about $48,000 in interest over the life of the loan and reduce my monthly payment by $133. Not too shabby for a cost of nothing. :sharebeer After my application, they came back with a 3.0% rate. It's not entirely "free" as I have to pay a chunk of change for an escrow deposit, but that's money I would have had to pay down the line anyway. :sharebeer Do people usually pay these escrow by rolling them into the loan or do they bring the funds to the mortgage company? The escrow deposit factors in my &q...
by mister_sparkle
Mon Mar 02, 2020 5:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 30 year mortgage under 3%
Replies: 301
Views: 54433

Re: 30 year mortgage under 3%

mister_sparkle wrote: Mon Mar 02, 2020 2:08 pm Thanks for the LenderFi recommendation. I checked them out and they were offering a 30-year 3.125% re-fi with a net cost of $0 after lender credits, so I pulled the trigger and applied and was conditionally approved.

This will lop off about $48,000 in interest over the life of the loan and reduce my monthly payment by $133. Not too shabby for a cost of nothing.

:sharebeer
After my application, they came back with a 3.0% rate. It's not entirely "free" as I have to pay a chunk of change for an escrow deposit, but that's money I would have had to pay down the line anyway.

:sharebeer
by mister_sparkle
Mon Mar 02, 2020 2:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 30 year mortgage under 3%
Replies: 301
Views: 54433

Re: 30 year mortgage under 3%

Thanks for the LenderFi recommendation. I checked them out and they were offering a 30-year 3.125% re-fi with a net cost of $0 after lender credits, so I pulled the trigger and applied and was conditionally approved.

This will lop off about $48,000 in interest over the life of the loan and reduce my monthly payment by $133. Not too shabby for a cost of nothing.

:sharebeer
by mister_sparkle
Fri Feb 28, 2020 11:52 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4685432

Re: U.S. stocks in free fall

Trying to do a little rebalancing in my IRA by selling bonds and buying stocks.

How many days does it take for Fidelity's trades to be settled so that I can use the cash?
by mister_sparkle
Wed Feb 26, 2020 5:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 30 year mortgage under 3%
Replies: 301
Views: 54433

Re: 30 year mortgage under 3%

I have made literally one payment on my 3.625% 30-year mortgage.

Am I insane for even considering a re-fi?
by mister_sparkle
Tue Feb 25, 2020 3:16 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: U.S. stocks in free fall
Replies: 36221
Views: 4685432

Re: U.S. stocks in free fall

Well, I'm now overweighted on bonds for what feels like the first time in history for me.
by mister_sparkle
Sun Feb 23, 2020 8:43 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Large attic - to finish or not finish?
Replies: 33
Views: 3929

Re: Large attic - to finish or not finish?

Yes, the windows do open.
by mister_sparkle
Sun Feb 23, 2020 7:52 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Large attic - to finish or not finish?
Replies: 33
Views: 3929

Re: Large attic - to finish or not finish?

123 wrote: Sun Feb 23, 2020 7:46 pm Looks like a great house. Kind of surprising that part of the upper floor was finished but part was left as an attic (instead of the entire floor as an attic). Just curious, what is underneath the unfinished attic part? Is it finished living space or perhaps an unheated area like the garage?
The garage.

We looked at several houses on our street (new development) and they all had 1 or 2 unfinished attic spaces. Down here in NC, almost no one has basements, so I think that's probably the reason (storage).
by mister_sparkle
Sun Feb 23, 2020 7:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Large attic - to finish or not finish?
Replies: 33
Views: 3929

Re: Large attic - to finish or not finish?

UpperNwGuy wrote: Sun Feb 23, 2020 6:25 pm Why can't you work out in an unfinished attic? It already looks nicer than the gym where I work out.
I just think a bare-bones area would not be nearly as enticing to working out, which I'm not the biggest fan of.
by mister_sparkle
Sun Feb 23, 2020 7:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Large attic - to finish or not finish?
Replies: 33
Views: 3929

Re: Large attic - to finish or not finish?

Anything from #1-3 is fine depending on your budget and if the space is per code structurally for that use. If up to code, what I would do: Bring up the stairway access to code. Finish it. Do everything right. You will be glad for the effort. Be sure to soundproof and pad the floor so thumping and noise doesn't travel below too badly. However, if it was not designed as another floor with structural strength for that, then put a minimal effort. Check with the builder and the building plans. Are the floor joists minimum 2x12 solid or TGI's 16" o.c. ?? j :happy Here are pictures of the walk-in entrance to the attic, which is about 10 feet away from stairs going downstairs. In addition, I'm showing the area where the a/c unit/furnace is. ...
by mister_sparkle
Sun Feb 23, 2020 5:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Large attic - to finish or not finish?
Replies: 33
Views: 3929

Large attic - to finish or not finish?

I purchased a new house in December that has very large unfinished second-floor attic. It's approximately 25' x 25' -- I've included pictures below that show the depth of it and the framing situation/flue piping on the sides. It is not insulated at the moment and only has 2 bare lightbulbs in the middle of the angled roof. The heat/air conditioning currently do not have any ductwork in the room, although the unit is in a little elevated area near the entrance to the attic. I currently use it to store some plastic tubs of documents and mementoes/photos, extra boxes, etc. There is plenty of unused space in it. I want to convert some of the area into a workout room, and I am really at a loss about what I should do with the space. The options a...
by mister_sparkle
Thu Feb 20, 2020 1:06 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Form 8995-A
Replies: 8
Views: 1293

Re: Form 8995-A

FYI, in TurboTax, form 8995-A is now final.
by mister_sparkle
Fri Feb 07, 2020 8:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax return questions around taxes on promotions, foreign dividend, and sales tax
Replies: 6
Views: 616

Re: Tax return questions around taxes on promotions, foreign dividend, and sales tax

schrute wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2020 1:21 pm
mister_sparkle wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2020 1:05 pm When I had a small business, it was on a cash basis for accounting, so I deducted the sales tax amount from the prior year, which was paid in the current year.
So you mean collected sales tax for Jan - Dec 2017, and paid that in 2018 (2017 tax return)?
I meant that, on my 2018 tax return, I deducted the sales taxes I actually paid in 2018, but they were for 2017 sales.
by mister_sparkle
Fri Feb 07, 2020 1:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tax return questions around taxes on promotions, foreign dividend, and sales tax
Replies: 6
Views: 616

Re: Tax return questions around taxes on promotions, foreign dividend, and sales tax

When I had a small business, it was on a cash basis for accounting, so I deducted the sales tax amount from the prior year, which was paid in the current year.
by mister_sparkle
Wed Feb 05, 2020 8:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vacationing to Palm Springs, CA in two weeks. Advice?
Replies: 24
Views: 2678

Re: Vacationing to Palm Springs, CA in two weeks. Advice?

Hit up Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneertown.

An old one-horse town up in the hills where they used to film westerns and some TV shows, that's now a tiny town of just a few streets.

P&H occasionally book good music (mostly alternative/indie). Nice little spot.
by mister_sparkle
Tue Feb 04, 2020 11:57 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Have I overcontributed to my HSA?
Replies: 1
Views: 345

Have I overcontributed to my HSA?

I received 2 5498-SA forms for 2019 showing my HDHP HSA contributions.

Employer 1: $2623 - individual plan thru September

Employer 2: $1145 - "family" plan (me + my gf, technically my domestic partner), from 10/1 on

Total: $3768


Employer 2 made a $375 contribution to my account, which I was not planning on, so I am $268 over the individual contribution limit of $3500. However, for 3 months I was on a family plan, so would my max contribution be ($3500 x 75%) + ($7000 x 25%), or $4375?
by mister_sparkle
Mon Feb 03, 2020 4:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Question about repayment to former employer
Replies: 0
Views: 392

Question about repayment to former employer

I left my previous employer in September. A month after I resigned, I was contacted by the HR department advising me that I needed to repay them for vacation days that I had not yet accrued. Gross amount was around $5K, net amount around $2600. I wasn't provided any sort of pay stub that showed the detail making up the $2400 difference, but I assumed it was 401k contributions and taxes. I received my W-2 from them and reconciled those figures vs. the YTD numbers on the last pay stub I received, and it appears that I "returned" a 401k contribution of around $1200, which matches the 24% contribution rate I was using. Given that that money is now housed in a Rollover IRA, I know I lost the tax benefit on that amount forever. I'm just...
by mister_sparkle
Wed Jan 29, 2020 8:54 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What to do with VTSAX dividends?
Replies: 9
Views: 2029

Re: What to do with VTSAX dividends?

Is this in a taxable account? If so, no matter if you take the dividends in cash or reinvest them, they will count towards taxable income.

Typical advice is to take taxable dividends in cash, and then purchase new shares every once in a while, to reduce the burden of keeping track of all those separate purchase lots. This also gives you the ability to contribute to underweight allocations, e.g. bonds, instead of reinvesting in U.S. stock.