The Standard Deduction

Let Tax Directors Candace Varner and Ben Hake help you avoid surprises on Tax Day! Listen as they discuss the ins and outs of taxation on many common types of investment income (including interest income, capital gains distributions and several types of dividends) as well as the importance — and timing — of K-1s.

In this episode, Tax Directors Candace Varner and Ben Hake discuss several deductions and credits you may be eligible for this tax season (including charitable donations, medical expenses, childcare, etc.). They also give specific tips for lowering your tax bill when it comes out higher than expected.

In this episode, Tax Directors Candace Varner and Ben Hake are joined by their colleague, Amy McCue, to explain how you could exclude a portion of the gains in your home’s value on your taxes if you’ve recently sold it (or are considering it in this hot seller’s market). As usual, Ben makes things complicated.

In their latest information-packed episode, Tax Directors Candace Varner and Ben Hake prepare you for filing your 2021 tax returns. They cover important documents you’ll need and when you can expect to receive them, along with a few ways you may be able to reduce your tax bill before the filing deadline.

Lastly, if you’ll be waiting on a K-1 (or tend to be a slacker), they explain what you’ll need to know about filing an extension.

Don’t worry, they’re not doing a cooking podcast. In this episode, Tax Directors Candace Varner and Ben Hake discuss a different kind of SALT – State and Local Tax. The SALT deduction was capped at $10,000 in 2018, and many high-tax states have since introduced their own workarounds. Recently, the Build Back Better Act proposed a significant increase to the deduction, but taxpayers who can’t take advantage of it this year may be left feeling salty.

Wishing happy holidays (including Festivus) to all our listeners!

While Congress seems to be actively trying to make their podcast episodes obsolete as quickly as possible, Tax Directors Candace Varner and Ben Hake nevertheless tackle the latest changes to tax legislation proposals. They cover what’s now in, what’s now out, what’s been modified, and why they have reason to be optimistic that someone at the IRS might eventually read their letters and answer their calls.

In this episode, Tax Directors Candace Varner and Ben Hake break down the recent tax proposals, propose an idea for an updated "Schoolhouse Rock" song and let you know what, if anything, you need to do now.

Tax Directors Candace Varner and Ben Hake are joined by their colleague, Tizzi Blackburn, to discuss Roth IRA conversions – the advantages, the rules, who’s eligible and when it makes sense to do one.

In this episode of The Standard Deduction, Tax Directors Candace Varner and Ben Hake discuss the IRS’ “Dirty Dozen” list – trending tax scams, schemes, and offers that sound too good to be true – and what you need to know to steer clear of trouble.

In this episode of The Standard Deduction (they’re certain their kids will just love it), Tax Directors Candace Varner and Ben Hake explain and discuss the nuances of the Child Tax Credit which was expanded in 2021. They tell you what you need to know about eligibility, opting out and navigating the account creation process on the IRS website.