Stephen M. Kirouac, CPA, PC

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At Stephen M. Kirouac, CPA, PC we understand that knowledge is power.  We want to help provide provide you with the clarity and confidence you need to make sound financial decisions right here on our site.  Take a look at the articles, FAQs and Java calculators we've provided here and when you are ready to take that next step, contact us to set up an appointment.  Our friendly financial professionals will guide you to a financial move that makes sense for your individual needs.

 
Business Owner
 Articles
  Benefits and retirement plans
   Benefit plans for small businesses
   Group health insurance: a valued employee benefit
   Health insurance for the self-employed
   Retirement plans for small businesses
   What employers need to know about workers' compensation insurance
  Starting a business
   Advantages and disadvantages of self-employment
   Choosing an entity for your business
   Funding a business
   Hiring your first employee
   Qualifying for the home office deduction
   Record keeping for your own business
   Starting or buying a business
   Tax planning for the self-employed
 Decision Tools
  Benefits and retirement plans
   401(k) plans
   Building a retirement plan for your business
   Comparison of types of educational assistance
   Individual 401(k) Illustration
  Choosing an entity
   Choosing a business entity
   Comparison of LLCs, LLPs, and professional corporations
  Tax planning
   Accelerating deductions/postponing income
   Accelerating income/postponing deductions
 FAQs
  Advertising a business
   How can I get free publicity for my business?
   How do I know where to advertise my business?
   What is the best form of advertising?
  Employee benefits and other issues
   How can I boost the morale of my employees without incurring huge expenses?
   How can I find good employees for my business?
   What are health reimbursement arrangements?
   What are incentive stock options (ISOs)?
   What benefits should I offer to my employees?
  Incorporating a business
   Can I change my business from a C corporation to an S corporation?
   Can I change my business from an S corporation to a C corporation?
   Should I incorporate my business?
  Starting a business
   Don't most small businesses fail?
   How do I find good advisors such as lawyers and accountants to help with my business?
   Is buying a franchise a good way to get into business?
   Should I buy an existing business or start from scratch?
   Should I buy or lease assets for my business?
   What are the stages of business development?
   What should I look for in a business location?
 
Education Planning
 Articles
  529 plans
   529 plans and financial aid eligibility
   529 plans vs. other college savings options
   529 plans: The ins and outs of contributions and withdrawals
   Choosing a state savings plan
   Estate planning and 529 plans
   Income tax planning and 529 plans
   Making changes to your 529 account
   Opening a 529 account
   The ABCs of 529 plans
 Decision Tools
  529 plans
   529 plans vs. Coverdell education savings accounts
   529 plans: advisor-sold state savings plans
   529 plans: direct-sold state savings plans
   529 plans: prepaid tuition plans
   State savings plan nonqualified withdrawals calculator
   State savings plans vs. prepaid tuition plans
 FAQs
  529 plan basics
   Do 529 plans include both state savings plans and prepaid tuition plans?
   How long have 529 plans been around?
   How many states currently have 529 plans?
   What can you tell me about employer-sponsored 529 plans?
   What is the Independent 529 Plan?
   What's the difference between state savings plans and prepaid tuition plans?
   Who can legally offer 529 plans?
   Why are these plans referred to as "529" plans?
  Education tax credits
   Now that my child is in college, am I entitled to any education tax credits?
   What are the Hope credit and the Lifetime Learning credit?
 
Estate Planning
 Articles
  Estate planning basics
   Estate planning--an introduction
   Facing the possibility of incapacity
   Gift and estate taxes
   Trust basics
   Wills--the cornerstone of your estate plan
 Decision Tools
  Estate planning basics
   529 Plan Federal estate tax calculator
   529 Plan Federal estate tax calculator - (Consumer Version)
   Common incapacity documents
   Estate shrinkage
   Federal estate tax estimator
   Federal transfer tax exemption amounts under the Tax Act of 2001
   Steps to estate planning success
   Table of federal estate tax brackets and exemption limits
 FAQs
  Estate planning basics
   How often do I need to review my estate plan?
   Isn't estate planning only for the rich?
   What makes up my taxable estate?
 
Government Benefits
 Articles
  Medicare and Medicaid
   Coordinating long-term care insurance with government benefits
   Health insurance in retirement
   Medicaid and nursing home care
   Medicaid and the principal residence
   Medicaid planning basics
   Medicare
 Decision Tools
  Medicare and Medicaid
   Medicaid eligibility for nursing home care
   Medicare figures at-a-glance
   Medicare, Medigap, and Medicaid
 FAQs
  Medicare and Medicaid
   How do I enroll in Medicare?
   How does Medicare Advantage work?
   I'm putting money into a 529 plan for my grandchild. But are the 529 assets subject to Medicaid spend-down requirements?
   I'm thinking about placing my mother in a nursing home. Will Medicaid pay for her care?
   If I'm covered by Medicare, should I have additional health insurance?
 
Investment Planning
 Articles
  Investment basics
   Handling market volatility
   Investment planning--the basics
   Six keys to successful investing
   Understanding investment terms and concepts
   Understanding risk
 Decision Tools
  Taxes
   Capital gains and dividends tax relief
   Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003: Highlights
 FAQs
  Taxes
   How did the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 change capital gains tax rates?
   I have investment property. What does basis mean, and how do I determine the basis of my property?
   Will I have to pay tax on my investment income?
 
Personal Finance
 Articles
  Owning a home
   Applying for a mortgage
   Buying a home
   Opening the door to homeowners insurance
   Refinancing your mortgage
   Selling a home
   Tax benefits of home ownership
   Your home as a source of dollars in retirement
 
Retirement Planning
 Articles
  Social Security
   Social Security retirement benefits
   Understanding Social Security
 Decision Tools
  Social Security
   How earnings affect Social Security
   Social Security figures at-a-glance
   Sources of retirement income: filling the Social Security gap
 FAQs
  Social Security
   Are my Social Security benefits subject to income tax?
   How can I get an estimate of my Social Security benefits?
   I'm getting remarried. How will this affect my Social Security benefits?
   Should I retire now at age 62 and collect Social Security benefits, or should I wait until age 65?
   What happens if I start collecting Social Security after age 65?
   When I retire, how much will I receive from Social Security?
   Will my children receive money from Social Security when I die?
 
Tax Planning
 Articles
  General tax planning
   Year-end tax planning
  Tax credits and deductions
   Education tax credits
   Personal deduction planning
   Qualifying for the home office deduction
   Understanding personal tax credits
 Decision Tools
  General tax planning
   Federal individual income tax fundamentals
  Tax credits and deductions
   Comparison of education tax credits and deductions
   General business tax credits
   Is my home mortgage interest fully deductible?
   Tax credit sampler
 FAQs
  Tax credits
   Can I take the credit for the elderly or disabled?
   Can I take the tax credit for child care?
   Now that my child is in college, am I entitled to any education tax credits?
   What are the Hope credit and the Lifetime Learning credit?
   What is the child tax credit?
   What is the difference between the child tax credit and the child and dependent care tax credit?
   What is the earned income credit and who qualifies for it?
  Tax deductions
   Can I deduct home office expenses?
   Can I deduct premiums paid for long-term care (LTC) insurance?
   Can I deduct the cost of improvements or repairs I've made to my home?
   How do I deduct and substantiate my gambling losses?
   I paid my mother's real estate taxes last year. Can I deduct this on my tax return?
   I refinanced my principal home last year and paid points. What are points, and can I deduct them on my tax return?
   If I prepay next year's taxes this year, can I deduct them this year?
   If I work at home occasionally, am I entitled to a home office deduction?
   Is student loan interest deductible?
   My spouse and I are filing separate returns. Can we both itemize our deductions? If so, how do we split the deductions?
   My town has assessed against me a real estate betterment for new sewer lines installed in my street. May I deduct this amount on my tax return?
   We just bought our first home. What can we deduct from the settlement statement?