Posts made in November 2021

The first is that if you’re selling your car for less than what you paid for it, you likely won’t need to pay any sales tax on the sale because the IRS considers selling a used car for less than what you paid a capital loss. However, if you’re selling your car for more than what you paid (like if it’s a classic car you’ve restored and it’s increased in value), you may need to pay sales tax.

If you’re buying a car from a private seller, you may need to pay sales tax, but this sales tax doesn’t go to the seller – it goes to the Department of Motor Vehicles and is incorporated into your car’s registration.

* This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from CarGurus⁵                                                                                                                            

5. ^{cargurus.com, June 24, 2021}

Stocks were mixed last week in choppy trading as investors battled the crosscurrents of good economic data and a troubling rise in COVID-19 infections globally.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.38%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 0.32%. The Nasdaq Composite index gained 1.24% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, dropped 0.59%.^1,2,3

Trading Uncertainty

A healthy retail sales report, falling jobless claims, positive earnings surprises, and strong manufacturing data lent support to stock prices, but investor sentiment was dampened by several concerns.

Chief among these worries are a resurgence of COVID-19 infections this winter and the impact inflation may have on consumer confidence and corporate profit margins. The uncertainty surrounding the renomination of Fed Chair Powell exacerbated this unease; a decision from President Biden may come soon. Technology and other high-growth companies led the market, while some of the reopening stocks, such as travel and energy, lagged.

Retail Sales Jump

October retail sales increased 1.7%, indicating that consumers may be more confident than recent surveys have suggested. Sales of electronics, appliances, and autos were particularly strong last month.⁴

The market cheered the report, interpreting the results as a sign that inflation has not discouraged Americans from buying the products and services they want or need. This retail sales number, however, may be overstated for two reasons. First, higher prices increase the level of sales even if consumer demand is flat. Second, spending may have been pulled forward by consumer worries over higher future prices and concerns that goods may not be available during the holiday shopping season.

Final Thought

We want to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving, full of family, fun, and joy.

On this special day of gratitude, we would also like to express our appreciation to you for extending us the privilege of serving you this year and helping you pursue your important financial goals.

1. ^{The Wall Street Journal, November 19, 2021}
2. ^{The Wall Street Journal, November 19, 2021}
3. ^{The Wall Street Journal, November 19, 2021}
4. ^{CNBC, November 16, 2021}

Taxpayers who earn money from their hobbies might have to report the income to the IRS. Here are some tips to help:

1. The IRS taxes income differently, depending on whether the income stems from a true hobby or a for-profit business.
2. Your hobby may entail expenses required to do it well. For example, you may need to buy yarn to knit scarves. You might be able to deduct expenses associated with hobby/business.
3. In some instances, you can deduct approvable expenses only up to the amount you brought in for income.

* This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS.gov⁶

6. ^{IRS.gov, May 25, 2021}

Stocks posted small declines last week as investors digested recent stock market gains and an unexpectedly high inflation read.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.63%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 retreated 0.31%. The Nasdaq Composite index slipped 0.69% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, dropped 0.78%.^1,2,3

Market Takes a Pause

After moving higher on Congressional approval of a $1 trillion-plus infrastructure spending bill, stocks drifted lower as investors took a breather after a weeks-long run-up in prices. A high October inflation report on Wednesday sent bond yields higher and stock prices lower, especially technology and other high growth companies. Energy also fell.^4,5

Higher-than-expected inflation elevated investor worries that the Fed may be forced to accelerate its bond tapering schedule and hike interest rates sooner than planned. Stocks found firmer footing following the inflation-related sell-off, closing the week on a strong note, though it wasn’t sufficient to keep stocks from ending the week in the red

Hot! Hot! Hot!

Rising prices appear to be showing no signs of moderating. The first reading on inflation was Tuesday’s release of the Producer Price Index, which saw wholesale prices rise 0.6% in October and register an 8.6% increase from 12-months ago.⁴

A day later the Consumer Price Index came in above consensus estimates, with prices climbing 0.9% from September 2021 and increasing 6.2% year-over-year. The 12-month increase was the sharpest such rise since 1990. The 12-month core inflation rate (excludes the more volatile food and energy sectors) was 4.6%, the fastest pace since 1991.⁵

1. ^{The Wall Street Journal, November 12, 2021}
2. ^{The Wall Street Journal, November 12, 2021}
3. ^{The Wall Street Journal, November 12, 2021}
4. ^{CNBC, November 9, 2021}
5. ^{The Wall Street Journal, November 10, 2021}

Every year, the IRS suggests doing what it calls a “Paycheck Checkup.” Check your withholding status if you:

• Get married or divorced
• Give birth to or adopt a child
• Buy a house
• Retire
• File for bankruptcy
• Get a new job or lose a job

The IRS also suggests checking on any streams of taxable income that are not subject to withholding, such as interest, dividends, capital gains, self-employment income, or retirement plan distributions. You also should check your withholding if you’ve experienced changes to your medical expenses, taxes, charitable gifts, education credits, dependent care expenses, and more. These life changes might affect your deductions or tax credits. Paycheck Checkups may help you better manage the process of filing taxes.

* This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS.gov⁷

7. ^{IRS.gov, January 22, 2021}

Weekly Market Insights: Earnings Build; GDP Slows

A fresh wave of positive corporate earnings surprises sent markets to new record highs last week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 0.40%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 1.33%. The Nasdaq Composite index picked up 2.71% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, was up 0.68%.^1,2,3

Earnings Drive Market

The week kicked off with the Dow Jones Industrials and S&P 500 index setting record highs as the financial markets carried over the previous week’s price momentum.⁴

Stocks continued to climb on a string of forecast-beating earnings results. With about half of the S&P 500 constituent companies having reported earnings, more than 80% of them have beaten Wall Street analysts’ consensus estimates. Based on these results, earnings for all S&P 500 companies are expected to come in approximately 39% above the third quarter of last year. (Forecasts are based on assumptions, and may not materialize.) Stocks overcame disappointing earnings from two mega-cap tech names on Friday to maintain the week’s solid gains.⁵

GDP Growth Slows

While businesses managed to post strong earnings in the third quarter, the first look at economic growth came in below consensus estimates. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at a 2.0% annualized rate in the third quarter, a slowdown from the two previous quarters, each of which posted annualized growth rates in excess of 6%.⁶

The spread of the Delta variant and backlogs in the supply chain were two major factors dragging on economic activity.

1. ^{The Wall Street Journal, October 29, 2021}
2. ^{The Wall Street Journal, October 29, 2021}
3. ^{The Wall Street Journal, October 29, 2021}
4. ^{CNBC, October 24, 2021}
5. ^{CNBC, October 28, 2021}
6. ^{The Wall Street Journal, October 28, 2021}