9 Vital Tax Breaks You Probably Never Heard Of

Published: Feb. 10, 2016, 7:20 p.m.

b"We all like to complain about tax breaks for millionaires and companies with offshore subsidiaries\\u2014but guess what! In recent years, lawmakers have enacted dozens of tax incentives targeted at middle-class families, ordinary working men and women, and I want to make sure you take full advantage of each one relevant to your situation. These tax breaks are listed on one of my favorite websites, Kiplinger.com.
in recent years, lawmakers have enacted dozens of tax incentives targeted at middle-class families - for ordinary working men and women, and I want to make sure you take full advantage of each one that\\u2019s relevant to your situation
1. Saving for Retirement

Let\\u2019s begin with saving for retirement. Most of you know this. Anyone with earned income can contribute to a traditional IRA, but not everyone who contributes can claim a tax deduction.

Here's how the deduction rules work for traditional IRAs. First, there's a $5,500 limit on how much you can contribute each year for everyone below the age of 50, and that limit rises to $6,500 if you're above 50 by the end of the tax year. Now if you\\u2019re working part-time and earn less than $5,500 annually, you can contribute 100% of your income up to the $5.500. I strongly urge you to contribute the full amount to minimize your taxes and get your savings going.

2. Save and Be Credited

Few know about a special tax break available to low and moderate income taxpayers who are saving for retirement. If you are single and make under $30,500 or are married and earn under $61,000, you can get a credit on your taxes by taking advantage of the Saver's Tax Credit. A tax credit is a beautiful thing, because it comes right off your tax liability. This means that if your owe $2,000 and get a credit for $1,000, you end up owing $1,000, which is much better than a deduction against your income. The maximum credit is $1,000, so check with your tax preparer or tax software to see if you qualify.

3. Get Paid (More) for Working

For those of you making less than 15,000 if you're single and $20,000 if you're married and filing jointly, our government provides a tax incentive to reward you for working. It\\u2019s called the Earned Income Tax Credit. Here\\u2019s what makes this popular: If this tax credit exceeds the amount of taxes you owe, you get a tax refund\\u2014a check back to you. In essence, you're no longer a taxpayer. But, here\\u2019s the deal. You MUST act to claim the credit by filing your taxes, a step many just don't take, even though it\\u2019s not complicated.

For 2015, this tax credit ranges from $50 to $6,200, depending on your income and how many children you have. So if you aren\\u2019t making very much, this earned Income Tax Credit can sure help.

4. Your Child, Your Credit

For new parents, each new baby comes with a $1,000 child tax credit to lower and middle income earners and continues every year until your child turns 17. Remember, as I said before, a tax credit is a beautiful thing, because it comes right off of your tax liability. This credit begins to disappear as income rises above $75,000 on single and $110,000 on joint returns. There's no limit to how many kids you may claim on a return, as long as they qualify.

5. Get Credit for That Child\\u2019s Care

You may also qualify for a tax credit that will reduce the cost of child care. If your children are younger than 13, you\\u2019re eligible for a 20-35% credit for up to $3,000 in child-care expenses for one child or $6,000 for two or more. Eligible expenses include the cost of a nanny, preschool, before or after school care and summer day camp.

Another way to reduce child care expenses is to participate in your employer\\u2019s flexible spending account for dependent care expenses. With these accounts, money is deducted from your gross salary ,and you can contribute up to $5,000 per year.

6. Zero Tax on Capital Gains

Let\\u2019s talk about Capital Gains. For most people, long-term capital gains (and qualified dividends) are taxed at 15 or 23."