Tax | Ratcliff Financial Services Inc.

Understanding tax strategies and managing your tax bill should be part of any sound financial approach. Some taxes can be deferred, and others can be managed through tax-efficient investing. With careful and consistent preparation, you may be able to manage the impact of taxes on your financial efforts.

The Facts About Income Tax

Millions faithfully file their 1040 forms each April. But some things about federal income taxes may surprise you.

Have A Question About This Topic?

Making Your Tax Bracket Work

Have you explored all your options when it comes to managing your taxable income?

A Quick Guide to Charitable Trusts

Want to Know if a Charitable Trust is appropriate for you? Understand the philanthropic and tax implications.

What You Need to Know about Tax-Loss Harvesting

While tax-loss harvesting won't eliminate your taxes, it may offset what you owe on your taxable investment accounts.

Making Cash Flow Count with Tax-Smart Strategies

Discover how managing your cash flow can help you improve your tax situation and move closer to your long-term goals.

What Do Your Taxes Pay For?

Here's a breakdown of how the federal government spends your tax money.

How Income Taxes Work

A quick look at how federal income taxes work.

Tax Deductions You Won't Believe

Here are some examples of deductions from the IRS that were permitted and some that were, uh, too creative.

What's My 2026 Tax Bracket?

Check out this handy reference of updated ranges from the IRS in case your designated bracket has changed.

Keep More, Grow More: 5 Tax-Efficient Investment Strategies

Ready to optimize your portfolio and reduce your tax burden? Discover 5 tax-efficient investment strategies that could help.

View all articles

Social Security Tax Estimator

Estimate how much of your Social Security benefit may be subject to federal income tax.

Federal Capital Gains Tax Estimator

Estimate your potential federal capital gains tax liability on the sale of an asset.

View all calculators

Making Your Tax Bracket Work

Have you explored all your options when it comes to managing your taxable income?

The Facts About Income Tax

Millions faithfully file their 1040 forms each April. But some things about federal income taxes may surprise you.

View all videos

Articles

A Quick Guide to Charitable Trusts

Want to Know if a Charitable Trust is appropriate for you? Understand the philanthropic and tax implications.

Capital Gains Tax When Selling Your Home

If your clients are buying or selling a home, use this to help them determine if they qualify for capital gains taxes.

Does Your Child Need to File an Income Tax Return?

When your child has income, there’s a good chance that he or she will need to report it and pay taxes.

Red Flags for Tax Auditors

Here are six flags that may make your tax return prime for an IRS audit.

Filing Final Tax Returns for the Deceased

The federal government requires deceased individuals to file a final income tax return.

You May Need to Make Estimated Tax Payments If…

Have income that isn’t subject to tax withholding? Or insufficient withholdings? You may have to pay estimated taxes.

View all articles
Calculators

Federal Capital Gains Tax Estimator

Estimate your potential federal capital gains tax liability on the sale of an asset.

Social Security Tax Estimator

Estimate how much of your Social Security benefit may be subject to federal income tax.

View all calculators
Videos

Making Your Tax Bracket Work

Have you explored all your options when it comes to managing your taxable income?

The Facts About Income Tax

Millions faithfully file their 1040 forms each April. But some things about federal income taxes may surprise you.

View all videos