--- title: Machen McChesney Blog | Tax Updates (3) description: Tax Updates | (3) --- [Family of Services](http://machenmcchesney.com/about-us/family-of-companies/)  |  [CPA & Business Advisory](http://machenmcchesney.com)  |  [Payroll, HR & Benefits](http://focuspaysolutions.com/)  |  [Wealth Management](http://machenmcchesney.com/services/financial-planning-and-wealth-mangement-services/) Auburn-Opelika (334) 887-7022 | Montgomery (334) 244-8900 [![Machen McChesney](https://info.machen.cpa/hs-fs/hub/471263/file-2521950511.png?width=279&name=file-2521950511.png "Machen McChesney")](http://machenmcchesney.com) Search this site on Google Search Google Search this site on Google Search Google - [Client Portal](https://machenmcchesney.sharefile.com/Authentication/Login) - [1040 Electronic Organizer](https://www.my1040data.com/account/login/HT7902990) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/675439?trk=tyah&trkInfo=idx%3A1-1-1%2CtarId%3A1424436970395%2Ctas%3Amachen+mcchesney) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/machenmcchesney) - 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[Benefits](http://machenmcchesney.com/careers/benefits/) - [Our Stories](http://machenmcchesney.com/careers/our-stories/) - [Current Openings](http://machenmcchesney.com/careers/current-openings-send-resume/) - [Accounting Internship Opportunities](http://machenmcchesney.com/careers/students/) - Contact Us - [Auburn-Opelika Office](http://machenmcchesney.com/contact-us/contact-us-auburn-office/) - [Montgomery Office](http://machenmcchesney.com/contact-us/contact-us-montgomery-office/) # Returning Value Blog ## [Five Key Points You Should Know About Home-Sale Exclusion](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/theres-no-tax-place-like-home-reap-top-benefits-from-home-sale-exclusion) ![](https://info.machen.cpa/hubfs/Marty%20Williams%202025%20update.jpg) Posted by [Marty Williams, CPA](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/author/marty-williams-cpa) on Apr 23, 2015 [![](https://info.machen.cpa/hubfs/Large_Home.jpg)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/theres-no-tax-place-like-home-reap-top-benefits-from-home-sale-exclusion) Although the government has chipped away at some of the biggest tax shelters for individuals, at least one solid foundation is still standing: your home. During the period when you own a home, it can be a source of valuable tax deductions for mortgage interest and property taxes. Even better, if you sell the home at a huge profit, you may be able to pocket all or most of the gain from the sale—tax-free. [Full Story](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/theres-no-tax-place-like-home-reap-top-benefits-from-home-sale-exclusion) Posted in [Tax Updates](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/tax-updates) ## [Tax Shelter in Vacation Home Rentals](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/tax-shelter-in-vacation-home-rentals) ![](https://info.machen.cpa/hs-fs/hub/471263/file-2626477966.jpg) Posted by [Don G. Chastain, CPA](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/author/don-g-chastain-cpa) on Apr 06, 2015 [![](https://info.machen.cpa/hubfs/Vacation_Home.jpg)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/tax-shelter-in-vacation-home-rentals) Whether it is a beach house, a cabin in the woods or some other place, a vacation home can be a valuable source of tax breaks, as well as rest and relaxation. For example, you can deduct property taxes along with your mortgage interest (assuming the combined acquisition debt of your main home and vacation home does not exceed $1 million). Hypothetical situation: You decide to rent out your vacation home this upcoming summer when your family is not using it. The rental income you will receive can offset some of the costs of ownership. Of course, this income is taxable, but you may claim offsetting deductions for a portion of your expenses. [Full Story](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/tax-shelter-in-vacation-home-rentals) Posted in [Tax Updates](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/tax-updates) ## [Export Tax Incentives for Your Business](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/export-tax-incentives-for-your-business) ![](https://info.machen.cpa/hubfs/Melissa%20Motley%202025%20update%20.jpg) Posted by [Melissa Motley, CPA](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/author/melissa-motley-cpa) on Mar 30, 2015 **What to Look For** If you’re the owner of a profitable operating business selling into foreign countries, and most of your production costs are in the U.S., you may have an opportunity to gain considerable tax savings. **The Opportunity** Since the passage of the Jobs Act of 2004, any U.S. company that directly exports goods it manufactures here may create an Interest Charge (IC) Domestic International Sales Corporation (DISC), or IC-DISC, to act as the “selling agent” for your operating business. What does this mean? An IC-DISC is an underutilized tax incentive that is “the bucket of money in the parking lot.” [Full Story](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/export-tax-incentives-for-your-business) Posted in [Tax Updates](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/tax-updates) ## [Expecting an Income Tax Refund from Alabama?](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/-temporary-slug-b6d8199f-bfed-4acf-ba3a-8ae865336d79) ![](https://info.machen.cpa/hubfs/Lesley%20Price%202025%20update.jpg) Posted by [Lesley L. Price, CPA](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/author/lesley-l-price-cpa) on Mar 22, 2015 If you are expecting an income tax refund from the Alabama Department of Revenue, be aware that you may receive a letter in the mail asking you to go online to confirm your identity. This letter is legitimate and must be responded to **in 30 days or, according to the letter, your refund will be denied.** [Full Story](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/-temporary-slug-b6d8199f-bfed-4acf-ba3a-8ae865336d79) Posted in [Tax Updates](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/tax-updates) ## [Ups and Downs of the Section 179 Deduction](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/ups-and-downs-of-the-section-179-deduction) ![](https://info.machen.cpa/hubfs/Marty%20Williams%202025%20update.jpg) Posted by [Marty Williams, CPA](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/author/marty-williams-cpa) on Mar 16, 2015 ## Enhancement limit for 2014, reduction for 2015 For small-business owners who frequently buy new equipment and other assets for their business activities, the new tax law enacted at the end of 2014—the Tax Increase Prevention Act (TIPA)—provides a temporary reprieve. Signed on December 19, 2014, TIPA extended a Section 179 deduction retroactive to January 1, 2014. But this provision expired—again—on December 31, 2014. As things now stand, the maximum deduction will fall precipitously in 2015 unless Congress takes further action. [Full Story](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/ups-and-downs-of-the-section-179-deduction) Posted in [Tax Updates](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/tax-updates) [Previous](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/tax-updates/page/2) Search this site on Google Search Google ### Recent Posts ### Subscribe to Blog ### Posts by Category - [Business Tax (356)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/business-tax) - [Business Advisory (238)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/business-advisory) - [Payroll, HR & Benefits (124)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/payroll-hr-benefits) - [Audit & Assurance (113)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/audit-assurance) - [Accounting & Outsourcing (81)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/accounting-outsourcing) - [Individual Tax (75)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/individual-tax) - [Tax Planning (33)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/tax-planning) - [Tax Updates (25)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/tax-updates) - [Retirement & Wealth Management Planning (18)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/retirement-wealth-management-planning) - [Taxation (15)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/taxation) - [Alerts (13)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/alerts) - [Business Valuation (11)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/business-valuation) - [News & Events (11)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/news-events) - [Tax News (11)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/tax-news) - [Individual Tax Planning (10)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/individual-tax-planning) - [Not For Profit (10)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/not-for-profit) - [Retirement Planning (9)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/retirement-planning) - [Estate Planning (8)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/estate-planning) - [Manufacturing Industry Insights (7)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/manufacturing-industry-insights) - [Individuals (1)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/individuals) - [Insider (1)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/insider) - [Professional Standard News (1)](https://info.machen.cpa/blog/topic/professional-standard-news) see all [![Returning\_Value](https://info.machen.cpa/hs-fs/file-2504250850-jpg/Machen-Blog-Image/Returning_Value.jpg)](http://machenmcchesney.com/about-us/mission-and-values/) - [![](https://info.machen.cpa/hs-fs/file-2486483166-jpg/Machen-Blog-Image/aicpa.jpg)](http://www.aicpa.org/Pages/default.aspx) - [![](https://info.machen.cpa/hs-fs/file-2494475845-jpg/Machen-Blog-Image/bdo.jpg)](http://www.bdo.com/alliance/) - [![](https://info.machen.cpa/hs-fs/file-2494475855-jpg/Machen-Blog-Image/nacva.jpg)](http://www.nacva.com/) - [![](https://machenmcchesney.com/img/readers-choice2019.jpg)](https://oanow.upickem.net/engine/Winners.aspx?contestid=104699) - [![actbf-1](https://info.machen.cpa/hs-fs/hubfs/actbf-1.jpg?width=121&name=actbf-1.jpg)](http://www.accountingtoday.com/) - [![pa400](https://info.machen.cpa/hs-fs/hubfs/pa400.jpg?width=121&name=pa400.jpg)](http://insidepublicaccounting.com/) 1820 East University Drive, Auburn, AL 36830 | Tel: (334) 887-7022 | Fax: (334) 887-7221 1761 Taliaferro Trail, Montgomery, AL 36117 | Tel: (334) 244-8900 | Fax: (334) 364-0927 - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/675439?trk=tyah&trkInfo=idx%3A1-1-1%2CtarId%3A1424436970395%2Ctas%3Amachen+mcchesney) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/machenmcchesney) - [Google](https://plus.google.com/101356546927388458481) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/machenmcchesney) [Powered by Skoda Minotti Strategic Marketing](http://marketing.skodaminotti.com)