Tax Glossary

Movable property, such as desks, computers, machinery, and autos, depreciable over a five-year or seven-year period.

When debts are cancelled in bankruptcy cases, the cancelled amount is excluded from gross income. Tax attributes are certain losses, credits, and property basis that must be reduced to the extent of the exclusion.

Shifting income to a later year, such as where you defer taxable interest to the following year by purchasing a T-bill or savings certificate maturing after the end of the current year. Investments in qualified retirement plans provide tax deferral.

The area of your principal place of business or employment. You must be away from your tax home on a business trip to deduct travel expenses.

For an individual, his or her Social Security number; for businesses, fiduciaries, and other non-individual taxpayers, the employer identification number.

Items that may subject a taxpayer to the alternative minimum tax (AMT).

A period (generally 12 months) for reporting income and expenses.

A type of retirement annuity offered to employees of charitable organizations and educational systems, generally funded by employee salary-reduction contributions.

Net income after claiming all deductions from gross income and adjusted gross income, such as IRA deductions, itemized deductions, or the standard deduction, and personal exemptions.

A joint tenancy in real property in the name of both husband and wife. On the death of one tenant, the survivor receives entire interest.

Two or more persons who have undivided ownership rights in property. Upon death of a tenant, his or her share passes to his or her estate, rather than to the surviving tenants.

A trust established under a will.

An arrangement under which one person transfers legal ownership of assets to another person or corporation (the trustee) for the benefit of one or more third persons (beneficiaries).