If I get no 401(k) match, should I invest in a Roth IRA instead?

• Is MBA tuition deductible?

  I'm pursuing my MBA while I work. My company does not reimburse me. Can I deduct the tuition? — A.A., Atlanta

  If you're hoping to write off your education as an unreimbursed business expense, tread very carefully. It's been allowed, but it's risky. A safer bet is to take advantage of an education tax break: the tuition and fees deduction ($4,000 max) or the $2,000 lifetime learning credit. (The $2,500 American opportunity MORE

  Feb 3, 2012 10:00 AM ET
  Posted in: Family Money, Taxes

• How do I find the cost basis of a stock that's had splits, mergers and acquisitions?

  How do I find out my cost basis for stocks that have had dividends, reverse splits, acquisitions, mergers, and so on? — Ronald Lippman, Buford, Ga.

  Calculating your cost basis — the number that determines your taxable gain or loss — can be thorny. At its simplest, it's what you paid for the stock, plus your commissions and fees, but you need to adjust for all kinds of things that have happened MORE

  Feb 1, 2012 12:00 PM ET
  Posted in: Investing, Taxes

• What proof do I need for medical tax deductions?

  I have more than enough bills to take a medical deduction. What proof is required? —David S., Rathdrum, Idaho

  Record keeping is the easy part: File away every insurance bill, canceled check, credit card statement, and the like. The tough part is hitting the high bar to qualify — you can deduct only those medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. As part of the health reform law, that MORE

  Jan 31, 2012 5:05 AM ET
  Posted in: Family Money, Taxes

• Should I use the FSA or the Dependent Care Credit?

  I make approximately $45,000 to $50,000 with one full-time and one occasional part-time job. As a single father with no outside financial help, I pay about $7,600 to $8,000 a year in childcare costs so I can work. I can contribute to a childcare pretax account offered through my company, or I can pay for childcare after taxes and the IRS will give me 24% of $6,000 of my childcare MORE

  Jan 24, 2012 5:05 AM ET
  Posted in: Family Money, Taxes

• Can I use a different cost basis for selling shares of the same mutual fund?

  A couple of years ago I sold some mutual fund shares using the specific lot method. Earlier this year I sold more shares, but inadvertently used the average cost method. What do I need to do, if anything, to straighten this out? –Name withheld

  For calculating taxes, an investor is allowed to change from the specific lot method—where you track the cost of each lot you buy and sell—to MORE

  Nov 29, 2011 5:05 AM ET
  Posted in: Family Money, Taxes

• Can I give my variable annuity to my kids?

  A variable annuity that I've owned for many years has risen a great deal in value. Can I gift it to my kids? — Anthony Cupo, Fayetteville, Ind.

  You can, and you won't owe gift taxes as long as the annuity's current market value doesn't put you over your lifetime gift-tax exclusion (currently $5 million). But another tax trap can make this strategy unappealing, says University of Southern California tax law professor MORE

  Nov 7, 2011 5:05 AM ET
  Posted in: Family Money, Taxes

• What happens to joint capital losses if one spouse dies?

  We file joint tax returns every year. In the last two years we accumulated some long-term loss carryovers, which under ordinary circumstances will take several years to use up. What happens to the carryovers if one of the spouses dies? -- A.G., Indiana

  From the perspective of the Internal Revenue Service, capital losses belong to the person who incurred them. In the case of a jointly owned brokerage account, the losses MORE

  Oct 6, 2011 5:05 AM ET
  Posted in: Family Money, Taxes

• How can I prove that I made non-deductible IRA contributions?

  I was unaware of the requirement to file IRS forms 8606 to designate IRA contributions I made non-deductible. Now the money I contributed will be taxed (again), unless I can show "satisfactory evidence" that the non-deductible contributions were made. Can you tell me what would constitute "satisfactory evidence?" -- E.C., Silver Spring, MD

  A: If you don't claim a deduction of your traditional IRA contribution, you do need to MORE

  Sep 14, 2011 5:05 AM ET
  Posted in: Family Money, Taxes

• Can I transfer money between mutual funds without paying taxes?

  I have mutual funds that are not performing like they used to. I want to transfer the balances and automatic investments to another fund. These are not retirement funds, however. So how can I transfer them without incurring a tax liability? — Name and location withheld

  Unfortunately, there is no way to "transfer" balances from one mutual fund to another without triggering a taxable event, says Garth Scrivner, a certified financial MORE

  Jul 27, 2011 5:05 AM ET
  Posted in: Investing, Taxes