By Rosalyn Partin, Manchester H&R Block
As we approach the end of 2021, there are some year-end tax moves that may help you save on your tax return. This article highlights some of the strategies you may want to consider.
Individuals who make qualifying charitable contributions before the end of 2021 will be able to deduct $300 ($600 for the Married Filing Jointly filing status) on their tax return. This deduction can be taken even if you use the standard deduction. Bunching personal expenses that qualify as itemized deductions can also be a good strategy. Since individuals deduct expenses in the year they are paid, you may be able to itemize in one year and use the standard deduction in the next year by paying two years of itemized deduction expenses in one calendar year. For instance, if your 2020 real estate tax was paid in 2021, you may want to pay your 2021 real estate tax before January 1, 2022 so you can “bunch” it with your other itemized deductions to possibly push you over the standard deduction and therefore give you a larger deduction. You can do the same with charitable contributions by combining multiple years of donations into one calendar year.
Investors may want to speak with their investment advisors about tax-loss harvesting which allows you to offset capital gains with losses. If you have a large net capital gain so far this year, you may want to sell low performing investments with a loss to offset the tax on the gain. Also, generally if your losses exceed your gains, you are able to deduct up to $3,000 of the excess against your ordinary income.
Taxpayers or those who have dependents in college or vocational school may want to consider paying the spring semester tuition before the end of 2021 instead of waiting until January. Education tax credits are based on payments made in 2021, so if you aren’t already able to qualify for the full amount of credit you may increase your tax credit by accelerating the payment of next year’s tuition.
Business owners (including farmers) who expect to have large taxable profits may want to consider the impact of paying expenses before the end of the year that they would otherwise wait to pay. By paying the expense in 2021, the expense will reduce the taxable profit and thereby reduce tax. Farm-related taxpayers are generally allowed to deduct prepaid purchases of supplies in the year the purchase is made versus the year the supplies are used. Therefore, some farmers utilize prepaid fertilizer, feed, seed, chemicals and other ordinary farm supplies to reduce taxable income. The prepaid expenses are subject to conditions which must be met in order to be deductible. Asset purchases can also create significant tax savings if the purchase is completed before January 1.
If you are interested in applying tax saving strategies for 2021, now is the time to make preparations. Contact your tax advisor and investment advisor for help with estimating your tax and developing possible tax-saving moves.
If you have questions about year-end tax saving strategies, please call your local H&R Block office. In Manchester TN call 931-728-9462. H&R Block Has Your Back!
A look at area gas prices this week: Nov. 29
Crude oil prices initially tumbled more than $10 to $68 a barrel on Friday after news of the Omicron COVID-19 variant broke. Meanwhile, consumers caught a little break as the national average price for a gallon of gas dropped to $3.39, down a penny since last week.
“It’s too soon to tell if fears of a global economic slowdown caused by the Omicron variant will push oil prices lower for the long term,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “But for now, the upward pricing pressure due to tightened supply and high demand seems to have abated, and that will likely result in pump prices stabilizing.”
Today’s national average of $3.39 is a penny less than a month ago and $1.27 more than a year ago.
The average in Tennessee is currently at $3.09, which makes TN the 9th least expensive market in the nation to purchase gasoline. The price in Coffee County is $3.11, which is 2 cents higher than the state average and 28 cents below the national average.
The most expensive gas in the nation can be found in California, at $4.71.
Annual Manchester Trees of Christmas is underway at Fred Deadman Park
Manchester Parks and Recreation Department presents 2021 Trees of Christmas – themed “Christmas Through the Years.” This event will return this year for its 45th Anniversary. The display will run Monday, November 29 – Sunday, December 5. The display will be open Monday from 12-6pm, Tuesday through Friday from 9am-1pm and 3-6pm, Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon – 5pm.
The Christmas Tree is one of the world’s most beautiful and expressive holiday themes. View decorated trees at this delightful holiday event. The theme “Christmas Through the Years” lends itself for one to imagine how Christmas was (or will be) celebrated in another time. The event is free and will be held at the Ada Wright Center located at 328 N. Woodland St., Manchester, TN. All are welcome to partake in this wonderful family-oriented display.
For more information you may contact the Manchester Parks and Recreation Department at 931-728-0273 or email Claire Jolley, cjolley@cityofmanchestertn.com or Becki Johnson, bjohnson@cityofmanchestertn.com.
Donations continue to be needed for Graves-Taylor Christmas Foundation
Sign ups and drop offs for the Gene Taylor – Steve Graves Christmas Foundation continue – with three dates remaining.
If you need Christmas assistance, you can sign up between 1-4 p.m. on Dec. 4, 1-4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10 or 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. Sign ups at the Coffee County Rescue Squad at 2270 Murfreesboro Highway.
In order to sign up, you will need to have proof of residence in Coffee County (such as a driver’s license) and birth certificate of the child / children (or custodial papers). No phone calls.
If you wish to contribute items to the foundation, you can bring a new, unwrapped toy or canned food item to the rescue squad building on these same dates.
Lawsuit filed against Manchester Police Department investigator, assistant DA claims abuse of power
(This story contains language that may be considered by some to be racially sensitive. Discretion is advised).
Tullahoma Alderman Jenna Amacher has filed a lawsuit in the United States Eastern District Court, listing the city of Manchester, Manchester Police Department Investigator Trey Adcock and Coffee County assistant district attorney Jennifer Craighead as defendants.
Amacher is seeking $1.5 million dollars in damages for what she claims in the lawsuit to be “emotional distress” and “defamation,” among other things. Amacher claims this is a case of abuse of power, official misconduct and misuse of government resources and power. The lawsuit is dated Nov. 19, 2021. Thunder Radio News has thoroughly reviewed the suit and other evidence provided by Amacher. This lawsuit only speaks for the Plaintiff (Amacher) and does not offer any defense from Adcock, Craighead or the City of Manchester.
At the center of the litigation is a video posted to social media from a visit Amacher made to an inmate at the Coffee County Jail. According to the lawsuit, Amacher was having a video visitation with Waymond Brian Riddle (the father of her child) at the Coffee County Jail on March 3, 2020. During this visitation, the plaintiff used the word “nigga.” According to the lawsuit, this “must be taken into context with the entire conversation. Both plaintiff and Mr. Riddle are Caucasian.”
Unknown to Amacher, Adcock and Craighead allegedly accessed this video visitation using their “governmental authority, positions, resources and equipment.” Subsequently, one or both allegedly took a personal cell phone video of the plaintiff and published the video on social media. Amacher’s lawsuit claims that “the defendants did not view the visitation under the pretense of any investigatory authority or reasonable purpose.”
Amacher claims that after the video was posted, “an internet mob gathered against her.”
Amacher provided Thunder Radio with an open records request made to the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department that shows that someone by the username of “tadcock” and someone with the username of “jrcraighead” did access the video visitations in question on March 3 (see that letter at the bottom of this story).
According to Facebook profiles, Adcock and Craighead are listed as “in a relationship.”
“This case is clearly an abuse of power, official misconduct, misuse of government resources and power. None of our government employees should be on the clock taking personal cell phone videos of information they are privy to with the INTENT to use it for purposes outside the scope of their employment,” Amacher said in an emailed statement to Thunder Radio. “This was used to maliciously attack and defame me and by individuals that should know better and be held accountable. At some point in our lives, many of us will find ourselves in a position that we would rather not be in, for instance, with a loved one in jail dealing with addiction and the wreckage that is left behind. No one in a position of power should be using this as an opportunity for a smear campaign. Such practice is predatory, demeaning, and it can cost a lot of residual damage. There is a proper way to retrieve the information that was released; these individuals did not choose to adhere to such, instead they acted with reckless disregard to the ethical standards that should be adhered to.
“Both police departments, the DA’s office, and the Sheriffs department have access (remotely) to view the visitation video logs. I believe some individuals have been using this privilege for conduct that is outside the scope of their employment… and possibly as “Days of our Lives” entertainment as such in this case. This practice is unprofessional, unacceptable, and absolutely deplorable.
“I want policies and procedures in place that prevent future misuse of government resources and time as well as safeguards that protect citizen’s privacy when information is obtained that falls outside the scope of an investigation or some legitimate reason for its release through proper channels.
“I will not stand for the abuse of power and I will continue to fight against it in my professional and personal capacity.”
Local VFW names Teachers of the Year
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10904 has named its Teachers of the year.
These recipients will be recognized at an awards night held at 6 p.m. Feb. 14.
HIGH SCHOOL – Trudy Nash, Temple Baptist Christian School
MIDDLE SCHOOL – Will Pannell, Westwood Middle School
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – Kelli Cunningham, Cowan Elementary School.
Manchester Trees of Christmas returns this week for 45th anniversary
Manchester Parks and Recreation Department presents 2021 Trees of Christmas – themed “Christmas Through the Years.” This event will return this year for its 45th Anniversary. The display will run Monday, November 29 – Sunday, December 5. The display will be open Monday from 12-6pm, Tuesday through Friday from 9am-1pm and 3-6pm, Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon – 5pm.
The Christmas Tree is one of the world’s most beautiful and expressive holiday themes. View decorated trees at this delightful holiday event. The theme “Christmas Through the Years” lends itself for one to imagine how Christmas was (or will be) celebrated in another time. The event is free and will be held at the Ada Wright Center located at 328 N. Woodland St., Manchester, TN. All are welcome to partake in this wonderful family-oriented display.
For more information you may contact the Manchester Parks and Recreation Department at 931-728-0273 or email Claire Jolley, cjolley@cityofmanchestertn.com or Becki Johnson, bjohnson@cityofmanchestertn.com.
Thousands turn out for annual Manchester Christmas Parade
Manchester’s annual Christmas Parade was a big hit Saturday night (Nov. 27). There were 97 entries and an estimated crowd well into the thousands lining the streets to gather up some candy, look the the beautiful floats and catch a glimpse of Santa Clause.
There was a float contest. This year’s winners were:
REGULAR FLOAT, 1ST PLACE – Coffee County Central High School Cheerleaders
REGULAR FLOAT, 2ND PLACE – MnM Homes Team, Brokered by EXP Realty
REGULAR FLOAT, 3RD PLACE – McArthur Manor Assisted Living
LARGE FLOAT, 1ST PLACE – Sain Construction
LARGE FLOAT, 2ND PLACE – Kasai North America
LARGE FLOAT, 3RD PLACE – Judd Matheny for Coffee County Mayor
Below are a few photos taken by Thunder Radio. For our full Facebook gallery, click here. Be sure to “like” our Facebook page.
Coffee County Public Defender investigator Dale Conn, 69, has passed away
Jimmy Dale Conn, longtime member of law enforcement and the legal system in Coffee County, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, Nov. 23.
He was 69 years old.
Dale Conn was a graduate of the FBI Academy and a former police offer of the Tullahoma Police Department and previously served as chief deputy of the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and with the Tennessee Highway Patrol. He worked for many years as an investigator with the Coffee County Public Defender’s officer – which is where he worked at the time of his passing.
FULL OBITUARY BELOW
Mr. Jimmy Dale Conn, age 69 of Tullahoma, was born on November 29, 1951, in Tullahoma, TN to the late Freddie Lee Conn and Mary Agnes Clark. He graduated Tullahoma High School in 1970. Mr. Conn enjoyed deer hunting and attended the King’s Cross church. He also graduated from the National FBI Academy. Mr. Conn was a former police officer for Tullahoma Police Department and served as chief deputy with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. His last employment was for the Coffee County Public Defender’s office as an investigator.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Conn is preceded in death by his brother, Michael Conn. He is survived by his children, Michelle Ferrell and her husband, Jason, and James Conn and his wife, Shelly; grandchildren, Morgan and Macy Ferrell, and Sarah, J.C., and Issac Conn; sister Melinda Conn; extended family and a host of friends.
As per Mr. Conn’s request, Cremation was chosen and there are no services scheduled at this time.
Manchester Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Coffee County unemployment falls to near 3 percent
New data revealed the employment situation continued to improve for a majority of Tennessee’s counties in October 2021, according to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Unemployment rates decreased in 65 counties during the month, while they remained the same in 20 counties, and increased in ten counties.
Ninety-three counties reported October jobless numbers lower than 5% and two counties had unemployment rates slightly higher than 5%.
In Coffee County, October unemployment rate is at 3.2 percent. That is down from 3.4 percent the previous month and down from 6.6 percent in October of 2020.
Williamson County’s unemployment rate was the lowest of all the counties for the month. At
2.2%, its October rate dropped by 0.1 of a percentage point when compared to September. Moore County had the second-lowest rate at 2.3%, which was unchanged from the previous month.
While Perry County once again had Tennessee’s highest unemployment rate in October, the county’s jobless number showed significant improvement for the month. The latest statistics show its rate dropped 3.1 percentage points, from 8.4% to 5.3%. Shelby County had the second-highest rate, but it also showed month-to-month improvement, as it decreased from 5.3% to 5%.
Statewide unemployment in Tennessee was lower for the fifth consecutive month. The new seasonally adjusted rate of 4.2% was 0.2 of a percentage point less than September’s revised rate of 4.4%.
The employment situation also improved nationally. The United States unemployment rate for October was 4.6%, down 0.2 of a percentage point from the previous month.
The state and national unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted to factor in seasonal economic influences such as school breaks and severe weather conditions, while county unemployment rates are not.
The state has complied all of October’s county unemployment data into a report which is available here (https://www.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=166478db53c066a7d114ea462&id=335e2ad056&e=29851e7b63) .
Job seekers can find online and in-person assistance by visiting www.TNWorkReady.com.
