The Foreign Service Journal, February 2003

LEGAL SERVICES ESTATE PLANNING, WILLS, POW- ERS OF ATTORNEY. General practice; estate planning: wills, trusts, living wills, pow- ers of attorney; review and update of old wills or drafting of new one; probate administra- tion. Charles S. Abell, Furey, Doolan & Abell, LLP; 8401 Conn. Ave., #1100, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, Tel: (301) 652-6880, Fax: (301) 652-8972. WILL/ESTATE PLANNING by attorney who is a former FSO. Have your will reviewed and updated, or new one prepared: No charge for initial consultation. M. Bruce Hirshorn, Boring & Pilger , 307 Maple Ave. W, Suite D, Vienna, VA 22180 Tel: (703) 281-2161, Fax: (703) 281-9464. E-mail: mbhirshorn@boringandpilger.com GRIEVANCE ATTORNEY (specializing since 1983) Attorney assists FS officers cor- rect defective performance appraisals, reverse improper tenuring and promotion board deci- sions, secure financial benefits, defend against disciplinary actions and obtain relief from all forms of discrimination. Free Initial Consultation. Call William T. Irelan, Esq. Tel: (202) 625-1800 Fax: (202) 625-1616. E-mail: wtirelan@vais.net ATTORNEY WITH 22 years successful experience SPECIALIZING FULL TIME IN FS GRIEVANCES will more than double your chance of winning. 30%of grievants win before the Grievance Board; 85% of my clients win. Only a private attorney can adequately devel- op and present your case, including neces- sary regs, arcane legal doctrines, precedents and rules. Call Bridget R. Mugane at Tel: (202) 387-4383, Tel: (301) 596-0175. E-mail: fsatty@comcast.net Free initial consultation. TAX & FINANCIAL SERVICES ROLAND S. HEARD, CPA 1091 Chaddwyck Dr. Athens, GA 30606 Tel/Fax: (706) 769-8976 E-mail: RSHEARDCPA@aol.com • U.S. income tax services • Many FS & contractor clients • Practiced before the IRS • Financial planning • American Institute of CPAs, Member F IRST C ONSULTATION F REE ATTORNEY ATTORNEY HANDLINGGRIEVANCES at State, Commerce,USAID.Also appeals to FSGB and MSPB, EEOC hearings, and fed- eral court litigation re employment discrimi- nation under Title VII. Will write your com- plaints, represent you at hearings, litigate your actions in federal court, and brief your appeals. Offices in VA and D.C. Call George Elfter at (202) 237-2047, Fax :(703) 354-8734. E-mail: georgeElfter@aol.com PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: $1.25/word (10 word min.) First 3 words bolded free, add’l bold text $2/word, header, box, shading $10 ea. Deadline: 20th of month for pub. 5 wks. later. Ad Mgr: Tel: (202) 944-5507, Fax: (202) 338-6820. E-mail: miltenberger@afsa.org 14 AFSA NEWS • FEBRUARY 2003 CLASSIFIEDS households can exclude up to$13,125;mar- ried filing jointly up to $17,500; married fil- ing separately up to $8,750 each. NEWMEXICO: All pensions and annuities of NewMexico residents, if taxable federal- ly, are fully taxed as part of Federal Adjusted Gross Income. NEW YORK: Full exemption; U.S. gov- ernment pensions and annuities are not taxed. NORTHCAROLINA: Pursuant to the Bailey decision, government retirement benefits receivedby federal retireeswhohad five years of creditable service in a federal retirement system on Aug. 12, 1989, are exempt from North Carolina income tax. Those who do not have 5 years of creditable service onAug. 12, 1989, must pay N.C. tax on their feder- al annuities. Up to $4,000 of any federal annuity income is exempt. NORTHDAKOTA: All pensions and annu- ities are fully taxed, except first $5,000which is exempt less any Social Security payments, but only if the individual chooses touseForm ND-2 (optional method). Individuals are cautioned to check both Form ND-1 and FormND-2 toascertainwhichone yields the lowest tax for the year. Qualifying for the exclusion does not necessarily mean that FormND-2 is the better form to choose. OHIO: Taxpayers 65 and over may take a $50 credit. In addition, Ohio gives a tax credit basedon the amount of the retirement income, reaching a maximum of $200 for any retirement income over $8,000. OKLAHOMA: Up to $5,500 exempt on all federal pensions. OREGON: Generally, all retirement income is subject toOregon taxwhen receivedby an Oregon resident. This includes non-Oregon source retirement income. However, feder- al retirees who retired on or before Oct. 1, 1991, may exempt all of their federal pen- sion; thosewhoworkedbothbefore andafter that datemust prorate their exemptionusing the instructions in the tax booklet. Oregon- source retirement income received by non- residents who are not domiciled inOregon is not subject to taxation by Oregon. PENNSYLVANIA: Government pensions and social security arenot subject topersonal income tax. PUERTORICO: There is an exemption of $8,000 on income received from pension accounts if you are under 60. Over 60 the exemption is $11,000. RHODE ISLAND: Fully taxable. No exemptions available. SOUTH CAROLINA: Under age 65, claim a $3,000 deduction of qualified retirement income; 65 years of age or over, claim a $10,000 deduction of qualified retirement income. A resident of South Carolina who is 65 years or older may claim a $15,000 deduction against any type of income, but must reduce the $15,000 by any retirement deduction claimed. SOUTHDAKOTA: Nopersonal income tax. TENNESSEE: Social security and pension income is not subject topersonal income tax. TEXAS: No personal income tax. UTAH: Under age 65 a $4,800 exemption may be taken. However, the deduction is reduced$.50 for every $1.00 that the Federal Adjusted Gross Income exceeds $32,000 (married filing joint)or$25,000(single).Over 65 years of age a $7,500 exemption may be taken for each individual. However, the exemption is reduced$.50 for every$1.00 that the Federal AdjustedGross Income exceeds $32,000 (married filing joint)or $25,000 (sin- gle). VERMONT: Fully taxable. VIRGINIA: Age deductions of $12,000, if over age 65, and $6,000 if age 62 to 64. All taxpayers receive an additional personal exemption of $800. WASHINGTON: No personal income tax. WESTVIRGINIA: Up to $8,000 of income received fromany source is exempt if 65years or older. WISCONSIN: Pensions and annuities are fullytaxable. However,benefitsreceivedfrom a federal retirement system account estab- lished before Dec. 31, 1963, are not taxable WYOMING: No personal income tax . ▫