It’s hard to believe 2019 is almost over! It’s been a busy year in many sectors, often forcing small business owners to put tax planning on the back burner while they’ve tended to daily business operations. But procrastinate no longer. Consider the following moves to lower your 2019 business tax bill before ringing in the… Continue reading
News & Updates
New Overtime Pay Rules Finalized for 2020
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued the long-anticipated final version of its overtime eligibility rules. The changes will take effect on January 1, 2020. As a result, the DOL estimates that 1.3 million workers will be newly eligible for overtime pay. Are any of them on your payroll? Read on to find out.… Continue reading
Year-End Strategies to Reduce AGI
Reducing your current-year adjusted gross income (AGI) is usually a tax-smart idea. Here are ten ways to reduce your AGI (and modified AGI) over the short and long run. Closeup on AGI AGI equals all taxable income items minus selected deductions for such items as deductible IRA and retirement plan contributions and alimony payments required… Continue reading
Bonus Depreciation for Your Business: Let’s Review Your Options
First-year bonus depreciation has been around for a while now. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) set forth more-generous, but temporary, rules for 2018 through 2026. Recent IRS guidance gives you additional flexibility to fine-tune the bonus depreciation break to suit your specific business and personal tax circumstances. Here’s what you need to… Continue reading
Navigating a Global Expansion
Is your business part of the global economy? If not, it may be losing out on some revenue- and value-building opportunities. However, “going global” obviously isn’t as simple as snapping your fingers and tapping into new markets. And it isn’t necessarily right for every business. Here are several challenges the international marketplace can bring, along… Continue reading
To Capitalize or Expense: How to Treat Website Costs for Tax Purposes
For most small businesses, having a website is a necessity. But what’s the proper tax treatment of the costs to develop a website? Unfortunately, the IRS hasn’t yet released any official guidance on these costs. Therefore, you must extend the existing guidance on other subjects to the issue of website development costs. Depreciable Fixed Assets… Continue reading
Expanding Retirement Plan Options for Small Businesses
A new final rule from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) clarifies some of the ins and outs of multiple employer plans (MEPs). These are defined contribution retirement plans—such as 401(k) plans—that are sponsored by an association or employer group on behalf of member employers. Clarifying the Rules Existing DOL rules already allow MEPs to… Continue reading
Common Questions about Kids and Taxes
Does your son or daughter work during the summer or school year? A part-time job can be a great way for your child to learn about financial responsibility. It can also teach a valuable lesson about owing taxes. In addition to explaining why the government takes money from kids’ paychecks, parents may need to help… Continue reading
Is a New Individual Health Plan in Your Future?
First the old news: Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), employers with at least 50 employees (or full-time equivalents) are required to provide health benefits and pay for a good portion of the cost. And many smaller employers that aren’t required to offer health coverage do so anyway. Why? They may do it to compete… Continue reading
Summer Loving? Think About Taxes Before You Tie the Knot
For many couples, summer is the quintessential time to tie the knot. The weather is warm, the flowers are blooming, and nature offers plentiful backdrops for photos. But there’s more than the ceremony to consider when a couple merges their lives, including taxes and other financial issues. Though finances aren’t necessarily a romantic topic, some… Continue reading
