Category: Uncategorized
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Recordkeeping DOs and DON’Ts for business meal and vehicle expenses
If you’re claiming deductions for business meals or auto expenses, expect the IRS to closely review them. In some cases, taxpayers have incomplete documentation or try to create records months (or years) later. In doing so, they fail to meet the strict substantiation requirements set forth under tax law. Tax auditors are adept at rooting…
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Unemployed Last Year? Buying Health Insurance This Year? You May Benefit from Favorable New Changes
In recent months, there have been a number of tax changes that may affect your individual tax bill. Many of these changes were enacted to help mitigate the financial damage caused by COVID-19. Here are two changes that may result in tax savings for you on your 2020 or 2021 tax returns. The 2020 return…
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Employers Have Questions And Concerns About Deferring Employees’ Social Security Taxes
The IRS has provided guidance to employers regarding the recent presidential action to allow employers to defer the withholding, deposit, and payment of certain payroll tax obligations. The three-page guidance in Notice 2020-65 was issued to implement President Trump’s executive memorandum signed on August 8. Private employers still have questions and concerns about whether, and how,…
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Even If No Money Changes Hands, Bartering Is A Taxable Transaction
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many small businesses are strapped for cash. They may find it beneficial to barter for goods and services instead of paying cash for them. If your business gets involved in bartering, remember that the fair market value of goods that you receive in bartering is taxable income. And if you exchange…
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Do You Run Your Business from Home? You Might Be Eligible for Home Office Deductions
If you’re self-employed and work out of an office in your home, you may be entitled to home office deductions. However, you must satisfy strict rules. If you qualify, you can deduct the “direct expenses” of the home office. This includes the costs of painting or repairing the home office and depreciation deductions for furniture…
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Some Business Owners Can’t Participate in Their Own Companies’ HRAs
Many companies now offer health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) in conjunction with high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). HRAs offer some advantages over the perhaps better-known HDHP companion account, the health savings account (HSA). If you’re considering adding an HRA, you might assume that, as a business owner, you can participate in the HRA. But this may not…
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Four Tough Questions to Ask About Your Sales Department
Among the fastest ways for a business to fail is because of mismanagement or malfeasance by ownership. On the other hand, among the slowest ways is an ineffective or dysfunctional sales department. Companies suffering from this malady may maintain just enough sales to stay afloat for a while, but eventually they go under because they…
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Put a Number on Your Mid-Year Performance with the Right KPIs
We’ve reached the middle of the calendar year. So how are things going for your business? Conversationally you might say, “Pretty well.” But, analytically, can you put a number on how well you’re doing — or several numbers for that matter? You can if you choose and calculate the right key performance indicators (KPIs). Four…
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Your Succession Plan May Benefit from a Separation of Business and Real Estate
Like most businesses, yours probably has a variety of physical assets, such as production equipment, office furnishings, and a plethora of technological devices. But the largest physical asset in your portfolio may be your real estate holdings — that is, the building and the land it sits on. Under such circumstances, many business owners choose…
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Make a Deductible IRA Contribution for 2018. It’s Not Too Late!
Do you want to save more for retirement on a tax-favored basis? If so, and if you qualify, you can make a deductible traditional IRA contribution for the 2018 tax year between now and the tax filing deadline and claim the write-off on your 2018 return. Or you can contribute to a Roth IRA and…