If you read the Internal Revenue Code (and you probably don’t want to!), you may be surprised to find that most business deductions aren’t specifically listed. For example, the tax law doesn’t explicitly state that you can deduct office supplies and certain other expenses. Some expenses are detailed in the tax code, but the general […]
Read More… from What types of expenses can’t be written off by your business?
Undergoing a divorce can be stressful. But if you’re a business owner, tax issues can complicate matters even more. Your business ownership interest is one of your biggest personal assets and in many cases, your marital property will include all or part of it. Transferring property tax-free In general, you can divide most assets, including […]
Read More… from Divorcing business owners should pay attention to the tax consequences
The partnership issue An unincorporated business with your spouse is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, unless you can avoid that treatment. Otherwise, you must file an annual partnership return, on Form 1065. In addition, you and your spouse must be issued separate Schedule K-1s, which allocate the partnership’s taxable income, deductions […]
Read More… from Spouse-run businesses face special tax issues
Planning your retirement savings options for your small business is much more simpler than you think. There are a couple of options to consider if you’re thinking about setting up a retirement plan for yourself and your employees. Despite concerns about the financial commitment and administrative burdens involved. Let’s take a look at a “simplified […]
Read More… from Retirement saving options for your small business: Keep it simple
If you’re an incorporated business owner, you know there’s a tax advantage to taking money out of a C corporation as compensation rather than as dividends. The reason is that a corporation can deduct the salaries and bonuses it pays executives, not dividend payments. Therefore, if funds are paid as dividends, they’re taxed twice, once […]
Read More… from 4 Ways Corporate Business Owners Can Help Ensure their Compensation is “Reasonable”
Here are some of the key tax-related deadlines affecting businesses and other employers during the fourth quarter of 2023. Keep in mind that this list isn’t all-inclusive, so there may be additional deadlines that apply to you. Contact us to ensure you’re meeting all applicable deadlines and to learn more about the filing requirements. Note: […]
Read More… from 2023 Q4 tax calendar: Key deadlines for businesses and other employers
Your business may be able to claim big first-year depreciation tax deductions for eligible real estate expenditures rather than depreciate them over several years. But should you? It’s not as simple as it may seem. Qualified improvement property For qualifying assets placed in service in tax years beginning in 2023, the maximum allowable first-year Section […]
Here are some of the key tax-related deadlines affecting businesses and other employers during the third quarter of 2023. Keep in mind that this list isn’t all-inclusive, so there may be additional deadlines that apply to you. Contact us to ensure you’re meeting all applicable deadlines and to learn more about the filing requirements. July […]
Read More… from 2023 Q3 tax calendar: Key deadlines for businesses and other employers
If your business occupies substantial space and needs to increase or move from that space in the future, you should keep the rehabilitation tax credit in mind. This is especially true if you favor historic buildings. The credit is equal to 20% of the qualified rehabilitation expenditures (QREs) for a qualified rehabilitated building that’s also […]
If you’re claiming deductions for business meals or auto expenses, expect the IRS to review them closely. 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 […]
Read More… from Keep these DOs and DON’Ts in mind when deducting business meal and vehicle expenses
If you’re starting a business with some partners and wondering what type of entity to form, an S corporation may be the most suitable form of business for your new venture. Here are some of the reasons why. A big benefit of an S corporation over a partnership is that as S corporation shareholders, you won’t […]
Read More… from Choosing an entity for your business? How about an S corporation?
Did you know your business can attract or retain employees by offering education assistance benefits? One popular fringe benefit is an education assistance program that allows employees to continue learning and perhaps earn a degree with financial assistance from their employers. One way to attract, retain and motivate employees is to provide education fringe benefits […]
Read More… from Education assistance benefits help attract, retain, and motivate your employees
Is advertising a business expense? Does your company use advertising as a means to gain business? If so, you may be able to cut advertising taxes. Under tax law, businesses can generally deduct advertising and marketing expenses that help keep existing customers and bring in new ones. This valuable tax deduction can help businesses cut […]
Read More… from Protect the “ordinary and necessary” advertising expenses of your business
Are there changes in Section 174? It’s been years since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 was signed into law, but it’s still having an impact. Several provisions in the law have expired or will expire in the next few years. One provision that took effect last year was the end of […]
There are tax advantages of hiring your child(ren) for work during the summer. Learn how! Summer is around the corner, so you may be thinking about hiring young people at your small business. At the same time, you may have children looking to earn extra spending money. You can save family income and payroll taxes […]
Read More… from The tax advantages of hiring your child this summer
Here are some of the key tax-related deadlines that apply to businesses and other employers during the second quarter of 2023. Keep in mind that this list isn’t all-inclusive, so there may be additional deadlines that apply to you. Contact us to ensure you’re meeting all applicable deadlines and to learn more about the filing […]
Read More… from 2023 Q2 Tax calendar: Key deadlines for businesses and employers
Have you considered purchasing a business vehicle? Rather than getting a small car, a heavy SUV may be ideal to receive tax benefits on a business vehicle. Be mindful that a heavy SUV may provide a more generous tax break this year than you’d get from a smaller vehicle. The reason has to do with […]
Read More… from Buying a new business vehicle? A heavy SUV is a tax-smart choice
You may be able to deduct home office expenses if you run a business from home. Learn more here. Many people began working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic — and many still run a business from home offices either all the time or on a hybrid basis. If you’re self-employed and run a business […]
Read More… from Do you run a business from home? You may be able to deduct home office expenses
Merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions activity dropped dramatically last year due to rising interest rates and a slowing economy. The total value of M&A transactions in North America in 2022 was down 41.4% from 2021, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. But some analysts expect 2023 to see increased M&A activity in certain industries. If […]
Many businesses in certain industries have employees who receive tips as part of their compensation. These businesses include restaurants, hotels, and salons. Tip definition Tips are optional payments that customers make to employees who perform services. For employees who receive tips, those can be cash or noncash. Cash tips include those received directly from customers, […]
Read More… from Have employees who receive tips? Here are the tax implications
An array of tax-related limits that affect businesses are indexed annually, and due to high inflation, many have increased more than usual for 2023. Here are some that may be important to you and your business. Social Security tax The amount of employees’ earnings that are subject to Social Security tax is capped for 2023 […]
Read More… from Many tax limits affecting businesses have increased for 2023
With the 2023 filing season deadline drawing near, be aware that the deadline for businesses to file information returns for hired workers is even closer. By January 31, 2023, employers must file these forms: Form W-2, Wage, and Tax Statement. W-2 forms show the wages paid and taxes withheld for the year for each employee. They […]
Read More… from Forms W-2 and 1099-NEC are due to be filed soon
The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) was a valuable tax credit that helped employers that kept workers on staff during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the credit is no longer available, eligible employers that haven’t yet claimed it might still be able to do so by filing amended payroll returns for tax years 2020 […]
Read More… from Employers, be wary of ERC claims that are too good to be true
If you own a business, you may wonder if you’re eligible to take the qualified business income (QBI) deduction. This is sometimes referred to as the pass-through deduction or the Section 199A deduction. The QBI deduction is: Taxpayers other than corporations may be entitled to a deduction of up to 20% of their QBI. For […]
Businesses shut down for many reasons. Some of the reasons that businesses shutter their doors: If you’ve decided to close your business, we’re here to assist you in any way we can, including taking care of the various tax obligations that must be met. A business must file a final income tax return and some […]
Read More… from Is your business closing? Here are your final tax responsibilities
These days, most businesses buy or lease computer software to use in their operations. Or perhaps your business develops computer software to use in your products or services or sells or leases software to others. In any of these situations, you should be aware of the complex rules that determine the tax treatment of the […]
Read More… from Computer Software costs: How does your business deduct them?
These days, most businesses have some intangible assets. The tax treatment of these assets can be complex. Why are intangibles complicated? IRS regulations require the capitalization of costs to: Capitalized costs can’t be deducted in the year paid or incurred. If they’re deductible at all, they must be ratably deducted over the life of the […]
Read More… from Intangible Assets: How must the costs incurred be capitalized?
No one needs to remind business owners that the cost of employee health care benefits keeps going up. One way to provide some of these benefits is through an employer-sponsored Health Savings Account (HSA). For eligible individuals, an HSA offers a tax-advantaged way to set aside funds (or have their employers do so) to meet […]
Read More… from 2023 Limits for businesses that have HSAs — or want to establish them
Businesses can provide benefits to employees that don’t cost them much or anything at all. However, in some cases, employees may have to pay tax on the value of these benefits. Here are examples of two types of benefits that employees generally can exclude from income: A no-additional-cost benefit. This involves a service provided to […]
Read More… from Providing fringe benefits to employees with no tax strings attached
Here are some of the key tax-related deadlines affecting businesses and other employers during the fourth quarter of 2022. Keep in mind that this list isn’t all-inclusive, so there may be additional deadlines that apply to you. Contact us to ensure you’re meeting all applicable deadlines and to learn more about the filing requirements. Note: […]
Read More… from 2022 Q4 Tax Calendar: Key deadlines for businesses and other employers
Do you own a successful small business with no employees and want to set up a retirement plan? Or do you want to upgrade from a SIMPLE IRA or Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan? Consider a solo 401(k) if you have healthy self-employment income and want to contribute substantial amounts to a retirement nest egg. […]
Read More… from Self-Employed? Build a Nest Egg with a Solo 401(K) Plan
The business entity you choose can affect your taxes, your personal liability, and other issues. Limited liability companies (LLC) are somewhat hybrid entities. They can be structured to resemble a corporation for owner liability purposes and a partnership for federal tax purposes. This duality may provide you with the best of both worlds. Owners of […]
Read More… from Why an LLC might be the best choice of entity for your business
Certain employers are required to report information related to their employees’ health coverage. Does your business have to comply, and if so, what must be done? Basic Rules Certain employers with 50 or more full-time employees (called “applicable large employers” or ALEs) must use Forms 1094-C and 1095-C to report the information about offers of […]
Read More… from Your Business May Be Required to Report Employee Health Coverage
These days, most businesses have websites. But surprisingly, the IRS hasn’t issued formal guidance on when website costs can be deducted. Fortunately, established rules that generally apply to the deductibility of business costs provide business taxpayers launching a website with some guidance as to the proper treatment of the costs. Plus, businesses can turn to […]
Read More… from How to Treat Business Website Costs for Tax Purposes
A business or individual can dispose of appreciated real property without being taxed on the gain by exchanging it. You can defer tax on your gain through a “like-kind” exchange or the Internal Revenue Code Section 1031. What’s a Like-Kind Exchange? A like-kind exchange is a swap of real property held for investment or for […]
Read More… from Important Considerations when Engaging in a Like-Kind Exchange
Has the ongoing pandemic put your business in a situation where you may have to close its doors? If your business closes its doors, we can assist you during this transition. A business must file a final income tax return and some other related forms for the year it closes its doors. The type of […]
Read More… from Tax Obligations when a Business Closes its Doors
Is your business considering an M&A transaction and wondering how it will affect your taxes? Although merger and acquisition (M&A) activity has been down in 2022, companies are still being bought and sold. It’s important to understand how the transaction will be taxed under current law. Here are some tips. Stocks vs. Assets From a […]
Read More… from How do taxes factor into an M&A transaction?
Business owners are aware that the price of gas is historically high, which has made their vehicle costs soar. The average nationwide price of a gallon of unleaded regular gas on June 17 was $5, compared with $3.08 a year earlier, according to the AAA Gas Prices website. A gallon of diesel averaged $5.78 a […]
Read More… from Businesses Will Soon Be Able to Deduct More Under The Standard Mileage Rate
(authored by RSM US LLP) Despite steady growth in demand for law services and lawyer billing rates in the first quarter of 2022, labor market challenges and inflationary pressures threaten profitability. […]
Read More… from Law Firms Are Feeling Pressure Despite Steady Growth In Demand And Rates
There’s a valuable tax deduction available to a C corporation when it receives dividends. The “dividends-received deduction” has a design to reduce or eliminate an extra level of tax on dividends received by a corporation. As a result, a corporation will typically receive taxation at a lower rate on dividends than on capital gains. Ordinarily, […]
Read More… from Is Your Corporation Eligible For The Dividends-Received Deduction?
RSM US Alliance provides its members with access to resources of RSM US LLP. RSM US Alliance member firms are separate and independent businesses and legal entities that are responsible for their own acts and omissions, and each are separate and independent from RSM US LLP. RSM US LLP is the U.S. member firm of RSM International, a global network of independent audit, tax, and consulting firms. Members of RSM US Alliance have access to RSM International resources through RSM US LLP but are not member firms of RSM International. Visit rsmus.com/about us for more information regarding RSM US LLP and RSM International. The RSM™ logo is used under license by RSM US LLP. RSM US Alliance products and services are proprietary to RSM US LLP.
Copyright 2021 Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs
