Net Operating Loss Deduction: How Florida Businesses Can Transform Losses into Future Tax Relief Losses happen—even to healthy companies when hurricanes hit, supply chains stall, or demand dips. When your deductions outpace your income, the net operating loss deduction (NOL) lets you carry those losses forward and slash future tax bills. For cash-sensitive firms in […]
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Independent Contractor vs. Employee: A Florida Business Owner’s Guide to Getting Classification Right Florida businesses often rely on independent contractors to keep labor costs flexible—especially during staffing shortages and periods of high inflation. But a single misclassification can invite IRS audits, back-tax assessments, penalties, and even lawsuits. Use this guide to spot the line between […]
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ARTICLE | June 2, 2025 Authored by RSM US LLP Executive summary Provisions titled “No tax on tips” and “No tax on overtime” are part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed on May 22. The proposals create new individual income tax deductions for qualified tips and overtime […]
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Educational Assistance Plans: A Smart Investment for Your Workforce and Your Bottom Line Looking for a way to support your team’s professional development and enjoy tax savings? A Section 127 educational assistance plan might be the perfect fit.These employer-sponsored programs allow businesses to offer up to $5,250 per year in tax-free educational benefits to eligible […]
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How to Evaluate and Undertake a Business Transformation Today’s business world moves fast. Technology changes, customer expectations evolve, and competition grows. To stay ahead, many companies are rethinking how they work. One way to do that is through a business transformation. A business transformation is a major change in how a company operates. It’s not […]
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Is Your Compensation Reasonable? A Guide for C Corp and S Corp Business Owners Setting your own salary as a business owner may seem straightforward—but if you’re operating as a C corporation or S corporation, the IRS is paying attention. Failing to pay yourself a “reasonable” salary could trigger tax reclassification, penalties, and unwanted audits. […]
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A successful sales team is essential for most small to midsize businesses. Without skilled and motivated salespeople, keeping revenue flowing can be tough. One of the best ways to attract and keep top sales talent is to offer a fair and motivating compensation plan. But finding the right sales compensation model can be tricky. There […]
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Businesses in certain industries employ service workers who receive tips as a significant part of their compensation. These businesses include restaurants, hotels, and salons. Ensuring compliance with federal and state tax regulations is essential for any employer with tipped employees. Understanding tax deductions, the Section 179 deduction, and other tax benefits can help reduce taxable […]
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A variety of tax-related limits that affect businesses are indexed annually based on inflation. For 2025, many limits have increased, though the rate of increase has slowed due to cooling inflation. Understanding these changes can help businesses optimize tax strategies, reduce taxable income, and stay compliant with internal revenue regulations. Here’s a breakdown of the […]
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The Corporate Transparency Act (signed into law on January 1, 2021) expanded anti-money laundering laws and created new reporting requirements for certain companies doing business in the US Beginning in 2024. Many small businesses are now required to report information about their beneficial owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to create a national […]
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Navigating Disaster Recovery Challenges: Government Consultants with FEMA Experience Disaster planning and recovery present significant challenges for businesses and government entities at all levels. Creating and implementing a thorough disaster recovery plan requires specialized insight, strategic foresight, and deep understanding of FEMA requirements. That’s where Thomas Howell Ferguson’s disaster recovery consultants come in. THF’s emergency […]
The nationwide price of gas is slightly higher than it was a year ago and the 2025 optional standard mileage rate used to calculate the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business has also gone up. The IRS recently announced that the 2025 cents-per-mile rate for the business use of a car, van, pickup […]
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New and used “heavy” SUVs, pickups and vans placed in service in 2025 are potentially eligible for big first-year depreciation write-offs. One requirement is you must use the vehicle more than 50% for business. If your business usage is between 51% and 99%, you may be able to deduct that percentage of the cost in […]
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Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs (THF or, “the Firm”), a nationally recognized Top 200 Firm by Inside Public Accounting, is excited to welcome David Ludwick as Chief Financial Officer and Jana Sayler, CPA, as Senior Manager in the Client Accounting Services (CAS) department. David Ludwick brings 26 years of expertise in financial and accounting management […]
When selling business assets, understanding the tax implications is crucial. One area to focus on is Section 1231 of the Internal Revenue Code, which governs the treatment of gains and losses from the sale or exchange of certain business property. Business gain and loss tax basics The federal income tax character of gains and losses […]
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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate continues to be historically low, ranging from 4.0% to 4.3% from May to November of 2024. With today’s hiring challenges, business owners should be aware that the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is available to employers that hire workers from targeted groups who face […]
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You’re not alone if you’re confused about the federal tax treatment of business-related meal and entertainment expenses. The rules have changed in recent years. Let’s take a look at what you can deduct in 2024. Current law The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated deductions for most business-related entertainment expenses. That means, for example, that […]
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As a business owner, you may travel to visit customers, attend conferences, check on vendors and for other purposes. Understanding which travel expenses are tax deductible can significantly affect your bottom line. Properly managing travel costs can help ensure compliance and maximize your tax savings. Your tax home Eligible taxpayers can deduct the ordinary and […]
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Changes are coming to the Social Security wage base. The Social Security Administration recently announced that the wage base for computing Social Security tax will increase to $176,100 in 2025 (up from $168,600 for 2024). Wages and self-employment income above this amount aren’t subject to Social Security tax. If your business has employees, you may […]
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If you own a small business with no employees (other than your spouse) and want to set up a retirement plan, consider a solo 401(k) plan. This is also an option for self-employed individuals or business owners who wish to upgrade from a SIMPLE IRA or Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan. A solo 401(k), also […]
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Does your business require real estate for its operations? Or do you hold property titled under your business’s name? It might be worth reconsidering this strategy. With long-term tax, liability and estate planning advantages, separating real estate ownership from the business may be a wise choice. How taxes affect a sale Businesses that are formed […]
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Employee health coverage is a significant part of many companies’ benefits packages. However, the administrative responsibilities that accompany offering health insurance can be complex. One crucial aspect is understanding the reporting requirements of federal agencies such as the IRS. Does your business have to comply, and if so, what must you do? Here are some […]
(authored by RSM US LLP) A private company may strengthen its financial stability, operational efficiency and long-term success by having a regular audit. […]
Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs (THF) is proud to announce the promotion of several team members within its Tax Services department. The newly promoted individuals and their respective titles are as follows: Director Nicholas (Nick) R. Gilpin, CPA Manager Victoria Cronin, Peter Fleck, and Becky Register, CPA. Senior Jay Cumbie, Erin Dupont, and Arianna Neely. […]
Here are some of the key tax deadlines affecting businesses and other employers during the fourth quarter of 2024. 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: […]
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In April 2024, the US Department of Labor (DOL) released new rules regarding overtime-exempt salary pay for employees. This applies to the majority of professional and office workers who receive a fixed salary each pay period, with no extra payment for overtime hours. The recent changes to overtime-exempt status have increased the minimum salary requirement […]
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Your businesses may have a choice between using the cash or accrual method of accounting for tax purposes. The cash method often provides significant tax benefits for those that qualify. However, some businesses may be better off using the accrual method. Therefore, you need to evaluate the tax accounting method for your business to ensure […]
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Partnerships are often used for business and investment activities. So are multi-member LLCs that are treated as partnerships for tax purposes. A major reason is that these entities offer federal income tax advantages, the most important of which is pass-through taxation. They also must follow some special and sometimes complicated federal income tax rules. Governing […]
The rising cost of living and other economic factors have caused many businesses to close their doors. If this is your situation, we can help you, including taking care of various tax responsibilities. Steps in closing a business A business must file a final federal income tax return and some other related forms the year […]
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With Labor Day in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take proactive steps that may help lower your small business’s taxes for this year and next. The strategy of deferring income and accelerating deductions to minimize taxes can be effective for most businesses, as is the approach of bunching deductible expenses into this year or […]
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Choosing the right business entity is a key decision for any business. The entity you pick can affect your tax bill, your personal liability, and other issues. For many businesses, a limited liability company (LLC) is an attractive choice. You can structure it to resemble a corporation for owner-liability purposes. You can also structure the […]
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When drafting partnership and LLC operating agreements, various tax issues must be addressed. This is also true of multi-member LLCs that are treated as partnerships for tax purposes. Here are some critical issues to include in your agreement so your business remains in compliance with federal tax law. 1. Identify and describe guaranteed payments to […]
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In recent years, merger and acquisition (M&A) activity has been strong in many industries. If your business is considering a merger or an acquisition with another business, it’s important to understand how the transaction will be taxed under current law. Stocks vs. assets From a tax standpoint, you can basically structure a transaction in two […]
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(authored by RSM US LLP) Senate does not advance House-passed measure that would have temporarily restored R&E expensing, full bonus depreciation, and an EBITDA based interest deduction limitation standard […]
Have you considered borrowing funds from your corporation? If you own a closely held corporation, you can borrow funds from your business at rates that are lower than those charged by a bank. However, it’s important to avoid certain risks and charge an adequate interest rate. Basics of this strategy Interest rates have increased over […]
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(authored by RSM US LLP) Growth, inflation and hiring in the United States are all cooling toward a more sustainable pace, which will most likely define the second half of the year as the Federal Reserve gets ready to reduce its restrictive policy rate. […]
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Most businesses have websites today. Despite their widespread use, the IRS hasn’t issued formal guidance on when website costs can be deducted. But there are established rules that generally apply to the deductibility of business expenses and provide business taxpayers launching a website with some guidance about proper treatment. In addition, businesses can turn to […]
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If you’re selling property used in your trade or business, you should understand the tax implications. There are many complex rules that can potentially apply. To simplify this discussion, let’s assume that the property you want to sell is land or depreciable property used in your business. In addition, you have held it for more […]
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Are you buying a business that will have one or more co-owners? Or do you already own one fitting that description? If so, consider installing a buy-sell agreement. A well-drafted agreement can do these valuable things: Agreement basics There are two basic types of buy-sell agreements: Cross-purchase agreements and redemption agreements (sometimes called liquidation agreements). […]
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Choosing the right business entity has many implications, including the amount of your tax bill. The most common business structures are sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, C corporations and S corporations. In some cases, a business may decide to switch from one entity type to another. Although S corporations can provide substantial tax benefits over C corporations in […]
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