The Section 179 deduction has long provided a tax windfall to businesses, enabling them to claim immediate deductions for qualified assets, instead of depreciating them over time. For 2019, the maximum deduction is $1.02 million, subject to a phaseout rule if more than $2.55 million of eligible property is placed in service during the tax…
If you’re in the process of a merger or acquisition, it’s important that both parties report the transaction to the IRS in the same way. Otherwise, you could increase your chances of being audited. If a sale involves business assets (as opposed to stock or ownership interests), the buyer and the seller must generally report…
Imagine giving your retirement plan a report card. Is it a straight-A student or could it use some help after school? Many plan sponsors track common metrics such as benchmarked fees, participation rates and average deferral rates. But don’t stop there. A sometimes-overlooked measure is average account balance size. Knowing your plan’s asset growth rate…
It may seem that the current, flat 21% corporate income tax rate makes C corporation status for your business the best choice. After all, 21% is much lower than the 37% top rate that applies to sole proprietors and pass-through entities (such as partnerships, S corps and LLCs). But C corps can still be subject…
It’s the middle of the calendar year. How are things going? You can answer specifically by choosing and calculating key performance indicators (KPIs). For example, the current ratio indicator helps you assess your cash flow by dividing current assets by current liabilities. But KPIs aren’t limited to widely used ratios. You can make up your…
If you hire from certain “targeted groups” and get proper certification, you can claim the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) on your 2019 tax return. You can claim it for eligible workers whose employment begins before January 1, 2020. Targeted groups include qualified veterans, eligible summer youth, the long-term unemployed, ex-felons and certain government assistance…
If payroll taxes withheld from employees’ paychecks aren’t remitted to the IRS, a severe tax penalty can be personally imposed on “responsible” individuals. The IRS can assess a penalty of 100% of the unpaid tax amount on shareholders, owners, directors, officers, employees and others. The Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (or “100% Penalty”) is assessed when…
Customer relationship management software can help you build long-term relationships with those most likely to buy your products or services. These solutions are generally designed to gather and organize customer data and then integrate it with other systems and platforms (including social media). The right product can help you track leads, forecast and track sales,…
Life presents us with many choices. A common conundrum for business owners is whether to buy or lease their companies’ equipment. Some still take pride in owning their assets. If you do, work to pass along this dedication to employees. Also, consider enhanced tax breaks under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for purchasing. Meanwhile,…
To save money, your business may treat workers as independent contractors, rather than employees. Be aware that the IRS looks for businesses that improperly classify workers. It’s best to handle independent contractors so the relationships comply with tax law. This includes not controlling HOW the workers perform their duties, not treating them like employees, and…