Sec. 179 expensing allows businesses an immediate deduction for the cost of eligible asset purchases (up to certain limits), rather than depreciating them over a number of years. Another depreciation break for assets that qualify is 50% first-year bonus depreciation. To enjoy these breaks on your 2017 tax return, you generally must acquire and place…
No business owner wants to send out spam, but you can still make your marketing emails a blast. Start with a catchy subject line that clearly conveys your message. Next, write a headline that differs from the subject line but drives readers’ interest. Keep the body short and simple; tell customers why they should buy.…
Hundreds of years ago people built walls and towers around their communities to guard against threats. So too can businesses protect themselves with a companywide enterprise risk management program. Begin by obtaining total buy-in from your managers and key employees. Next, identify as many risks as possible specific to your business and its industry. Clarify…
A qualified small business (QSB) eligible for the research tax credit can elect to use up to $250,000 of the credit to reduce its payroll tax bill instead of its income tax bill. Generally, a QSB has gross receipts of less than $5 million for the current tax year and hasn’t existed for more than…
On Oct. 12, an executive order was signed that, among other things, directs the Secretaries of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services to consider proposing regs or revising guidance to expand the ability of employers to offer Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). But HRAs are just one type of tax-advantaged account you can provide…
Currently, a valuable income tax deduction related to business real estate is for depreciation. But the depreciation period for such property is long, and land itself isn’t depreciable. To maximize your deductions, first segregate personal property from buildings; depreciation deductions for personal property generally can be taken more quickly. Next, carve out depreciable land improvements…
Regular valuations are a must for every business owner developing a succession plan. But the valuation process can involve a variety of hard-to-see issues. For example, it can be tempting to minimize a business’s value to reduce possible estate tax liability in the future, but this can raise a red flag with the IRS. Also,…
