How to Secure a Tax Benefit with the QBI Deduction QBI may sound like the name of a TV quiz show. But it’s actually the acronym for “qualified business income,” which can trigger a tax deduction for some small business owners or self-employed individuals. The QBI deduction was authorized by the Tax Cuts and Jobs…
Tracking Down Donation Substantiation If you’re like many Americans, your mailbox may have been filling up in recent weeks with letters from your favorite charities acknowledging your 2023 donations. But what happens if you haven’t received such a letter for a contribution? Can you still claim a deduction on your 2023 income tax return for…
There May Still Be Time to Lower Your 2023 Tax Bill If you’re preparing to file your 2023 tax return, you may still be able to lower your tax bill – or increase your refund. If you qualify, you can make a deductible contribution to a traditional IRA right up until the original filing deadline,…
One Reason to File Your 2023 Tax Return Early The 2023 individual income tax return filing season will open soon. Even if you typically don’t file until much closer to the April 15 deadline (or you file for an extension), consider filing earlier this year. Why? You may be able to protect yourself from tax…
Sec. 179 Expensing and Bonus Depreciation: Beware of Pitfalls If eligible, you can elect to use Section 179 expensing or bonus depreciation to deduct a large portion of the cost (and in some cases the full cost) of eligible property in the year it’s placed in service. Alternatively, you may follow regular depreciation rules and…
The Advantages of LLC Structure for a Small Business If you operate your small business as a sole proprietorship, you may have thought about forming a limited liability company (LLC) to protect your assets. Or maybe you’re launching a new business and want to know the options for setting it up. Here are the basics…
Appraisals Aren’t Just for Businesses Whether you’re in the process of making a retirement or estate plan or you intend to donate property to charity, you’ll need to know the value of your assets. For many hard-to-value items, such as closely held business interests, real estate, art and collectibles, an appraisal may be necessary. Retirement…
Starting January 1, 2024, many companies will need to follow the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), established under the National Defense Act in 2021. This Act requires these companies to reveal information about people who own or control them, known as Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI). About 32.6 million companies are expected to comply. The goal of…
Your business can attract and retain employees by providing education benefits that enable team members to improve their skills and gain additional knowledge, all on a tax-advantaged basis. Here’s a closer look at some education benefits options. Educational Assistance Program One popular fringe benefit that an employer can offer is an educational assistance program that…
Traditional and Roth IRAs can be relatively “safe” retirement-saving vehicles, though, depending on what they’re invested in, they limit your investment choices. For more flexibility in investment choices but also more risk, another option is a self-directed IRA. Gaining More Control A self-directed IRA is simply an IRA that provides greater control over investment decisions.…