Tax Document Retention Guidelines for Small Businesses
You may have breathed a sigh of relief after filing your 2017 income tax return (or requesting an extension). But if your office is strewn with reams of paper consisting [...]
Congress Raises 401(k) Hardship Withdrawal Limits
Most 401(k) plans permit hardship withdrawals, though plan sponsors aren't required to allow them. As it stands today, employees seeking to take money out of their 401(k) accounts are limited [...]
Absorbing a Business? Realize Payroll Tax Savings
Conversely if one employer acquires another employer during the year -- and it continues to employ some of the same workers -- the successor can count the wages paid by [...]
Follow Detailed Recordkeeping Rules for Vehicle Expense Deductions
Many business owners fail to follow the strict tax rules for substantiating vehicle expenses. But if your business is audited, the IRS will most likely ask for mileage logs if [...]
Individual Tax Calendar: Important Deadlines for the Remainder of 2018
While April 15 (April 17 this year) is the main tax deadline on most individual taxpayers’ minds, there are others through the rest of the year that you also need [...]
Haven’t Filed Your 2017 Income Tax Return Yet? Beware of These Pitfalls
The federal income tax filing deadline is slightly later than usual this year — April 17 — but it’s now nearly upon us. So, if you haven’t filed your individual [...]
No Single Factor Determines Contractor Status
Hiring someone as an independent contractor can have many advantages for employers. Among them are that independent contractors: Can be hired on a per-project basis and let go when the [...]
There’s Still Time to Make a 2017 IRA contributions
Tax-advantaged retirement plans like IRAs allow your money to grow tax-deferred — or, in the case of Roth accounts, tax-free. The deadline for 2017 contributions is April 17, 2018. Deductible [...]
2018 Q2 Tax Calendar: Key Deadlines for Businesses and other Employers
Here are some of the key tax-related deadlines affecting businesses and other employers during the second quarter of 2018. Keep in mind that this list isn’t all-inclusive, so there may [...]
Early Withdrawals from Retirement Plans
At some point, there may be a need to take out money early from a Individual Retirement Account or retirement plan. Doing so, however, can trigger an additional tax on [...]
Home-related tax breaks are valuable on 2017 returns, but will be less so for 2018
Home ownership is a key element of the American dream for many, and the U.S. tax code includes many tax breaks that help support this dream. If you own a [...]
Leasing Property to Your C Corp
It's generally not a good idea for a closely held C corporation to own assets with high appreciation potential. A classic example is real estate. If your corporation owns property, [...]
Casualty Losses Can Provide a 2017 Deduction, but Rules Tighten for 2018
If you suffered damage to your home or personal property last year, you may be able to deduct these “casualty” losses on your 2017 federal income tax return. For 2018 [...]
Getting a Divorce? Divide Assets and Tax Bills
With a divorce, there are often major financial consequences and some important tax issues too. Here are the tax rules that generally apply when a couple's assets are split up in [...]
Size of Charitable Deductions Depends on Many factors
Whether you’re claiming charitable deductions on your 2017 return or planning your donations for 2018, be sure you know how much you’re allowed to deduct. Your deduction depends on more [...]