Home Office Deductions in the Covid-19 Era
Have you been working from home during the COVID-19 crisis? Join the club. Approximately 42% of the American workforce is currently working from home full-time, according to a recent study by [...]
Small Businesses: Are First-Year Depreciation Write-Offs Right for You?
Under today's federal income tax rules, your business may be able to claim big first-year depreciation write-offs for eligible assets that are placed in service in the current tax year. [...]
Tax Implications of Working From Home and Collecting Unemployment
COVID-19 has changed our lives in many ways, and some of the changes have tax implications. Here is basic information about two common situations. Working from home. Many employees have [...]
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 [...]
Will You Have to Pay Tax on Your Social Security Benefits?
If you’re getting close to retirement, you may wonder: Are my Social Security benefits going to be taxed? And if so, how much will you have to pay? It depends [...]
Back-to-School Tax Breaks on the Books
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, students are going back to school this fall, either remotely, in-person or under a hybrid schedule. In any event, parents may be eligible for certain tax [...]
Beware: Retirement Plan Loan Defaults Can Be Costly
Economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis may cause some cash-strapped individuals to default on loans they've taken out from company qualified retirement plans, including 401(k) and profit-sharing plans. Defaulting on [...]
Evaluate the Effects of Selling a Subsidiary or Division
During the best and worst of times, your company may be tempted to sell a division or subsidiary. This can make sense for a number of reasons, including: Alternatives to [...]
What Happens If An Individual Can’t Pay Taxes
While you probably don’t have any problems paying your tax bills, you may wonder: What happens in the event you (or someone you know) can’t pay taxes on time? Here’s [...]
The Possible Tax Consequences of PPP Loans
If your business was fortunate enough to get a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan taken out in connection with the COVID-19 crisis, you should be aware of the potential tax [...]
The Tax Implications of Employer-Provided Life Insurance
Does your employer provide you with group term life insurance? If so, and if the coverage is higher than $50,000, this employee benefit may create undesirable income tax consequences for [...]
Take Advantage of a “Stepped-Up Basis” When You Inherit Property
If you’re planning your estate, or you’ve recently inherited assets, you may be unsure of the “cost” (or “basis”) for tax purposes. Fair market value rules Under the fair market [...]
Businesses: Get Ready For the New Form 1099-NEC
There’s a new IRS form for business taxpayers that pay or receive nonemployee compensation. Beginning with tax year 2020, payers must complete Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation, to report any payment [...]
Are Scholarships Tax-free or Taxable?
COVID-19 is changing the landscape for many schools this fall. But many children and young adults are going back, even if it’s just for online learning, and some parents will [...]
5 Mid-Year Tax Planning Ideas for Small Business Owners
The second half of 2020 has begun. What steps can small business owners take today to lower taxes for the current tax year? Alternatively, would it make more sense to maximize taxable income [...]