July 17, 2018
Close-Up on the New QBI Deduction’s Wage Limit
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) provides a valuable new tax break to noncorporate owners of pass-through entities: a deduction for a portion of qualified business income (QBI). The deduction generally applies to income from sole proprietorships, partnerships, S corporations and, typically, limited liability companies (LLCs). It can equal as much as 20% of …
July 12, 2018
How Tax Reform Affects Meals, Entertainment and Transportation Deductions
Many of our clients have expressed concern about how the meals and entertainment revisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) will affect their business. While the new rules actually streamline and simplify deductibilty requirements, getting used to them takes time. We’ve distilled the answers to client questions in the hopes that you and …
July 10, 2018
What You Can Deduct When Volunteering
Because donations to charity of cash or property generally are tax deductible (if you itemize), it only seems logical that the donation of something even more valuable to you — your time — would also be deductible. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Donations of time or services aren’t deductible. It doesn’t matter if it’s simple …
July 3, 2018
Home Green Home: Save Tax by Saving Energy
“Going green” at home — whether it’s your principal residence or a second home — can reduce your tax bill in addition to your energy bill, all while helping the environment, too. The catch is that, to reap all three benefits, you need to buy and install certain types of renewable energy equipment in the …
June 26, 2018
Do You Know the ABCs of HSAs, FSAs and HRAs?
There continues to be much uncertainty about the Affordable Care Act and how such uncertainty will impact health care costs. So it’s critical to leverage all tax-advantaged ways to fund these expenses, including HSAs, FSAs and HRAs. Here’s how to make sense of this alphabet soup of health care accounts. HSAs If you’re covered by …
June 19, 2018
2018 Q3 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 third quarter of 2018. Keep in mind that this list isn’t all-inclusive, so there may be additional deadlines that apply to you. Contact us to ensure you’re meeting all applicable deadlines and to learn more about the filing requirements. July …
June 12, 2018
The Tax Impact of the TCJA on Estate Planning
The massive changes the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) made to income taxes have garnered the most attention. But the new law also made major changes to gift and estate taxes. While the TCJA didn’t repeal these taxes, it did significantly reduce the number of taxpayers who’ll be subject to them, at least for …
June 6, 2018
Factor in State and Local Taxes When Deciding Where to Live in Retirement
Many Americans relocate to another state when they retire. If you’re thinking about such a move, state and local taxes should factor into your decision. Income, Property and Sales Tax Choosing a state that has no personal income tax may appear to be the best option. But that might not be the case once you …
May 29, 2018
Saving Tax on Restricted Stock Awards with the Sec. 83(b) Election
Today many employees receive stock-based compensation from their employer as part of their compensation and benefits package. The tax consequences of such compensation can be complex — subject to ordinary-income, capital gains, employment and other taxes. But if you receive restricted stock awards, you might have a tax-saving opportunity in the form of the Section …
May 22, 2018
The TCJA Changes Some Rules for Deducting Pass-Through Business Losses
It’s not uncommon for businesses to sometimes generate tax losses. But the losses that can be deducted are limited by tax law in some situations. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) further restricts the amount of losses that sole proprietors, partners, S corporation shareholders and, typically, limited liability company (LLC) members can currently deduct …