Blog

Owning your own business can be rewarding, but as most entrepreneurs know, it also means a lot of work, much more than a traditional salary-based job working for someone else. With all the responsibilities, a well-meaning business owner is still at risk of making a regrettable tax mistake. Whether a business is incorporated and files returns as an entity, or is an LLC and the owner files a...

Small business owners face numerous everyday challenges, and they usually conquer them with their entrepreneurial strength. Unfortunately, keeping the books on their growing business is not a skill someone can simply persevere through and get it right. The potential consequences of messing up on the accounting functions can be serious when it comes to the success or failure of a business. Here...

A company is responsible for filing IRS Form 1095-B only if two conditions apply: It offers health coverage to its employees, and it is “self-insured.” This means that the company itself pays its employees’ medical bills, rather than an insurance company. A company that doesn’t meet both conditions won’t have to deal with Form 1095-B. Its employees might still receive a 1095-B, but from their...

The Internal Revenue Service has issued the 2016 standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2016, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be: 54 cents per mile for business miles driven, down from 57.5 cents for 2015 19 cents...

There are payroll mistakes that benefit employees, as well as those that benefit employers. But either way, a mistake is a mistake. If you come across any type of mistake, such as overpaying or underpaying employees, it is imperative to act fast, discuss the situation with your workers, and provide a remedy that will allow both parties to put this in the past. Most established companies have a...

The National Society of Accountants is offering some year end tax tips for businesses. Consider several general strategies, such as use of traditional timing techniques for income and deductions and the role of the tax extenders, as well as strategies targeted to your particular business. As in past years, planning is uncertain because of the Affordable Care Act and the expiration of many popular...

The end of the year is a good time to evaluate your tax obligations so there are no surprises come filing time. Check out these top ten year end tax planning tips for what to keep in mind as you review your finances. Check on Congress The most important thing you can do this year for your year end tax planning is to keep an eye on Congress to see whether lawmakers manage to extend popular tax...

Owning a rental property is one way to boost your income and secure your financial landscape. You may also have a golden opportunity for some serious tax breaks. Rental properties – both full time, part time, and vacation homes – can be a wealth of tax savings. Is This Tax Deductible? The key to saving money on your tax return is to take advantage of the many deductions offered to full-time...

As things stand now, the tax breaks for buying depreciable business property have been watered down for the 2015 tax year. Consider leasing business equipment instead of buying it. Generally, you can write off the entire cost of leasing without a huge upfront commitment. Also, leasing isn’t forever. If the tax breaks for buying property are revived, you may be able to quickly cash in. Here’s the...

If you start a business, one key to success is to know about your federal tax obligations. You will need to know not only about income taxes but also about payroll taxes and applicable state and local taxes. Here are five basic tax tips that can help get your business off to a good start. Business Structure. As you start out, you’ll need to choose the structure of your business. Some common types...