Don’t Sell Yourself Short
Now is the time to review your buy-sell agreement and related provisions. If you are a business owner and have not recently reviewed your buy-sell agreement, now is the time. In fact, it’s probably past time. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the importance of keeping what should be a “living document” alive and well…
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Rental Real Estate Safe Harbor for QBI Deduction
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or “TCJA” added a new tax deduction for business owners. It permits individuals, estates, and trusts to deduct up to 20% of their “qualified business income.” You may have heard a lot of talk in the news about a new deduction for “pass-through” income, but it’s actually available for…
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Fundamental tax truths for C corporations After TCJA
The flat 21% federal income tax rate for C corporations under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has been great news for these entities and their owners. But some fundamental tax truths for C corporations largely remain the same: C corporations are subject to double taxation. Double taxation occurs when corporate income is taxed…
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Depreciation-related breaks on business real estate: What you need to know when you file your 2018 return
Commercial buildings and improvements generally are depreciated over 39 years, which essentially means you can deduct a portion of the cost every year over the depreciation period. (Land isn’t depreciable.) But special tax breaks that allow deductions to be taken more quickly are available for certain real estate investments. Some of these were enhanced by…
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There’s still time to get substantiation for 2018 donations
If you’re like many Americans, letters from your favorite charities have been appearing in your mailbox in recent weeks acknowledging your 2018 year-end donations. But what happens if you haven’t received such a letter — can you still claim an itemized deduction for the gift on your 2018 income tax return? It depends. Basic requirements…
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A refresher on major tax law changes for small-business owners
The dawning of 2019 means the 2018 income tax filing season will soon be upon us. After year end, it’s generally too late to take action to reduce 2018 taxes. Business owners may, therefore, want to shift their focus to assessing whether they’ll likely owe taxes or get a refund when they file their returns…
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Partnerships: New IRS Audit Rules Are Here
For partnerships, including limited liability companies taxed as partnerships, the new audit rules are a game changer. The rules apply to returns for partnership tax years that begin after December 31, 2017, including amended returns. The changes aren’t merely procedural; they substantially alter the taxation of partnerships, effectively imposing entity-level taxes on partnerships. If you…
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Donate Appreciated Stock for Twice the Tax Benefits
A tried-and-true year end tax strategy is to make charitable donations. As long as you itemize and your gift qualifies, you can claim a charitable deduction. But did you know that you can enjoy an additional tax benefit if you donate long-term appreciated stock instead of cash? 2 Benefits From 1 Gift Appreciated publicly traded…
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Buy Business Assets Before Year End to Reduce Your 2018 Tax Liability
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has enhanced two depreciation-related breaks that are popular year-end tax planning tools for businesses. To take advantage of these breaks, you must purchase qualifying assets and place them in service by the end of the tax year. That means there’s still time to reduce your 2018 tax liability…
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Business Deductions for Meal, Vehicle and Travel Expenses: Document, document, document!
Meal, vehicle, and travel expenses are common deductions for businesses. But if you don’t properly document these expenses, you could find your deductions denied by the IRS. A Critical Requirement Subject to various rules and limits, business meal (generally 50%), vehicle and travel expenses may be deductible, whether you pay for the expenses directly…
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