The distinction between repair expenses and improvement costs can impact your tax benefits. The tax law categorizes repair and improvement costs differently. Repair expenses are generally more beneficial for tax purposes, providing greater after-tax cash value than the depreciation deductions you would get from improvements or additions. One key reason for this is recapture taxes. […]
We have some critical updates on the pass-through entity tax (PTET), which has recently become the rule in most states rather than the exception. The PTET enables owners of pass-through businesses, such as S corporations and multi-member LLCs, to navigate around the $10,000 annual limit on state and local taxes (SALT). How PTET Works The […]
If you are thinking about offering your employees the new individual coverage health reimbursement arrangement (ICHRA), take a moment to read the insights below. Class size rule. You face the class size rule only if you offer a traditional group health plan to one class of employees and an ICHRA to another. Minimum class size […]
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to provide valuable insights regarding the tax implications of business meals. As you may already be aware, there is a contradiction in the tax laws regarding personal living expenses, specifically personal meals and business meal tax deductions. This is best illustrated by what tax professionals […]
Can you deduct the costs of real estate seminars and boot camps? The ability to deduct these costs largely depends on the nature of your real estate activities—are they considered a business or an investment? This distinction is crucial for understanding your tax obligations. If your real estate activities are a business, you may be […]
If you operate your business as a C or an S corporation, and if you loan money to the corporation or the corporation loans money to you, you need documentation that the loan is indeed a loan. With the S corporation, the loan that fails as a loan can result in taxable wages to you. […]
Many of our clients have taken opportunities to live and work in various parts of the world, such as Switzerland, and have concerns about their U.S. tax obligations. We want to alert you to the tax implications you might encounter as a U.S. citizen living or working abroad. We’re going to use Switzerland in our […]
Here’s some crucial information on how to document expenses during business travel. Corporation or proprietorship? If you operate as a corporation, the corporation should reimburse you for the travel expenses or pay for them directly. Remember, you can’t deduct employee business expenses on Form 1040 anymore due to changes brought by the Tax Cuts and […]
As a small employer (fewer than 50 employees), you should consider the Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA) as a good way to help your employees with their medical expenses. If the QSEHRA is indeed going to be your plan of choice, then you have three good reasons to get that QSEHRA plan in […]
For 2024, you can elect the de minimis safe harbor to expense assets costing $2,500 or less ($5,000 with audited financial statements or similar). The term “safe harbor” means that the IRS will accept your expensing of the qualified assets if you properly abided by the safe harbor rules. Here are three benefits of this […]
I am writing today to bring to your attention a crucial aspect of business tax deductions: mileage logs. In most court cases, taxpayers lose vehicle expense deductions because they cannot present a credible business mileage log. The IRS code forbids deductions for vehicle expenses when taxpayers cannot prove the mileage and provide an adequate record. […]
I wanted to take this opportunity to touch base regarding the federal income tax rules on the “kiddie tax” and its potential impact on your financial strategy for your child(ren). In brief, the kiddie tax was enacted by Congress to prevent parents from passing investment income to their children, who typically have a lower tax […]
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to discuss some important information regarding your potential home-office tax deductions. As an owner of a corporation and an employee within that corporation, you may be eligible for a home-office deduction if you use the office in your home for the convenience of your employer […]
If you own your own business and operate as a proprietorship or partnership (wherein your spouse is not a partner), one of the smartest tax moves you can make is hiring your spouse to work as your employee. But the tax savings may be a mirage if you don’t pay your spouse the right way. […]
As an integral part of our commitment to keep you updated on matters that could affect your financial decisions, we want to inform you of recent changes and available incentives on electric vehicles at both the federal and state levels. While lawmakers extended the federal tax credit for personal-use electric vehicles through 2032, they restricted […]
For the past few weeks, I have received questions about the Section 105 medical reimbursement plan from my self-employed and solo C corporation owners. Below are the main points from my answers. When you have multiple businesses, all employees across these businesses are considered your employees under the Section 105-HRA plan. If you have more […]
I am writing with some thoughts about your approaching corporate liquidation. There are several tax implications that you need to be aware of. Complete liquidation of a C corporation is when it ceases to be a going concern, winds up its affairs, pays its debts, and distributes its remaining assets to the shareholder(s). In tax […]
I wanted to offer some insights regarding an important tax aspect related to the cleaning services at your home office. As you have a home office that qualifies for a home-office deduction and you employ a cleaning lady—let’s call her Annie—who maintains both your home and your home office, there are a couple of tax […]
The IRS recently issued new guidance on electric vehicles. There are four ways you can potentially benefit from a federal tax credit for an EV you place in service in 2023 or later: Purchase an EV, and claim the clean vehicle credit. Lease an EV, and benefit from the lessor’s EV discount. Purchase a used […]
You need an estate plan, regardless of whether or not you are among the ultra-rich. As recent news has shown, even those who have won the lottery or have substantial wealth can fall victim to poor estate planning. While federal estate taxes may not concern you, you need a will to have your wishes honored […]
When your S corporation covers or reimburses your more-than-2-percent-shareholder-employee health insurance expenses, it classifies the payments as box 1 W-2 wages but not box 3 or box 5 wages. When calculating the amount eligible for the Form 1040 self-employed health insurance deduction, you must use your Medicare wages (listed in box 5 of Form W-2) […]
Did you buy, sell, donate, or receive an NFT during the tax year? If so, you must answer “yes” to the digital assets question on page one of the IRS Form 1040. Additionally, if you have sold an NFT, you could be liable for tax or eligible for a deductible loss. If you are unsure […]
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are designed for use alongside high-deductible health plans, assisting you in covering your medical expenses. They can also function as an incredible retirement account due to their triple tax benefit: You can deduct contributions from your taxes. Your account balance grows without being taxed. Withdrawals for medical expenses are tax-free. And […]
I know you have been thinking about employee fitness and possibly a gym or other athletic facility. To be tax deductible, your gym or other athletic facilities must be primarily for the benefit of your employees—other than employees who are officers, shareholders, or other owners who own a 10 percent or greater interest in the […]
If your children work in your business, consider giving them education fringe benefits. Doing this right creates tax deductions for the business, and tax-free fringe education benefits for the child. You can accomplish this without a Section 127 plan when your child needs the education to do the job for your business or comply with […]
The current economic climate makes this a good time to focus on bad debt losses. As an individual taxpayer, deducting bad debt losses has always been controversial with the IRS. To claim the deduction, you must first establish that the loss was from a bona fide loan transaction that went wrong. So be alert. Avoid […]
The $75 rule applies to certain business expenses where you do not need a receipt. But I emphasize that this rule does not apply to all tax deductions. Many taxpayers mistakenly apply the $75 rule to all their tax deductions, which can result in a significant loss of deductions and penalties. I encourage you to […]
I’m reaching out to remind you of two important issues related to health insurance deductions for S corporations. First, if you own more than 2 percent of an S corporation and provide health insurance coverage, there are three steps you need to follow to claim a deduction: Step 1. The cost of the insurance must […]
The government does not want you to withdraw money from your IRAs and other retirement accounts before age 59 1/2. To deter early withdrawals, the government imposes a 10 percent penalty tax, in addition to regular income tax in the case of tax-deferred accounts. But what if you want to access your retirement funds before […]
Choosing the best virtual CFO for your business can be challenging. Here are some guidelines that may help you make the best decision for your needs. First and foremost, a virtual CFO should have a strong financial background and experience in managing finances for businesses. Look for someone who has worked with companies similar to […]