Cost control requires a team effort
“That’s just the cost of doing business.” You’ve probably heard this expression many times. It’s true that, to invoke another cliché, you’ve got to spend money to make money. But that doesn’t mean you have to take rising operational costs sitting down. Cost control is a formal management technique through which you evaluate your company’s […]
The time for 2018 tax planning is now
Now that the April 17 individual income tax filing deadline has come and gone, it may seem too early to begin thinking about taxes again. But for maximum tax savings, now is the time to start tax planning for 2018. It’s especially critical to get an early start this year because the Tax Cuts and […]
Tax reform changes to employee benefits tax breaks: 4 negatives and a positive
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) includes many changes that affect tax breaks for employee benefits. Among the changes are four negatives and one positive that will impact not only employees but also the businesses providing the benefits. 4 breaks curtailed Beginning with the 2018 tax year, the TCJA reduces or eliminates tax breaks […]
McDonald’s 2018 Worldwide Convention | Photos
We had a tremendous time catching up with clients and friends at the McDonald’s 2018 Worldwide Convention held April 16-19 in Orlando, Fla. Check out some of the photos from the event. See you in 2020!
We did it! 2018 After Tax Season Gathering | Photos
Now that tax season is winding down, our Antares Group team took some time away to celebrate the close of another successful season.
Make sure repairs were actually repairs before you deduct the cost
Repairs to tangible property, such as buildings, machinery, equipment or vehicles, can provide businesses a valuable current tax deduction — as long as the so-called repairs weren’t actually “improvements.” The costs of incidental repairs and maintenance can be immediately expensed and deducted on the current year’s income tax return. But costs incurred to improve tangible […]
5 ways to protect against ‘chargebacks’ due to credit card fraud
Customer and merchant alike battle credit card fraud. The consumer can try to recoup his or her money after detecting a fraudulent or errant transaction. The business owner, though, can take steps before the transaction occurs to ensure that he won’t face a chargeback from a disputed transaction. A chargeback occurs when a customer makes […]
Can you claim your elderly parent as a dependent on your tax return?
Perhaps. It depends on several factors, such as your parent’s income and how much financial support you provided. If you qualify for the adult-dependent exemption on your 2017 income tax return, you can deduct up to $4,050 per qualifying adult dependent. However, for 2018, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the dependency exemption is […]
Outsource your back office needs
For many years, owners of small and midsize businesses looked at outsourcing much like some homeowners viewed hiring a cleaning person. That is, they saw it as a luxury. But no more — in today’s increasingly specialized economy, outsourcing has become a common way to cut costs and obtain expert assistance. Outsourcing certain tasks that […]
Beware of these ‘Dirty Dozen’ tax scams
As tax season is heating up, so are the scams. The Internal Revenue Service has rolled out its annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams for the 2018 filing season. Many of the scams are perennial, showing up year after year, while others have a new twist on an old con. One such example is […]