No changes in healthcare yet, even with Trump executive order
President Trump signed an executive order this month that is being described in the media as a step in dismantling the Affordable Care Act. For now, however, healthcare remains business as usual. While the executive order signed Oct. 12 could result in some significant changes – such as greater access to association health plans and […]
Employee or self-employed? It matters in the eyes of the tax law
Running your own business can feel like it takes more time than God created, and too often household tasks are sacrificed. Consequently, many people hire someone to help with various tasks, such as housecleaning, child care and yard work. While that may relieve the stress of completing those duties, it’s important to recognize the tax […]
Financial hardship? Your retirement plan is an option
Employers often offer their employees a retirement plan as a part of their benefits package. Since these funds are to be invested for use upon retirement, they are largely untouchable until later in life. However, sometimes real life gets in the way of a well-laid plan. The IRS does make provisions for early distributions from […]
Heidi Pearson: It all adds up
Heidi Pearson likes to play it by the numbers. This year, the numbers 2 and 15 are significant. In November, Heidi will celebrate her 15th year with the firm. She will mark in October her second year as a partner. “I have learned a lot over the past 15 years, mostly about building and strengthening […]
Tax deadline extended for victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma
Back-to-back hurricanes in the last few weeks have left much of the Southeast and Texas devastated, but the IRS is giving victims of these storms extra time to file tax returns. Taxpayers in those areas affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma that have been declared federal disaster areas are eligible for the extension of time. Taxpayers […]
Beware of FBI survey phishing scam
The tactic is different but the con is the same. The IRS has issued a warning this week about a new phishing scheme that impersonates the IRS and the FBI as part of a ransomware scam to take computer data hostage. According to the IRS, the scam email uses the emblems of both the IRS […]
2017 Tax Reform: What Congress and the President are considering now
As reported by Reuters, President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are now tackling tax reform. Tax staffers are meeting in the House of Representatives and the Senate through the August break to work on legislation that is expected to be unveiled next month. Here are some of the key issues that Congressional staffers and the […]
Sparkmon & Associates IT team keeps your network healthy
Does it feel a little sluggish, like it takes longer to get moving in the morning? Does it move a little slower than it used to, taking more time to complete normal tasks? If this sounds like your computer network, perhaps it’s time to schedule an assessment of your IT operations. Sparkmon & Associates’ team […]
Reminder: Earlier deadlines again this year to file W-2 and 1099 forms
Employers once again will have an earlier deadline next year to file W-2s with the Social Security Administration. For the 2016 tax year, employers had a new, accelerated deadline of Jan. 31 to file W-2s – instead of the end of February or March as it had been in prior years – depending on whether […]
Restaurant owners could soon face new scheduling laws
If recently passed legislation is any guide, employers in the restaurant industry across the country could be facing restrictive regulations on scheduling employees for work. The state of Oregon passed a statewide scheduling law this summer that many observers expect will become the template for other states to follow. The Oregon bill would impact the […]