Tax credit for plug-in vehicles begins to phase down
If you purchased a plug-in electrical car in 2018, you may be eligible for a tax credit – but not for long. A federal tax credit of $7,500 was offered to purchasers of plug-in electric cars, but now that two car manufacturers – Tesla and GM – have sold more than 200,000 eligible vehicles in […]
Standard mileage rates to increase in 2019
The standard mileage rate for business travel is increasing in 2019 by more than 3 cents per mile. Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, the standard mileage rate for transportation or travel expenses is 58 cents per mile, up 3.5 cents from 2018 when it was 54.5 cents per mile. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act suspended […]
Minimum wage increases add pressure to labor costs
With wages going up across the country, owner/operators must be sure to continue to place a priority on planning to try to offset the increased cost pressure as much as possible. Approximately 40 percent of the states will have minimum wage increases in 2019. Some are going up just a few cents (e.g., Alaska increasing […]
Year-end tax and financial to-do list for individuals
With the dawn of 2019 on the near horizon, here’s a quick list of tax and financial to-dos you should address before 2018 ends: Check your FSA balance. If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for health care expenses, you need to incur qualifying expenses by December 31 to use up these funds or […]
Check deductibility before making year-end charitable gifts
As the holidays approach and the year draws to a close, many taxpayers make charitable gifts — both in the spirit of the season and as a year-end tax planning strategy. But with the tax law changes that go into effect in 2018 and the many rules that apply to the charitable deduction, it’s a […]
CEO fraud is a ‘whale’ of an email scam
Con artists are no longer content to phish for small targets – now they are trying to hook a whale. “Whaling” is another version of email phishing attacks that is gaining momentum. While most phishing attacks cast a wide net, hoping to attract as many victims as possible with a variety of email scams, whaling […]
Could ‘bunching’ medical expenses into 2018 save you tax?
Some of your medical expenses may be tax deductible, but only if you itemize deductions and have enough expenses to exceed the applicable floor for deductibility. With proper planning, you may be able to time controllable medical expenses to your tax advantage. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) could make bunching such expenses into […]
Tax law makes planning for investments more complicated
For investors, fall is a good time to review year-to-date gains and losses. Not only can it help you assess your financial health, but it also can help you determine whether to buy or sell investments before year end to save taxes. This year, you also need to keep in mind the impact of the […]
IRS gives more disaster victims time to make tax payments
Disaster victims in parts of North Carolina and South Carolina will have more time to make some tax payments in the wake of Hurricane Florence. Much of coastal North Carolina and South Carolina are still recovering from massive flooding after Hurricane Florence made landfall on Sept. 14. As a result, the IRS has announced that […]
Antares Group, Inc. to acquire the Franchise Group of Gray, Gray & Gray, LLP
Antares Group, Inc. will acquire the Franchise Group with Boston-based Gray, Gray & Gray, LLP effective October 1, 2018. The combined group will operate under the Antares Group, Inc. name. The merger of the two firms brings together two leading CPA firms renowned for their work with restaurant franchisees, including McDonald’s owner/operators across the country. […]