Work Opportunity Tax Credit extended through 2025
Are you a business owner thinking about hiring? There is good news in that a recent law extended a credit for hiring individuals from one or more targeted groups. Employers can qualify for a tax credit known as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) that’s worth as much as $2,400 for each eligible employee ($4,800, […]
Seniors: Can you deduct Medicare premiums?
If you’re age 65 and older, and you have basic Medicare insurance, you may need to pay additional premiums to get the level of coverage you want. The premiums can be costly, especially if you’re married and both you and your spouse are paying them. But there may be a silver lining: You may qualify […]
Using credit cards for food, paper costs does not add up
Purchases of food and paper is a significant and ongoing expense for restaurant owners, so it is natural that McDonald’s owner/operators would be looking for alternative ways to pay for the product without compromising cash flow. American Express offers a program that at first glance would appear to offer some valuable perks. For instance, it […]
Don’t let ‘ghost assets’ haunt your bottom line
It’s that time of year to clear away old equipment from your financial statements so you are not haunted by unused and out-of-date equipment that can suck the life out of your bottom line. Unused equipment is commonly referred to as a “ghost asset.” Ghost assets are fixed assets that remain on the financial statement […]
If your kids are off to day camp, you may be eligible for a tax break
Now that most schools are out for the summer, you might be sending your children to day camp. It’s often a significant expense. The good news: You might be eligible for a tax break for the cost. The value of a credit Day camp is a qualified expense under the child and dependent care credit, […]
How will tax reform impact your 2018 taxes? A review of the TCJA provisions
Now that 2019 has begun, there isn’t too much you can do to reduce your 2018 income tax liability. But it’s smart to begin preparing for filing your 2018 return. Because the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which was signed into law at the end of 2017, likely will have a major impact on […]
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 […]
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 […]
Calculating QBI deduction can be complex and time-consuming
One of the more beneficial provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for individuals and small business owners is the new qualified business income (QBI) deduction under Section 199A. Eligible taxpayers may be entitled to a deduction of up to 20 percent of QBI, a significant tax savings for owners of sole proprietorships, […]
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 […]