It’s that time of year again…tax season. For many small business owners, taxes top the list of business-related concerns. In fact, the National Federation Of Independent Business (“NFIB”) Small Business Economic Trends survey, released earlier this year, revealed that 20% of businesses cite taxes as their biggest problem. With April 15th fast approaching, more and…
Tax preparers share their clients’ strangest misconceptions It’s amazing what clients can walk in with: overflowing shoeboxes, demands for a refund in cash, insistence that you do their return before all others. Taxpayers try to deduct everything from unborn children and kids’ weddings to speeding fines, groceries and massages. Many also walk around with some…
Do you owe more tax than you can afford to pay when you file? If so, don’t fail to take action. Make sure to file on time. That way you won’t have a penalty for filing late. Here is what to do if you can’t pay all your taxes by the due date. • File…
Even though tax season is getting close to the end, there are still some important tips that accountants and tax preparers can share with their clients by April 15, and beyond. Greg Rosica, a tax partner at Ernst & Young and a contributing author to the EY Tax Guide 2015, pointed to the impact of…
Are you an early filer or do you like to wait? I guess some of that depends on whether you are getting money back or you owe! When my clients owe money to the government and we have gone down every route there could possibly be to reduce their taxes, I remind them about their…
As we get into the final stretch of filing season, it is fulfilling the predictions made at the start. “This filing season should be a doozy,” predicted Tom Wheelwright, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based CPA. “Between the Affordable Care Act, the new Section 263(a) repair regulations and the inability of the IRS to answer the calls that…
Although Republicans are outlining a proposal to provide an “off ramp” for states and consumers to exit the Affordable Care Act, and the Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments on a legal challenge to the federally-operated health exchange, state exchanges have been up and running. While tax preparers are fielding questions on the ACA, the…
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, has sent a letter to Internal Revenue Service commissioner John Koskinen asking the agency to issue guidance to make clear that electrical vehicle charging provided by employers is a de minimis fringe benefit. Wyden argues that employer-provided electric vehicle charging should not be…
If you use a part of your home for your business or for your employer’s business, you can claim a deduction for the business use of your home. This deduction is also referred to as the home office deduction. There are some tests that you must meet to be eligible for this deduction; these are…
The Minnesota Society of CPAs has compiled a list of red flags that could trigger an audit from the IRS if they apply to your clients’ tax returns. IRS Auditor The Internal Revenue Service recently announced it will not require taxpayers to amend their returns or pay back any extra money they received in their…
