As year end approaches, it’s a good idea for calendar-year entities to review the guidelines for recognizing revenue and expenses. There are specific rules regarding accounting cutoffs under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Strict observance of these rules is generally the safest game plan. The basics Companies that follow GAAP must use the accrual method of accounting, not the cash method. That means revenues and expenses must be matched...
Read moreS corporations must comply with several strict requirements or risk losing their tax-advantaged status. Among other things, they can have no more than 100 shareholders, no more than one class of stock and only certain types of shareholders. In an estate planning context, it’s critical that any trusts that own S corporation stock — or receive such stock through operation of your estate plan — be eligible shareholders. 4 eligible...
Read moreS corporations can provide tax advantages over C corporations in the right circumstances. This is true if you expect that the business will incur losses in its early years because shareholders in a C corporation generally get no tax benefit from such losses. Conversely, as an S corporation shareholder, you can deduct your percentage share of these losses on your personal tax return to the extent of your basis in...
Read moreThe IRS, U.S. Department of Labor and Department of Health and Human Services recently issued interim final regulations addressing group health plan coverage of COVID-19 preventive services — including vaccinations — and testing. The regulations are effective immediately and will sunset at the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Qualifying preventive services The regulations implement the CARES Act requirement that most group health plans cover — without cost-sharing —...
Read moreFrom natural disasters and government shutdowns to cyberattacks and fraud, risks abound in today’s volatile, uncertain marketplace. While some level of risk is inevitable when operating a business, proactive owners and executives apply an enterprise risk management (ERM) framework to manage it more effectively. Evolving framework The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) was formed in July 1985 to combat fraudulent financial reporting. The panel is a...
Read moreSmall business owners are well aware of the increasing cost of employee health care benefits. As a result, your business may be interested in providing some of these benefits through an employer-sponsored Health Savings Account (HSA). Or perhaps you already have an HSA. It’s a good time to review how these accounts work since the IRS recently announced the relevant inflation-adjusted amounts for 2021. The basics of HSAs For eligible...
Read moreNow that Joe Biden has been projected as the winner of the presidential election by major news outlets,* you may wonder if your federal taxes will be affected. President-elect Biden campaigned on a broad agenda, including a pledge to roll back many of President Trump’s tax policies. In response to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), Biden has promised a progressive approach to taxation, focused primarily on increasing the...
Read moreThe executor’s role is critical to the administration of your estate and the achievement of your estate planning objectives. So your first instinct may be to name a trusted family member as executor. But that might not be the best choice. Duties of an executor Your executor will have a variety of important duties, including: Arranging for probate of your will (if necessary) and obtaining court approval to administer your...
Read moreAlthough planning is needed to help build the biggest possible nest egg in your traditional IRA (including a SEP-IRA and SIMPLE-IRA), it’s even more critical that you plan for withdrawals from these tax-deferred retirement vehicles. There are three areas where knowing the fine points of the IRA distribution rules can make a big difference in how much you and your family will keep after taxes: Early distributions. What if you...
Read moreOwners of closely held corporations are often interested in easily withdrawing money from their businesses at the lowest possible tax cost. The simplest way is to distribute cash as a dividend. However, a dividend distribution isn’t tax-efficient, since it’s taxable to you to the extent of your corporation’s “earnings and profits.” And it’s not deductible by the corporation. Other strategies Fortunately, there are several alternative methods that may allow you...
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