Avoid the Hidden Dangers of the Accumulated Earnings Penalty Tax
If you run your business through a regular “C” corporation, beware of the accumulated earnings tax (AET). The IRS can use the AET to penalize C corporations that retain earnings in the business rather than pay them to shareholders as taxable dividends. To retain earnings, the C corporation first pays the corporate tax of 21 […]
Smart Solutions That Decrease Social Security and Medicare Taxes
Here are some important updates and strategies regarding Social Security and Medicare taxes that may significantly impact your business. For 2024, the Social Security tax ceiling increased to $168,600, resulting in a maximum Social Security tax of $20,906 for high-earners. The Social Security Administration projects this ceiling to rise annually, reaching $242,700 or more by […]
Claim Up to $32,220 in Missed 2021 Self-Employed COVID-19 Sick and Family Leave Credits Today
Were you self-employed during 2021? If so, there is a good chance that you could have qualified for COVID-19 sick and family leave credits worth as much as $32,220. If you’re like many self-employed individuals or partners, you probably never heard about these tax credits. Unlike employee retention credit for employers, the special temporary credits […]
Cost Segregation: A Great Strategy When?
One significant tax benefit of owning residential rental property or non-residential commercial or investment property is depreciation—a deduction you get without spending any additional money. But regular depreciation for real property is slow. Residential rental property is depreciated over 27.5 years and non-residential property over 39 years, providing a relatively small deduction each year. Fortunately, […]
Did You Overfund a Section 529 Plan? Consider a Roth IRA Rollover
Have you established, or are you considering, a Section 529 savings plan for a child, grandchild, or other family member? Such plans are a great way to help pay for a person’s college education. Contributions are not federally tax deductible, but they grow tax-free, and you can withdraw them tax-free to pay higher education expenses. […]
Q&A: No Business Income, No Office Deduction: Wrong
You may have heard you cannot claim a home-office deduction without business income. That’s not accurate, as I explain below. Points to Consider Claim business deductions with no business income. Even if your business did not generate income this year, you should claim all business deductions. Such deductions might create a net operating loss (NOL), […]
Tax Reform Doubles Down on S Corporation Reasonable Compensation
From 2018 to 2025, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is offering a 20 percent deduction on pass-through business income, with specific eligibility criteria. This deduction impacts the choice of entity. For instance, should you operate as a sole proprietorship or an S corporation? The Importance of Reasonable Compensation When operating your business as an […]
Businesses and Rentals Existing on Jan. 1 Trigger FinCEN Filings
For existing businesses, the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) has come into force as of January 1, 2024, and imposes a brand-new federal filing requirement on most corporations, limited liability companies, and limited partnerships and on certain other business entities. No later than December 31, 2024, all non-exempt business entities must file a beneficial owner information […]
Create Tax-Free Fringe Benefit Deductions for your Smartphone
I hope you can benefit from this fringe benefit opportunity related to business smartphones. The IRS allows businesses to provide smartphones and tablets such as iPads as a tax-free fringe benefit, simplifying tax implications and eliminating the need for detailed usage records. Eligibility. This benefit applies to corporations, partnerships, and other entities, and it can […]
Tax Rules for Providing Free Meals and/or Lodging to Employees
If you’re wondering about tax-free treatment for employer-provided meals and lodging, you may find the following overview helpful. Under Section 119 of the Internal Revenue Code, businesses can offer employees tax-free meals and/or lodging, provided they meet certain conditions. Tax-free means that such benefits are not subject to federal income tax for the employee, nor […]
Five Rules for Turning Your Vacation-Even a Luxurious One into Tax-Deductible Business Travel
Here’s an idea: how about transforming your next vacation into business travel? With careful planning, your transportation to any destination could be fully deductible. This includes airfare—even first-class—luxury hotel stays, and cruise expenses. If you can tie your travel to business purposes, you can enjoy substantial tax savings, depending on your tax bracket. Two Main […]
NEW Crypto Tax Reporting Rules Are Coming Soon
If you invest or trade in Bitcoin, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), Stablecoins, or other digital assets, prepare for sweeping new tax reporting requirements. Congress wants the IRS to crack down on taxpayers who buy and sell crypto but don’t report or pay tax on their gains. To do so, it wants people and companies that facilitate […]