Returning Value Blog

In 2025, global merger and acquisition (M&A) volume is expected to surge to the highest level in four years, according to Reuters. M&As require thorough due diligence to minimize risks and maximize long-term value. Some business combinations fail to achieve expected results due to financial missteps, overlooked liabilities, and integration challenges.

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives Budget Committee recently circulated a draft list of policy options, some of which would help pay for the extension of the expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and set President Donald Trump’s tax policy agenda.

Across industries, the last year has been challenging for U.S. companies. Uncertainty around the election, steep inflation, and high interest rates have introduced instability and financial pressures that have taken their toll on the business landscape.

Financial forecasting provides a roadmap to guide your organization on the path to success. Forecasts support strategic planning by helping you allocate resources efficiently, manage risks effectively, and optimize capital investments. However, today’s dynamic marketplace is uncharted territory, so you can’t rely solely on historical data. Reliable forecasts also consider external market trends and professional insights. Here are some tips to strengthen your forecasting models and help you avoid common pitfalls.

Businesses in certain industries employ service workers who receive tips as a large part of their compensation. These businesses include restaurants, hotels, and salons. Compliance with federal and state tax regulations is vital if your business has employees who receive tips.

A variety of tax-related limits that affect businesses are indexed annually based on inflation. Many have increased for 2025, but with inflation cooling, the increases aren’t as great as they have been in the last few years. Here are some amounts that may affect you and your business.

Running a small business often requires periodic cash infusions, and knowing how to secure the right funding can determine whether your business succeeds or struggles. Let’s explore the three primary types of funding available to small businesses: debt, equity, and hybrid financing.

In a business world marked by uncertainty, month-end and year-end accounting challenges have remained a constant. The resolution of the recent political season and the Federal Reserve’s lowering of interest rates may have given organizations an overall renewed sense of optimism and the momentum to tackle those challenges. However, the complexity and volume of financial tasks during these periods can overwhelm even the most seasoned accounting teams, placing intense pressure on those that may lack the necessary resources. In this article, we explore how outsourcing accounting functions may provide a viable way to alleviate that pressure. 

A rule that a federal court suspended in August 2024 seems to be  well and truly dead now. As the Society for Human Resource Management explained in a release, the DOL has withdrawn its 80/20/30 rule. This complicated rule, the SHRM noted, divided work into three categories: traditional tipped labor, supporting work preparing or assisting such work, and work that was unrelated to tipped work. Businesses could only apply the tip credit under certain circumstances, based on time spent and the specific categories. The details were complex — and became irrelevant thanks to a 5th Circuit ruling.

Auditing standards require auditors to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement due to fraud and to determine overall and specific responses to those risks. Here are some answers to questions about what auditors assess when interviewing company personnel to evaluate potential fraud risks.