Returning Value Blog

According to IRS Publication 5137, Fringe Benefit Guide, a fringe benefit is “a form of pay (including property, services, cash or cash equivalent), in addition to stated pay, for the performance of services.” But the tax treatment of a fringe benefit can vary dramatically based on the type of benefit.

95% of U.S. businesses are "pass-through" entities and 43% of those pass-throughs are sole proprietorships.

Here are some of the key tax-related deadlines affecting businesses and other employers during the third quarter of 2017. Keep in mind that this list isn’t all-inclusive, so there may be additional deadlines that apply to you. Contact us to ensure you’re meeting all applicable deadlines and to learn more about the filing requirements.

How to avoid underpayment penalties

Even though you just put your 2016 tax return to bed, you cannot rest easy. It is already time to pay attention to your tax liability for 2017. Significantly, you may be required to pay installments of “estimated tax” for this year, especially if you are self-employed or retired.

Compare actual expenses with flat-rate method

Did you use your vehicle for business driving in 2016? Generally, you can deduct expenses on your tax return in one of two ways: the actual expense method or the IRS-approved standard mileage rate. Here is a brief comparison:  

Make these elections on your 1040 tax return.

Owners of rental property may be surprised to learn that they may take a tax deduction on their 1040 tax returns. Tangible property regulations, issued by the IRS in 2013, address a wide variety of topics, including materials and supplies; repairs and maintenance; capital expenditures; and amounts paid for the acquisition and improvement of tangible property. 

Understanding How Present Value Works in the Context of Business Valuation

Consider the following scenario: You and a friend are taking in a ballgame one lovely evening at the old ballpark. All is well until that friend of yours mentions that he forgot his wallet. Said friend, then sheepishly asks if he can borrow $50 to fund his consumption of requisite ballpark goodies—a hot dog, a frosty beer, peanuts (what would a ballgame be without peanuts?) and ice cream.

The Research Credit Is Back for Good

Like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in The Terminator, the research credit is back. This valuable tax break, which had officially expired and been restored more than a dozen times in the past, was extended again by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act, retroactive to the beginning of 2015. What’s more, the credit has been made permanent, with certain modifications, by the new PATH Act.