Returning Value Blog

The optional standard mileage rate used to calculate the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business will be going up by 1.5 cents per mile in 2024. The IRS recently announced that the cents-per-mile rate for the business use of a car, van, pickup, or panel truck will be 67 cents (up from 65.5 cents for 2023).

As 2023 draws to a close, employers should review whether they have properly included the value of common fringe benefits in their employees’ and (if applicable) 2% S corporation shareholders’ taxable wages. This is especially true for 2023 and beyond, as many employers continue to deal with remote or hybrid workforces.

Are employees at your business traveling and frustrated about documenting expenses? Or perhaps you’re annoyed at the time and energy that goes into reviewing business travel expenses. There may be a way to simplify the reimbursement of these expenses. In Notice 2023-68, the IRS announced the fiscal 2024 special “per diem” rates that became effective October 1, 2023. Taxpayers can use these rates to substantiate the amount of expenses for lodging, meals, and incidentals when traveling away from home. (Taxpayers in the transportation industry can use a special transportation industry rate.)

Machen McChesney would like to bring to your attention a recent announcement from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and a special withdrawal process introduced to address concerns about ineligible claims and protect small businesses from scams. This announcement is part of a broader effort by the IRS to safeguard small businesses and organizations from the barrage of suspect ERC advertising. This announcement could be helpful if you or someone you know might be affected by improper filing ERC via suspicious 3rd parties.

If you read the Internal Revenue Code (and you probably don’t want to!), you may be surprised to find that most business deductions aren’t specifically listed. For example, the tax law doesn’t explicitly state that you can deduct office supplies and certain other expenses. Some expenses are detailed in the tax code, but the general rule is contained in the first sentence of Section 162, which states you can write off “all the ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business.”

Machen McChesney is committed to keeping you informed about critical developments that may impact your business. Today, we would like to bring to your attention an important update from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) concerning the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) program.

Does your business receive large amounts of cash or cash equivalents? If so, you’re generally required to report these transactions to the IRS — and not just on your tax return.

It’s common for high-growth and seasonal businesses to have occasional shortfalls in their checking accounts. The reason relates to the cash conversion cycle — that is, it takes time to collect on customer invoices. In the meantime, employees and suppliers want to get paid. The “cash gap” is currently getting wider for many companies. A recent study by CFO / The Hackett Group shows that the cash conversion cycle increased from 35.2 days in 2021 to 36.4 days in 2022. To add insult to injury, interest rates, and many operational costs are rising.

The U.S. government has repeatedly revised the requirements for U.S. taxpayers to claim the Employee Retention Credit ("ERC"), also commonly known as the Employee Retention Tax Credit, since its initial codification into law. As a result, many eligible taxpayers have been left uncertain as to whether they may properly claim this often-valuable tax credit. Because there is a strict statute of limitations on claiming the ERC, potentially eligible taxpayers that have not already claimed the ERC should review their eligibility under current U.S. law as soon as possible.  

Many businesses use independent contractors to help keep their costs down — especially in these times of staff shortages and inflationary pressures. If you’re among them, be careful that these workers are properly classified for federal tax purposes. If the IRS reclassifies them as employees, it can be an expensive mistake.