Returning Value Blog

Millennials – those born roughly between 1980 and 2000 – are changing the face of retail.

They have a combined purchasing power of $2.45 trillion worldwide – $600 billion in the U.S. – and they account for almost a third of all retail sales.

Their influence is only going to grow – by 2025, they will comprise 75 percent of the workforce.

In the past, it was difficult to qualify for medical expense deductions. Now, some pundits would say that it is “nearly impossible.” Based on tax law changes that took effect in 2013, most taxpayers can deduct only unreimbursed expenses in excess of 10% of their adjusted gross income (AGI), up from 7.5% of AGI under prior law. For taxpayers who are aged 65 or older, the threshold remains at 7.5% of AGI, but only through 2016.

If you are trying to sell appreciated commercial real estate in today’s market, you may have to compromise. For instance, if you refuse to budge on price, you might have to make other reasonable concessions, such as agreeing to an installment sale for a buyer with limited liquidity. As the name implies, the buyer pays you in a series of installments instead of providing all the cash up front.

This could actually be beneficial from a tax perspective if payments are made over two years or more. In that case, not only do you defer some of the tax due on the appreciation in value, but you may reduce your tax liability.

The summer is not just the season for recreation and relaxation. It can also be the time to reduce your 2015 tax liability. Here are eight prime examples for individuals and small-business owners:

The FASB issued an exposure draft proposing a one-year delay of the effective date for the new revenue recognition standard that it issued jointly with the IASB in 2014. Under the proposed amendments, the revenue recognition standard would take effect in 2018 for calendar year-end public entities. It would take effect for private entities in 2019.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-091 (the new revenue standard), establishing a comprehensive revenue recognition standard for virtually all industries in U.S. GAAP, including those that previously followed industry-specific guidance such as the real estate, construction and software industries.

Until recently, software development and manufacturing have been very different industries. Under the recent Internal Revenue Code Section 199, Domestic Production Activity Deduction (DPAD), these industries may be meeting the same definition. This could mean a significant permanent tax deduction for software developers.

It is hard to open a business and turn it into a successful operation. Despite the best efforts of entrepreneurs, a vast number of new businesses in the United States fail each year. Instead of starting from scratch, you or another family member, such as an adult child, might search for a ready-made franchise. There are thousands of them in the marketplace, ranging from McDonald’s to Jiffy Lube to Fantastic Sams hair salons.