Returning Value Blog

Smart business owners know their products, services, markets and customers inside and out. Yet that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re experts in business finance, taxes and IRS regulations. While these disciplines grow increasingly complex every year, business owners must make intelligent decisions about each one in order to keep their businesses viable.

How parents can avoid or reduce tax

Despite its name, the “kiddie tax” is not limited to toddlers or preschool children. In fact, it may continue to apply to 20-somethings. Saving grace: At least you may be able to minimize or even eliminate this additional tax.

Should auld tax rulings be forgot, and new ones take their place, we’ll give a cup of good advice, to help our clients keep pace.

President Signs Extenders and Omnibus Acts, Impacting Broad Range of Provisions

Just before recessing for the holidays, the House and Senate passed the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH Act). President Obama signed the Act and a FY 2016 omnibus on December 18.

On November 24, 2015, the IRS issued Notice 2015-82, which increases the deductible amount for purchases of de minimis tangible property from $500 to $2,500 per item. The new limit is for taxpayers who do not have an applicable financial statement (AFS), a financial statement that is required to be filed with the SEC or a certified audited financial statement accompanied by the report of an independent CPA.

As 2015 draws to a close, the time to consider tax-saving opportunities for you and/or your business is before year-end. Individual income taxes, whether paid through employer withholding or quarterly estimates, are probably one of your largest annual expenditures. You may want to consider opportunities to reduce or defer your annual tax obligation. Also, if you own a business, some opportunities for your business may apply regardless of whether your business is conducted as a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, S corporation, or regular corporation. Other opportunities may apply only to a particular type of business organization. These Tax Planning Letters are intended to assist you in your individual and business tax planning efforts.

How to achieve financial success

No one can predict with any great certainty the financial outlook for 2016, especially with the national elections looming in November. Nevertheless, here are 10 top money management moves that make sense for the rest of this year.

The FASB recently issued ASU 2015-17 as part of its Simplification Initiative. The amendments eliminate the guidance in Topic 740, Income Taxes, that required an entity to separate deferred tax liabilities and assets between current and noncurrent amounts in a classified balance sheet. Rather, deferred taxes will be presented as noncurrent under the new standard. It takes effect in 2017 for public companies and is available here. Early adoption is permitted, including for December 31, 2015 year-end financial statements.

The Affordable Care Act has the potential to affect all businesses.  Failure to comply with the ACA can result in substantial penalties.

Every business owner should address how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will impact their business. There are reporting requirements in effect for the 2015 calendar year as well as potential employer health insurance coverage offering requirements, both having substantial fines for noncompliance. To be prepared you need to know the following: