Returning Value Blog

Shareholder advances: Debt or equity?

From time to time, owners of closely held businesses might need to advance their companies' money to bridge a temporary downturn or provide funds for an expansion or another major purchase. How should those advances be classified under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)? Depending on the facts and circumstances of the transaction, an advance may be reported as debt or additional paid-in capital.

On August 30, 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) unanimously voted to finalize its proposed improvements to the disclosure rules for income taxes. Here’s what’s changing and when those changes are effective.

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.”

Do you and your spouse together operate a profitable, unincorporated small business? If so, you face some challenging tax issues.

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.

Last month, an article was posted, " How to Leave Your Home to Your Children." The article was not specific to the state of Alabama. Jan Neal, an attorney with Jan Neal Law Firm, LLC, offered to give us advice more specific to the State of Alabama. The state has specific rules, and below is Jan Neal's article:

As the unemployment rate falls from its 2020 high, employees are switching jobs in record numbers. The new stability in the economy means workers have more leeway to shop around for jobs that fit their lifestyles, needs, and values. Now, the onus is on employers to provide an environment that makes their star team members want to stay and also attracts new talent. Part of that equation is providing a great benefits package. But if you're one of the many employers expanding their benefits, how do you pay taxes on your new programs?

Does your business work on projects that take longer than a year to complete? Recognizing revenue from long-term projects usually requires the use of the “percentage-of-completion” method. Here’s an overview of when it’s required and how it works.

If you were born in 1951 and took a required minimum distribution (RMD) this year (due to reaching age 72), you may be able to roll the funds back into your retirement account and not have it subject to income tax. The distribution must have occurred between 1/1/23 and 7/31/23; you have until 9/30/23 to roll the funds back into the retirement account. This could also apply to the surviving spouse of the IRA owner.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act liberalized the rules for depreciating business assets. However, the amounts change every year due to inflation adjustments. And due to high inflation, the adjustments for 2023 were big. Here are the numbers that small business owners need to know.