Returning Value Blog

Solar energy is a popular choice for businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint through alternative energy sources. In addition to supporting a company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy, converting to solar energy can potentially lock-in lower energy rates. Further, Section 48 of the Internal Revenue Code provides businesses that invest in solar energy a 26% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) on qualifying solar property placed in service before January 1, 2026 — but only if construction begins on the property before January 1, 2023. Otherwise, the credit is phased down to as low as 10%.

As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on, trends in the life insurance industry remain unpredictable. Policy sales have changed substantially, payouts have soared to levels not seen in over a century, and clients have grown more accustomed to personalized digital experiences. As COVID-19 vaccination rates rise and the economic recovery continues, life insurers are embracing new digital practices to meet a new set of customer expectations.

For the final six months of 2022, the standard mileage rate for business travel will increase by 4 cents per mile, from 58.5 to 62.5 cents per mile, according to IRS Announcement 2022-13. The rate for deductible medical or moving expenses will likewise increase from 18 to 22 cents per mile.

There’s a valuable tax deduction available to a C corporation when it receives dividends. The “dividends-received deduction” is designed to reduce or eliminate an extra level of tax on dividends received by a corporation. As a result, a corporation will typically be taxed at a lower rate on dividends than on capital gains.

Do you outsource HR and IT but feel squeamish about letting someone else get too close to your numbers? You probably have a fluctuating need for a bookkeeper, an accountant, a controller, and a chief financial officer. You could hire all these people, but outsourcing can provide these services when you need them at significant cost savings.

Here’s an interesting option if your small company or start-up business is planning to claim the research tax credit. Subject to limits, you can elect to apply all or some of any research tax credits that you earn against your payroll taxes instead of your income tax. This payroll tax election may influence some businesses to undertake or increase their research activities. On the other hand, if you’re engaged in or are planning to engage in research activities without regard to tax consequences, be aware that some tax relief could be in your future.

Payroll compliance is about meeting your payroll obligations as required by law. Learn how your organization can stay compliant.

The Treasury Department, on April 26, 2022, released proposed regulations limiting the anti-clawback rule previously published on November 26, 2019. The proposed regulations – REG-118913-21 – address certain situations in which an estate could be taxed on gifts made by a donor after 2017 and before a reduction in the basic exclusion amount (BEA), wherein the gifts were free of gift tax when made.

Are you a partner in a business? You may have come across a situation that’s puzzling. In a given year, you may be taxed on more partnership income than was distributed to you from the partnership in which you’re a partner.

Business owners and investors are understandably concerned about skyrocketing inflation. Over the last year, consumer prices have increased 8.3%, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) covers the prices of food, clothing, shelter, fuels, transportation, doctors’ and dentists’ services, drugs, and other goods and services that people buy for day-to-day living. This was a slightly smaller increase than the 8.5% figure for the period ending in March, which was the highest 12-month increase since December 1981.