Auburn-Opelika (334) 887-7022 | Montgomery (334) 244-8900

Returning Value Blog

Do You Have a Psychologically Safe Workplace?

Posted by Becky Snedigar on Sep 08, 2021

The need for innovation and creativity is not going away now that businesses and workplaces are opening up again. Business leaders need to consider how they can continue encouraging these traits as they navigate to a new normal. One way to accomplish this is by ensuring your business is a psychologically safe space where employees can feel free to be themselves, be right or wrong, and present out-of-the-box ideas without feeling threatened or diminished.

Full Story

Posted in Payroll, HR & Benefits

Financial Reporting Issues to Consider in "Going Private" Transactions

Posted by Melissa Motley, CPA on Sep 02, 2021

In the midst of mounting inflation, supply shortages, geopolitical turmoil, threats of cyberattacks, and continuing COVID-19 concerns, public stock prices are expected to fluctuate in the coming months. This situation has unsettled shareholders and makes long-term strategic planning challenging. Now might be a good time to consider getting off the rollercoaster by taking your company out of the public eye.

Full Story

Posted in Audit & Assurance

2021 Federal Tax Legislation? A Review of the Current State of Play

Posted by Lesley L. Price, CPA on Aug 25, 2021

As we’ve reported this year, the Biden Administration has made tax policy a legislative priority, and the Treasury Department’s Green Book, released on May 28, provides additional details on these tax policy proposals. Congressional Democrats have also indicated their interest in tax legislation. The question is: Will we see federal tax legislation in the near future? To answer this question, we need to look at the Administration’s and Congress’ infrastructure legislative plans.

Full Story

Posted in Business Tax, Tax News

Private Companies: Are You on Track to Meet the 2022 Deadline for the Updated Lease Standard?

Posted by Aaron K. Waller, CPA on Aug 24, 2021

Updated accounting rules for long-term leases took effect in 2019 for public companies. Now, after several deferrals by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), private companies and private not-for-profit entities must follow suit, starting in the fiscal year 2022. The updated guidance requires these organizations to report — for the first time — the full magnitude of their long-term lease obligations on the balance sheet. Here are the details.

Full Story

Posted in Audit & Assurance

Victory for Restaurants: IRS Permits Tips to be Treated as Qualifying Wages for the Employee Retention Credit

Posted by Murry Guy, CPA on Aug 20, 2021

By now, most restaurant operators are familiar with the Employee Retention Credit (ERC). As we discussed in a previous blog post, the ERC is a fully refundable payroll tax credit designed to encourage businesses to retain and compensate employees during periods in which businesses are not fully operational. 

Full Story

Posted in Business Tax

Health Insurance Plans and Alternatives for Small Businesses

Posted by Amber Cochran Saxon on Aug 19, 2021

Employer-based health insurance costs have increased modestly since 2012 — between 3% and 5% annually for family coverage, according to a 2020 report by Kaiser Family Foundation. These changes have added up over the past decade, and employers and employees are now paying 155% of the health care costs they were paying before, even as wages have stagnated.

Full Story

Posted in Payroll, HR & Benefits

Staying Ahead of Potential Changes to Capital Gains Taxes

Posted by Marty Williams, CPA on Aug 17, 2021

The greatest wealth transfer in U.S. history is underway. Americans age 70 and older hold an estimated $35 trillion, according to Federal Reserve data.[1] This means that over the next several decades, millions of Americans will be contemplating how to distribute their life savings to heirs, charities, and other beneficiaries. To make matters even more interesting, wealthy Americans also face the potential for a once-in-a-generation increased tax liability. The Biden Administration has proposed increasing taxes on wealthy Americans to raise revenue for various spending initiatives.

Full Story

Posted in Retirement & Wealth Management Planning

As 2022 Draws Near, Taxpayers Should Consider Compliance with Amended Section 174

Posted by Nick Wheeler, CPA on Aug 12, 2021

Since late 2017, taxpayers have been implementing the congeries of changes wrought by the most significant revisions to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) in a generation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The interpretation and implementation of certain provisions of the TCJA are ongoing, as the Treasury and IRS continue to draft and finalize much-needed guidance.

Full Story

Posted in Business Advisory

Biden's Infrastructure Plan: What is Construction's Opportunity?

Posted by Michael D. Machen, CPA, CVA on Aug 11, 2021


  • Infrastructure plan is an opportunity for the industry to improve its reputation
  • Construction firms are entering into joint ventures to bid on large projects
  • Data analytics can identify labor overages: case study

President Biden’s infrastructure plan is set to improve failing infrastructure, rebuild the economy and create new jobs. As of this writing, the plan, which Biden originally released on March 31 as a $2 trillion capital injection over 10 years, is a $579 billion proposal that has bipartisan agreement, though Democrats have signaled the bill may only move through Congress in tandem with a larger spending and tax increase package, which they may try to pass via the reconciliation process.

Full Story

Posted in Business Advisory

Why Use Time and Attendance Software?

Posted by Becky Snedigar on Aug 06, 2021

Documentation is key to wage and hour compliance. Simplify time tracking by automatically calculating hours worked as well as vacation time, holidays, sick days, and overtime. There was a time, not so long ago, when timesheets were filled in manually. Spreadsheets were the next development, but today, managers can choose among a variety of software options that can solve a variety of problems.

Full Story

Posted in Payroll, HR & Benefits

Recent Posts

Returning_Value