Returning Value Blog

Extensions retroactive to 2017 tax year

The biggest news in tax circles is, of course, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) enacted late last year. But the TCJA isn’t the only important new tax legislation. With little fanfare, the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA), a government spending measure, extended about 30 tax provisions that had expired at the end of 2016.

Items for new owners to resolve

Are you starting a new business venture or investing in potential opportunities in the marketplace? Before you make any commitments, be aware that there are numerous practical considerations from a business, tax and legal perspective. In other words, there is much more involved than just fronting the cash.

Complicated new rules for business owners

The new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) creates a brand-new deduction for pass-through entities, designed to provide a balance to corporations benefiting from tax rate cuts. But the deduction is not nearly as simple as the new flat 21% rate for corporations authorized by the TCJA. Although many tax experts are still grappling with the rules, here are the basics of what we know so far.

IRS examiners use Audit Techniques Guides (ATGs) to prepare for audits — and so can small business owners. Many ATGs target specific industries, such as construction. Others address issues that frequently arise in audits, such as executive compensation and fringe benefits. These publications can provide valuable insights into issues that might surface if your business is audited.

Now that small businesses and their owners have filed their 2017 income tax returns (or filed for an extension), it’s a good time to review some of the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that may significantly impact their taxes for 2018 and beyond. Generally, the changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and are permanent, unless otherwise noted.

Ways the new tax law affects federal estate taxes.

You may have breathed a sigh of relief after filing your 2017 income tax return (or requesting an extension). But if your office is strewn with reams of paper consisting of years’ worth of tax returns, receipts, canceled checks and other financial records (or your computer desktop is filled with a multitude of digital tax-related files), you probably want to get rid of what you can. Follow these retention guidelines as you clean up.

When a company’s deductible expenses exceed its income, generally a net operating loss (NOL) occurs. If when filing your 2017 income tax return you found that your business had an NOL, there is an upside: tax benefits. But beware — the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) makes some significant changes to the tax treatment of NOLs.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) includes many changes that affect tax breaks for employee benefits. Among the changes are four negatives and one positive that will impact not only employees but also the businesses providing the benefits.