Returning Value Blog

With the recent Equifax hack, it serves as a reminder of how easily your information can fall into the wrong hands. Here are some basic guidelines of just how liable you are for lost or stolen bank cards.

How to qualify for casualty loss deductions

Catastrophic events, such as hurricanes Harvey and Irma—or tornados, earthquakes, wildfires and the like—can severely damage your personal or business property. Small consolation: You may be entitled to deduct a casualty loss on your tax return.

Does your small business engage in qualified research activities? If so, you may be eligible for a research tax credit that you can use to offset your federal payroll tax bill.

In today’s rough-and-tumble world of mergers and acquisitions (M&As), buyers need to get to know business sellers and their executives, test their representations about asset condition and financial performance, and screen for common fraud schemes. Here’s why.

On October 12, an executive order was signed that, among other things, seeks to expand Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). HRAs are just one type of tax-advantaged account you can provide your employees to help fund their health care expenses. Also available are Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Which one should you include in your benefits package? Here’s a look at the similarities and differences:

How to boost the impact of charitable gifts and save more on taxes.

If you have not filed your taxes, you are quickly running out of time. The deadline for all individual taxpayers who filed for an extension is Monday, October 16, 2017, since October 15, falls on a weekend. You must file and pay any balance due next week.

Business owners may not be able to set aside as much as they’d like in tax-advantaged retirement plans. Typically, they’re older and more highly compensated than their employees, but restrictions on contributions to 401(k) and profit-sharing plans can hamper retirement-planning efforts. One solution may be a cash balance plan.

Only 20% of Fortune 500 companies are offering new employees pension plans, but plenty of workers and retirees still count on them for retirement income.

Projecting your business income and expenses for this year and next can allow you to time when you recognize income and incur deductible expenses to your tax advantage. Typically, it’s better to defer tax. This might end up being especially true this year, if tax reform legislation is signed into law.