If you own a company and travel for business, you may wonder whether you can deduct all the costs of having your spouse accompany you on trips. It’s possible, but the rules are restrictive. When Your Spouse Is Also Your Employee If your spouse is your employee, you may be able to deduct most of his or […]
Most people feel some relief after filing their income tax returns each year. But even if you’ve successfully filed your 2024 return, you may still have questions. Here are three common ones. 1. What’s the Status of Your Refund? You can learn the status of your tax refund using an IRS online tool. Go to […]
The consequences of misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor can be costly. You could be liable for back taxes (including the employee’s shares of unpaid payroll and income taxes), penalties and interest. There may be serious nontax consequences as well. How Important Is This? Businesses must withhold federal and state income taxes and the […]
Whether you’re a casual or professional gambler, your winnings are taxable. However, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration reports that gambling income is vastly underreported. Failing to report winnings accurately can lead to back taxes, interest and penalties. Here’s what you need to know to stay compliant and potentially minimize your tax liability. Reporting […]
Payroll fraud schemes can be costly. According to a 2024 Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) study, the median loss generated by payroll fraud incidents is $50,000. It’s essential to know the payroll schemes making the rounds and how to prevent them or at least catch them before they go on very long. Common Threats […]
If you’ve filed your 2024 tax return, you may be eager to do some spring cleaning, starting with tax-related paper and digital clutter. The documentation needed to support a tax return may include receipts, bank and investment account statements, K-1s, W-2s, and 1099s. How long must you save these records? Three years is the general […]
If you’re preparing to file your 2024 federal income tax return and your tax bill is higher than you’d expected or your tax refund is smaller than you’d hoped, there might still be an opportunity to change it. If you qualify, you can make a deductible contribution to a traditional IRA until the filing date […]
After successfully navigating the start-up phase, your business has a strong foundation for growth. At the growth stage, business and financial advisory services become essential. Focus on these two key areas to elevate your company to the next level. 1. Financial and Tax Reporting Businesses in the growth stage usually have more sophisticated financial reporting […]
If you own or manage a business with employees, you could be personally responsible for paying a harsh tax penalty. It’s called the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (TFRP). It applies to the mishandling of Social Security and income taxes that must be withheld from employees’ wages. These taxes are government property employers collect and hold […]
With so many people working remotely, it’s become more common to think about moving to another state, perhaps for better weather, to be closer to family or to reduce living expenses. Retirees also look at out-of-state moves for many of the same reasons. If you’re thinking about such a move, consider taxes before packing up […]