Tax planning is a year-round activity, but there are still some year-end strategies you can use to lower your 2018 tax bill. Here are six last-minute tax moves business owners should consider: Postpone invoices. If your business uses the cash method of accounting, and it would benefit from deferring income to next year, wait until early 2019 to send invoices. Accrual-basis businesses can defer recognition of certain advance payments for products to be delivered or services to be provided next year. Prepay expenses. A cash-basis business may be able to reduce its 2018 taxes by prepaying certain expenses — such as lease payments, insurance premiums, utility bills, office supplies and taxes — before the end of the year. Many expenses can be deducted up to...

As the holidays approach and the year draws to a close, many taxpayers make charitable gifts — both in the spirit of the season and as a year-end tax planning strategy. But with the tax law changes that go into effect in 2018 and the many rules that apply to the charitable deduction, it’s a good idea to check deductibility before making any year-end donations. Confirm you can still benefit from itemizing Last year’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) didn’t put new limits on or suspend the charitable deduction, like it did to many other itemized deductions. Nevertheless, it will reduce or eliminate the tax benefits of charitable giving for many taxpayers this year. Itemizing saves tax only if itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction. For 2018...

Millennial Money; Robert Kiyosaki Doesn't Pay Taxes

With perspectives on money and investing that often contradict conventional wisdom, Robert has earned an international reputation for straight talk, irreverence, and courage and has become a passionate and outspoken advocate for financial education.  The "Millennial Money" series of videos seeks to provide young people with some important economic concepts that they didn't learn in school. Previous episodes of "Millennial Money" Blog #446 - How Debt Can Generate Income Blog #451 - The Biggest Mistake Young People Make Robert Kiyosaki is best known as the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad—the #1 personal finance book of all time—Robert Kiyosaki has challenged and changed the way tens of millions of people around the world think about money. He is an entrepreneur, educator, and investor who believes that each of us...

As posted on The Infographics Show YouTube Channel on 12/14/18 How do petrodollars affect the United States Dollar and the world economy? What would happen if oil were no longer exchanged in dollars? The Infographics Show: Facts are fun, but most are presented in a boring and badly edited videos. The Infographics Show focuses on making animated motion infographic videos, made in a fun and entertaining way. ...

                In the attached audio clip (click on photo above to listen), Spidell Publishing's "California Minute" discusses the letters the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), formerly the California Board of Equalization, is sending out to individuals about use tax obligations, and what those letters might mean. Spidell Publishing, Inc. has been a critical source of California tax information for tax professionals since 1975, promoting ideas, references, solutions, and guidance, plus news and commentary covering all aspects of tax and its administration....

                As posted on the Economy and Markets Facebook Page on 12/14/18 Harry Dent has been focusing on the trillion-dollar question in recent months, especially since the markets are so volatile now . . . and in fact, since Trump’s election, when Dent Research turned bullish! That question: When will this thing peak?  The reality is, all bubbles go higher than anyone expects them to!  But, history does give us a clue, and Harry shares that with you in the above video.  Harry S. Dent, Jr. is the founder of Dent Research, an economic forecasting and investment research firm and publisher that works diligently to provide clients with the proprietary economic knowledge needed to accurately forecast what lies ahead in our economy so that they can take the necessary and appropriate action to ensure...

Millennial Money; Robert Kiyosaki Doesn't Pay Taxes

With perspectives on money and investing that often contradict conventional wisdom, Robert has earned an international reputation for straight talk, irreverence, and courage and has become a passionate and outspoken advocate for financial education.  The "Millennial Money" series of videos seeks to provide young people with some important economic concepts that they didn't learn in school. Previous episodes of "Millennial Money" Blog #446 - How Debt Can Generate Income Robert Kiyosaki is best known as the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad—the #1 personal finance book of all time—Robert Kiyosaki has challenged and changed the way tens of millions of people around the world think about money. He is an entrepreneur, educator, and investor who believes that each of us has the power to makes changes in our...

As the year winds to a close, most businesses see employees taking a lot of vacation time. After all, it’s the holiday season, and workers want to enjoy it. Some businesses, however, find themselves particularly short-staffed in December because they don’t allow unused paid time off (PTO) to be rolled over to the new year, or they allow only very limited rollovers. There are good business reasons to limit PTO rollovers. Fortunately, there’s a way to reduce the year-end PTO vortex without having to allow unlimited rollovers: a PTO contribution arrangement. Retirement saving with a twist A PTO contribution arrangement allows employees with unused vacation hours to elect to convert them to retirement plan contributions. If the plan has a 401(k) feature, it can treat these amounts as...