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From Flights to Meals: A Guide to Business Travel Tax Deductions
As a business owner, you may travel to visit customers, attend conferences, check on vendors and for other purposes. Understanding which travel expenses are tax deductible can significantly affect your bottom line. Properly managing travel costs can help ensure compliance and maximize your tax savings. Your tax home Eligible taxpayers can deduct the ordinary and [...]
You Don’t Have to Be in Business to Deduct Certain Vehicle Expenses
When you think about tax deductions for vehicle-related expenses, business driving may come to mind. However, businesses aren’t the only taxpayers that can deduct driving expenses on their returns. Individuals may also be able to deduct them in certain circumstances. Unfortunately, under current law, you may be unable to deduct as much as you could [...]
How Can You Build a Golden Nest Egg If You’re Self-Employed?
If you own a small business with no employees (other than your spouse) and want to set up a retirement plan, consider a solo 401(k) plan. This is also an option for self-employed individuals or business owners who wish to upgrade from a SIMPLE IRA or Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan. A solo 401(k), also [...]
From Risk to Reward: Valuing Emerging-Market Companies
In today’s global economy, an established business might consider expanding its revenue base by acquiring or merging with a company in an emerging market. These markets — for example, in Brazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey — provide tremendous growth potential. But they also come with significant risks. So, obtaining reliable business valuations [...]
With Reporting Deadline Imminent, Court Puts BOI Reporting on Hold
In a groundbreaking decision, a federal district court in Texas has issued a nationwide preliminary injunction that blocks the enforcement of the beneficial ownership reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). This ruling comes from the case Texas Top Cop Shop v. Garland (December 3, 2024, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas, Case [...]
Maximize Your Year-End Giving with Gifts that Offer Tax Benefits
As the end of the year approaches, many people start to think about their finances and tax strategies. One effective way to reduce potential estate taxes and show generosity to loved ones is by giving cash gifts before December 31. Under tax law, you can gift a certain amount each year without incurring gift taxes or [...]
In 2025, the Social Security Wage Base is Going Up
As we approach 2025, changes are coming to the Social Security wage base. The Social Security Administration recently announced that the wage base for computing Social Security tax will increase to $176,100 for 2025 (up from $168,600 for 2024). Wages and self-employment income above this amount aren’t subject to Social Security tax. If your business [...]
How Your Business Can Fight ATM Skimming
Skimming, where criminals use hidden digital readers to steal debit and credit card information, is a pervasive threat that can result in significant financial losses for businesses. The FBI estimates that ATM and point-of-sale (POS) skimming generates more than $1 billion for criminals annually. So if your business offers or operates these machines, you need to [...]
Reminder That Initial BOI Reporting for Pre-1/1/24 Entities is Due 1/1/25
In 2021, Congress passed the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The CTA requires many entities doing business in the US to report information about the individuals who ultimately own or control them (the entity's "beneficial owners"). The CTA's expanded anti-money laundering laws require that small businesses report this beneficial owner information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement [...]
Is Your Money-Losing Activity a Hobby or a Business?
Let’s say you have an unincorporated sideline activity that you consider a business. Perhaps you offer photography services, create custom artwork or sell handmade items online. Will the IRS agree that your venture is a business, not a hobby? It’s an essential question for tax purposes. If the expenses from an activity exceed the revenues, [...]
How Your Business Can Prepare For and Respond to an IRS Audit
The IRS has been increasing its audit efforts, focusing on large businesses and high-income individuals. By 2026, it plans to nearly triple its audit rates for large corporations with assets exceeding $250 million. Under these plans, partnerships with assets over $10 million will also see audit rates increase tenfold by 2026. This ramp-up in audits is part [...]
Can Marketability Discounts Apply When Valuing Controlling Business Interests?
Discounts for lack of marketability are well established when valuing minority interests in closely held businesses. But many valuation experts believe that controlling business interests also warrant a marketability discount to reflect the uncertainty and risk associated with the timing of the sale and the ultimate price. Here’s a closer look at this issue. Minority [...]
Why Am I Being Audited and How Does the IRS Conduct Them?
As appearing at the IRS web page entitled "IRS Audits". An IRS audit is a review/examination of an organization's or individual's books, accounts and financial records to ensure information reported on their tax return is reported correctly according to the tax laws and to verify the reported amount of tax is correct. Why am I [...]
IRS Accelerates Work on Employee Retention Tax Credit Claims
As Reported via IR-2024-263 on 10/10/2024 The Internal Revenue Service announced on 10/10/2024 continued progress on Employee Retention Tax Credit claims, with processing underway on about 400,000 claims, representing about $10 billion of eligible claims. Work on the claims for small businesses and others is ongoing as the agency continues to navigate a large [...]
Unlock Your Child’s Potential by Investing in a 529 Plan
If you have a child or grandchild planning to attend college, you’ve probably heard about qualified tuition programs, also known as §529 plans. These plans, named for the Internal Revenue Code section that provides for them, allow prepayment of higher education costs on a tax-favored basis. There are two types of programs: Prepaid plans, which allow [...]
Disclaimer
This blog is designed to provide competent and reliable information regarding the subject matter covered. However, it is being provided with the understanding that the blogmaster is not engaged in rendering investment advice. Laws and practices often vary from state to state and if investment assistance is required, the services of a licensed investment professional should be sought. The blogmaster resolutely encourages the reader/viewer to do their own research and due diligence before acting on any information contained herein. As such, Roger Rossmeisl specifically disclaims any liability that is incurred from the use or application of the contents of this blog. It should also be noted that the views contained in this blog are not necessarily representative of the opinions/beliefs of the other owners, management and/or employees of Kho & Patel CPAs.
