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What If You’re Not Ready to File Your 1040 by 5/17/21?
“Tax day” is just around the corner. This year, the deadline for filing 2020 individual tax returns is Monday, May 17, 2021. The IRS postponed the usual April 15 due date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you still aren’t ready to file your return, you should request a tax-filing extension. Anyone can request one [...]
“Reasonable Compensation” for C Corporation Business Owners
Owners of incorporated businesses know that there’s a tax advantage to taking money out of a C corporation as compensation rather than as dividends. The reason: A corporation can deduct the salaries and bonuses that it pays executives, but not dividend payments. Thus, if funds are paid as dividends, they’re taxed twice, once to the [...]
Importance of Meeting Tax Return and Payment Deadlines
The May 17 deadline for filing your 2020 individual tax return is coming up soon. It’s important to file and pay your tax return on time to avoid penalties imposed by the IRS. Here are the basic rules. Failure to pay Separate penalties apply for failing to pay and failing to file. The failure-to-pay penalty [...]
Be Careful When Claiming “Made in USA”
Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) settled a lawsuit with a company it says made false and misleading claims about its consumer products. Specifically, the company advertised on its website and social media accounts that its goods were “Made in USA,” even though most of them were imported. This is a violation of the FTC [...]
ARPA Tax Break May Make Child Care Less Expensive
The new American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides eligible families with an enhanced child and dependent care credit for 2021. This is the credit available for expenses a taxpayer pays for the care of qualifying children under the age of 13 so that the taxpayer can be gainfully employed. Note that a credit reduces your [...]
Update on California Classic Car Smog Exemption Bill AB 220
As posted to Mike Frankovich's YouTube Channel on 4/15/2021 (Run time: 8 min, 47 sec) If you're like me, you have trouble understanding why California continues to make it so difficult to engage is what is one of the most quintessential of California pastimes . . . classic car ownership. Since the smog check exemption [...]
CDTFA Releases Updated Pub 34, Motor Vehicle Dealers
The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) has updated Publication 34 (Motor Vehicle Dealers), to include 2020 legislation that, effective 1/1/2021, imposes new reporting and payments requirements on certain used vehicle dealers. The new discussion, entitled "Used Vehicle Dealers" (in the section on "Motor Vehicle Sales"), provides in part that effective 1/1/2021, certain [...]
The Interview Before the Fraud Interview
When Anna, the CEO of a small manufacturing company, received an anonymous report about fraud in the accounting department, she wasn’t sure how to act. After all, the complaint could be accurate, but there was also a chance that it wasn’t. She called her company’s attorney, who recommended a forensic accountant to investigate. He also [...]
How to Ensure Life Insurance Isn’t Part of Your Taxable Estate
If you have a life insurance policy, you may want to ensure that the benefits your family will receive after your death won’t be included in your estate. That way, the benefits won’t be subject to federal estate tax. Current exemption amounts For 2021, the federal estate and gift tax exemption is $11.7 million ($23.4 [...]
Rating the Most Admired Companies
(This is Blog Post #1006)
Consider a Heavy SUV as Your New Business Vehicle
Are you thinking about buying or replacing a vehicle that you’ll use in your business? If you consider a heavy SUV, you may be able to benefit from lucrative tax rules for those vehicles. Bonus depreciation Under current law, 100% first-year bonus depreciation is available for qualified new and used property that’s acquired and placed [...]
When Divorcing Business Owners Minimize Profits
Dividing a marital estate is rarely easy. But it’s made much harder if a divorcing spouse owns a private business and attempts to artificially deflate its profits or hide assets. If you or your attorney suspects this type of deception, engage a forensic accountant to investigate. Key questions When working on divorce cases, fraud experts [...]
Is an S Corporation the Best Choice of Entity?
Are you thinking about launching a business with some partners and wondering what type of entity to form? An S corporation may be the most suitable form of business for your new venture. Here’s an explanation of the reasons why. The biggest advantage of an S corporation over a partnership is that as S corporation [...]
The Ugly Side of the Precious Metals and Stones Industry
All that glitters isn’t gold. This includes gold — and other precious metals, stones and jewels that are sometimes used to launder the “dirty” proceeds of criminal activities such as drug trafficking and terrorism. But several U.S. laws and regulations target these international money-laundering operations. Good as gold Precious metals, stones and jewels make ideal [...]
COVID-Related Deadline Extensions for Health Care Benefits
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued EBSA Disaster Relief Notice 2021-01, which is of interest to employers. It clarifies the duration of certain COVID-related deadline extensions that apply to health care benefits plans. Extensions to continue The DOL and IRS issued guidance last year specifying that the COVID-19 outbreak period — defined as [...]
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.
