How Your Business Benefits By Giving Back Tax breaks for charitable giving aren't limited to individuals, your small business can benefit as well. If you own a small to medium-size business and are committed to giving back to the community through charitable giving, here's what you should know. 1. Verify that the Organization is a Qualified Charity Once you've identified a charity, you'll need to make sure it is a qualified charitable organization under the IRS. Qualified organizations must...
Posts by Caras & Shulman
Tax Tips for December 2020
Click on the links below to jump to each section in this article: Retirement Contributions Limits Announced for 2021 Solar Technology Tax Credits Still Available for 2020 Relief for Drought-Stricken Farmers and Ranchers Beware of Gift Card Tax Scams Charitable Donation Deduction Could Lower Your Tax Bill Retirement Contributions Limits Announced for 2021 Cost of living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other retirement-related items for 2021 are as follows:...
Working Remotely Could Affect Your Taxes
What You Need to Know When COVID-19 struck last March, employers quickly switched to a work-from-home model for their employees, many of whom began working in a state other than the one in which their office was located. While some workers have returned to their offices, many have not. If you're working remotely from a location in a different state (or country) from that of your office, then you may be wondering if you will have to pay income tax in multiple jurisdictions or whether you will...
Business Tax Provisions: The Year in Review
Here's what business owners need to know about tax changes for 2020. Standard Mileage Rates The standard mileage rate in 2020 is 57.5 cents per business mile driven. Health Care Tax Credit for Small Businesses Small business employers who pay at least half the premiums for single health insurance coverage for their employees may be eligible for the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit as long as they employ fewer than the equivalent of 25 full-time workers and average annual wages do not...
Individual Taxpayers: Recap for 2020
Tax Provisions for 2020 As we close out the year and get ready for tax season, here's what individuals and families need to know about tax provisions for 2020. Personal Exemptions Personal exemptions are eliminated for tax years 2018 through 2025. Standard Deductions The standard deduction for married couples filing a joint return in 2020 is $24,800. For singles and married individuals filing separately, it is $12,400, and for heads of household, the deduction is $18,650. The additional...
Tax Tips for November 2020
Click on the links below to jump to each section in this article: Seasonal Workers and the Healthcare Law Tips for Taxpayers: Backup Withholding Tax-Related Items To Keep in Mind When Disaster Strikes Individual Retirement Arrangements: Terms To Know Seasonal Workers and the Healthcare Law Businesses often need to hire workers on a seasonal or part-time basis. For example, some businesses may need seasonal help for holidays, harvest seasons, commercial fishing, or sporting events....
Investing in Opportunity Zones: The Facts
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act included numerous changes for businesses and individuals. One of these was the creation of the Opportunity Zones tax incentive, the purpose of which is to spur economic development and job creation in distressed communities by providing tax benefits to investors. Which Communities Qualify as Opportunity Zones? Low-income communities and certain contiguous communities qualify as Opportunity Zones if a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory nominated them...
Year-End Tax Planning Strategies for Business Owners
Several end-of-year tax planning strategies are available to business owners that can be used to reduce their tax liability. Let's take a look: Deferring Income Businesses using the cash method of accounting can defer income into 2021 by delaying end-of-year invoices so that payment is not received until 2021. Businesses using the accrual method can defer income by postponing the delivery of goods or services until January 2021. Purchase New Business Equipment Bonus Depreciation. Businesses...
Individual Taxpayers: Year-End Tax Planning Strategies
With the end of the year fast approaching, now is the time to take a closer look at tax planning strategies you can use to minimize your tax burden for 2020. General Tax Planning Strategies General tax planning strategies for individuals include accelerating or deferring income and deductions, as well as careful consideration of timing-related tax planning strategies concerning investments, charitable gifts, and retirement planning. For example, taxpayers might consider using one or more of...
Tax Preparation vs. Tax Planning
Many people assume tax planning is the same as tax preparation, but the two are quite different. Let's take a closer look: What is Tax Preparation? Tax preparation is the process of preparing and filing a tax return. Generally, it is a one-time event that culminates in signing your return and finding out whether you owe the IRS money or will be receiving a refund. For most people, tax preparation involves one or two trips to your accountant (CPA), generally around tax time (i.e., between...