News

Many of the tax changes affecting individuals and businesses for 2017 were related to the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH) that modified or made permanent numerous tax breaks (the so-called “tax extenders”). To further complicate matters, some provisions were only extended through 2016 and are...

December 11 Employees who work for tips – If you received $20 or more in tips during November, report them to your employer. You can use Form 4070. December 15 Corporations – Deposit the fourth installment of estimated income tax for 2017. A worksheet, Form 1120-W, is available to...

Let’s say you have a regular customer who used to pay on time, but he’s been hit-and-miss lately. How do you get him caught up? Or, one of your customers thinks she’s paid you more than she owes. How do you straighten out this account? Both of these situations...

Farmers and ranchers who previously were forced to sell livestock due to drought in an applicable region now have an additional year to replace the livestock and defer tax on any gains from the forced sales, according to the Internal Revenue Service. An applicable region is a county designated...

With the fall semester of the school year well underway teachers, administrators and aides should not forget to keep track of education-related expenses that could help reduce their taxes when they file their returns next spring. With that in mind, let’s take a look at three key work-related tax...

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. Whether you are getting paid or paying someone else, questions often arise over whether these seasonal workers affect employers with...

Certain energy-efficient home improvements can cut your energy bills and save you money at tax time. While many of these tax credits expired at the end of 2016, tax credits for residential and non-business energy-efficient solar technologies do not expire until December 31, 2021. Here are some key facts...

As IRS e-Services begins its move later this month to Secure Access authentication and its two-factor protections, cybercriminals are likely to make last-ditch efforts to steal passwords and data prior to the transition. IRS e-Services users should be aware of a new phishing scam that tries to trick tax...

As the end of year approaches and tax season right around the corner, taxpayers who are victims of a natural disaster might need to reconstruct records to prove their loss. Doing this may be essential for tax purposes, getting federal assistance, or insurance reimbursement. With that in mind, here...

Anytime Employers – Income Tax Withholding. Ask employees whose withholding allowances will be different in 2018 to fill out a new Form W-4. The 2018 revision of Form W-4 will be available on the IRS website by mid-December. November 13 Employees who work for tips – If you received $20 or...

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...

If you contribute property to a qualified organization, the amount of your charitable contribution is generally the fair market value of the property at the time of the contribution. However, if the property fits into one of the categories discussed here, the amount of your deduction must be decreased. As with...