Lynne Mercer by H2R CPA Team As the holiday season quickly approaches, gift giving will be top of mind. While gifts of electronics, toys and clothes are nice, making tax-free gifts of cash using your annual exclusion is beneficial for both you and your family. Even in a potentially changing estate tax environment, making annual exclusion gifts … Read more
by Paul K. Rudoy, CPA/PFS Based on what we know to date, taxpayers should look at accelerating deductions. Mortgage interest deductions are being proposed to be limited to $500,000 for new debt, property tax deductions limited to $10,000 and with the doubling of the standard deduction, taxpayers’ charitable and medical deductions may not save you … Read more
by H2R CPA Team Does your small business engage in qualified research activities? If so, you may be eligible for a research tax credit that you can use to offset your federal payroll tax bill. This relatively new privilege allows the research credit to benefit small businesses that may not generate enough taxable income to … Read more
by Paul K. Rudoy, CPA/PFS One of the provisions of the Trump Tax Proposal (TTP) is the repeal of the Federal Estate Tax. This is an onerous tax that taxes people’s net worth after they pass away. Taxation begins currently at $5.49M, or married couples have the opportunity to increase this limit to $10.98M. Generally, … Read more
by H2R CPA Team For families with disabled loved ones who are potentially eligible for means-tested government benefits such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), estate planning can be a challenge. On the one hand, you want to provide the most comfortable life possible for your family member. On the other hand, you don’t … Read more
by Paul K. Rudoy, CPA/PFS The Trump Tax Proposal (TTP) from last week could be a big winner for many. There are a few who will be losers from the TTP, but many people are likely to be unaffected by what is proposed. The following are key considerations for various parties affected by this proposal. … Read more
by H2R CPA Team What happened?On September 7, 2017, Equifax, one of the three main American credit reporting agencies, announced a massive cybersecurity incident that exposed consumer information – including names, addresses, birth dates, and Social Security numbers – leaving millions vulnerable to identity theft. What can I do?1. To check if you or anyone … Read more
by H2R CPA Team When businesses provide meals to their employees, generally their deduction is limited to 50%. But there are exceptions. One is if the meal qualifies as a de minimis fringe benefit under the Internal Revenue Code. A recent U.S. Tax Court ruling could ultimately mean that more employer-provided meals will be 100% … Read more
by H2R CPA Team How long should tax returns, credit card statements, loan documents, and other important paperwork be kept? Whether running a household or a business, it is important to know when it is safe to dispose of financial and legal documents. It is extremely important to hold on to financial paperwork in the case … Read more
by H2R CPA Team The IRS has issued a warning regarding several new summertime scams involving the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), robo-call messages and private debt collectors. It is important to remember that the IRS will never: Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, … Read more