Federal and State Tax Filing and Payment Deadline Extensions

For the Federal government and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the tax filing deadline and the corresponding payment for 2019 balances due and estimated taxes has been extended to July 15, but other states may or may not follow the July 15 date. This may impact the timing of your tax filing or extension if you do business … Read more

Tax Relief for Small Businesses – COVID-19

Businesses across the country are being affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19). Fortunately, Congress recently passed a law that provides at least some relief. In a separate development, the IRS has issued guidance allowing taxpayers to defer any amount of federal income tax payments due on April 15, 2020, until July 15, 2020, without penalties or … Read more

Tax Payment Deadline Extended; Taxes Must Still Be Filed by April 15

Editor’s Note: Although the tax payment deadline has been extended, the April 15 filing deadline remains. The AICPA is pressing for relief on the April 15 filing deadline. The situation will likely continue to evolve and H2R CPA will monitor and evaluate the next steps. The majority of the states will likely follow the direction … Read more

Electing S Corporation Status – Key Considerations

Operating a business as an S corporation may provide many advantages, including limited liability for owners and no double taxation (at least at the federal level). Self-employed people may also be able to lower their exposure to Social Security and Medicare taxes if they structure their businesses as S corps for federal tax purposes. But … Read more

Tax Law Fixes and Extenders: Uncertainty Continues

Congress has yet to tackle several outstanding uncertainties frustrating both businesses and individual taxpayers. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), for example, contains several “glitches” requiring legislative fixes. Congress also has neglected to pass the traditional “extenders” legislation that retroactively extend certain tax relief provisions that expired at the end of an earlier year, in this case 2017.

Mergers, Acquisitions and Taxes

Merger and acquisition activity has been brisk in recent years. If your business is considering merging with or acquiring another business, it’s important to understand how the transaction will be taxed under current law. Stocks vs. assets From a tax standpoint, a transaction can basically be structured in two ways: 1. Stock (or ownership interest). A … Read more

Leasing vs. buying equipment: Which is more tax efficient?

Recent changes to federal tax law and accounting rules could affect whether you decide to lease or buy equipment or other fixed assets. Although there’s no universal “right” choice, many businesses that formerly leased assets are now deciding to buy them. Pros and cons of leasing From a cash flow perspective, leasing can be more … Read more

Higher mileage rate in 2019 may mean larger tax deductions for business miles

This year, the optional standard mileage rate used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business increased by 3.5 cents, to 58 cents per mile, the highest level since 2008. As a result, you might be able to claim a larger deduction for vehicle-related expense for 2019 than you can for 2018. … Read more

Home office deduction: Actual expenses vs. simplified method

If you run your business from your home or perform certain functions at home that are related to your business, you might be able to claim a home office deduction against your business income on your 2018 income tax return. There are now two methods for claiming this deduction: the actual expenses method and the … Read more

Additional QBI deduction guidance provided by IRS

by H2R CPA Team ​When President Trump signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in December 2017, much was made of the dramatic cut in corporate tax rates. But the TCJA also includes a generous deduction for smaller businesses that operate as pass-through entities, with income that is “passed through” to owners … Read more