The IRS announcement on delaying 2019 taxes yesterday can cause some confusion. Here are a few things you should be aware of and some unanswered questions: 1. The announcement did not extend the time to file. It simply gave taxpayers another 90 days to pay the tax without additional interest or penalty during that 90 days. Your tax return is still due April 15. 2. It is not clear whether the IRS extension of payment for 2019 tax also extends the…
It’s time for those (sometimes) dreaded words: “It’s tax time.” Are you ready? There are plenty of jokes about paying taxes, but frankly, it’s no laughing matter. Meeting tax deadlines for a small business is serious business and lateness (or call it being “chronologically challenged”) shouldn’t be taken lightly. However, if your business is dealing with some financial challenges or some other issues causing a delay in tax payments, don’t panic. Your professional accounting service can work with the IRS…
No one should want to get in trouble with the IRS. But, there’s difficulty aplenty if contractor classifications are incorrect. Workers, be they employees or contractors, typically work hard for their compensation. They don’t want nor deserve difficulties with the IRS. Similarly, businesses large and small should want their payroll and tax functions to work flawlessly and without unwanted penalties. What’s an Employee? What’s a Contractor? An employee is a person who performs services for a company that…
Is it tax time? Frankly, it’s always time to pay attention to tax record-keeping, tax liabilities, and tax payments. To keep in the good graces of the IRS and to avoid penalties and unnecessary strain, it is important to know tax deadlines and comply with them exactly. Why is it Important to File on Time? From a practical standpoint, it’s important to file on-time to avoid last-minute scrambles with processing relevant documents, invoices and reports so that confusion and…
Payroll. It’s one of the most critical aspects of a business. For any business, payroll requires a lot of time and attention. For a small business, payroll processing can be a complicated responsibility, fraught with possible problems. Payroll is certainly critical to employee morale and to employees’ trust in the future of a company. And it is a key factor in motivating and retaining high-quality talent. To get payroll done right, many businesses choose a payroll outsource solution. …
Thinking of delaying your business tax planning? Here are two words of advice: don’t delay! Good tax planning should take place all year long to ensure accurate and effective tax preparation, a more pleasant and stress-free experience and a more positive financial outcome. Why is it Important to Keep Good Records? Financial record keeping is vital to the health and progress of every business. It allows a business owner to: Monitor the health and progress of a business. It…
There’s probably no topic under the sun that hasn’t provoked more joking comments than “taxes,” including this one by former radio and TV entertainer Arthur Godfrey: “I am proud to be paying taxes in the United States. The only thing is I could be just as proud for half of the money.” With the passage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), many changes were made to the tax code including changes to business meals expenses. So, if…
Being self-employed can be fulfilling and inspiring because you are working hard to build your dreams. As author Oliver Markus Malloy said humorously, “Being self-employed means you work 12 hours a day for yourself so you don’t have to work 8 hours a day for someone else.” However, the fruits of your labors don’t come tax-free. Self-employed taxes need to be considered and treated carefully so they don’t interfere with the pursuit of your dreams. What Does it Mean…
Let’s talk about financial ratios, (and no, this isn’t a dreaded math lesson where you crawl into a corner and hide). The key here is data—data that will help you run your business more effectively, guiding your planning and measuring what is working. The use of data takes effort, but it is worth it as Arthur C. Nielsen, market researcher and founder of the AC Nielsen company said, “The price of light is less than the cost of darkness.” And…
Launching a new business can be both exciting and challenging. Your vision of the business is what energizes you, and that’s important. As Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos said, “Chase the vision, not the money; the money will end up following you.” That said, you can’t casually address the financial aspects of the business. Specifically, pay close attention to your start-up expenses and how they are treated relative to taxes. What Are Start-up Expenses and Why Are They Important?…
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