Your Small Business Survival Guide for If (and When) the Economy Slows Down

Your Small Business Survival Guide for If (and When) the Economy Slows Down According to one recent study conducted by the Small Business Administration, there are approximately 28.8 million small businesses in the United States that are…
It’s Not Too Late to Make a 2018 Retirement-Plan Contribution

It’s Not Too Late to Make a 2018 Retirement-Plan Contribution

Have you been ignoring your future retirement needs? This tends to happen when people are young; because retirement is far in the future, they believe that they have plenty of time to save for it. Some people even ignore the issue until late…
Disappointed in Your Tax Refund?

Disappointed in Your Tax Refund?

If your tax refund is less than you anticipated, you are not alone. In a report issued by the Treasury Department on February 14, the average refund it is paying in 2019 has dropped to $1,949 from $2,135 in the prior year. In addition, the number…
Relief from the Affordable Care Act Penalty for Not Being Insured

Relief from the Affordable Care Act Penalty for Not Being Insured

,
Beginning in 2019, the penalty for not having adequate health insurance, which the government refers to as the “individual shared responsibility payment,” will no longer apply. The elimination of this penalty as of 2019 does not impact…
Tax Reform Has Substantially Altered the Tax Benefits of Home Ownership

Tax Reform Has Substantially Altered the Tax Benefits of Home Ownership

,
As part of the recent tax reform, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the deduction for home mortgage interest and property taxes has undergone substantial alterations. These changes will impact most homeowners who itemize their deductions each…
Some Electric Vehicle Credits Are Phasing Out!

Some Electric Vehicle Credits Are Phasing Out!

The IRS recently announced that the tax credit for purchasing the popular Tesla is being phased out and that the credit will drop to $3,750 after December 31, 2018, and will drop again to $1,875 after June 30, 2019. Then, the credit will no…
Filing a 1099-MISC May Now Apply to Landlords. Are You Collecting the Needed W-9s?

Filing a 1099-MISC May Now Apply to Landlords. Are You Collecting the Needed W-9s?

,
If you use independent contractors to perform services for your business or your rental that is a trade or business, for each individual whom you pay $600 or more for the year, you are required to issue the service provider and the IRS a Form…
Increased Business-Vehicle Deductions Due to Tax Reform

Increased Business-Vehicle Deductions Due to Tax Reform

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2018 and other tax reforms have brought about significant changes in the way that vehicle use is deducted for business purposes. Before getting into these changes, it is appropriate to first provide a review of the…
Vacation Home Rentals How the Income Is Taxed

Vacation Home Rentals: How the Income Is Taxed

If you have a second home in a resort area, or if you have been considering acquiring a second home or vacation home, you may have questions about how rental income is taxed for a part-time vacation-home rental. The applicable rental rules…
IRS Giving a Break to Some Taxpayers Who Under-prepaid Their 2018 Taxes

IRS Giving a Break to Some Taxpayers Who Under-prepaid Their 2018 Taxes

,
Taxpayers are required to pre-pay their taxes for any tax year through payroll withholding, estimated tax payments or a combination of the two. Employees and retirees generally accomplish this through withholding, and self-employed individuals…