The problem with telemedicine
A recent study sponsored by Avizia, a telehealth provider based in Reston, Va., shows that after all of the hype about telemedicine being the future of medicine, the vast majority of patients still don’t take advantage of the technology. In fact, 82 percent of patients surveyed said they don’t use a telemedicine service.
Hospitals must overcome these challenges to transition from fee for service to value-based care
Executives must address redundant services, lengthy claims processing and reimbursement cycles, among others.
Health Plan Victims of Healthcare Data Breaches Surge 1,000%
The total number of individuals impacted by healthcare data breaches at health plans surged by more than 1,000 percent in the first five months of 2018, according to Fortified Health Security’s 2018 Mid-Year Horizon Report.
Is the New Tax Law a Boon for Residential Rentals?
Angela Adolph, an attorney and tax law specialist, explains why the recent tax legislation gives additional appeal to renting a home, rather than buying. It’s a trend that investors should bear in mind.
Get SMART when it comes to setting strategic goals
Many businesses struggle to reach the various goals they’ve set to accomplish their overall strategic plans. One solution to consider: the SMART approach. “S” is for “specific”; identify the who, what, where, when and why of each goal. “M” is for “measurable”; select metrics to track progress. “A” is for “achievable”; choose goals that are neither too hard nor too easy. “R” is for “relevant”; every goal must support a stated strategic plan. Last, “T” is for “timely”; apply feasible timelines to each goal. We’d be happy to explain further and offer other ideas.
Why the “kiddie tax” is more dangerous than ever
Once upon a time, some parents attempted to save tax by putting investments in the names of their young children. To discourage such strategies, Congress created the “kiddie” tax, which has gradually become more far-reaching. Now, under the TCJA, the big, bad kiddie tax is more dangerous than ever. For 2018, an affected child’s unearned income beyond $2,100 generally will be taxed according to the brackets for trusts and estates. As a result, in many cases, children’s unearned income will be taxed at higher rates than their parents’ income. Contact us for details.
Business deductions for meal, vehicle and travel expenses: Document, document, document
Some common deductions for businesses are meal (generally 50%), vehicle and travel expenses. Deductibility depends on a variety of factors, but proper documentation is one of the most critical. Following some simple steps can help ensure your deductions will pass muster with the IRS. First, keep receipts, canceled checks or similar documentation. Also, track the business purpose of each expense (and don’t wait until year end or an IRS audit). Finally, if you reimburse employees, require them to provide such documentation. Contact us for more information.
Trust is an essential building block of today’s websites
When maintaining or updating your company’s website, trust is an essential building block. For starters, convey to visitors that you’re a bona fide business staffed by actual human beings. Include an “About Us” page with the names, photos and short bios of owners and key staff members. Clearly and widely provide general contact info as well. Also, watch out for spelling and grammar mistakes. These are often viewed as red flags for scamsters. Regularly ensure all links are active as well. Contact us for other ideas and info.
3 traditional midyear tax planning strategies for individuals that hold up post-TCJA
Post-TCJA, certain strategies that were once tried-and-true will no longer save or defer tax. But some will hold up for many taxpayers. And they’ll be more effective if you begin implementing them this summer, rather than waiting until year end. Consider these three: 1) Take steps to stay out of a higher tax bracket, such as accelerating deductible expenses. 2) Bunch medical expenses into 2018 to exceed the low 7.5% of AGI deductibility floor. 3) Sell depreciated investments to generate losses to offset realized gains. Contact us to discuss your midyear planning.
Close-up on the new QBI deduction’s wage limit
The TCJA allows qualifying noncorporate owners of pass-through entities to deduct as much as 20% of qualified business income. But once taxable income exceeds $315,000 for married couples filing jointly or $157,500 for other filers, a wage limit begins to phase in. When the limit is fully phased in, the deduction generally can’t exceed the greater of the owner’s share of a) 50% of the amount of W-2 wages paid to employees during the tax year, or b) the sum of 25% of W-2 wages plus 2.5% of the cost of qualified business property. Contact us to learn more.