Show me the money: transparency builds trust
Many providers still don’t offer the price transparency that 91 percent of healthcare consumers seek. Yet offering cost information upfront does not change most patients’ buying behaviors. Nearly half say they require the information for budget planning purposes. Only 11 percent use such information to shop around for a different provider.
New incentives for hospitals are improving quality of care for patients at home
A recent report from The Commonwealth Fund found the percentage of home-health patients who got better at walking or moving around, a key measure of quality of care, rose in every state from 2013 to 2016. The group, which tracks performance in health systems nationwide, also found that hospital readmission rates for elderly Medicare beneficiaries continued to fall in nearly half the states from 2012 to 2015.
Saving tax on restricted stock awards with the Sec. 83(b) election
If you receive restricted stock from your employer, you may have a tax-saving opportunity: the Section 83(b) election. Income recognition for restricted stock normally is deferred until the stock is vested or you sell it, when you pay taxes on the fair market value at your ordinary-income rate. But if you make the Sec. 83(b) election, you recognize ordinary income when you receive the stock. This converts future appreciation from ordinary income to long-term capital gains income taxed at lower rates. We can help determine whether the election makes sense for you.
Putting your child on your business’s payroll for the summer may make more tax sense than ever
For business owners with kids in high school or college, hiring them for the summer can provide many benefits. One is tax savings. By shifting business income to a child as wages for services performed, you can turn high-taxed income into tax-free or low-taxed income. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s near doubling of the standard deduction means your child can shelter more income from taxes. Changes to the “kiddie tax” make income shifting via earned income rather than unearned income even more appealing. Many rules apply; contact us to learn more.
Sending your kids to day camp may provide a tax break
When school lets out, kids participate in a wide variety of summer activities. If one of the activities your child is involved with is day camp, you might be eligible for a tax break! Day (not overnight) camp is a qualified expense under the child and dependent care credit, which generally is worth 20% of qualifying expenses, up to $3,000 for one qualifying child and $6,000 for two or more. Eligible costs for care must be work-related, and additional rules apply. Contact us for help determining your eligibility for this credit and other tax breaks for parents.
Ask the right questions about your IT strategy
For many businesses, technology is an evolving challenge. To refine your IT strategy, ask the right questions. For example, are you still bogged down with paper files or traditional digital spreadsheets? More-advanced software may help. Could fully integrating key systems eliminate “information silos” and a digital asset-sharing policy improve collaboration? Do you offer training to maximize your ROI? Is there a comprehensive security policy in place? Last, what do your users say about your technology? Getting answers to such queries can keep your tech tip-top.
The TCJA changes some rules for deducting pass-through business losses
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act restricts the losses that owners of pass-through entities (including sole proprietors) can currently deduct. For tax years beginning in 2018 through 2025, an “excess business loss” can’t be deducted in the current year. This is the excess of your aggregate business deductions for the tax year over the sum of 1) your aggregate business income and gains for the tax year and 2) $250,000 ($500,000 if you’re a married joint-filer). The excess business loss is carried over to the next tax year. Additional rules apply. Contact us for details.
Be aware of the tax consequences before selling your home
In many parts of the country, summer is peak season for selling a home. If you’re planning to put your home on the market soon, don’t neglect to consider the tax consequences. The TCJA preserves the home sale gain exclusion, so if you’re selling your principal residence, you can exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 for joint filers) of gain, as long as you meet certain tests. A loss generally won’t be deductible, but if part of your home is rented out or used exclusively for your business, the loss attributable to that portion might be. Contact us with any questions.
4 ways to encourage innovation in customer service
Business innovation usually focuses on coming up with a revolutionary product or service. But it can apply to customer service, too. How? First, don’t fear failure: If a bold initiative fails, heed the lessons learned. Also, link compensation to employees’ contributions. Create a formal program offering cash rewards or other gifts to innovative thinkers. When someone does come up with an actionable idea, praise that individual company wide. Last, and perhaps most simply, just pretend you’re a customer to get a firsthand perspective on what you could do better.
Can you deduct business travel when it’s combined with a vacation?
This summer are you going on a business trip in the U.S. and tacking on some vacation days? Are you a business owner or self-employed? You may be able to deduct some of your expenses. Transportation costs to and from the business activity location may be 100% deductible if the primary reason for the trip is business. Out-of-pocket expenses for business days are generally fully deductible. Examples include lodging, meals (subject to the 50% disallowance rule), seminar and convention fees, and cab fare. Additional rules and limits apply. Contact us with questions.