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.
What you can deduct when volunteering
While donations to charity of cash or property generally are tax deductible (if you itemize), donations of time or services aren’t. But you potentially can deduct out-of-pocket costs associated with volunteer work, such as supplies, uniforms, transportation and even travel. To be deductible, the costs can’t be reimbursed or be “personal, living or family” expenses. And they must be directly connected to the services you’re providing and be incurred only because of your volunteering. Additional rules apply; contact us with questions.
How to avoid getting hit with payroll tax penalties
For small businesses, managing payroll can be one of the most arduous tasks. A crucial aspect is withholding and remitting to the federal government the appropriate income and employment taxes. If your business doesn’t, you, personally, as the business’s owner, could be considered a “responsible party” and face a 100% penalty. This is true even if your business is an entity that normally shields owners from personal liability, such as a corporation or limited liability company. Hiring a payroll service can help. Contact us to learn more.
Is your inventory getting the better of you?
Has your inventory been getting the better of you? Don’t give up on showing it who’s boss. If inaccurate inventory counts are the problem, consider cycle counting. This involves taking weekly or monthly physical counts of warehoused inventory and comparing them to levels tracked electronically. Speaking of which, having the right technology is key. It may be time to upgrade or even replace your inventory software. You can also use tech to better determine what your customers want via online surveys and social media. Let us help you get control of your inventory.
Home green home: Save tax by saving energy
“Going green” at home can reduce your tax bill in addition to your energy bill, all while helping the environment. To reap all three benefits, you need to buy and install certain types of renewable energy equipment in your home. For 2018, you may be eligible for a tax credit of 30% of expenditures for installing qualified solar electricity generating equipment, solar water heating equipment, wind energy equipment, geothermal heat pump equipment and fuel cell electricity generating equipment. Additional rules and limits apply. To learn more, contact us.
Does your business have to begin collecting sales tax on all out-of-state online sales?
The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair allows states to impose sales tax on more out-of-state online sales. But does it mean your business must immediately begin collecting sales tax on online sales to all out-of-state customers? No. You must collect such taxes only if the particular state requires it. South Dakota’s law, for example, requires out-of-state retailers that made at least 200 sales or sales totaling at least $100,000 in the state to collect sales tax. But laws vary dramatically from state to state. Contact us with questions.
3 keys to a successful accounting system upgrade
Today’s accounting software can perform adequately for years, but improved features are being created all the time. Here are three key considerations to help you decide when to upgrade: 1) Your users’ tech savvy needs to align with the system’s level of sophistication. 2) Costs matter: Set a firm budget and focus on only needed functions. Also look into add-ons such as free trials, initial training and ongoing support. 3) If you haven’t already integrated your accounting software with other systems, doing so is advisable. We can provide further guidance.
Finding a 401(k) that’s right for your business
Ready to offer a 401(k) plan? Know your options: Traditional 401(k)s let employees contribute pretax dollars and give employers the option of matching contributions. But rigorous testing rules apply. Roth 401(k)s allow employees to contribute after-tax dollars and take tax-free withdrawals (subject to limitations). Safe harbor 401(k)s avoid strict testing but require certain employer contributions. Smaller businesses may offer SIMPLE 401(k)s, which are akin to safe harbor plans but have lower required employer contributions and employee contribution limits.