2019 Q2 tax calendar: Key deadlines for businesses and other employers
Here are a few key tax deadlines for businesses during Q2 of 2019. APR. 1: File with the IRS if you’re an employer that will electronically file 2018 Forms 1097, 1098, certain Forms 1099 and/or Form W-2G. APR. 15: If you’re a calendar-year corporation, file a 2018 income tax return (Form 1120) or file for a six-month extension (Form 7004) and pay any tax due. APR. 30: Employers report income tax withholding and FICA taxes for Q1 2019 (Form 941) and pay any tax due. Contact us to learn more about filing requirements and ensure you meet all applicable deadlines.
FAQs about Michigan’s new Paid Medical Leave Act
Employers of 50 or more employees, but not including the U.S. government, another state, or an agency of another state. A covered employer must provide paid medical leave to all of its eligible employees in the State of Michigan.
An implementation plan is key to making strategic goals a reality
Strategic planning comprises two primary tasks: establishing goals and achieving them. The key to that all-important second task is establishing an implementation plan. First, appoint a leader to communicate and champion your objectives. Next, establish teams of employees to complete goal-related projects. Ensure each team’s members represent a cross-section of your company’s departments. Also, regularly monitor the implementation plan’s financial feasibility, considering your company’s budget, revenue projections, and economic forecasts. Contact us for help.
Stretch your college student’s spending money with the dependent tax credit
If you’re the parent of a child age 17 to 23, and you pay all (or most) of his or her expenses, you may be surprised to learn you’re not eligible for the child tax credit. But there’s a $500 dependent tax credit that may be available to you. That can provide some extra spending money! To qualify, you and your child must pass certain tests. These include: The child lives with you for over half the year; the child is over age 16 and up to age 23 if he or she is a student; and you provide over half of the child’s support for the year. Contact us for more details.
Could your business benefit from the tax credit for family and medical leave?
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created a federal tax credit for employers that provide qualified paid family and medical leave to employees. However, it’s subject to numerous rules and is only available for the 2018 and 2019 tax years. An eligible employer can claim a credit equal to 12.5% of wages paid to qualifying employees who are on family and medical leave, if the leave payments are at least 50% of the normal wages paid to them. For each 1% increase over 50%, the credit rate increases by 0.25%, up to a maximum credit rate of 25%. Contact us for more information.
There’s still time for small business owners to set up a SEP retirement plan for last year
If you own a business and don’t have a tax-advantaged retirement plan, it’s not too late to establish one and reduce your 2018 tax bill. A Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) can be set up for 2018 as long as you do it before your 2018 income tax return filing deadline. You have until the same deadline to make 2018 contributions and claim a potentially substantial deduction on your 2018 return. Contributions are discretionary and may be as large as $55,000 for 2018. Contact us with questions and to discuss whether it makes sense for you to set up a SEP for 2018.
5 ways to give your sales staff the support they really need
Salespeople may appear self-sufficient, but they need support just like everyone else. First, provide your sales team with the most cutting-edge metrics. Second, be sure to properly train salespeople upon hire and continue “upskilling” them thereafter. Make sure performance evaluations are comprehensive and productive. Urge supervisors to interact regularly with sales staff to keep morale high and guard against unethical behavior or fraud. Last, regularly re-evaluate your sales compensation model to ensure it’s the best fit. We can provide further info.
Using knowledge management to develop your succession plan
As you develop your succession plan, you’ll need to consider how to mitigate the loss of pure know-how that will occur when you step down. One way is to implement a knowledge management strategy. This is a formal process of treating knowledge as a valuable company asset. Knowledge generally can be subdivided into two types: 1) explicit (already documented) or 2) tacit (exists only in your brain). A comprehensive knowledge management effort related to your succession plan will call on you to gather both types in various categories. Contact us for further info.
The 2018 gift tax return deadline is almost here
Did you make large gifts to your heirs in 2018? If so, it’s important to determine whether you’re required to file a gift tax return by April 15 (Oct. 15 if you file for an extension). Generally, you’ll need to file one if you made 2018 gifts that exceeded the $15,000-per-recipient gift tax annual exclusion (unless to your U.S. citizen spouse) and in certain other situations. But sometimes it’s desirable to file a gift tax return even if you aren’t required to. If you’re not sure whether you must (or should) file a 2018 gift tax return, contact us.
Will leasing equipment or buying it be more tax efficient for your business?
Recent changes to tax law and accounting rules may affect whether you decide to lease or buy equipment or other fixed assets. Many businesses that have typically leased assets are now buying them instead. Lease payments generally are deductible, but buying allows you to take advantage of expanded Section 179 and bonus depreciation deductions to potentially write off the full cost of equipment in the year it’s purchased. Also, the accounting advantages of leases generally are disappearing. We can help you determine whether leasing or buying is better for you.