Both small businesses and the restaurant industry took a serious plunge during the COVID-19 pandemic. But there seems to be a silver lining ahead. The government is taking steps to revive the economy, including making tax-payer friendly adjustments to business deductions. In 2021 and 2022, business meals will be 100% tax deductible. Read on for…
Deductions
2021 Tax Strategies: Part 2
As you file your 2020 taxes, you will find that COVID-19 has had some major impacts on the process, as it has on most things over the past year. In fact, the IRS has delayed the start and deadline of tax filing season this year. There are multiple considerations for businesses and individuals alike for…
2021 Tax Strategies: Part 1
The reverberations of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be felt in most areas of life. These impacts will certainly influence how you file your 2021 taxes. Whether you’re a business owner trying to maximize the credits you receive for keeping employees on the payroll or an individual wondering how working from home over the past…
Deducting Foreign Travel
The IRS has very different rules for deducting foreign business travel and for deducting domestic business travel. This month, we’ll focus on FOREIGN business travel, and will follow up next month with the rules for deducting DOMESTIC business travel. First, in order to deduct the full cost of transportation to a foreign country, at least…
Does No 1099 Mean No Deduction for You?
It’s a common scenario: You neglected to issue a Form 1099 to your business’ contractors. As a result, you are now being audited. During the process, the IRS auditor tells you that you can no longer claim your deductions, because you failed to issue the Form 1099s. What should you do? Here are the answers…
Claiming Travel Expenses for Your S Corporation
Can you claim travel expenses when you run your business as an S corporation? There are a few things that you should keep in mind if you are considering doing this. You are an employee of your S corporation, and this entity is separate from you. Thus, you can acquire expenses and be reimbursed for…
What Are the Tax Benefits of Employing Your Children?
Can employing your children at your business benefit you when it comes time to file your taxes? Thanks to recent changes in tax law, you can’t claim your child as a personal exemption anymore. However, it is still possible to enjoy tax benefits from employing your children. Here’s what you need to know about taking…
Understanding How the Home Office Deduction Applies to Your S Corporation
If you have gotten used to using the home office deduction, you may be wondering if you can still use it when you have an S corporation. In other words, how can you be sure that the IRS will still let you take advantage of this deduction? Here’s a quick look at some methods that…
What You Can Deduct with Oil and Gas Investments
Governments play a critical role in encouraging energy development, especially through incentives. For example, a government might try to encourage residents to utilize solar energy by offering special incentives for purchasing solar equipment. In the United States, you can take advantage of incentives for investing in the oil and gas industry. So, what happens when…
Pros and Cons of Using Bitcoin for Transactions
Have you ever thought about using bitcoins to make purchases? If you have, then you may be wondering if there are any benefits or disadvantages for using this popular virtual currency. To understand what those pros and cons might be, let’s use a simple example. Let’s say that Jane is a consultant who works as…
How Our Spreadsheets Can Help You Track Your Expenses
When tax time rolls around, you may find yourself rushing to gather all of the financial information you need. If this sounds all too familiar, then an experienced certified public accountant can help. This year, don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by the prospect of doing your taxes on your own—turn to a professional for the…
How Tax Laws Are Changing in 2019
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was signed into law a year and a half ago, but not all of its provisions took effect right away. In fact, many of the law’s sweeping changes will first become part of your life this year. If you’re wondering how the law will affect you, you…
No Business Income Doesn’t Equal No Home Office Deduction
Running a home-based business can be a rewarding endeavor, especially when you take full advantage of all possible tax deductions. One commonly misunderstood example is the home office deduction. As long as you use your home office entirely for your business, you can usually deduct it. This holds true even if your startup didn’t turn…
Can I Deduct a Swimming Pool as a Medical Expense?
People have gotten away with deducting all sorts of crazy expenses on their tax returns—like the depreciation on ostriches and the cost of clarinet lessons. And yes, people have also gotten away with deducting a swimming pool as a medical expense. If you plan to try it, it’s a good idea to speak with a…
When and How to Deduct Medicare as a Business Expense
Medicare health insurance may be less expensive than most private plans, but the premiums still add up to a considerable sum each year. This is especially true for high-income taxpayers and married couples who are both paying Medicare premiums. However, a CPA may be able to help you deduct those premiums as a business expense….
TCJA Tax Reform: Did It Affect Employee Recreation and Parties?
Employee outings and parties are commonly used to build a positive company culture and reduce employee turnover rates. They’re also opportunities for the boss to get a break from the daily grind, and for a CPA to claim additional deductions for the business. The tax savings for employee outings has indeed survived the Tax Cuts…
Can You Deduct Your Home Office?
Lots of Americans work from a home office at least part of the time. It’s a convenient way to run a business, in part because it eliminates the morning commute. It can also offer tax advantages if you can claim the home office as a business deduction. It’s often thought that it’s only possible to…
IRS Creates a New “Safe Harbor” for Section 199A Rental Properties
Under the new tax reform, Section 199A has been established to provide qualifying individual taxpayers and pass-through entities with a tax deduction of up to 20 percent of qualified business income (QBI). Section 199A also creates a “safe harbor” for owners of rental properties. If the filer qualifies for the safe harbor, the filer’s rental…
How to Report Prepaid Rent to the IRS
As a rule, it’s a good idea to avoid causing your landlord any potential tax problems. If you decided to prepay your business’ rent for 2019 to get a tax deduction for 2018, it’s important to report that correctly on your IRS Form 1099-MISC so that you don’t inadvertently cause a headache for your landlord….
What You Need to Know about Section 199A
One of the most notable tax deductions introduced by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 is the 20 percent deduction included in Section 199A. Although the IRS has already released its official regulations, the complexity of the tax deduction means that many people are still confused about what it means. Here are the…