Are you concerned that some of your beneficiaries might squander their inheritances or simply aren’t equipped to handle the financial responsibilities that come with large sums of money? You don’t have to hold on to your assets until the day you die with the hope that your heirs will change their ways by that time. […]
At the very end of 2022, President Biden signed into law the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement 2.0 Act (SECURE 2.0). Now that the year is well underway, small employers would be well-advised not to forget about a key feature of the law: marked improvements to the small employer pension plan start-up cost […]
We are so honored to be recognized again as one of the #Top100CPA firms in the US. Our understanding that the numbers we crunch represent something greater—you, your family, your business, your dreams—is why we’re able to consistently provide industry-leading services that help our clients and the firm thrive.
President Biden has released his proposed budget for the federal government for the 2024 fiscal year. The budget, which aims to cut the deficit by nearly $3 trillion over 10 years, includes numerous provisions that would affect the tax bills of both individuals and businesses. While most of these proposals stand little chance of enactment with a Republican […]
Have you bought stock in a company that later dropped in value? While you may prefer to forget such an ill-fated investment, at least you can claim a capital loss deduction on your tax return. Here are the rules that apply when a stock you own is sold at a loss or becomes completely worthless. […]
Organizations that understand how auditors verify account balances and transactions can minimize disruptions during audit fieldwork and maximize the effectiveness of financial statement audits. Here’s a summary of the types of “substantive evidence” auditors gather to help them form opinions regarding your financial statements. Original source documents Auditors can verify an account balance or record […]
The IRS recently finalized regulations that substantially expand mandatory electronic filing (e-filing) of certain information returns. The regulations were proposed in 2021 to implement statutory changes made under the Taxpayer First Act of 2019. Generally, they establish lower thresholds for required e-filing of the following returns related to employee benefit plans: Form 1094 Series; Forms […]
The U.S. Supreme Court recently weighed in on an issue regarding a provision of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) that has split two federal courts of appeal. Its 5-4 ruling in Bittner v. U.S. is welcome news for U.S. residents who “non-willfully” violate the law’s requirements for the reporting of certain foreign bank and financial accounts […]
Fair market value is the appropriate standard of value in most business valuation assignments. But when valuing an asset for financial reporting purposes, fair value is generally used. Here’s an overview of what fair value is and how it differs from fair market value. Eyes on GAAP The terms “fair value” and “fair market value” […]
You generally must pay federal tax on all income you receive but there are some exceptions when you can exclude it. For example, compensatory awards and judgments for “personal physical injuries or physical sickness” are free from federal income tax under the tax code. This includes amounts received in a lawsuit or a settlement and […]
If you made gifts last year you may be wondering if you need to file a gift tax return. The short answer: There are many situations when it’s necessary (or desirable) to file Form 709 — “United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return” — even if you’re not liable for any gift tax. Let’s […]
If you were told someone earns more than $200,000 annually, you might assume the person is a salaried employee who’s ineligible for overtime pay. However, as demonstrated in the recent U.S. Supreme Court case of Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. v. Hewitt, this isn’t always a safe assumption. The FLSA rules Under the Fair Labor […]