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Tax Alerts
Tax Briefing(s)

For 2024, the Social Security wage cap will be $168,600, and social security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase by 3.2 percent. These changes reflect cost-of-living adjustments to account for inflation.


The IRS announced tax relief for individuals and businesses affected by terrorist attacks in the State of Israel. The IRS would continue to monitor events and may provide additional relief.


The Internal Revenue Service could release as soon as today the process that businesses can use to withdraw employee retention credit claims.


The Internal Revenue Service detailed how it is proceeding with a pilot program that will allow taxpayers to file their taxes directly on the IRS website as an option along with doing an electronic file or working through a tax professional or other third-party tax preparer.


The IRS released substantial new guidance regarding the new clean vehicle credit and the used clean vehicle credit. The guidance updates procedures for manufacturer, dealer and seller registrations and written reports; and provides detailed rules for a taxpayer’s election to transfer a credit to the dealer after 2023. The guidance includes:


The IRS has released the 2023-2024 special per diem rates. Taxpayers use the per diem rates to substantiate certain expenses incurred while traveling away from home. These special per diem rates include:


The IRS provided guidance on the new energy efficient home credit, as amended by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-169). The guidance largely reiterates the statutory requirements for the credit, but it provides some new details regarding definitions, certifications and substantiation.


The IRS identified drought-stricken areas where tax relief is available to taxpayers that sold or exchanged livestock because of drought. The relief extends the deadlines for taxpayers to replace the livestock and avoid reporting gain on the sales. These extensions apply until the drought-stricken area has a drought-free year.


With the Internal Revenue Service announcing more details on how it will be targeting America’s wealthiest taxpayers, Kostelanetz’s Megan Brackney offered up some advice on preparing for increased compliance activity.


The IRS has cautioned taxpayers to be vigilant about promotions involving exaggerated art donation deductions that may target high-income individuals and has also provided valuable tips to help people steer clear of falling into such schemes. Taxpayers can legitimately claim art donations, but dishonest promoters may employ direct solicitation to make unrealistically promising offers. In a bid to boost compliance and protect taxpayers from scams, the IRS has active promoter investigations and taxpayer audits underway in this area.


Limited liability companies (LLCs) remain one of the most popular choice of business forms in the U.S. today. This form of business entity is a hybrid that features the best characteristics of other forms of business entities, making it a good choice for both new and existing businesses and their owners.


Maintaining good financial records is an important part of running a successful business. Not only will good records help you identify strengths and weaknesses in your business' operations, but they will also help out tremendously if the IRS comes knocking on your door.


After your tax returns have been filed, several questions arise: What do you do with the stack of paperwork? What should you keep? What should you throw away? Will you ever need any of these documents again? Fortunately, recent tax provisions have made it easier for you to part with some of your tax-related clutter.


I have a car that I would like to donate to my church. Can I just claim the amount shown as the value of the car per the Kelly Blue Book (about $6,500) on Schedule A of Form 1040?

. Any tuition payment you make directly to an educational institution is completely exempt from both estate and gift taxes. For example, if your taxable estate exceeds $3 million, your marginal estate tax rate is 55%. If you have a taxable estate greater than 3 million and you pay a family member’s $12,000 school tuition, you can save your estate up to $6,600 in estate taxes.

Many taxpayers are discovering the "minority interest discount" technique for minimizing estate and gift taxes. Here’s how it works: let's say your business or other assets are held in a "family limited partnership." If properly structured, you could give your children a 10% interest in that partnership, but value the gift at less than 10% of the value of the entire partnership. In effect, you may be allowed to reduce the value of the 10% interest, for estate and gift tax purposes, based on a "minority interest discount,” and a "lack of transferability" discount. This technique is being widely used across the country.

If you’re a typical QuickBooks user, chances are you've been under-utilizing one of the most powerful financial tools in your office. With just a little preparation you can leverage that $200 software investment to be one of the most valuable information sources and timesavers in your business.

Are you tired of sitting down at the end of the year to review your business’ financial situation only to realize that it’s no different than last year? Maybe you should be working ON your business not IN it.

Certified Public Accountants & Advisors