Due to the admittedly complicated nature of the tax code in the United States, the idea that someone might experience issues when filing is not exactly unheard of. Oftentimes people will calculate certain aspects of their returns wrong, fail to submit the necessary paperwork, or something similar. That's part of what amended returns are for - eventually, either you or the IRS will discover [...]
Parents - especially new ones - are always looking for new ways to improve the lives of their children. Surprisingly, one of the most effective opportunities that people also often overlook has to do with starting a savings account for that child as early as they're capable of doing so. On the one hand, no - it's probably not a good idea to give [...]
According to one recent study, replacing an employee who has left your business can cost between 50% to 60% of that person's salary. This is why it's virtually always more expensive to hire a new person than it is to simply retain one of your existing workers. If you're replacing someone who makes about $100,000 per year, it could cost between $50,000 and $60,000 [...]
Article Highlights: Separated Taxpayers Divorced Taxpayers Recently Married Taxpayers Widowed Taxpayers Filing Status Joint and Several Liability Who Claims the Children Alimony Community Property States Affordable Care Act Taxpayers are frequently blindsided when their filing status changes because of a life event such as marriage, divorce, separation or the death of a spouse. These occasions can be stressful or ecstatic times, and the last [...]
Article Highlights: Distinguishing Employee and Independent Contractor State Legislation Federal Guidelines Partners Advantages of Independent Contractor Status Form SS-8 SE Tax Form 8919 Penalties for Misclassifying Workers IRS’ Voluntary Classification Settlement Program It is not uncommon for employers to misclassify employees as independent contractors, either to intentionally avoid their withholding and tax responsibilities or because they are not aware of the laws regarding the [...]
Ask any experienced entrepreneur and they will tell you that the difference between running a business and running a successful business is massive. To truly give yourself the best chance of success, and to help achieve your overall goals in the most effective ways possible, there are a number of key best practices you'll want to keep in mind along the way. The Importance [...]
Article Highlights: Employer Medical Fringe Benefits. Flexible Spending Account (FSA). FSA Annual Contribution Limits. FSA Limited Annual Carryover Provisions. Health Savings Account (HSA). HSA Qualifications. High Deductible Insurance. HSA as a Retirement Vehicle. Comparison Table. Many employers offer health flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) as part of their employee benefits packages. Both plans allow you to set aside money to [...]
Hagerty's recent market rundown of 2+2 coupes provided a new variation on longtime auctioneer Dean Kruse’s proverb of “when the top goes down, the price goes up!” It seems that for the most part, values plummet inverse to inches added to the wheelbase. So, logic prevails—as it largely does with Kruse’s original convertible v. coupe aphorism. Largely is the key word there—there are some notable exceptions. What [...]
It's safe to say that the millions upon millions of small and mid-sized businesses operating right now are the true foundation of the United States economy. But whether you're a seasoned veteran or are a new entrepreneur looking to journey out on your own for the first time, it's important to understand the options that are available for you in terms of funding and [...]
Article Highlights: Late filing penalties Interest Three-year statute of limitations Forfeited refunds If you have been procrastinating about filing your 2022 tax return or have not filed other prior year returns, you should consider the consequences, including the penalties, interest, and aggressive enforcement actions. Plus, if you have a refund coming for a prior year you may end up forfeiting it. If you haven’t [...]
