Marginal vs. Effective Tax Rates Understanding marginal and effective tax rates are important for tax planning purposes; however, many taxpayers don’t fully understand the differences. Let’s take a closer look: Marginal Tax Rate The United States has a progressive tax system. The more money you earn, the higher your tax rate is and the more…
E-Signatures Extended for Many Tax Forms To help reduce the burden to taxpayers brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, the use of electronic or digital signatures on certain paper forms they normally cannot file electronically has been extended through December 31, 2021. Let’s take a look at what this means for taxpayers: Types of acceptable…
Use These Strategies To Pass on Wealth to Heirs Individuals with significant assets should take advantage of proven tax strategies such as gifting and direct payments to educational institutions to transfer wealth to heirs tax-free, as well as minimize estate taxes. Additional opportunities are available as well, thanks to low-interest rates and a volatile stock…
Reminder: Protect Yourself From Scammers Understanding how the IRS communicates can help taxpayers protect themselves from scammers who pretend to be from the IRS with the goal of stealing personal information. For example, the IRS typically does not call a taxpayer, but if the IRS does call, it should not be a surprise because the…
Gross Receipts Safe Harbor for Employers Claiming ERC Safe harbor is now available that allows employers to exclude certain items from their gross receipts solely for determining eligibility for the Employee Retention Credit (ERC). These amounts are: The amount of the forgiveness of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan; Shuttered Venue Operators Grants under the…
Extension Deadline Looming for 2020 Tax Returns Time is running short for taxpayers who requested an extra six months to file their 2020 tax return. As a reminder, Friday, October 15, 2021, is the extension deadline for most taxpayers. Taxpayers who owe tax – even those who did not request an extension – and have…
Who Qualifies for the Earned Income Credit The earned income tax credit can give qualifying workers with low-to-moderate income a substantial financial boost. The credit not only reduces the amount of tax someone owes but may give them a refund even if they don’t owe any taxes or aren’t required to file a return. If…
The IRS has announced the new limitations for pension plans and other retirement plans for 2014. Overall, the limits remain largely unchanged because the IRS stated the increase in the Consumer Price Index did not meet the statutory thresholds for their adjustment. 2014 limits that will remain the same as prior year include: The contribution…
If you own or operate your own business, then accounting is one of the most important facets you’ll encounter. Understanding financial records, how to compile them, and what to do with them are all important to the continued success of your company. With so many innovations in the accounting world, it can be difficult to…