Boosting the Productivity of Remote Workers
Even while conditions in some states have improved enough to allow some workers in exile to begin returning to their workplaces, life isn’t likely to return to normal for a long while, thanks to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. First, some employees worried about the chances they could become infected might balk at the idea…
Can Your Business Survive and Even Thrive in These Trying Times
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused difficulties for millions of businesses — from family-owned restaurants and niche manufacturers to multinational airlines and oil companies. As the economy slowly reopens across the country, old ways of doing things clearly won’t work for most business operations. But there’s a potential upside: Major economic disruptions may provide…
Prepare for a Post-COVID-19 Business Sea Change
Few businesses have been left unscathed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Unfortunately, many have been mortally wounded. Some may be living on life support thanks to financial help from the government, but their long-term survival is in doubt. That may not be inevitable, however, particularly for businesses that are proactive. Business advisors are instructing…
USMCA: New Trade Agreement Will Modernize NAFTA
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will take effect on July 1, 2020. President Trump has hailed the new North American trade treaty as a “colossal victory” for Americans. Whether the impact is worthy of superlatives will vary by industry sector and geography. Here’s what U.S. business owners should know. Overview When the Canadian parliament ratified…
CARES Act Provides 4 Possible Reasons to File an Amended Return
The $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act delivers good news to individuals and businesses, including valuable tax-relief measures. Some of that tax relief is retroactive. These provisions can affect 2018 and 2019 returns that have already been filed. One retroactive provision can, in some cases, go all the way back to…
Businesses: Think about Tomorrow When Hunkering Down Today
Until recently, the number one concern for many employers was finding and retaining top talent. Today, to fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), many of those same companies are being forced to shed workers en masse. If you haven’t yet pared down your workforce or need to do some more trimming, what are your options? How…
COVID-19 Tax Relief: TCJA Loss Limitation Rules Are Eased
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act unwinds some of the tax-revenue-generating provisions included in a previous tax law. Here’s a look at how the rules for claiming certain tax losses have been modified to provide businesses and individuals with relief from the financial effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Liberalized Rules…
Should You File a Business Interruption Claim for COVID-19 Losses?
With much of the country currently on lockdown due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, many nonessential businesses have been shuttered. As a result, millions of small business owners find themselves on the brink of financial disaster. For those with business interruption insurance policies in place, now may seem like the ideal time to submit…
New Law Retroactively Fixes QIP Drafting Mistake
At long last, Congress passed legislation to correct a drafting error related to real estate qualified improvement property (QIP). The correction is part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The correction retroactively allows real property owners to depreciate QIP faster than before….
COVID-19 Relief for Employers: New Employee Retention Tax Credit
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shut down many sectors of the U.S. economy, causing widespread job losses. Over 10 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits in March, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. And far more claims are expected in April. Some economists predict that the unemployment rate could rise to Depression-era levels of…