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Are You Thinking About Selling Your Business?
The COVID-19 pandemic has put unprecedented stress on private business owners. Some are now considering selling their businesses before Congress has a chance to increase the rates on long-term capital gains. Before putting your business on the market, it’s important to prepare it for sale. Here are six steps to consider: 1. Clean Up the…
Which Start-Up Costs Are Deductible for Federal Tax Purposes?
Many people started businesses in 2020, and many others plan to launch new ventures in 2021. Entrepreneurs often have questions about whether business expenses for a start-up can be deducted in the year they’re incurred or paid — or whether they must be capitalized and deducted over time. Here’s some guidance. Basic Tax Rules Internal…
EIC: New Law Makes Major Changes
The earned income credit (EIC) has been around for years. But it’s never been worth as much as it will be for 2021 under the new American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Some favorable changes are only for the 2021 tax year; others are permanent. Here are the details. Important: Many people report too much income…
Big Changes to the Child Credit for 2021
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) significantly liberalizes the rules for the federal child tax credit, which means more money in the pockets of eligible parents this year. However, the liberalizations are only for the 2021 tax year. Here’s the story. Pre-ARPA Rules Before the ARPA, there was one set of rules for parents who qualified…
Protecting Payroll Records From Cybercriminals
No matter the size or industry, most U.S. businesses are vulnerable to cyberattacks — both from inside and outside the company. Among the data targeted are employee payroll records. Just imagine the consequences if your company’s employee records were compromised: Worker’s personal information might be used to perpetrate identity theft, your company’s accounts might be hacked…
Self-Employed May Be Eligible for COVID-Related Tax Breaks for 2020
If you’re self-employed as a sole proprietor, partner or limited liability company (LLC) member, COVID-relief legislation passed in 2020 included tax breaks that may affect your 2020 personal federal income tax return. In some cases, the tax savings may be significant. Here are two important COVID-related tax breaks that every self-employed individual should consider before filing…
4 Important Changes on Your 2020 Tax Return
Tax season has started. Your tax professional is ready to prepare your 2020 federal and state returns — but are you ready? The pandemic has led to several changes to the tax rules for last year. Here’s a summary of four taxpayer friendly changes that may affect your 2020 federal income tax return. 1. Limited Charitable…
How Your Nonprofit Can Act on 2021s Biggest Trends
What can not-for-profit organizations expect in 2021 and beyond? One recent report, “11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2021,” offers some answers. Produced by the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University (Grand Rapids, Mich.), the 32-page report pinpoints trends such as the growth of social justice funding and new opportunities to…
Biden Executive Orders Signal Coming Employment Regulation Changes
Presidential executive orders (EOs) generally lack the power to immediately alter the ways that employers and citizens are required to act. Still, they get the ball rolling towards changes that are likely to be coming, in the form of federal regulations and policies. That is, as long as they can be justified by the laws…
Nonprofits Need to Educate Donors About New Tax Benefits
The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) enacted in December 2020 extends and modifies several key tax provisions originally included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act provided several forms of financial support to individuals and businesses. Not-for-profit organizations should pay particular attention to two extended provisions: a tax break for…
PPP Changes Provide Greater Access for Smallest Businesses
The Biden Administration announced changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to increase lending to smaller businesses and help ensure equitable distribution of loans to them. But qualified businesses may want to act fast because there is a two-week period when PPP loan applications will exclusively be accepted from businesses with fewer than 20 employees….