May 18th, 2020 by Kim Chen
The IRS has issued guidance clarifying that certain deductions aren’t allowed if a business has received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. Specifically, an expense isn’t deductible if both: 1) the payment of the expense results in forgiveness of a loan made under the PPP, and 2) the income associated with the forgiveness is excluded […]
April 6th, 2020 by Kim Chen
Technology has made it easier to work from home. However, just because you have a home office doesn’t mean you can deduct expenses associated with it on your tax return. In order to be deductible, you must be self-employed and the space must be used regularly and exclusively for business purposes. If you qualify, there […]
March 30th, 2020 by Kim Chen
Many people who used to claim a tax break for making charitable contributions are no longer eligible. That’s because of some tax law changes that went into effect a couple years ago. You can only claim a deduction if you itemize deductions on your tax return and your itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction. Today’s […]
March 25th, 2020 by Kim Chen
Married couples often wonder if they should file joint or separate tax returns. It depends on your individual tax situation. In general, you should use the filing status that results in the lowest tax. But keep in mind that, if you and your spouse file a joint return, each of you is “jointly and severally” […]
March 22nd, 2020 by Kim Chen
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE Act) was recently signed into law as part of a larger spending bill. There are several provisions of interest to small businesses that have a retirement plan for employees or are thinking of adding one. For example, unrelated employers will be able to join together […]
March 22nd, 2020 by Kim Chen
In a 2018 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court expanded the power of states to collect sales tax from remote sellers. Today, nearly every state with a sales tax has enacted a similar law. So if your company does business across state lines, it’s a good idea to reexamine your sales tax obligations. If you make […]
March 19th, 2020 by Kim Chen
If you’re a parent, or if you’re planning on having children, you know that it’s expensive to pay for their food, clothes, activities and education. Fortunately, there’s a tax credit available for taxpayers with children under the age of 17, as well as a dependent credit for older children.
March 18th, 2020 by Kim Chen
If you’re getting ready to file your 2019 tax return, and your tax bill is higher than you’d like, there may still be an opportunity to lower it. If you qualify, you can make a deductible contribution to a traditional IRA right up until the Wed., April 15, 2020, filing date and benefit from the […]
March 15th, 2020 by Kim Chen
Interested in tax-wise estate planning? Qualified Opportunity Zones depend on investments in Qualified Opportunity Funds (QOFs). Investors can defer capital gains on the disposition of appreciated property by reinvesting the gains in a QOF within 180 days of disposition. Tax is deferred until the QOF investment is sold or Dec. 31, 2026, whichever is earlier. […]
March 12th, 2020 by Kim Chen
If you own a home, the interest you pay on your home mortgage may provide a tax break. However, many people believe that any interest paid on home mortgage loans is deductible. Unfortunately, that’s not true. First, you must itemize deductions in order to deduct mortgage interest. And the deduction is limited. From 2018-2025, you […]