The advantages of a living trust for your estate plan
June 5, 2025 | Megan Kosciolek, MST
Are you thinking about a living trust vs a will? Here are some advantages of a living trust for you estate plan.
Read MoreBartering: What your business should know
March 8, 2022 | Brian Hare, CPA, CGMA
In today’s economy, many small businesses are strapped for cash. They may find it beneficial to barter or trade for goods and services instead of paying cash for them. Bartering is the oldest form of trade and the internet has made it easier to engage with other businesses. But if your business gets involved in […]
Lost your job? Tax aspects of termination
March 8, 2022 | Paula Kennedy, EA
Despite the robust job market, there are still some people that have lost their jobs. If you’re laid off or terminated from employment, taxes are probably the last thing on your mind. However, there are tax implications due to your changed personal and professional circumstances. Depending on your situation, the tax aspects can be complex […]
The election to apply the research tax credit
March 2, 2022 | Brian Hare, CPA, CGMA
The credit for increasing research activities, often referred to as the research and development (R&D) credit, is a valuable tax break available to eligible businesses. Claiming the credit involves complex calculations, which we can take care of for you. But in addition to the credit itself, be aware that the research tax credit also has […]
Can you deduct the costs of a spouse on a business trip?
March 2, 2022 | Megan Kosciolek, MST
If you own your own company and travel for business, you may wonder whether you can deduct the costs of having your spouse accompany you on a business trip. The rules for deducting a spouse’s travel costs are very restrictive. First of all, to qualify, your spouse must be your employee. This means you can’t […]
Cash withdrawals that aren’t taxed as dividends
March 2, 2022 | Brian Hare, CPA, CGMA
Do you want to withdraw cash from your closely held corporation at a minimum tax cost? The simplest way is to distribute cash as dividends. However, dividends distribution isn’t tax-efficient since it’s taxable to you to the extent of your corporation’s “earnings and profits.” It’s also not deductible by the corporation. Five alternatives Fortunately, there […]
5 ways to control your business insurance costs
March 2, 2022 | Brian Hare, CPA, CGMA
Common sense dictates that every company, no matter how small, should carry various forms of business insurance. But that doesn’t mean you should pay unnecessarily high premiums just to retain the coverage you need. Here are five ways to better control your insurance costs without sacrificing the quality of your policies: 1. Review coverage periodically. Make […]
Retirement contributions may cut your tax bill
March 1, 2022 | Megan Kosciolek, MST
If you’re getting ready to file your 2021 tax return, and your tax bill is more than you’d like, there might still be a way to lower it. If you’re eligible, you can make deductible contributions to a traditional IRA right up until the April 18, 2022, filing date and benefit from the tax savings […]
Are you ready for the 2021 gift tax return deadline?
March 1, 2022 | Paula Kennedy, EA
If you made large gifts to your children, grandchildren or other heirs last year, it’s important to determine whether you’re required to file a 2021 gift tax return. And in some cases, even if it’s not required to file one, it may be beneficial to do so anyway. Who must file? The annual gift tax […]
Married couples should you file separate tax returns
March 1, 2022 | Paula Kennedy, EA
Married couples, you may wonder whether you should file joint or separate tax returns. The answer depends on your individual tax situation. In general, it depends on which filing status 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 […]
Should businesses address retirement plan leakage?
March 1, 2022 | Brian Hare, CPA, CGMA
Under just about any circumstances, the word “leakage” has negative connotations. And so it follows that this indeed holds true for retirement planning as well. In this context, leakage refers to early, pre-retirement withdrawals from an account. Now, as a business owner who sponsors a qualified retirement plan, you might say, “Well, that’s my participants’ […]