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Valuation professionals use various methods to determine the fair market value of a private business or business interest. One of the more debated techniques is the excess earnings method. Here are answers to some common questions about this controversial method. Whats the excess earnings method? The U.S. Department of the Treasury originally developed the excess earnings method in 1920 to estimate value lost by businesses during Prohibition.
Some tax sins are much worse than others. An example is failing to pay over federal income and employment taxes that have been withheld from employees paychecks. In this situation, the IRS can assess the trust fund recovery penalty, also called the 100% penalty, against any responsible person. Its called the 100% penalty because the entire unpaid federal income and payroll tax amounts can be assessed personally as a penalty against a responsible person, or several responsible persons.
Suppose your adult child or friend needs to borrow money. Maybe its to buy a first home or address a cash flow problem. You may want to help by making a personal loan. Thats a nice thought, but there are tax implications that you should understand and take into account. Get it in writing You want to be able to prove that you intended for the transaction to be a loan rather than an outright gift.
For federal income tax purposes, the general rule is that rental real estate losses are passive activity losses (PALs). An individual taxpayer can generally deduct PALs only to the extent of passive income from other sources, if any. For example, if you have positive taxable income from other rental properties, that generally counts as passive income.
Are you starting a business with partners and deciding on the right entity? An Scorporation might be the best choice for your new venture. One benefit of an Scorporation One major advantage of an Scorporation over a partnership is that shareholders arent personally liable for corporate debts. To ensure this protection, its crucial to: Adequately finance the corporation, Maintain the corporation as a separate entity, and Follow state-required formalities (for example, by filing articles of incorp
Statistics on fraud rates in family-run businesses are scant. This is probably because most family enterprises keep incidents of financial malfeasance under wraps and dont involve law enforcement or the courts. Because punishing offenders is critical to preventing future fraud, such secrecy can encourage schemes and raise the risk of large financial losses.
There are some nice tax breaks for transportation-related employee fringe benefits. If your employer offers these tax-favored fringes, you should probably take advantage of them by signing up. Heres a quick summary of the current federal tax treatment of transportation-related benefits. Mass transit passes For 2025, employer-provided mass transit passes for train, subway and bus systems are tax-free to a recipient employee up to a monthly limit of $325.
When its time to consider your businesss future, succession planning can protect your legacy and successfully set up the next generation of leaders or owners. Whether youre ready to retire, you wish to step back your involvement or you want a solid contingency plan should you unexpectedly be unable to run the business, exploring different succession strategies is key.
You may wonder if you can claim itemized deductions on your tax return. Perhaps you made charitable contributions and were told in the past they couldnt be claimed because you didnt have enough deductions to itemize. How much do you need? You can itemize deductions if the total of your allowable itemized write-offs for the year exceeds your standard deduction allowance for the year.
Prior to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), businesses were able to claim a tax deduction for most business-related interest expense. The TCJA created 163(j), which generally limits deductions of business interest, with certain exceptions. If your business has significant interest expense, its important to understand the impact of the deduction limit on your tax bill.
Business valuation professionals often rely on client-prepared financial projections to calculate lost profits and diminution in value. However, courts may exclude expert testimony thats based on speculative or unreliable projections. To withstand scrutiny, valuators must support their conclusions with market-based evidence and a rigorous analysis of case-specific facts.
If you made significant gifts to your children, grandchildren or other heirs last year, its important to determine whether youre required to file a 2024 gift tax return. And in some cases, even if its not required to file one, you may want to do so anyway. Requirements to file The annual gift tax exclusion was $18,000 in 2024 (increased to $19,000 in 2025).
If an individual taxpayer has substantial business losses, unfavorable federal income tax rules can potentially come into play. Heres what you need to know as you assess your 2024 tax situation. Disallowance rule The tax rules can get complicated if your business or rental activity throws off a tax loss and many do during the early years. First, the passive activity loss (PAL) rules may apply if you arent very involved in the business or if its a rental activity.
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) has long been a valuable tax break for families with qualifying children. Whether youre new to claiming the credit or youve benefited from it for years, its crucial to stay current on its rules and potential changes. As we approach the expiration of certain provisions within the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) at the end of 2025, heres what you need to know about the CTC for 2024, 2025 and beyond.
If youre getting ready to file your 2024 tax return and your tax bill is higher than youd like, there may still be a chance to lower it. If youre eligible, you can make a deductible contribution to a traditional IRA until this years April 15 filing deadline and benefit from the tax savings on your 2024 return. Whos eligible? You can make a deductible contribution to a traditional IRA if: You (and your spouse) arent an active participant in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, or You (or your s
A business interests value is more than just a number to its owner. It represents years of hard work, sacrifice and investment. Owners often believe they have a clear understanding of their companys worth. But emotions and optimism about future earnings can cloud their perception. Lets look at psychological factors that may affect owners value perceptions and why the numbers might tell a different story.
Retirement is often viewed as an opportunity to travel, spend time with family or simply enjoy the fruits of a long career. Yet the transition may bring a tangle of tax considerations. Planning carefully can help you minimize tax bills. Below are four steps to take if youre approaching retirement, along with the tax implications. 1. Consider your post-career lifestyle Begin by assessing what retirement might look like for you.
Preventing financial losses from occupational fraud requires your company to remain vigilant. In a nutshell: Trust employees, but routinely verify they arent stealing. This includes salespeople who, if theyre unethical, could falsify sales commission records to illicitly line their own pockets. Because its sometimes impossible to spot crooks in your midst, be aware of potential sales commission fraud schemes and how best to detect and prevent them.
As higher education costs continue to rise, you may be concerned about how to save and pay for college. Fortunately, several tools and strategies offered in the U.S. tax code may help ease the financial burden. Below is an overview of some of the most beneficial tax breaks and planning options for funding your childs or grandchilds education. Qualified tuition programs or 529 plans A 529 plan allows you to buy tuition credits or contribute to an account set up to meet your childs future higher e
As posted to US Department of Treasury website on 3/2/25 The Treasury Department announced on 3/2/25 that, with respect to the Corporate Transparency Act, not only will it not enforce any penalties or fines associated with the beneficial ownership information reporting rule under the existing regulatory deadlines, but it will further not enforce any penalties or fines against U.S. citizens or domestic reporting companies or their beneficial owners after the forthcoming rule changes take effect e
When selling business assets, understanding the tax implications is crucial. One area to focus on is Section 1231 of the Internal Revenue Code, which governs the treatment of gains and losses from the sale or exchange of certain business property. Business gain and loss tax basics The federal income tax character of gains and losses from selling business assets can fall into three categories: Capital gains and losses.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate continues to be historically low, ranging from 4.0% to 4.3% from May to November of 2024. With todays hiring challenges, business owners should be aware that the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is available to employers that hire workers from targeted groups who face significant barriers to employment.
According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, when one occupational fraud perpetrator pulls off a scam, the employer suffers a median loss of $75,000. When crooked individuals team up, that median loss rises to $135,000. And when three or more crooks work together to defraud an organization? $329,000. Thats the power of collusion. If such financial consequences werent bad enough, collusion can also destroy a companys reputation.
Saving for retirement is a crucial financial goal and a 401(k) plan is one of the most effective tools for achieving it. If your employer offers a 401(k) or Roth 401(k), contributing as much as possible to the plan in 2025 is a smart way to build a considerable nest egg. If youre not already contributing the maximum allowed, consider increasing your contribution in 2025.
Global merger and acquisition (M&A) volume is expected to surpass $4 trillion in 2025, the highest in four years, according to Reuters. Reasons for the anticipated surge include recent interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and GOP promises of fewer regulations and lower taxes for U.S. businesses and their owners. Tariffs if enacted also could spur consolidation in certain industries.
When deciding on the best structure for your business, one option to consider is a Ccorporation. This entity offers several advantages and disadvantages that may significantly affect your business operations and financial health. Heres a detailed look at the pros and cons of operating as a C corporation. Tax implications A C corporation allows the business to be treated and taxed separately from you as the principal owner.
When considering the advantages of U.S. Treasury savings bonds, you may appreciate their relative safety, simplicity and government backing. However, like all interest-bearing investments, savings bonds come with tax implications that are important to understand. Deferred interest Series EE Bonds dated May 2005 and after earn a fixed rate of interest.
Intangible assets, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights and goodwill, play a crucial role in todays businesses. The tax treatment of these assets can be complex, but businesses need to understand the issues involved. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions. What are intangible assets? The term intangibles covers many items. Determining whether an acquired or created asset or benefit is intangible isnt always easy.
Understanding how to deduct transportation costs could significantly reduce the tax burden on your small business. You and your employees likely incur various local transportation expenses each year, and they have tax implications. Lets start by defining local transportation. It refers to travel when you arent away from your tax home long enough to require sleep or rest.
Business valuation experts often rely on prospective financial statements when applying the discounted cash flow (DCF) method to value a private business interest. However, when management prepares financial projections for another purpose such as a loan application repurposing them to estimate fair market value for litigation purposes may raise a red flag.
Medicare health insurance premiums can add up to big bucks especially if youre upper-income, married, and you and your spouse both pay premiums. Read on to understand how taxes fit in. Premiums for Part B coverage Medicare Part B coverage is commonly called Medicare medical insurance. Part B mainly covers doctors visits and outpatient services. Eligible individuals must pay monthly premiums for this benefit.
If your business is particularly busy, you may temporarily outsource some of its work to third-party contractors. Hiring contractors can be a cost-effective way to manage seasonal or even ordinary customer demands without hiring new employees or making other long-term investments. However, third parties can introduce some financial, legal and reputational risks.
There are three commonly accepted techniques for valuing a closely held business: the cost (or asset-based) approach, the market approach and the income approach. Valuation professionals routinely consider all three approaches before deciding which is most appropriate for the circumstances or choosing to use a blend of approaches. Some people mistakenly assume that the cost approach will always undervalue a business or business interest.
Inflation can have a significant impact on federal tax breaks. While recent inflation has come down since its peak in 2022, some tax amounts will still increase for 2025. The IRS recently announced next years inflation-adjusted amounts for several provisions. Here are the highlights. Standard deduction. What does an increased standard deduction mean for you?
Youre not alone if youre confused about the federal tax treatment of business-related meal and entertainment expenses. The rules have changed in recent years. Lets take a look at what you can deduct in 2024. Current law The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated deductions for most business-related entertainment expenses. That means, for example, that you cant deduct any part of the cost of taking clients out for a round of golf or to a football game.
Job applicants must work hard to stand out in a crowded marketplace. For some, that means bending the truth or outright lying about their experience, skills and education. According to a survey performed by resum-writing service StandOut CV, a staggering 64.2% of Americans have lied on their resum at least once. Bad hires can generate direct and indirect costs, including lost productivity, customer dissatisfaction and wasted training time.
Recently, a 401(k) plan participant was defrauded of approximately $740,000 when he fell victim to an elaborate scheme perpetrated by overseas criminals. However, even friends, family members and employers have been discovered stealing from 401(k) accounts, adding up to millions of dollars in losses every year. Heres what your organization can do to help keep your employees retirement savings safe from theft.
Hiring household help, whether you employ a nanny, housekeeper or gardener, can significantly ease the burden of childcare and daily chores. However, as a household employer, its critical to understand your tax obligations, commonly called the nanny tax. If you hire a household employee who isnt an independent contractor, you may be liable for federal income tax and other taxes (including state tax obligations).
How much can you and your employees contribute to your 401(k)s or other retirement plans next year? In Notice 2024-80, the IRS recently announced cost-of-living adjustments that apply to the dollar limitations for retirement plans, as well as other qualified plans, for 2025. With inflation easing, the amounts arent increasing as much as in recent years. 401(k) plans The 2025 contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k) plans will increase to $23,500 (up from $23,000 in 2024).
In todays global economy, an established business might consider expanding its revenue base by acquiring or merging with a company in an emerging market. These markets for example, in Brazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey provide tremendous growth potential. But they also come with significant risks. So, obtaining reliable business valuations is an essential part of due diligence in emerging-market M&As.
If you own a small business with no employees (other than your spouse) and want to set up a retirement plan, consider a solo 401(k) plan. This is also an option for self-employed individuals or business owners who wish to upgrade from a SIMPLE IRA or Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan. A solo 401(k), also known as an individual 401(k), may offer advantages in terms of contributions, tax savings and investment options.
When you think about tax deductions for vehicle-related expenses, business driving may come to mind. However, businesses arent the only taxpayers that can deduct driving expenses on their returns. Individuals may also be able to deduct them in certain circumstances. Unfortunately, under current law, you may be unable to deduct as much as you could years ago.
As a business owner, you may travel to visit customers, attend conferences, check on vendors and for other purposes. Understanding which travel expenses are tax deductible can significantly affect your bottom line. Properly managing travel costs can help ensure compliance and maximize your tax savings. Your tax home Eligible taxpayers can deduct the ordinary and necessary expenses of business travel when away from their tax homes.
As we approach 2025, changes are coming to the Social Security wage base. The Social Security Administration recently announced that the wage base for computing Social Security tax will increase to $176,100 for 2025 (up from $168,600 for 2024). Wages and self-employment income above this amount aren’t subject to Social Security tax. If your business has employees, you may need to budget for additional payroll costs, especially if you have many high earners.
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