Archive for December 2016
How entity type affects tax planning for owner-employees
Come tax time, owner-employees face a variety of distinctive tax planning challenges, depending on whether their business is structured as a partnership, limited liability company (LLC) or corporation. Whether you’re thinking about your 2016 filing or planning for 2017, it’s important to be aware of the challenges that apply to your particular situation. Partnerships and…
Read MoreCompanies restate financial results for a variety of reasons
When a company reissues or revises its financial statements, some people automatically assume that management is cooking the books. But there can be legitimate reasons for restatements, beyond management incompetence and fraud. So, before leaping to conclusions, it’s important to understand what went wrong — and find ways to prevent future restatements. Complex standards Often,…
Read MoreTake stock of your inventory accounting method’s impact on your tax bill
If your business involves the production, purchase or sale of merchandise, your inventory accounting method can significantly affect your tax liability. In some cases, using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory accounting method, rather than first-in, first-out (FIFO), can reduce taxable income, giving cash flow a boost. Tax savings, however, aren’t the only factor to…
Read MoreThere’s still time to set up a retirement plan for 2016
Saving for retirement can be tough if you’re putting most of your money and time into operating a small business. However, many retirement plans aren’t difficult to set up and it’s important to start saving so you can enjoy a comfortable future. So if you haven’t already set up a tax-advantaged plan, consider doing…
Read MoreSorting through the “levels of assurance” in financial reporting
How confident (or assured) are you that your financial reports are reliable, timely and relevant? In order of increasing level of rigor, accountants generally offer three types of assurance services: compilations, reviews and audits. What’s appropriate for your company depends on the needs of creditors or investors, as well as the size, complexity and risk…
Read MoreDocumentation is the key to business expense deductions
If you have incomplete or missing records and get audited by the IRS, your business will likely lose out on valuable deductions. Here are two recent U.S. Tax Court cases that help illustrate the rules for documenting deductions. Case 1: Insufficient recordsIn the first case, the court found that a taxpayer with a consulting business…
Read MoreIt’s sometimes hard to report “hard” assets
How much do you really know about accounting for property, plant and equipment? U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) permits some leeway when deciding whether to capitalize or expense a fixed asset purchase, as well as in choosing depreciation methods and useful lives. Such leeway is part of the reason many business owners are…
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