Roger Rossmeisl, CPA, Author at Roger Rossmeisl, CPA

24 Mar 2021

Deepfakes: The Newest Frontier in Fraud

Fraud perpetrators are constantly altering their methods to evade detection. Nimble cybercriminals, for example, are why IT security companies update their software so frequently. The use of deepfakes (a word derived from “deep learning” and “fake”) is one of the latest threats to emerge. Deepfakes are enabled by artificial intelligence (AI) and they’re something your company needs to have on its radar because if you haven’t seen a deepfake yet, you will. Spotting an imposter A deepfake involves the use of AI to create video, audio or static images that seem real. You may have seen them in viral videos of famous people, such as one in which Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg is shown saying he has “total control of billions of people’s stolen data.” As realistic as...

23 Mar 2021

Eligible Americans to Receive Direct Payments

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA

Individual Tax Briefs

Eligible Americans to Receive Direct Payments

The American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law on March 11, provides a variety of tax and financial relief to help mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the many initiatives are direct payments that will be made to eligible individuals. And parents under certain income thresholds will also receive additional payments in the coming months through a greatly revised Child Tax Credit. Here are some answers to questions about these payments. What are the two types of payments? Under the new law, eligible individuals will receive advance direct payments of a tax credit. The law calls these payments “recovery rebates.” The law also includes advance Child Tax Credit payments to eligible parents later this year. How much are the recovery rebates? An eligible individual is allowed a 2021...

22 Mar 2021

Business Highlights in the new American Rescue Plan Act

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA

Small Business Tax Briefs

Business Highlights in the new American Rescue Plan Act

President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on March 11. While the new law is best known for the provisions providing relief to individuals, there are also several tax breaks and financial benefits for businesses. Here are some of the business tax highlights of ARPA. The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) This valuable tax credit is extended from June 30 until December 31, 2021. The ARPA continues the ERC rate of credit at 70% for this extended period of time. It also continues to allow for up to $10,000 in qualified wages for any calendar quarter. Taking into account the Consolidated Appropriations Act extension and the ARPA extension, this means an employer can potentially have up to $40,000 in qualified wages per employee through 2021. Employer-Provided Dependent Care...

14 Mar 2021

Work Opportunity Tax Credit Extended Through 2025

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA

Small Business Tax Briefs

Work Opportunity Tax Credit Extended Through 2025

Are you a business owner thinking about hiring? Be aware that a recent law extended a credit for hiring individuals from one or more targeted groups. Employers can qualify for a tax credit known as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) that’s worth as much as $2,400 for each eligible employee ($4,800, $5,600 and $9,600 for certain veterans and $9,000 for “long-term family assistance recipients”). The credit is generally limited to eligible employees who began work for the employer before January 1, 2026. Generally, an employer is eligible for the credit only for qualified wages paid to members of a targeted group. These groups are: Qualified members of families receiving assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, Qualified veterans, Qualified ex-felons, Designated community residents, ...

14 Mar 2021

There is Still Time to Make a 2020 IRA Contributions

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA

Individual Tax Briefs

There is Still Time to Make a 2020 IRA Contribution

If you’re getting ready to file your 2020 tax return, and your tax bill is higher than you’d like, there might still be an opportunity to lower it. If you qualify, you can make a deductible contribution to a traditional IRA right up until the April 15, 2021 filing date and benefit from the tax savings on your 2020 return. Who is eligible? You can make a deductible contribution to a traditional IRA if: You (and your spouse) aren’t an active participant in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, or You (or your spouse) are an active participant in an employer plan, but your modified adjusted gross income (AGI) doesn’t exceed certain levels that vary from year-to-year by filing status. For 2020, if you’re a joint tax return filer and...

14 Mar 2021

Fraud Considerations When Making Business Acquisitions

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA

Fraud Briefs

Fraud Considerations When Making Business Acquisitions

The COVID-19 pandemic has often made the due diligence process for business acquisitions more complex and time-consuming. But if you’re buying a company, it’s critical to dedicate your full attention to this part of the M&A process — not only to confirm that the selling business is as valuable as you believe it to be, but to protect against fraud. Plan early to engage a fraud expert to review financial statements and other documents for signs that you could be dealing with a dishonest seller. Subtle warning signs When reviewing a seller’s financial statements, forensic experts look for subtle warning signs of fraud. These include excess inventory, a large number of write-offs, an unusually high number of voided discounts for returns, insufficient documentation of sales and increased...

12 Mar 2021

Payroll Provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA

Automotive, Current Events, Small Business Tax Briefs

Payroll Provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act

The American Rescue Plan, 2021 (ARPA, 2021) was signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021 to address the continuing economic impact on employers and employees the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has posed. The legislation extends and expands provisions found in the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA), Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA, 2021). This post reviews the payroll provisions of ARPA. Paid Sick and Family Leave Credits Changes under ARPA apply to amounts paid with respect to calendar quarters beginning after March 31, 2021. ARPA, 2021: Extends the FFCRA paid sick time and paid family leave credits from March 31, 2021 through September 30, 2021. Provides that paid sick and paid family leave credits may each be...

12 Mar 2021

How to Qualify for Home Office Deductions

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA

Small Business Tax Briefs

How to Qualify for Home Office Deductions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are working from home. If you’re self-employed and run your business from your home or perform certain functions there, you might qualify for home office deductions and be able to claim to expenses against your business income. There are two methods for claiming this tax break: the actual expenses method and the simplified method. Who qualifies? In general, you qualify for home office deductions if part of your home is used “regularly and exclusively” as your principal place of business. If your home isn’t your principal place of business, you may still be able to deduct home office expenses if 1) you physically meet with patients, clients or customers on your premises, or 2) you use a storage area in your home...

09 Mar 2021

Fraud Potential When Factoring Receivables

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA

Fraud Briefs

Fraud Potential When Factoring Receivables

If your business struggles to generate steady cash flow from operations, factoring is a possible solution. With factoring, a business sells the right to collect on customer invoices to a factoring company in exchange for an immediate payment. If you have slow-paying customers, factoring accelerates the collections process. But some companies abuse factoring and use it to commit fraud. The basics There are two forms of invoice factoring. With recourse factoring, the business selling invoices agrees to repay the factor the advance it received (a percentage of the invoice’s face value, minus a fee) if a customer doesn’t pay the full amount. Non-recourse factoring is less common because it involves more risk for the factor. The business doesn’t have to repay the factor if a customer becomes insolvent during...

28 Feb 2021