10 Jun 2021
0

Help Ensure the IRS Doesn’t Reclassify Independent Contractors as Employees

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Small Business Tax Briefs
Help Ensure the IRS Doesnt Reclassify Independent Contractors as Employees

Many businesses use independent contractors to help keep their costs down. If you’re among them, make sure that these workers are properly classified for federal tax purposes. If the IRS reclassifies them as employees, it can be a costly error. It can be complex to determine whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee for federal income and employment tax purposes. If a worker is an employee, your company must withhold federal income and payroll taxes, pay the employer’s share of FICA taxes on the wages, plus FUTA tax. A business may also provide the worker with fringe benefits if it makes them available to other employees. In addition, there may be state tax obligations. On the other hand, if a worker is an independent...

01 Jun 2021
0

Claiming the Business Energy Credit for Using Alternative Energy

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Small Business Tax Briefs
Claiming the Business Energy Credit for Using Alternative Energy

Are you wondering whether alternative energy technologies can help you manage energy costs in your business? If so, there’s a valuable federal income tax benefit (the business energy credit) that applies to the acquisition of many types of alternative energy property. The credit is intended primarily for business users of alternative energy (other energy tax breaks apply if you use alternative energy in your home or produce energy for sale). Eligible property The business energy credit equals 30% of the basis of the following: Equipment, the construction of which begins before 2024, that uses solar energy to generate electricity for heating and cooling structures, for hot water, or heat used in industrial or commercial processes (except for swimming pools). If construction began in 2020, the credit rate is...

26 May 2021
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Simple Retirement Savings Options for your Small Business

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Small Business Tax Briefs
Simple Retirement Savings Options for Your Small Business

Are you thinking about setting up a retirement plan for yourself and your employees, but you’re worried about the financial commitment and administrative burdens involved in providing a traditional pension plan? Two simple retirement savings options to consider are a “simplified employee pension” (SEP) or a “savings incentive match plan for employees” (SIMPLE). SEPs are intended as an alternative to “qualified” retirement plans, particularly for small businesses. The relative ease of administration and the discretion that you, as the employer, are permitted in deciding whether or not to make annual contributions, are features that are appealing. Uncomplicated paperwork If you don’t already have a qualified retirement plan, you can set up a SEP simply by using the IRS model SEP, Form 5305-SEP. By adopting and implementing this model...

20 May 2021
0

Revisiting California’s Worker Classification Law AB 5

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Small Business Tax Briefs
Revisiting Californias Worker Classification Law AB 5

In 2019, AB 5 was signed into law with an effective date of 1/1/2020. Under AB 5, most workers are presumed to be employees for purposes of the Labor Code, the Unemployment Insurance Code, and for most wage orders of the Industrial Welfare Commission unless a hiring entity satisfies a three-factor test, referred to as the ABC test. This means that many workers previously classified as independent contractors are now employees under California law and you must withhold California income and payroll taxes, and meet California’s minimum wage and overtime requirements. The ABC test Under the ABC test, all three of these conditions must be met in order to treat the worker as an independent contractor: The worker is free from the control and direction of the...

17 May 2021
0

Tax Advantages of Hiring Your Child at your Small Business

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Small Business Tax Briefs
Tax Advantages of Hiring Your Child at your Small Business

As a business owner, you should be aware that you can save family income and payroll taxes by putting your child on the payroll. Here are some considerations.  Shifting business earnings You can turn some of your high-taxed income into tax-free or low-taxed income by shifting some business earnings to a child as wages for services performed. In order for your business to deduct the wages as a business expense, the work done by the child must be legitimate and the child’s salary must be reasonable. For example, suppose you’re a sole proprietor in the 37% tax bracket. You hire your 16-year-old son to help with office work full-time in the summer and part-time in the fall. He earns $10,000 during the year (and doesn’t have other earnings). You...

04 May 2021
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“Reasonable Compensation” for C Corporation Business Owners

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Small Business Tax Briefs
Reasonable Compensation for C Corporation Business Owners

Owners of incorporated businesses know that there’s a tax advantage to taking money out of a C corporation as compensation rather than as dividends. The reason: A corporation can deduct the salaries and bonuses that it pays executives, but not dividend payments. Thus, if funds are paid as dividends, they’re taxed twice, once to the corporation and once to the recipient. Money paid out as compensation is only taxed once — to the employee who receives it. However, there are limits to how much money you can take out of the corporation this way. Under tax law, compensation can be deducted only to the extent that it’s reasonable. Any unreasonable portion isn’t deductible and, if paid to a shareholder, may be taxed as if it were...

08 Apr 2021
0

Consider a Heavy SUV as Your New Business Vehicle

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Small Business Tax Briefs
Consider a Heavy SUV as Your New Business Vehicle

Are you thinking about buying or replacing a vehicle that you’ll use in your business? If you consider a heavy SUV, you may be able to benefit from lucrative tax rules for those vehicles. Bonus depreciation  Under current law, 100% first-year bonus depreciation is available for qualified new and used property that’s acquired and placed in service in a calendar year. New and pre-owned heavy SUVs, pickups and vans acquired and put to business use in 2021 are eligible for 100% first-year bonus depreciation. The only requirement is that you must use the vehicle more than 50% for business. If your business usage is between 51% and 99%, you can deduct that percentage of the cost in the first year the vehicle is placed in service. This...

05 Apr 2021
0

Is an S Corporation the Best Choice of Entity?

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Small Business Tax Briefs
Is an S Corporation the Best Choice of Entity?

Are you thinking about launching a business with some partners and wondering what type of entity to form? An S corporation may be the most suitable form of business for your new venture. Here’s an explanation of the reasons why. The biggest advantage of an S corporation over a partnership is that as S corporation shareholders, you won’t be personally liable for corporate debts. In order to receive this protection, it’s important that the corporation be adequately financed, that the existence of the corporation as a separate entity be maintained and that various formalities required by your state be observed (for example, filing articles of incorporation, adopting by-laws, electing a board of directors and holding organizational meetings). Anticipating losses If you expect that the business will incur losses...

31 Mar 2021
0

COVID-Related Deadline Extensions for Health Care Benefits

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Small Business Tax Briefs
COVID-Related Deadline Extensions for Health Care Benefits

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued EBSA Disaster Relief Notice 2021-01, which is of interest to employers. It clarifies the duration of certain COVID-related deadline extensions that apply to health care benefits plans. Extensions to continue The DOL and IRS issued guidance last year specifying that the COVID-19 outbreak period — defined as beginning March 1, 2020, and ending 60 days after the announced end of the COVID-19 national emergency — should be disregarded when calculating various deadlines under COBRA, ERISA and HIPAA’s special enrollment provisions. The original emergency declaration would have expired on March 1, 2021, but it was recently extended. Although the agencies defined the outbreak period solely by reference to the COVID-19 national emergency, they relied on statutes allowing them to specify disregarded periods for a...

25 Mar 2021
0

Tax Considerations When Launching a Sole Proprietorship

Roger Rossmeisl, CPA
Small Business Tax Briefs
Tax Considerations When Launching a Sole Proprietorship

While many businesses have been forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some entrepreneurs have started new small businesses. Many of these people start out operating as sole proprietors. Here are some tax rules and considerations involved in operating with that entity. The pass-through deduction To the extent your business generates qualified business income (QBI), you’re eligible to claim the pass-through or QBI deduction, subject to limitations. For tax years through 2025, the deduction can be up to 20% of a pass-through entity owner’s QBI. You can take the deduction even if you don’t itemize deductions on your tax return and instead claim the standard deduction. Reporting responsibilities As a sole proprietor, you’ll file Schedule C with your Form 1040. Your business expenses are deductible against gross income....

ROGER ROSSMEISL, CPA

Kho & Patel CPAs
160 E. Arrow Highway
San Dimas, CA 91773

(714) 325-0442
roger@khopatel.com

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