The new tax law signed by the President has changed the way business must consider meals, entertainment and transportation expenses. Generally meal and entertainment expenses were 50% deductible. The changes made with the recent legislation (H.R. 1) entertainment expenses are now 100% NOT deductible for amounts paid or incurred after December 31, 2017.

If you currently track your expenditures for both meals and entertainment in a combined general ledger account you will want to consider setting up a new account in your system to track meals separately from entertainment expenses, as meals are generally still 50% deductible and entertainment expenses are not deductible at all. This could save you time and effort compiling the amount of business expenses incurred in 2018 for 50% deductible meal expenses and 100% nondeductible entertainment expenses.Continue reading

The new tax law has many changes for Individuals and Business.  One important change that may require some time to plan for is the deductibility of Interest expense for a business.

Interest deduction limitation: Under the act, the deduction for business interest is limited to the sum of (1) business interest income; (2) 30% of the taxpayer’s adjusted taxable income for the tax year; and (3) the taxpayer’s floor plan financing interest for the tax year. Any disallowed business interest deduction can be carried forward indefinitely (with certain restrictions for partnerships).Continue reading

On Wednesday, September 27, 2017, President Donald Trump proposed tax cuts that will affect both individuals and businesses. If passed, these tax cuts will make up the most drastic changes the United States tax code has seen in a long time.

Here’s what taxpayers need to know.

This tax plan is designed to fulfill President Trump’s promise to lower taxes, provide better jobs and implement higher wages.

President Trump stated, “This is a revolutionary change, and the biggest winners will be the everyday American workers as jobs start pouring into our country, companies start competing for American labor, and wages start going up at levels that you haven’t seen in many years.”Continue reading

High taxes in New York State have long been vexing residents, particularly those at retirement age. In nearly every category – real estate taxes, income tax, and even health insurance – New York residents regularly shell out more cash than those who live in other states. Desperate for some relief from the financial squeeze, many residents are choosing to spend their retirement years in more tax-friendly locales. In fact, between 2000 and 2010, 3.4 million residents left the Empire State making it the largest migration exodus of any state, according to the Tax Foundation.

To stem the damage, New York lawmakers have been making slow but steady progress on the issue of tax reform – but the state still has a long way to go if it wants to remain competitive with other states. Here are some of the most significant recent changes to date.Continue reading

Nationwide, students shoulder the burden of ever-increasing higher education costs. Fortunately, the Federal Government offers several tax breaks to defray those expenses. Here are the tax breaks available to current higher education students.

The American Opportunity Tax Credit

This tax break offers up to $2,500 per year, per student. Up to 40% of the credit is refundable. The AOTC can only be used for the first four years of a student’s post-secondary education. Students must be working toward a degree or credential at a qualifying institution, for at least half-time attendance.Continue reading

Couples who intend to divorce will have to approach their tax planning in an entirely different way. Whether you have already dissolved the marriage or plan on doing so, here is what to expect for the tax implications.

Transfer of Marital Home

If one individual is transferring property to the ex-spouse, it is treated as a gift – and the transaction may need to be reported on a gift tax return. The person receiving the property won’t be taxed, but whoever sells it will incur taxes.

This is when the valuable federal home sale gain exclusion comes into play. You’ll want to look at the potential capital gains on the house. If the person has owned and lived in the house for at least two years during the five-year period leading up to the date of sale, he or she may be able to exclude up to $250,000 in gains. The $250,000 exclusion is for each owner of the house.Continue reading

For those of you with a very specific set of skills and interests, you likely know exactly what you want to do with your life. Choosing a career isn’t something you need to think about, but there is something you may want to consider: being a contractor vs. an employee.

There are benefits to both options, and it is important to weigh each side objectively and decide which is the best choice for you. Let’s take a look at both and how they differ.Continue reading