One reason many people disdain the budgeting process is that they associate budgets with restraint — that is, not spending money for something because it’s not in the budget. However, if you’re calling the shots, you can blow your budget as much as you want on the spending side. And there are times when it’s […]

Starting in 2026, Trump Accounts will provide another tax-favored way to save for a child’s future. Introduced under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), these accounts are similar to traditional IRAs, but they’re only for U.S. citizens under age 18. Here are answers to some common questions. How Do Trump Accounts Work? Parents of […]

Running a business is complex. With employment-related claims and lawsuits on the rise, management must have a basic understanding of numerous federal, state and local laws. Here are three cases that illustrate some employer liability trends. Case 1. Giving a positive reference could cost millions. This court case, involving reference checks about a drug-addicted physician, […]

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) rolls back federal income tax rules that required businesses to capitalize certain research and experimental (R&E) expenses. The rollback provision is effective for the 2025 tax year, but it’s available only for domestic R&E costs. There’s also some retroactive relief for domestic R&E expenses that were capitalized for […]

Does every single one of your customer support reps fully understand how their department makes money for your business? Is the administrative staff harboring a few bright ideas about how to increase the bottom line? It’s easy for employees to view their jobs narrowly and forget that they each contribute to the financial health of […]

Do you enjoy spending time at the casino or betting on sports? If so, you need to know about a new tax law provision scheduled to go into effect in 2026. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) more tightly limits the deduction for gambling losses. Dealing Out the Tax Cards There are a few […]

How Do We Self-Correct a Failure to Enroll a New Employee in Our Automatic 401(k) Plan Contributions? Question: Our 401(k) plan satisfies the nondiscrimination safe harbor under the Internal Revenue Code by requiring an automatic deferral of 3.5% for each new employee who doesn’t affirmatively elect a different percentage (or zero), and by providing a […]

If you’re a contractor, manufacturer or another type of business that deals with hazardous materials, you’re probably already mindful of the legal and practical steps you need to take to safeguard your employees and facilities. On the other hand, if your working environment is a typical office, you might assume you’re largely off the hook […]

Don’t wait till the last minute If you requested an extension to file your tax return after the April 15, 2025, due date, the extended deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 15. If you have the information you need, you may want to file now. There’s no advantage to waiting, and last-minute filing may lead to worry. […]

Many companies choose not to combine real estate and other assets into a single entity. Perhaps the business fears liability for injuries suffered on the property. Or legal liabilities encountered by the company could affect property ownership. But there are valid and potentially beneficial tax reasons for holding real estate in a separate entity as […]

Qualified small business (QSB) stock has received very favorable federal income tax treatment for many years. Starting in 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) enhances the QSB rules even more. Here’s what you need to know to take advantage of this tax-saving opportunity. What’s Special About a QSB Corporation? QSB corporations are a […]

Public relations (PR) professionals sometimes get a bad rap. They’re “spin doctors” who help explain away the bad behavior of celebrities and the über wealthy, right? Not exactly. Having a trustworthy PR consultant on speed dial can help your business fine tune its marketing strategies, better communicate with staff and, well yes, be of critical […]

If you’re about to ask for a business loan, expect to deal with the issue of covenants — constraints lenders impose on your company to keep it operating within specified financial ratios and to prevent it from taking certain actions. These clauses are meant to help the lender mitigate risk and get its money back. […]

Section 529 plans are most commonly used as a tax-favored way to save and pay for college expenses. You might be reluctant to open a 529 account for your child because you’re not sure he or she will pursue a college degree. Or maybe you’re too focused on paying tuition for an expensive K-12 school […]

If you’re building up a small business but haven’t yet needed to borrow funds to expand or smooth out cash flow irregularities, you’re doing something right. Or if you have borrowed and everything went smoothly, kudos again. Otherwise, keep in mind that anticipating the need for credit well in advance will put you in a […]

Successful supervisors know how and when to be assertive. They communicate their needs in a way that earns them respect and gets results. Let’s say your company needs a big budgeting project completed by the end of the week. Here are seven strategies that can help a supervisor communicate effectively, hit the deadline and get […]

The holiday season is right around the corner, and that’s when many charitably inclined people start to think about year-end donations to their favorite charities. When planning your charitable contributions, don’t forget about the potential tax breaks for your generosity. The tax rules for these breaks have changed somewhat under the One Big Beautiful Bill […]

Question: What is surprise balance billing? And what does our group health plan have to disclose about it? Answer: Balance billing occurs when a provider bills a covered individual for charges disallowed by the plan because the charges exceed the plan’s allowed amount. It occurs only with out-of-network providers since in-network providers have agreed to […]

When you got married, you knew it was for “better or worse.” But you might not know about laws that hold you responsible if your spouse cheats on a tax return. Married couples filing jointly should be aware that: You are both responsible for tax, interest and penalties — even after a divorce or the […]

Individual taxpayers faced significant tax planning uncertainty for the first six months of the year. Many provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) were scheduled to expire at the end of this year. However, after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) became law in July, the federal tax rules for […]

Location, location, location. You know how important it is for your company. That’s why when establishing a new location, whether because you’re launching a new business or expanding or relocating an existing one, you’ve got to research factors such as foot traffic, vehicle traffic and occupancy rates of the neighboring buildings. But if you don’t […]

If your business is picking up steam, you may be looking to expand your workforce to meet the demand. Here’s a practical idea: Hire employees who qualify for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). The credit is available for workers who represent one of the “target” groups specified by law. There’s no limit on the […]

Prudent businesses often choose to lease rather than buy equipment, vehicles and facilities. Leasing can be advantageous but the type of agreement you sign is important. When presented with lease options, you’ll find the ones with the longest terms are generally the cheapest. But you might want to opt for a short-term version instead. Why? […]

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduces three potentially valuable tax breaks for individual taxpayers that weren’t previously available. And you don’t have to itemize deductions to take advantage of them. Do you qualify? Read on and find out. 1. Deduction for Some Tip Income: The Basics Before the OBBBA, tip income was fully […]

How many Baby Boomer employees (those born between 1946 and 1964) will be leaving your organization in the next five years? When retiring employees clear out their desks and walk out the door for the last time, they often leave with fond memories — as well as vast amounts of intellectual property stored in their […]

Most business owners these days are finding they are being pulled in several different directions at once. Add in the financial constraints and worries with the current economic concerns and engaging a new professional seems overwhelming. However, Client Accounting and Advisory Services (CAAS) offer a solution, yet many business owners hesitate to make the leap. […]