Employer-sponsored retirement plans have become a key component for retirement savings. They are also an increasingly important tool for attracting and retaining the high-quality employees you need to compete in today’s competitive environment. Besides helping employees save for the future, however, instituting a retirement plan can provide you, as the employer, with benefits that enable…
Are you one of the millions of Americans who hasn’t filed (or even started) your taxes yet? With the April 18 tax filing deadline quickly approaching, here is some last minute tax advice for you. Stop Procrastinating. Resist the temptation to put off your taxes until the very last minute. It takes time to prepare…
If you’ve been procrastinating when it comes to preparing and filing your tax return this year you might be considering filing an extension. While obtaining a 6-month extension to file is relatively easy–and there are legitimate reasons for doing so–there are also some downsides. If you need more time to file your tax return this…
The Affordable Care Act contains two provisions that may affect your tax return this year: the individual shared responsibility provision and the premium tax credit. Here’s what you should know: Information Forms: 1095-A, 1095-B, and 1095-C This year marks the first time that certain taxpayers will receive new health-care related information forms that they can…
Compiled annually by the IRS, the “Dirty Dozen” is a list of common scams taxpayers may encounter in the coming months. While many of these scams peak during the tax filing season, they may be encountered at any time during the year. Here is this year’s list: 1. Identity Theft Tax-related identity theft occurs when…
Confused about which credits and deductions you can claim on your 2016 tax return? You’re not alone. Here are six tax breaks that you won’t want to overlook. 1. State Sales and Income Taxes Thanks to the PATH ACT of 2015, taxpayers filing their 2016 returns can deduct either state income tax paid or state…
Social security benefits include monthly retirement, survivor, and disability benefits. If you received Social security benefits in 2016, you should receive a Form SSA-1099, Social Security Benefit Statement, showing the amount. Note: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are not taxable. If Social Security was your only source of income in 2016 your benefits might not…
At some point, most small businesses owners will visit a bank or other lending institution to borrow money. Understanding what your bank wants, and how to properly approach them, can mean the difference between getting your money for expansion and having to scrape through finding cash from other sources. Unfortunately, many business owners fall victim…