An alternate valuation date can reduce estate tax liability If you have money invested in the stock market, you’re well aware of potential volatility. Needless to say, this volatility can affect your net worth, thus affecting your lifestyle. Something you might not think about is the potential effect on your estate tax liability. Specifically, if…
What makes Roth IRAs so appealing? Primarily, it’s the ability to withdraw money from them tax-free. But to enjoy this benefit, there are a few rules you must follow, including the widely misunderstood five-year rule. 3 types of withdrawals To understand the five-year rule, you first need to understand the three types of funds that…
Over the last decade, in particular, the definition of the term “career” has changed. Rather than being employed by a single entity for which you receive a W2 at the end of the year, many are now participating in the “gig economy” in a variety of ways. They’re not just working a day job. They’re…
Companies that wish to reduce their tax bills or increase their refunds shouldn’t overlook the fuel tax credit. It’s available for federal tax paid on fuel used for nontaxable purposes. When does the federal fuel tax apply? The federal fuel tax, which is used to fund highway and road maintenance programs, is collected from buyers…
Our team of QuickBooks® ProAdvisors is an integral part of Lewis & Knopf’s Small Business Services department, partnering with clients to provide proactive solutions and support. Brittan Sepanak has been with Lewis & Knopf since 2020. She has been a QuickBooks® ProAdvisor for one year and has been using QuickBooks® Desktop and QuickBooks® Online for…
Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) are required taxable distributions from qualified retirement plans and are commonly associated with traditional IRAs, but they also apply to 401(k)s and SEP IRAs. The tax code does not allow taxpayers to indefinitely keep funds in their qualified retirement plans. Eventually, these assets must be distributed, and taxes must be…
Have you seen those ads on television or received email solicitations promoting a large tax credit? The large tax credit they are referring to is the employee retention tax credit (ERTC). The ERTC is a government-sponsored program to keep workers employed during 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID pandemic by providing refundable tax credits…
Many companies are eligible for tax write-offs for certain equipment purchases and building improvements. These write-offs can do wonders for a business’s cash flow, but whether to claim them isn’t always an easy decision. In some cases, there are advantages to following the regular depreciation rules. So it’s critical to look at the big picture…
As the country emerges from the COVID pandemic and supply chain issues, along with the fallout from the war in Ukraine, the country has been experiencing high inflation rates that negatively impact the cost of everyday living, including food, gas for your vehicle, utilities and more. But there is one shining light: tax-related inflation adjustments…
If your traditional IRA is invested in stocks and/or mutual funds, the recent substantial downward slide by the stock markets may provide a unique opportunity to convert your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA at a low cost, and then benefit when the markets recover. Why would you want to do that? Because Roth IRA…
