Small to midsize businesses have valid reasons for incorporating, not the least of which is putting that cool “Inc.” at the end of their names. Other reasons include separating owners’ personal assets from their business liabilities and offering stock options as an employee incentive.
May 2025 Tax Due Dates
May 15 Calendar-year exempt organizations: File a 2024 information return (Form 990, Form 990-EZ or Form 990-PF) or file for an automatic six-month extension (Form 8868). Pay any tax due. Calendar-year small exempt organizations: File a 2024 e-Postcard (Form 990-N) …
Who Can Represent You Before the IRS?
Many people use a tax professional to prepare their taxes. Anyone who prepares or assists in preparing all or substantially all of a federal tax return for compensation is required to have a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). All enrolled agents must also have a valid PTIN.
Weighing the Pluses and Minuses of Business HDHPs + HSAs
Will your company be ready to add a health insurance plan for next year or change its current one? If so, now might be a good time to consider your options. These things take time.
A popular benefits model for many small to midsize businesses is sponsoring a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) accompanied by employee Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). However, like any such strategy, this one has its pluses and minuses.
The Tax Side of Gambling
Whether you’re a casual or professional gambler, your winnings are taxable. However, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration reports that gambling income is vastly underreported. Failing to report winnings accurately can lead to back taxes, interest, and penalties. Here’s what you need to know to stay compliant and potentially minimize your tax liability.
Tax Season Cleanup: Which Records Can You Toss?
If you’ve filed your 2024 tax return, you may be eager to do some spring cleaning, starting with tax-related paper and digital clutter. The documentation needed to support a tax return may include receipts, bank and investment account statements, K-1s, W-2s, and 1099s. How long must you save these records? Three years is the general rule. But don’t be hasty: Failure to keep a paper trail for the information reported on a tax return could lead to problems if the IRS audits it.
Stuck in the Middle: The Sandwich Generation
The term “sandwich generation” was coined to describe baby boomers caught between caring for their aging parents and their children. Today, it most commonly applies to Generation Xers and older Millennials. If you’re caught in the middle, it might be time for honest discussions about pressing issues such as funding children’s higher education and paying for a parent’s long-term care.
Payroll Fraud: Internal and External Threats
Payroll fraud schemes can be costly. According to a 2024 Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) study, the median loss generated by payroll fraud incidents is $50,000. It’s essential to know the payroll schemes making the rounds and how to prevent them or at least catch them before they go on very long.
Don’t Believe the Refund Myths
The IRS has posted a list of common refund myths on its website. For example, if the online Where’s My Refund tool or automated hotline doesn’t specify when a refund will be approved, there’s no point in calling the IRS. The tax agency won’t have additional details yet.
Your Business Tax Information at Your Fingertips
The IRS Business Tax Account provides information to sole proprietors, partners of partnerships, and shareholders of S corporations and C corporations. Eligible business taxpayers who set up an account can use the hub to make electronic payments, schedule or cancel future payments, and access other tools. They can also view their current balances, payment history, other business tax records, and digital copies of select IRS notices.