Most small businesses don’t have employees. The owners perform all the duties of the business. However, that type of business model restricts growth. If you want a business to grow, the owner must be willing to delegate most non-essential functions to an employee. A good employee who competently handles the clerical and administrative functions can… Continue Reading
A deduction is available for money an employee spends to perform their duties in the course of their employment if they are unreimbursed by their employer. This includes mileage, licenses, union dues, education and out of pocket expenses. The expenses must be incurred as a condition of employment or utilized in the performance of the… Continue Reading
The advice we give our clients is personalized to their situation and circumstances. No two clients are the same. We may recommend one course of action for you and the opposite for your neighbor. The key is to listen to your client. Learn their goals and question any limitations to achieving them. Customers don’t want… Continue Reading
Deceitful communications come via phone, email, postal mail, and sometimes even a knock on your door. It’s important to know that the IRS does occasionally contact taxpayers, but when they do, it’s most often by mail. Sometimes the IRS needs to verify a taxpayer’s identity and will do so by sending a Letter 5071C. This… Continue Reading
A Form 1099 Misc should be filed for every unincorporated vendor or contractor who you paid $600 or more during the calendar year 2017. The amounts to be reported are for services only. If you paid someone for products and services, only the labor charges are to be reported in box 7 of Form 1099… Continue Reading
The due date for filing your form W2’s with the Social Security Administration is January 31, 2018. Extensions to file these forms are much more difficult to get this year. The IRS is only granting extensions in cases of extreme hardship or uncontrollable circumstances. The penalties for failure to file the forms on time have… Continue Reading
The Schedule C for an unincorporated business and the Schedule F for farming activities are the forms MOST AUDITED by the IRS! The IRS has published the following list of issues they scrutinize when auditing the Schedule C and the Schedule F: Lack of record keeping for automobile use – no mileage logs. Personal phone… Continue Reading
All of us here at James E. George, CPA would like to wish you and yours a very happy and prosperous new year! At this time of reflecting on the past and planning for the future, I’d like to suggest making 2018 the year you get your business finances in order. Not just for your… Continue Reading
Technology can be helpful when it comes to bookkeeping! There are many new gadgets and applications on the market that assist with tracking business expenses. While these “apps” eliminate paper, they do not eliminate the need to provide your tax preparer with the records they deem necessary to prepare your income tax returns. For example,… Continue Reading
I recently met with a contractor who had very organized files. You could tell he spent a lot of time assembling his receipts. The problem: they were organized in a manner that was not efficient for preparing a tax return. Instead, the gentleman had organized his records by vendor. The solution: The income tax return… Continue Reading
QUESTION: Dear Taxman – I am starting a small business. What software should I use to keep track of my business transactions? ANSWER: Dear Reader – If you are only selling one product or service, Excel is good for tracking incoming and outgoing money in a list format that you can sort and search. If your business is much larger,… Continue Reading
QUESTION: Dear Taxman – This summer I started a lawn mowing business and made about $3,000 mowing grass. However, my expenses were more than my income. Do I need to report it on my tax return? ANSWER: Dear Reader: The IRS requires all business income to be reported when you file your tax return. You… Continue Reading
QUESTION: Dear Taxman – What is the due date for filing my W-2’s with the Social Security Administration? ANSWER: Dear Reader – You’re probably aware that W-2 forms must be provided to your employees by January 31st. The IRS has set the due date for filing your W-2’s with the Social Security Administration to January… Continue Reading
QUESTION: Dear Taxman – I have a small business and I am not sure if I should give my workers 1099’s or W-2’s. Can you tell me how to determine which way to go? ANSWER: Dear Reader – It’s not uncommon for small business owners to be confused about the right way to handle their… Continue Reading
QUESTION: Dear Taxman – I use my car in my business occasionally. I have paid for all my gas with my debit card so I have a record of how much gas I purchase. Is there anything else I need to do to deduct my auto through my business? ANSWER: Dear Reader – The record… Continue Reading