If your partnership has been treating you and other partners as employees of a disregarded entity owned by the partnership so the partners can participate in employee benefit plans and receive other employee benefits, you’d better read this. Tax regulations (1) issued...
Business
Warning Signs That You Should STOP Managing Your Own Books
On the one hand, it's almost a prerequisite for entrepreneurs of all types to have that "can-do spirit." That sense that nobody else sees things quite like they do so, whatever it is they want to accomplish, it becomes something they know they'll have to do...
Will a Small Business Grant Help Your Organization? Breaking Things Down
According to one recent study, there are currently more than 32 million small businesses operating in the United States. For the sake of discussion, know that this term refers to those organizations with fewer than 500 employees To put that number into perspective,...
Understanding taxes when a family member signs the paycheck!
Many people work for a family member, whether it’s a child helping out at their parent’s shop or spouses running a business together. When someone is employed by a family member, the tax implications depend on the relationship and the type of business. It’s important...
Do You Want to Grow Your Business With Minimal Investment? Here is How You Do It
With a potential recession on the horizon, most small businesses, in particular, are looking for avenues to cut costs wherever they can. However, that doesn't mean that your business can't still grow - you just have to be savvy about how you do it. With that in mind,...
Small Businesses Can Benefit from the Work Opportunity Tax Credit
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a general business credit that is jointly administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Labor (DOL). The WOTC is available for wages paid to certain individuals who begin work on or before December...
You May Be Able to Donate Your Unused Employee Vacation, Sick, or Personal Leave to Ukrainian Relief
There is a little-known disaster provision of the tax code that, where if an employer has adopted a leave-based donation program, the employees can forgo paid vacation, sick, or personal leave in exchange for their employer making equivalent cash payments to qualified...
IRS Announces Mid-Year Optional Vehicle Mileage Rate Increase
With gas prices soaring it has been expected the IRS would increase the mileage rate that business owners can deduct for vehicle use instead of keeping a record of actual expenses. Sure enough, the IRS recently announced a 4-cent increase in the optional mileage rate...
Why Employee Classification is of Paramount Importance
Not too long ago in Orlando, Florida, a federal investigation uncovered a situation where 22 workers were denied overtime by a Florida-based equipment rental company. The company was paying flat salaries to certain employees, regardless of how many hours they worked...
Owe the IRS Money? How Long Do They Have to Collect?
Have you ever wondered how long the IRS has to question and assess additional tax on your tax returns? For most taxpayers who reported all their income, the IRS has three years from the date of filing the returns to examine them. This period is termed the statute of...
What Are Estimated Tax Payments?
Estimated tax payments are not just for the self-employed. They are for anyone whose withholding and tax credits are significantly less than their projected tax liability, and if used properly, can protect a taxpayer from underpayment penalties. Employees who will...
Managing Your Finances During an Inflationary Period
Managing Your Finances During an Inflationary Period It’s hard to ignore the real-life impacts inflation is having. While gas and grocery prices are having the most immediate effect, the price of almost everything is going up. People who are looking for ways to...
IRS Stops Using Facial Authentication Software for Access to Online Accounts
A prior blog article posting included an article about the IRS’ plans to use ID.me facial recognition software for taxpayers and others to authenticate access to their online accounts. Under pressure from privacy activists and several members of Congress, the...
Understanding the Taxation of Cryptocurrency Transactions
If you have purchased, owned, sold, gifted, made purchases with, or used cryptocurrency in business transactions, there are certain tax issues you need to know about. Unfortunately, there are some unanswered questions and little specific guidance offered by the IRS...
Does Your Business Need to File Forms 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC?
If you use independent contractors to perform services for your business, for each one that you pay $600 or more for the year, you are required to issue the worker and the IRS a Form 1099-NEC no later than January 31, 2022, for 2021 payments. Generally, a 1099-NEC is...
Start 2022 Off Right: Clean Up QuickBooks
Is Your QuickBooks company file ready for 2022? Three things you can do to put things in order. January is always such a transitional month. You’re trying to wrap up everything that didn’t get done during a hectic December. At the same time, you have to jump into the...
Congress Terminates the Employee Retention Credit Early
President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) into law on November 15, 2021. One of the provisions of that legislation retroactively terminated the employee retention credit (ERC) early. The credit was previously available to eligible...
Tax Benefits When Saving for College Education
A common question among parents is, “How might I save for a child’s post-secondary education in a tax beneficial way?” The answer depends on how much the education is expected to cost and how much time is left until the child heads off to college or a university or...
Here’s What Happened in the World of Small Business in October 2021
Here’s What Happened in the World of Small Business in October 2021 Here are five things that happened this past month that affect your business. 1) Higher corporate rate appears to fall out of economic package Biden’s advisers said that they are pursuing a range of...
IDENTITY THEFT VIDEO: Are You Protected?
Employers Hiring New Employees May Be Able to Claim a Work Opportunity Tax Credit
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the labor market – mandated government lockdowns and workers’ and customers’ fears of contracting the illness resulted in businesses closing or temporarily cutting back and laying off or furloughing millions of...
Tax Responsibilities that Come with Shutting Down a Business
Steps all business owners should take when closing a business. • File a final tax return and related forms. The type of return to file and related forms depends on the type of business. • Take care of employees. Business owners with one or more employees must pay any...
NEW CLIENT PORTALS!
We will be transitioning to a new portal called Client Center. Client Center is a secure web portal that will be used to easily exchange files and communications (tax questions, e-signatures, supporting documents and tax returns) between our Accounting/Tax team and...
Fall Tax Planning May Be Wise
Taxes are like vehicles in that they sometimes need a periodic check-up to make sure they are performing as expected, and if ignored, can cost you money. That is true of taxes as well, especially for 2021, as the pandemic benefits begin to wane and President Biden’s...
October Extended Due Date Just Around the Corner
The normal April 15, 2021 filing deadline for 2020 individual tax returns was extended by the IRS to May 17, 2021 due to the continuing Covid-19 pandemic. If you could not complete your 2020 tax return by May 17 and are now on extension, that extension expires on...
BizWest NOTABLE WOMEN ACCOUNTING – Melissa Clary
Melissa Clary Key 2 Accounting Owner Years in industry: 23 College, University: Colorado State University Melissa Clary has been self employed since 2005 and is the former owner of Kruger and Clary, CPAs. She decided to branch out and form Key2...
Small Businesses: Here’s How the U.S. Supreme Court Wayfair Decision Affects You
If you are a small business owner, chances are good you’re paying more attention to your accounts receivables and deliverables than to a three-year-old Supreme Court decision. But knowing what happened in the Wayfair decision on June 21st of 2018 is important if you...
Mid-Year Tax Planning Checklist
All too often, taxpayers wait until after the close of the tax year to worry about their taxes and miss opportunities that could reduce their tax liability or financially assist them. Mid-year is the perfect time for tax planning. The following are some events that...
Businesses Have 60 Days to Notify the IRS of Changes in Contact Information and Responsible Party
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reminding entities with Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) of their responsibility to update that information whenever the contact information or responsible party changes. IRS regulations require EIN holders to update...
Consumers Lost Over $500 million Due to Covid-related Fraud
It will be many years before we have a full understanding of what COVID-19 cost us as a society. But as that information is incrementally collected and released, we’re starting to see the picture take shape. One of the most recent reports on the subject was issued by...
7 Different Types of Income Streams for Your Business
No matter what type of business you operate, you rely on having a predictable flow of income to keep your bills paid. If you only have a single source of income and it suddenly falters, you’re going to be in trouble. Having more than one income stream is an insurance...
SBA Raises Loan Limit For COVID-19 EIDL Loans to $500,000
As U.S. businesses continue to recover from COVID-19’s economic devastation, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is expanding loan opportunities. The agency announced that beginning the week of April 6th, nonprofits and small businesses will be able to borrow...
Interaction Between PPP Loans and the Employee Retention Credit
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CCA), included a very tax-beneficial provision that liberalized the interaction between PPP loans and the Employee Retention Credit (ERC). Prior to its passage, if an employer obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)...
December 2020 Important Due Dates
December 2020 Business Due Dates: December 1 - Employers During December, ask employees whose withholding allowances will be different in 2021 to fill out a new Form W4 or Form W4(SP). December 15 - Social Security, Medicare and Withheld Income Tax If the monthly...
Sick Leave For Employees
Concerning the requirement that employers offer COVID-19 paid sick leave to their employees, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. On the effective date of the act through December 31, 2020, all employers in the state, regardless of size, are required...
12 Financial Metrics Small Business Owners Should Track
Operating a small business is an exhilarating and, at times, overwhelming endeavor. There are so many details to keep track of that it’s easy to forget about the nuts and bolts of your organization’s finances. Small business owners have a lot on their plate. Whether...
Is a Living Trust Appropriate for You?
You have probably heard others discussing living trusts but may not understand the reasons for them or whether you should have one. Living trusts are an estate-planning tool, and there is not a one-type-fits-all living trust. Each one is customized to suit the special...
The SBA Issues a Simplified PPP Loan-Forgiveness Application
If you are the owner of a small business that obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, you are most likely aware that the loan can be partially or totally forgiven if you used the loan proceeds for the required purposes. Loan forgiveness is not automatic and...
Payroll Taxes and Corona Virus: Struggling to Cover Payroll Costs?
While much attention has been focused on the Paycheck Protection Program, there are two additional programs designed to help COVID-19 affected businesses retain employees: Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) and Employer Social Security Tax Deferral. The Employee...
SBA Issues New PPP Loan Guidance: What You Need To Know And FAQs
Small Business Administration Issues New PPP Loan Guidance: What You Need To Know And FAQs On June 22, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued new Interim Final Rules (IFR) on the recently passed Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (PPPFA), clarifying...
Required Minimum Distributions from Retirement Accounts in 2020 are Waived Under the CARES Act
Anyone who already took a required minimum distribution (RMD) in 2020 from certain retirement accounts now has the opportunity to roll those funds back into a retirement account following the CARES Act RMD waiver for 2020. The 60-day rollover period for any RMDs...
Relief for Taxpayers Affected by COVID-19 Who Take Distributions or Loans from Retirement Plans
The CARES Act provides that qualified individuals may treat as corona virus-related distributions up to $100,000 in distributions made from their eligible retirement plans (including IRAs) between Jan. 1 and Dec. 30, 2020. A corona virus-related distribution is not...
Economic Impact Payments to individuals
Commonly referred to as “stimulus checks” or “recovery rebates”, Economic Impact Payments to individuals are a key provision of the Corona virus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act legislation that Congress passed to help reduce the financial burden of...
5 Ways Your Accountant Can Help You Profit In a Down Economy
In a down economy, making good decisions is critical. These informed decisions should come from accurate financial numbers. Numbers determine which levers to pull to increase your profits. Businesses need to review and analyze their numbers periodically. Many business...
Payroll Protection Plan Forgiveness
Were you one of the lucky companies who received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds? If you want to have those funds forgiven, you are required to spend those funds over the next 8 weeks on employee and office costs. Below is the required guidelines for Paycheck...
Paycheck Protection Program
There is a new emergency loan program that will provide cash-flow assistance to those small businesses impacted by the current COVID-19 quarantine situation. The Paycheck Protection Program, commonly referred to as the PPP, is a program that is structured to fit...
Payroll Tax Credits Surrounding the Paid Leave related to Coronavirus
Coronavirus-related paid leave for workers and payroll tax credits for small and midsize businesses Under the Families First Act, small and midsize employers will be able to take advantage of refundable payroll tax credits. This credit will enable employers to fully...
Corona Virus News & Updates
Dear Valued Clients Potential Clients and Small Business Partners: Key2 Accounting wants to let you know that we are here to stand by you, our small business clients and partners as we navigate the unchartered waters of the Coronavirus. We have provided some updated...
Answers Surrounding Employees and Closing Down Temporarily
How should I let my employees know we had to temporarily close our doors due to COVID-19? It is always best practice to give your employees as much notice as possible given the situation. If you are closing your doors temporarily such that your employees will no...
Are You Prepared for A Remote Workforce?
As most employers are discovering with the unprecedented disruption caused by the Coronavirus, we should prepare for changing work environments. What we are learning from the COVID-19 pandemic can be applied to other work disruption events such as wildfires, weather...
WHAT EVERY BUSINESS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SURVIVING COVID-19
We are trying to extend our help in the following areas to all of our clients with the rising uncertainty surrounding COVID-19: • Cash flow planning • Breakeven point analysis • Assisting with cost cutting strategies • Support with applying for loans when they become...
What Are the Rules for Paying an Employee Who is Leaving?
We know turnover can be difficult. We have your back when it comes to getting that final paycheck cut and promise to make the process easy. If you are interested in learning more about our payroll services, please feel free to reach out to us at Payroll Vault. When...
Employee Theft
Employee time theft is a serious crime and occurs when an employee gets paid for time or work they did not do. If you pay a full-time employee $20 per hour, and they steal ten minutes every day, that employee costs you $869 per year in stolen time. If you have 30...
ATTENTION ALL SALES TAX LICENSE HOLDERS
Recently the Supreme Court has voted in favor of the State of South Dakota in the Wayfair Case which might affect your business, with Supreme Court Decision and that Decision Explained. Basically the ruling states that Colorado businesses selling products to other...
IRS announces business vehicle deduction limits for 2012
Are you thinking of purchasing a vehicle for your business and wondering what type of tax deduction you will receive? The IRS has published depreciation limits for business vehicles first placed in service this year. Because 50% bonus depreciation is allowed only for...
2012 Mileage Rate
The IRS recently announced that the mileage rate for business driving in 2012 will be 55.5¢ a mile. The rate can be used for cars, vans, pickups, and panel trucks. Companies that don't want to keep track of the actual costs of using a vehicle for business purposes may...
Some Business Meals are 100% Deductable
How you account for meals can affect your business tax return. One reason why: While you can generally deduct only half the cost of meals related to your business activities, the tax code includes specific exceptions that allow a deduction of 100% of what you spend...
Business Succession Planning
Succession planning is very important for any business owner. Before you sit down with your tax and legal advisors to draw up a succession plan, you should think through three key issues: who do you want to succeed you, when do you want the transition to take place,...
Should You Lease or Buy Business Equipment
As a business owner you are often faced with the decision whether to buy or lease new business equipment. Many business owners first thought is to buy the equipment, but possibly leasing is preferable. * Conserving cash can be important. Purchases normally require a...
1099 Rules Repealed
New law repeals the expanded Form 1099 reporting rules On April 14, 2011, President Obama signed legislation - the "Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Replacement of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011" - repealing expanded reporting rules for businesses...
5 Ways Your Accountant Can Help You Profit In a Down Economy
In a down economy making good decisions is critical. These informed decisions should come from accurate financial numbers. Numbers determine which levers to pull to increase your profits. Businesses need to review and analyze their numbers periodically. Many business...
Buy-Sell Agreements
Who needs a buy-sell agreement? A buy-sell agreement is needed for every co-owned business. Every day that value is added to the business increases the financial risk when this agreement isn’t in place. Business owners often ask CPAs about how useful buy-sell...
Business Entity Selection
Business Entity Selection When starting a business you must decide what type of business entity you are going to establish. It is important to consider the legal and tax implications for the different types of entities before you make this decision. Listed below...