In the midst of the bustling tax season, unsettling news has emerged: the IRS is set to lay off roughly 6,700 employees. For many taxpayers and small business owners alike, this development raises pressing questions. How will these staffing changes affect your tax...
Every successful business, no matter its size, relies on a well-structured budget. But as a small business owner, have you ever found yourself struggling to manage cash flow, track expenses, or plan for growth? Without a solid budgeting strategy, businesses can...
Depreciation isn’t just an accounting term—it’s a powerful tax tool that can significantly impact your business’s bottom line. At Key2 Accounting, we’ve seen firsthand how understanding depreciation can transform your financial planning. Have you ever wondered how...
Remember that collective gasp when Bench suddenly closed its doors on December 27? If you relied on their online platform for your business bookkeeping, you likely experienced a moment of panic: “Who’s managing my books now?” How do you trust a system when it vanishes...
Introduction Running a small business is a journey full of challenges, surprises, and opportunities. At Key2 Accounting, our business accounting services are at the heart of everything we do. We understand that your financial strategy should work as hard as you do....
In the world of business, financial crises can strike without warning. From economic downturns to industry-specific challenges, many factors can jeopardize your company’s stability. How can your business remain resilient in the face of uncertainty? What steps should...
Facing an IRS audit can be intimidating for any business owner. Questions like, "What does the IRS want?" or, "am I prepared?" often lead to anxiety and stress. However, with the support of skilled business accountants, you can navigate the process with confidence and...
Managing finances is a critical skill for every small business owner, yet many struggle with keeping personal and business finances distinct. The consequences of commingling these two financial realms can be far-reaching, affecting everything from tax filings to...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
