The Small Business Administration recently announced an expansion of the businesses eligible for their Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program. The federal government has established a goal of annually awarding 3% of federal contract dollars to HUBZone certified businesses. Being a HUBZone certified business has other government contracting advantages including bidding on contracts limited to certified businesses, receiving preferential treatment for open contracts; and getting a 10% price evaluation preference in open contract bidding. (more…)
FBAR: Courts Review Foreign Account Reporting Rules
Several recent court cases could have important implications for businesses and individuals who maintain accounts in foreign banks, brokerages, or other financial institutions.
In one case, the U.S. Supreme Court significantly curtailed the potential penalties for account holders who inadvertently fail to comply with reporting requirements related to their foreign accounts. That decision has generated hope among other petitioners who have incurred penalties in similar cases.
Any taxpayer with a foreign financial account should be aware of these easily overlooked reporting requirements and the recent court rulings that could affect them. (more…)
The SECURE 2.0 Act and Employers: Changes Affecting Your Business
The SECURE 2.0 Act, which was signed into law in late December 2022, contains many provisions that can impact employers, employees, and retirees. We covered the key provisions in a previous article, SECURE Act 2.0 – Helping Employees and Employers With Retirement Savings. Now, we are going to concentrate on how the Act affects employers including new requirements and the potential for increased administration and compliance costs. (more…)
Does Your Business Have Unclaimed Property… and Possibly Large Penalties?
By Misty Shore, CPA, MST, Tax Senior
UPDATE March 22, 2023 – The California Voluntary Compliance Program (VCP) is open as of today, which allows unclaimed property holders to determine if they qualify for a waived interest assessment. Holders must complete a VCP Interest Form to receive an application. After submitting a completed application form, approved holders that meet all program requirements, which includes completing a training program and meeting reporting deadlines will be eligible for waived interest (12 percent) on past-due unclaimed property reported under the program. For additional information and to complete an interest form, visit: California Voluntary Compliance Program. (more…)
IRS and FTB Grant Deferral for Tax Payments and Tax Filings Due to California Storms
UPDATE March 2, 2023 – Governor Newsom’s office has announced California will conform to the October 16, 2023 tax filing and payments deadline extension. For additional information, please see the news release issued by the FTB: FTB extends filing deadline for taxpayers impacted by 2022-23 winter storms to Oct. 16, 2023
UPDATE February 23, 2023 – IRS postpones until October 16, 2023 tax filing and payment dates for California, Alabama, and Georgia taxpayers living in or having a business in a FEMA declared disaster area. For additional information, please see the news release issued by the IRS: May 15 tax deadline extended to Oct. 16 for disaster area taxpayers in California, Alabama and Georgia
IRS Rulemaking - Tax Regulations Could Face New Challenges
Given the size and complexity of today’s tax code, avoiding disputes with the IRS can be difficult. Even a carefully run business can inadvertently run afoul of a new rule, a revised procedure, or updated guidance.
In recent years, however, some taxpayers dealing with IRS notices or enforcement actions have begun to use the complexity of federal law in their own defense, claiming the IRS itself failed to follow proper procedures when drafting regulations. In several cases, federal courts have agreed with the taxpayers, calling into question the validity of a growing number of IRS rules.
Although these cases involve a variety of tax issues, they have a common element: the taxpayers successfully sued the IRS for violating the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), a 1940s-era law designed to spell out acceptable rulemaking processes for the many new executive branch agencies that were created during the New Deal and World War II. (more…)
Partnerships and S Corporations: IRS Clarifies Schedule K-2 and K-3 Rules
Since the IRS first introduced them for the 2021 tax year, Schedules K-2 and K-3 have caused concerns—and confusion—for many partnerships and S corporations. The purpose of the two schedules is to report information related to foreign financial activities, but some pass-through entities found themselves subject to the forms’ requirements—even though they had no foreign interests or concerns. (more…)
Change Orders and Construction – Best Practices to Go With the Flow
By Jaime Exley, CPA, Director of Accounting Solutions
ASL Construction Group
“The only constant in life is change” – Heraclitus
Every contractor understands the reality that construction projects are complex and have many moving parts. The ways in which a contractor manages changes during a project significantly impacts project profitability and cash flow. In many cases, construction companies’ reputations rise and fall with their ability to successfully navigate changes in project scope. (more…)
Inflation Reduction Act Expands Energy-Efficient Deductions and Credits
By Nick Price, CPA, Manager, Tax & Advisory
ASL Real Estate Group
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was signed into law on August 16, 2022, included expanded and extended tax credits and incentives to encourage energy efficient housing, commercial buildings, and vehicles. Our previous blogs discussed incentives for homeowners (A Greener Home Can Save You Green Under the Inflation Reduction Act) and vehicle buyers (Inflation Reduction Act Restructures Alternative Fuel Vehicle Credit). (more…)