Are you ready for the 2021 gift tax return deadline?
If you made large gifts to your children, grandchildren or others in 2021, it’s important to determine whether you’re required to file a gift tax return by April 18 (Oct. 17 if you file for an extension). The annual gift tax exclusion has increased in 2022 to $16,000 but was $15,000 for 2021. Generally, you’ll need to file a return if you made 2021 gifts that exceeded the $15,000-per-recipient gift tax annual exclusion (unless to your U.S. noncitizen spouse) and in certain other situations. But sometimes it’s desirable to file a gift tax return even if you aren’t required to. If you’re not sure whether you must (or should) file a 2021 gift tax return, contact us.
Can you deduct the costs of a spouse on a business trip?
If you own your own company, you may wonder if you can deduct the costs of having your spouse accompany you on business trips. To qualify, your spouse must be your employee. This means you can’t deduct the airfare or meals of a spouse, even if his or her presence has a bona fide business purpose, unless the spouse is an actual employee of your business. If your spouse isn’t an employee, you can still deduct the costs of driving your own car or renting one to reach your destination. And you can write off the hotel costs of what you would have paid traveling alone. In other words, the single room rate rather than the double. Contact us if you have questions about this or other tax topics.
FILING RELEIF FOR K-2 AND K-3
The IRS is providing an additional exception for tax year 2021 to filing the Schedules K-2 and K-3 for certain domestic partnerships and S corporations. To qualify for this exception, the following must be met: In tax year 2021, the direct partners in the domestic partnership are not foreign partnerships, foreign corporations, foreign individuals, foreign […]
Prudent technology upgrades call for some soul searching
Strange as it may sound, business technology upgrades demand a bit of soul searching. That is, before spending the money, dig deep for insights about what your company really needs and whether end users will appreciate your efforts. Gather your leadership team and ask questions such as “What are the specific functionalities that we need?” and “Are we looking at hardware, software or both?” Consider surveying employees and/or customers as well. When you’ve settled on an upgrade, create a “hot list” of vendors most likely to provide optimal service, adequate training and good customer support. For help estimating the costs and projecting the financial impact of a tech upgrade, contact us.
Married couples filing separate tax returns: Why would they do it?
If you’re married, you may wonder if you should file joint or separate tax returns. It depends on your individual tax situation. In general, you should use the filing status that results in the lowest tax. But keep in mind that, if you and your spouse file a joint return, each of you is “jointly and severally” liable for tax on your combined income (as well as any additional tax the IRS assesses, plus interest and most penalties). Therefore, the IRS can come after either of you for the full amount. In most cases, joint filing offers more tax savings but some people can save by filing separately. We can look at both options. Contact us to prepare your tax return or if you have questions.
Making withdrawals from your closely held corporation that aren’t taxed as dividends
Do you want to withdraw cash from your closely held corporation at a minimum tax cost? The simplest way is to distribute cash as a dividend. However, a dividend distribution is taxable to you as a shareholder and not deductible by the corporation. But there are some alternatives that may allow you to withdraw cash from a corporation and avoid dividend treatment. For example, you might be able to receive capital repayments, or obtain reasonable compensation for you (or family members), as well as certain fringe benefits. If you’re interested in discussing these or other ideas, contact us. We’ll help you get the most out of your corporation at a minimum tax cost.
Approach turnaround acquisitions with due care
Last year brought historic global M&A activity, and experts expect 2022 to be busy as well. If you’re thinking about acquiring a distressed business, approach the deal cautiously. Look for a target with hidden value, such as untapped market opportunities, poor leadership or excessive costs. Determine whether the return on investment will likely exceed the acquisition costs and risks. Don’t rush or let emotions cloud your judgment. Conduct due diligence to understand the target’s core business, specifically its profit drivers and roadblocks. Also identify its cash inflows and outflows. Finally, pay close attention to taxes and the structure of the deal. We can help you throughout the process.
Did you give to charity in 2021? Make sure you have substantiation
To claim a tax deduction for a donation of $250 or more, you generally need a contemporaneous written acknowledgment from the charity. “Contemporaneous” means you receive it by the date you file your return, or the extended due date of the return. If you made a donation in 2021 but don’t have a letter from the charity, request it from the organization and wait to file your 2021 return until you receive it. Additional rules apply to certain types of donations. Under COVID-19 relief laws, taxpayers who don’t itemize deductions can claim a federal income tax write-off of up to $300 of cash contributions to qualified charities for the 2021 tax year ($600 for married couples filing jointly).
Important tax aspects of operating your business as a sole proprietor
Do you operate a small business as a sole proprietor? There are many tax rules and considerations involved in operating this way. For example, you may qualify for the pass-through deduction on qualified business income. You must pay self-employment tax and make estimated tax payments on income earned. You can deduct health insurance costs as a business expense. If you hire employees, you need a taxpayer ID number and must withhold and pay employment taxes. Keep complete records of income and expenses. Also, consider setting up a qualified retirement plan. Contact us if you want more information about the tax aspects of your business, or if you have questions about recordkeeping requirements.
Updates to the New Michigan Pass-through Entity Tax
On December 20, 2021, Michigan Governor Whitmer signed legislation making Michigan the latest state to allow pass-through entities the option to be taxed at the entity level. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law on December 22, 2017, capped the amount of state and local taxes that can be deducted as itemized […]