Author Archives for Mark

Actions to Consider Before Year-End

December 10, 2012 12:00 am Published by Comments Off on Actions to Consider Before Year-End

Accelerate income and defer deductions. If your business operates as a flow-through, accelerate your income to 2012 to take advantage of the lower rates. Accelerate itemized deductions.


Medical Device Tax – Impact on Medical Industry

December 10, 2012 12:00 am Published by Comments Off on Medical Device Tax – Impact on Medical Industry

In 2010, Congress passed a tax on medical devices to offset a portion of the $1 trillion cost of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Beginning in 2013, a 2.3 percent tax will be imposed on the manufacture and importation of medical devices. Devices typically sold by retailers to consumers — including toothbrushes and bandages — are exempt from the tax, whereas devices purchased from wholesalers by health care providers, such as tongue depressors and ultrasound equipment, will b...


2012 ROTH IRA

December 10, 2012 12:00 am Published by Comments Off on 2012 ROTH IRA

2012 Roth IRA Conversions The IRS made significant changes to conversion rules starting in 2010. In the past high income earners with incomes over $100,000 were not allowed to convert to a Roth IRA. Their incomes also kept them from contributing to a Roth IRA.


1099 K – Credit Card Sales Report to IRS

December 10, 2012 12:00 am Published by Comments Off on 1099 K – Credit Card Sales Report to IRS

In an effort to help close the "tax gap," the IRS has launched a new compliance program targeting the underreporting of income by business taxpayers that receive Form 1099-K information returns from credit card companies and third-party transaction networks. If your business receives a Form 1099-K because it accepts payment cards from customers, you may receive IRS letters and notices for underreported gross receipts. Starting in 2011, Form 1099-K reports the gross amount of reportable transacti...


2013 Standard Mileage Rates Up 1 Cent per Mile for Business, Medical and Moving

December 3, 2012 12:00 am Published by Comments Off on 2013 Standard Mileage Rates Up 1 Cent per Mile for Business, Medical and Moving

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2013, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:  56.5 cents per mile for business miles driven 24 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations  


Individual Retirement Account – Required Minimum Distribution

December 3, 2012 12:00 am Published by Comments Off on Individual Retirement Account – Required Minimum Distribution

If you have one or more traditional IRAs set up in your name and will be age 70 1/2 or older at year-end. You must comply with the so-called required minimum distribution (RMD) rules or face a stiff penalty. These rules force older account owners to take annual withdrawals from their IRAs and pay the resulting extra federal income tax.


IRS: No AMT patch would cause chaotic filing season

December 3, 2012 12:00 am Published by Comments Off on IRS: No AMT patch would cause chaotic filing season

Millions of taxpayers would see their filing season upended unless Congress enacts a legislative fix to the Alternative Minimum Tax by the end of the year. But if the patch does not happen; an extra 28 million households would get hit with the AMT, an alternative system that is supposed to take aim at wealthy taxpayers legally avoiding taxes. The last legislative fix expired at the end of 2011, making the AMT one of the more immediate threats in the looming “fiscal cliff.” More than 60 million t...


Year-end tax planning

November 26, 2012 12:00 am Published by Comments Off on Year-end tax planning

As the end of the year approaches, it's time to consider strategies that can help you reduce your tax bill. Review withholdings If you project that you'll owe a substantial amount when you file this year's income tax return, ask your employer to increase your federal income tax withholding amounts. If you have both wage and consulting income and are making estimated tax payments, there's an added benefit to doing this: Even though the additional withholding may need to come from your last few pa...


Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR)

November 26, 2012 12:00 am Published by Comments Off on Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR)

The basic mechanism for a taxpayer to alert the IRS about the existence of a foreign financial account is Form TD F 90-22.1 (Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts) (FBAR). FBAR filing requirement. Under 31 U.S.C.