Insight

For many small businesses, the grand reopening is still on hold. The rapid spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 has mired a variety of companies in diminished revenue and serious staffing shortages. In response, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has retooled its Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to offer targeted relief to eligible…

As noted in our recent alert, IR-2021-179 {“Tax Relief”} as initially issued and updated, provides comprehensive relief to business and individual taxpayers affected by Hurricane Ida in the Tri-State area.

Many homeowners across the country have seen their home values increase recently. According to the National Association of Realtors, the median price of homes sold in July of 2021 rose 17.8% over July of 2020. The median home price was $411,200 in the Northeast, $275,300 in the Midwest, $305,200 in the South and $508,300 in…

With most tax planning, there are certain strategies that are generally effective and shouldn’t be ignored. The same holds true for estate planning. Here are three essential estate planning strategies to consider that may help you achieve your goals.

Updated September 14, 2021 The IRS has recently announced that victims of remnants of Hurricane Ida that began September 1, 2021, now have until January 3, 2022, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.

With autumn coming up in a couple of weeks, it’s time to think about “harvesting” capital gains or losses from sales of securities. In addition, unfavorable tax law changes proposed in President Biden’s American Families Plan (AFP) may create an added sense of urgency for some taxpayers. (See “Proposed Tax Law Changes” at right.)

Infographic: For how many years should you keep copies of tax returns?

On August 27, 2021, Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker signed P.A. 102-658 (S.B. 2531), Laws 2021 {“Bill”}, that establishes an elective Pass-through Entity Tax (PTET) for partnerships and S corporations. The Bill permits PTEs to pay an elective tax on income earned or received in the state.

In recent weeks, some Americans have been victimized by hurricanes, severe storms, flooding, wildfires and other disasters. No matter where you live, unexpected disasters may cause damage to your home or personal property. Before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), eligible casualty loss victims could claim a deduction on their tax returns. But there…

Updated accounting rules for long-term leases took effect in 2019 for public companies. Now, after several deferrals by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), private companies and private not-for-profit entities must follow suit, starting in fiscal year 2022. The updated guidance requires these organizations to report — for the first time — the full magnitude…

Just in time for Labor Day, on August 25, 2021, New York State (NYS) issued Technical Memorandum TSB-M-21(1)C, (1)I, {“TSB”). The TSB is New York’s initial guidance in addressing the myriad of technical and procedural issues since New York adopted its elective Pass-through Entity Tax (PTET). The TSB provides comprehensive guidance on…

NEW YORK (Aug. 9, 2021) – Leading advisory CPA firm Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) announces its intent to acquire New York-based Margolin, Winer & Evens LLP (MWE), one of the largest regional accounting and business advisory firms in the Northeast. The combination will be effective Nov. 1, 2021.

An irrevocable trust has long been a key component of many estate plans. But what if it no longer serves your purposes? Is it too late to change it? Depending on applicable state law, you may have several options for fixing a “broken” trust.

If you’re planning your estate, or you’ve recently inherited assets, you may be unsure of the “cost” (or “basis”) for tax purposes.

Fun fact: Install solar panels and get a tax break.

In some cases, it may be desirable to move a trust to a more favorable jurisdiction. But moving a trust from one state to another can present significant risks, so don’t attempt to do so without considering all the benefits, limitations and risks, and obtaining professional advice.

Are you eligible to take the deduction for qualified business income (QBI)? Here are 10 facts about this valuable tax break, referred to as the pass-through deduction, QBI deduction or Section 199A deduction.

The IRS just released its audit statistics for the 2020 fiscal year and fewer taxpayers had their returns examined as compared with prior years. But even though a small percentage of returns are being chosen for audit these days, that will be little consolation if yours is one of them.

June highlights from The MWE Advisor: Tips to lower gas costs on your summer road trip; Which states are opting out of federal unemployment benefits? 

We’re hiring all levels! – Are you or someone you know looking for an opportunity to work at a top accounting and business advisory firm? Easily apply on LinkedIn today for one of our many openings!

The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) is a valuable tax break that was extended and modified by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), enacted in March of 2021. Here’s a rundown of the rules.

As we continue to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be traveling again for business. Under tax law, there are a number of rules for deducting the cost of your out-of-town business travel within the United States. These rules apply if the business conducted out of town reasonably requires an overnight stay.

If you’re a parent with a college-bound child, you may be concerned about being able to fund future tuition and other higher education costs. You want to take maximum advantage of tax benefits to minimize your expenses. Here are some possible options.

You’ve likely spent a lot of time working with your advisor to plan your estate. While documents such as your will, various trusts and a power of attorney are essential, consider adding a “road map” to your plan.

New York State (NYS) second quarter Personal Income Tax Estimated Payments are due on June 15, 2021. This year, for owners, partners and shareholders of Pass-through Entities (PTE) that are considering electing to be subject to New York State’s Pass-through Entity Tax (PTET), there’s an important wrinkle in the calculation of these estimated payments.

High-income taxpayers face a 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT) that’s imposed in addition to regular income tax. Fortunately, there are some steps you may be able to take to reduce its impact.

New York’s Pass-through Entity Tax (PTET) may result in significantly lower Federal tax benefits for certain electing S corporations. The potential Federal tax benefits of the New York State (NYS) PTET for resident shareholders of S corporations with low NYS Business Apportionment Percentages (BAP) may be significantly lower than initially expected. Why? The PTET provisions’…

How can tenants pay their regular monthly rent bills if they’re out of work? As unemployment skyrocketed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress enacted a series of laws designed to provide relief to renters and protection from potential eviction. But these relief measures often left owners of residential rental properties holding the bag.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it has withdrawn the “independent contractor rule” to maintain workers’ rights to the minimum wage and overtime compensation protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The rule was enacted by the department under the Trump administration and would have generally considered “gig economy” and certain…

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the number of people engaged in the “gig” or sharing economy had been growing, according to several reports. And reductions in working hours during the pandemic have caused even more people to turn to gig work to make up lost income. Keep in mind that there are tax consequences for…

As detailed in our previous post, Governor Cuomo signed the 2021-22 New York State (NYS) Budget (The Budget) last month with little fanfare. The Budget contains numerous tax provisions that have broad implications to New York taxpayers. However, one of The Budget’s potentially unfavorable tax provisions, as set forth in Section DDD of…

President Biden has proposed tax legislation which could significantly impact many individuals and businesses if enacted. In his April 28, 2021 address, President Biden discussed some of the proposals in his $1.8 trillion American Families Plan (AFP), which would make sweeping changes to some of the tax provisions enacted in the Tax Cuts and…

Many businesses provide education fringe benefits so their employees can improve their skills and gain additional knowledge. An employee can receive, on a tax-free basis, up to $5,250 each year from his or her employer for educational assistance under a “qualified educational assistance program.”

Even though the federal gift and estate tax exemption is currently very high ($11.7 million for 2021), there are families that still have to contend with significant federal estate tax liability. Plus, the exemption is scheduled to drop significantly in 2026, and reducing it sooner has been proposed. Even if you aren’t subject to federal…

Spring has officially arrived – flowers are blooming, baseball has begun, and Governor Cuomo signed the 2021-22 New York State (NYS) Budget on April 19, 2021. This year, Albany has been quite engaged in its attempt to enhance New York State’s “field of taxes.”

Infographic: Are you ready to buy now, pay later?

The New Jersey BAIT As many may be aware, in early 2020, New Jersey enacted P.L.2019, c.320 the Pass-Through Business Alternative Income Tax (BAIT) Act, effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2020.

On March 30, 2021, President Biden signed legislation to extend the application period of the popular Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) through May 31, 2021. This followed a bipartisan 92-7 vote in the U.S. Senate to pass the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act of 2021.

Many businesses have retained employees during the COVID-19 pandemic and enjoyed tax relief with the help of the employee retention credit (ERC). The recent signing of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) brings good news: the ERC has been extended yet again.

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan (“The Act”) into law. The Act provides $1.9 trillion of relief and is the third COVID-19 bill signed to help Americans since last March. The Act allocates money for stimulus payments and unemployment benefits, vaccines, schools, small businesses, and more. The following is a summary of…

Updated: March 22, 2021 THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE HAS ANNOUNCED THAT INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS WILL BE GRANTED A LIMITED EXTENSION OF TIME UNTIL MAY 17, 2021 WITHIN WHICH TO FILE THEIR 2020 FORM 1040.

Fun fact: Why some legislators in one state want to give up Daylight Saving Time.

Did you know that you can put restrictions on charitable donations you make through your estate? If you want the peace of mind that your donations are used to fulfill your intended charitable purposes, you’ll need to take the steps to add restrictions.

Are you a business owner thinking about hiring? Be aware that a recent law extended a credit for hiring individuals from one or more targeted groups. Employers can qualify for a tax credit known as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) that’s worth as much as $2,400 to $9,600 for eligible employees. The credit is…

The Biden Administration announced changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to increase lending to smaller businesses and help ensure equitable distribution of loans to them. But qualified businesses may want to act fast because there is a short period when PPP loan applications will exclusively be accepted from businesses with fewer than 20 employees.

For the second year in a row, MWE was named a Forbes Best Tax & Accounting Firm in America. MWE was one over 170 firms recognized in both the tax and accounting categories out of 18,000+ tax & accounting firms.