Social Security Expansion Act introduced

“It is time to scrap the cap, expand benefits, and fully fund Social Security,” Independent Senator Bernie Sanders stated in a Senate Budget Committee hearing on June 9. With the support of seven Democratic co-sponsors, Sanders introduced the Social Security Expansion Act, which would increase Social Security benefits by $2,400 annually. This increase would be […]

IRS increases Standard Mileage Rate

Good news for those who use a vehicle for business purposes and are frustrated by the sky-high cost of gas! Starting July 1, 2022, the IRS is increasing the standard mileage rate for business use to 62.5 cents (from 58.5 cents for Jan. 1 – June 30, 2022) per mile. The rate for medical use […]

Help when needed: Apply the research credit against payroll taxes

Here’s an interesting option if your small company or start-up business is planning to claim the research tax credit. Subject to limits, you can elect to apply all or some of any research tax credits that you earn against your payroll taxes instead of your income tax. This payroll tax election may influence some businesses […]

IRS collection and examination functions

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) recently released an audit (https://bit.ly/3trerBO ) aimed at providing data on activities of the IRS’s collection and examination functions through 2020. According to the audit, in 2020, taxpayers filed 157 million individual and 11.3 million business income tax returns. These filings resulted in $3.5 trillion of total […]

Global Minimum Tax

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Poland is expected to drop its opposition to a global minimum tax on multinational corporations, clearing the way toward finalizing a broader deal on international taxation. The deal, brokered through the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), has been signed by the U.S. and 140 other taxing jurisdictions. A […]

Social Security benefits: Do you have to pay tax on them?

Some people who begin claiming Social Security benefits are surprised to find out they’re taxed by the federal government on the amounts they receive. If you’re wondering whether you’ll be taxed on your Social Security benefits, the answer is: It depends. The taxation of Social Security benefits depends on your other income. If your income […]

The Trust Fund Recovery Penalty

Employers that withhold taxes from employees but don’t pay them over to the IRS may face harsh penalties. The Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (TFRP) equals 100% of the unpaid tax. The TFRP can be assessed personally against responsible parties and may include prison time. One taxpayer who operated an ammunition manufacturing and sales business withheld […]

New regs on foreign tax credit

Chief financial officers (CFOs) of some major U.S. companies are seeking help from U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. In a letter, they said the final foreign tax credit (FTC) regs issued on Dec. 28, 2021, are a “radical departure from well-established law.” The final regs, they added, put U.S companies at a “competitive disadvantage” with […]

Dig deeper! Find hidden treasure in financial statement footnotes

Numbers tell only part of the story. Comprehensive footnote disclosures, which are found at the end of reviewed and audited financial statements, provide valuable insight into a company’s operations. Unfortunately, most people don’t take the time to read footnotes in full, causing them to overlook key details. Here are some examples of hidden risk factors […]

Bankruptcy discharge of tax debt

The IRS often can’t attempt to collect debt from taxpayers whose debt has been discharged in bankruptcy. A U.S. Bankruptcy Court in West Virginia recently ruled against the IRS after the agency sent multiple collection notices to a debtor who had a discharge order. The IRS excused its actions by saying they were inadvertent and […]