Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

A 2016 report from the Society for Human Resource Management found that 78% of surveyed businesses offered wellness benefits to their employees. It’s true that wellness programs are most common in large corporations, but small companies also can offer these benefits and reap the advantages.

            Generally, wellness programs may improve worker morale and perhaps lead to greater retention of key employees. Direct results might include fewer health-related absences, greater energy, and more on-the-job productivity. Cost reduction also may result, if the company winds up paying less for health insurance and workers’ compensation. 

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

Investment asset classes include precious metals, especially gold. Enthusiasts cite several reasons for including gold in a diversified portfolio. If governments print money to cover increasing obligations, gold may act as an inflation hedge. Moreover, gold can offer a safe haven in times of geopolitical upheaval: in mid-2016, for example, when Great Britain voted to leave the European Union (Brexit) and financial markets were unsettled, the price of gold reached a two-year high.

            If you decide to allocate some investment dollars to gold, there are many options to choose. The tax treatment can vary, depending on how you invest, and you might be unpleasantly surprised. 

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

The arrival of a newborn can be a joyous occasion. Even while emotions are at their peak, though, you shouldn’t neglect the practical aspects. Several steps should be taken to protect the family’s finances, and the sooner the better. 

Start with Social Security 

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

Welcome to South Loop CPA LLC's newsletter library, below you can download our monthly Newsletter

October 2016 

September 2016

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

What does your tax return say about your financial situation? The fact is, the paperwork you file each year offers excellent information about how you are managing your money—and about areas where it might be wise to make changes in your financial habits. If you have questions about your financial situation, remember that we can help. Our firm is made up of highly qualified and educated professionals who work with clients like you all year long, serving as trusted business advisors. 

So whether you are concerned about budgeting; saving for college, retirement or another goal; understanding your investments; cutting your tax bite; starting a business; or managing your debt, you can turn to us for objective answers to all your tax and financial questions.

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

Employers may think it’s ironic that would-be workers often focus on how much time they won’t be working, when they consider job offers. However, it’s clear that offering time off may help to attract and retain valued employees. For business owners, the key is to develop a policy that provides flexibility and downtime without harming the company’s productivity.

            Broadly speaking, company-paid days off fall into two categories. One is holidays: Christmas, New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, etc. Many if not most companies are closed those days; sometimes the day before or after is considered a holiday as well. Generally, around 10 paid holidays a year is the norm. Except for special circumstances, you probably want all of your workers taking those days off.

            Beyond holidays, the second category includes days referred to as “paid time off” or PTO, which are chosen by employees. They include vacation and sick or personal days. Some companies put their PTO into separate buckets, one specifically for vacation time and another for sick or personal time, and include separate rules for how each type of PTO is to be used. In this case, integrating the different types of PTO (vacation and other) should be explained to employees, to avoid misunderstandings.

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

Retirees often need money from their investment portfolio, if they have little or no earned income. For many seniors, tax-efficient withdrawals require two levels of decisions. First, should the dollars come from regular taxable accounts or from tax-deferred accounts such as IRAs? Second, regardless of where the money is coming from, how will a portfolio be liquidated to provide spending money?           

Taxable or tax-deferred? 

Some people enter retirement holding an IRA as well as a taxable account. If cash is needed, they often choose to take the money from the taxable account.

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

Did you know that the average student loan balance is $24,803? Student debt is taking a heavy toll on borrowers, according to an American Institute of CPAs survey, which found that 75% of respondents or their children had made personal or financial sacrifices because of monthly student loan payments. Sacrifices included putting off saving for retirement (41%); delaying car purchases (40%); postponing a home purchase (29%); and even waiting on marriage (15%). 

Among the most troubling findings were that only 39% fully understood the burden that student loan debt would place on their future and 60% had at least some regrets about their decisions on financing their education. That’s why it’s always critical to understand the full potential impact of all your financial choices. The good news is that your CPA can help. Contact us with all your financial questions and we’ll provide the knowledge and insights you need to make the best decisions for you.

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

Many people make donations to charities whose work they support, but if you are planning to take a tax deduction for your gift, you must have the proper paperwork. Assembling the right documentation can also be tricky because the requirements vary based on whether the donation is cash and on the value of your gift. If you donate less than $250 in cash, for example, a canceled check, credit card statement or similar record may be sufficient, but if you give more, you will need a written acknowledgement from the charity. An additional tax form—and possibly an appraisal—may be needed for non-cash donations, depending on their value. Of course, the organization itself must also qualify as a charity under IRS rules. 

We can offer advice that will make it possible for you to fund the causes you believe in and qualify for the deductions you deserve. We can also help you incorporate charitable giving into your long-term tax and estate planning. Be sure to contact us with all of your questions on charitable giving or any other financial concern.

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

Are you aware of the nature of all your investments, domestic and international? Do you know if you have foreign accounts with an aggregate value higher than $10,000 at any time during the calendar year? U.S. taxpayers (including individuals and business entities) are required to report on foreign assets or investments they hold in offshore accounts. Under the Bank Secrecy Act, you may be required to e-file what is known as the FBAR directly with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the Treasury Department. Given the diversity of assets that many people hold, we advise against assuming that the FBAR rules don’t apply to you. If you’re not sure, we can help you determine the answers. 

As is often the case with tax laws, there are some exceptions and intricacies to the FBAR rules, so be sure to contact our office for more details. We can help you understand whether the rules apply to you and what you need to do to comply with them.

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

Are you making the most of tax benefits designed to offset some of the high costs of education? The American Opportunity Tax Credit, extended through 2017, provides a tax break of up to $2,500 for qualified college expenses. The Act also made permanent several education-related tax options, including a $2,000 maximum contribution amount for Coverdell education savings accounts, which can be used to pay certain elementary, secondary and post-secondary expenses. 

Given the many changes, we can help you make sense of the benefits available to you and ensure you’re taking full advantage of them. We can also offer advice on smart steps for financing the high cost of education, so please contact our office with all your questions

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

Besides financial aid, specific tax benefits can reduce the net cost of sending a child to college. Among the three major tax breaks—American Opportunity Tax Credit, Lifetime Learning Credit, tuition and fees deduction—you can claim only one on your tax return.  

American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)  

This credit, which recently was extended through 2017, typically will be the best choice for parents of collegians. The AOTC can produce the biggest tax saving: as much as $2,500 per student per year. In addition, the AOTC has the most generous income limits. 

The maximum tax credit is available with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) up to $80,000 for single filers, partial credits with MAGI up to $90,000. For married couples filing joint tax returns, the comparable income limits are $160,000 and $180,000. Typically, MAGI for this credit is the same as your AGI, reported on the bottom of page 1 of your return. 

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

Business owners may need capital to support growth, and the money in their IRA can be tempting. Nevertheless, the pitfalls can be steep, as illustrated in a recent Tax Court case (Thiessen v. Commissioner, 146 T.C. No. 7 [3/29/16]). Here, the court ruled that because a married couple had entered into prohibited transactions with respect to their IRAs, the assets in the IRAs were deemed to have been distributed, resulting in a huge tax bill. 

Describing the transaction 

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

 In order to obtain financial aid, a key step is filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is a complex form with many questions; its aim is to get a picture of a student’s family income and assets. Some of the questions request tax return information. Our office can help if you have difficulty with any FAFSA tax questions.

            After filling out the FAFSA, your answers go through a formula that determines your expected family contribution (EFC). The lower your EFC, the greater the amount of financial aid a student might be awarded. This number may change every year, so if aid is requested each academic year, a FAFSA must be completed annually.

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

If you owe back taxes, how long does the IRS have to assess and collect them? The answer varies based on the situation. In many cases, the IRS has three years from the date a return was due or when it was filed, whichever comes later, to assess how much you owe, and up to 10 years to collect that amount. When a very large item is omitted from the return, the assessment period can last up to six years. However, if fraud or attempted tax evasion is involved or if a return was never filed, then there is no statute of limitations on how long the IRS can take to make an assessment. 

If you haven’t paid taxes or filed a return, we can assist you in fixing the problem. We can prepare your returns and help you address any outstanding tax concerns. We can also work with you to tackle broader financial or other issues that you may be facing. Reach out to us today for more information. 

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

Many companies offer 401(k) or similar retirement plans to their employees, and an employer match might be available. If that’s the case, you should contribute to the plan at least enough to get the full match.

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

The College Board reports that full-time students at private institutions typically paid almost $44,000 for tuition, fees, room and board during the 2015-2016 academic year. That’s the average, so costs at some private colleges and universities were well over $50,000 per year. Higher education at public schools was much less expensive, but in-state students still spent nearly $20,000 for tuition, fees, room and board, on average. All college costs continue to rise, so younger students probably will pay even more when they arrive on campus.

            Now for the good news. The above numbers are all published costs, sometimes known as the “sticker price.” The College Board also provides net prices, which may be more indicative of actual outlays by parents and students. The average net cost for public institutions falls from nearly $20,000 to just over $14,000; among private schools, the average net price drops from almost $44,000 to $26,400. 

Discounts and taxes 

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

As the large Baby Boom generation ages, roughly 10,000 Americans are celebrating their 65^th birthday every day, according to the Pew Research Center. If you are heading toward retirement, you may be trying to determine the best time to begin taking your Social Security benefits. That’s an important decision, because it can have a significant impact on the amount that you’ll receive, now and through the rest of your retirement years. Retiring before you reach full retirement age could reduce your benefit by as much as 30%, but you can also raise your benefit by as much as 8% for every year you stay on the job until age 70. 

Add into your planning the fact that there are strategies that spouses can use enhance the benefit amounts they receive over time. One spouse may decide to file sooner or later, for example, based on both spouses’ lifetime earnings history and health situation. Or, depending on how you coordinate your retirement planning, one spouse might start taking a spousal benefit based on the other’s earnings before reaching full retirement age. There are several options for maximizing your benefits—and some pitfalls you should avoid. If you’re facing this decision, contact us for personalized expert advice. 

Please note the information below is intended to provide generalized information that is appropriate in certain situations.  It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the receipient, for the purpose of avoiding federal tax penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer.  The contents of the information provided below should not be acted upon without specific professional guidance.  Please call us if you have any questions.

As the large Baby Boom generation ages, roughly 10,000 Americans are celebrating their 65^th birthday every day, according to the Pew Research Center. If you are heading toward retirement, you may be trying to determine the best time to begin taking your Social Security benefits. That’s an important decision, because it can have a significant impact on the amount that you’ll receive, now and through the rest of your retirement years. Retiring before you reach full retirement age could reduce your benefit by as much as 30%, but you can also raise your benefit by as much as 8% for every year you stay on the job until age 70. 

Add into your planning the fact that there are strategies that spouses can use enhance the benefit amounts they receive over time. One spouse may decide to file sooner or later, for example, based on both spouses’ lifetime earnings history and health situation. Or, depending on how you coordinate your retirement planning, one spouse might start taking a spousal benefit based on the other’s earnings before reaching full retirement age. There are several options for maximizing your benefits—and some pitfalls you should avoid. If you’re facing this decision, contact us for personalized expert advice.