Author: Tony Novak
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Covid small business disaster story update
My list of Covid small business accounting horror stories is down to just three remaining open and unresolved: 1) A bank that extended a PPP loan application to 4 1/2 months and still counting; apparently due solely to lack of internal process control. I follow up with them every two to three days. All involved…
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Updated 2020 Tax Planning Checklist for Small Business Owners
Begin by forecasting 2020 taxes based on 2019 results – easy with today’s professional tax software Maximize tax-free pandemic relief payments Use a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) for tax-free payments Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA) for insurance assistance Add a Health Savings Account (HSA) for long term health security Adapt an employer-sponsored Education…
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Update on pandemic payroll tax deferrment
New guidance on the so-called pandemic payroll tax deferment issued by IRS last week does not change previously issued guidance to small business employers. The new IRS guidance strengthens the argument that employers should not make any change in payroll tax practices at this time. Deferent of payroll taxes, if not paid timely in early…
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Of the seven Covey habits, which are your strongest and weakest?
My strongest habit is “think win/win”. In fact, that’s the basis of my business model and every client engagement. It’s also the reason that I object so strongly to the traditional sales psychology that too often creates a winner and a loser. I’m hugely committed to earning my place by creating financial results for others.…
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A business resurrection as consumer value returns to employee benefits
Going back since more than 20 years ago to the late 1990s, I was licensed as an insurance producer in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It was – and still is – tough to be called a small business compensation and benefits expert without also being an expert in insurance. I was…
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Didn’t receive an economic impact payment?
Some people are still waiting for their $1,200 economic impact payment from the federal government. IRS confirms that a data entry error in 2019 TurboTax may be to blame. Forbes’ Rob Berger as been following the issue in a series of posts. Intuit, the makers of the software issued a statement “We are working closely…
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IRS announced a “major milestone in tax administration”
The Internal Revenue Service will now allow taxpayers to submit Form 1040-X electronically when they want to file an amended tax return through commercial software. This will significantly reduce costs and increase efficiency for taxpayers who want to amend a prior tax return to claim a credit or correct an error. The IRS calls this…
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How much does it cost to run for public office in New Jersey?
Running for public office in New Jersey can be an inexpensive project or can run into surprisingly hefty costs. I’ve been involved in successful local election campaigns run on a $500 budget and some that ran over $50,000. Regional or statewide races would likely cost more. After the first draft of this blog post was…
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What’s going on in D.C. and how does it affect your South Jersey business?
Yesterday the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce sponsored a discussion program with government policy experts from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce titled “What’s going on in D.C. and how it affects your business?”. If you own a small business in New Jersey (like me) the basic question is likely ‘How bad will it be?’ This…
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Small Business Guidance on Payroll Withholding Postponement
This weekend the President issued an Executive Order to postpone employer’s payment of wage taxes. The advice that I and every other small business tax adviser, to my knowledge, immediately issued to clients was to take no action until we receive further guidance. Most tax experts believe that only Congress has the power to stop…