Author: Tony Novak
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Unwanted robo calls from TripAdvisor
I’ve received and blocked so many unwanted robo calls from TripAdvisor and others recently that it seems unrealistic that they could possibly be calling from so many different numbers. I’ve likely blocked close to 50 numbers based on calls in the past two months; almost one per day. I decided that beginning today I will…
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Unreimbursed partnership expenses revisited
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act triggers changes to the tax treatment of unreimbursed partnership expenses for 2018. Partnerships should revisit their policies to ensure that partners and employees maximize tax savings under the new law. Under former law a partner could deduct the expenses of the partnership on his or her individual income tax…
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The month of disappearing people
We just finished the month of January 2018 that I will likely remember as the month of disappearing people. It left me puzzled and uncertain in my position. No less than eight separate times I was in the middle of a work project with a schedule or deadline when a key person just stopped responding…
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The sad state of my small business telephone system
I’m reviewing and looking for suggestions on the best setup for a small business phone system. The stature of the telephone as a business tool has fallen dramatically in status and usefulness in my business career. I remember being one of the early adapters of cellular technology in the late 1980s and early 1990s that…
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IRS issued more guidance on wage tax withholding
Yesterday the IRS issued more guidance on wage tax withholding rules in response to changes triggered by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Notice 2018-14 provides guidance to both individual taxpayers and employers on tax withholding requirements for wages. One of the most significant changes is the default rate of withholding on bonuses or supplemental wages is…
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Tax adjustments required now
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act snuck up on us quickly. Make changes took affect January 1, 2018 and many people are beginning to realize that they may have a tax problem in 2018. There are three simple things that all taxpayers should do immediately: Estimate your current year’s income tax liability under the new…
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Tax savings with accountable plans
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act snuck up on many of us. Suddenly in January 2018 tens of millions of Americans are denied a range of tax deductions that have been part of our personal and business financial culture for more than a lifetime. While most taxpayers will see a decrease in taxes, some of us…
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Home office deduction for employees in 2018
See this blog post “Five tax deductions you will miss this year” for other deductions eliminated in 2018. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act now in effect for 2018 no longer allows for employee1 home office deductions. This is a significant tax change that, according to the IRS, adds up to billion lost deductions, and increased…
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TAX TIP: Be ready to prove ‘Head of Household’ status
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act requires paid tax preparers to take additional steps to verify claims of Head of Household status. The new due diligence requirements are intended restrict an ineligible taxpayer from filing as a head of household. Under IRC §6695(g) a tax preparer who fails to meet these requirements results in a…
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Summary of Tax Reform for Individual Taxpayers
This summary is an excerpt from “Understanding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”by Samuel A. Donaldson, Georgia State University College of Law, January 3, 2018. Individual Ordinary Income Tax Brackets Originally, Republican leadership sought to reduce both the number of individual income tax brackets and the tax rates. Under prior law, seven tax brackets ranging from 10% to…