Tony Novak CPA

Author: Tony Novak

  • Spelling matters

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    Tony Novak
    in ,

    I am surprised at how many people argue that spelling and language skills in general do not matter as long as the message is communicated. Words do matter. Language matters. Etymology matters. Spelling matters. I’ve put out thousands of pieces of public writing over a career that began with a newspaper column in the early…

  • DACA facts

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    Tony Novak
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    An average DACA recipient is now 26 years old and came to the US at age six so they have no other roots or foreign ties outside of their life in the U.S for the past 20 years. 91% of them are employed and pay the same US wage taxes without receiving the benefits that…

  • Features of Freedom Benefits Small Business Benefit Plan 2018

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    Tony Novak
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    The new 2018 Small Business Employee Benefit Plan, available now, includes more features and options than ever before to allow your small business to offer big company benefits. Features include: ·       Easy, fast and inexpensive ·       Allows for inclusion of a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account(FSA), dependent care plan,…

  • Hurricane preparedness at Money Island

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    Tony Novak
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    We’ve been in this position before and we hope that we get a little smarter each time. This is what my hurricane planning checklist looks like now: Buy storm supplies early; at least a week before they are needed: plywood, rope, cable, duct tape. Order extra fuel asap. Cancel all appointments 3 days before the…

  • Online bill pay tip

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    Tony Novak
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    If you use bill pay services that send an electronic or mailed check payment then always use the “account number” field to identify the payment. Since small business vendors typically do not use account number I type in my client’s business name so that the check is easily identified in bold print at the top…

  • In defense of price gouging

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    Tony Novak
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    I’m reading a lot of criticism of price gouging in Houston right now and wish to take a moment to explain the other side of the issue. My small business chooses to stock emergency supplies in the event of a situation like this in our small rural community, including up to 2,000 gallons of gasoline,…

  • A sad but common story of tax trouble

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    Tony Novak
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    I read a story of an ordinary middle-income wage earner who received some letters from the IRS, ignored them, wound up having her wages garnished. Then she got scared and did not file her 2016 tax return, making matters worse. We don’t know the original issue that triggered IRS concern (perhaps inadvertently omitted items on…

  • QuickBooks ProAdvisor Recertified

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    Tony Novak
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    I am pleased to complete my QuickBooks ProAdvisor recertification.

  • Defining trumpism

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    Tony Novak
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    There are easily more than a dozen definitions of trumpism published by online dictionaries. My motivation to post another stems from an observation that our nation’s current tensions may stem from a single simple belief. trumpism – the belief that we are entitled to more of the world’s resources, jobs, travel, prosperity and freedoms as…

  • New small business employee benefit plan

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    Tony Novak
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    I am pleased to introduce Freedom Benefits’ new small business flexible consumer driven employee benefit plan for 2018. Three new features are incorporated immediately: 1) Increased opportunities to waive the setup and advisory fees by working through an affiliate accountant or agent, 2) increased range of insurance options to include non-ACA compliant health insurance, and…