Category: Small Business
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More on Section 105 plans
A reader commented on my vague discussion in an earlier post about the difference between an employee benefit plan and a payroll accommodation plan. The first type is regulated and subject to ACA market reforms and the second type is not. Describing the distinctions is not something that I feel could be usefully summarized in a…
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Goadvs.com malware removal
Why I concluded that Goadvs.com malware may be connected to Sitementer.com Last week I found that I was affected (but not necessarily “infected”) with a browser hijacking malware. Occasionally I’ve found that published documentation of a computer bug is inadequate and so, for that reason alone, I am publishing details of my experience here. This…
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Four small business accounting systems you will see less often in 2016
updated September 2018 to remove outdated recommendations. There are literally hundreds of high quality small business accounting platforms available today. The array of features is impressive and the cost is minimal when we consider the number of human labor hours saved in comparison with accounting tools of generations past. All of these services offer a…
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Excited about focus of services for 2016
Note: This service offer does not apply for 2017 and beyond. Please see the “Services” page for current offering details. I feel excited and energized by my planned specialization of services for 2016. I’ve just crossed the one year anniversary mark on the re-launch of my solo accounting practice after being out of the industry for…
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A small business adviser’s year in review: 2015
(still in draft format) 2015 was an active year of change in services for small business management. The opportunities, tools and resources are quite different today than they were only 12 months ago. There is much good news about small business accounting systems. Costs are coming down and quality is going up. I took additional…
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Where are the checklists for 2015 small business tax changes?
Accountants handling difficult tax and audit issues typically work from checklists. Checklists are a well-proven tool in many other work activities outside of tax and financial statement preparation. This year all of the significant federal tax law changes affecting small businesses pertain directly to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Accounting organizations like AICPA…
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Common errors with small business health plans
I often read adviser comments online that reflect a common tax error about small business health plans and especially employer payments or reimbursements for individual health insurance. In some cases the same errant thinking even extends to tax treatment of uninsured health benefits. Some advisers think that it is appropriate to account for employer-provided health…
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2016 tax deadlines for small business owners
February 2 – W2s to employees and 1099s to contractors February 29 – Form 1095-B for uninsured health plans, W2s and 1099s to IRS March 15 – due date for corporation tax returns April 15 – regular individual tax filing deadline and deadline for filing extensions September 15 – extended tax filing deadline for corporate…
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Watchlist for tax preparers: 2015 small business health plans
2015 brought dramatic changes to the way that small business health benefits are handled for wage and income tax reporting purposes. Harsh new penalties now apply to small businesses who may still be unaware of the new rules. Until recently many accountants believed that we would see relief provisions to these laws since so many small employers…
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Small business ACA compliance toolkit available for 2015
My firm Freedom Benefits offers a 2015 compliance toolkit to help small business employers who find themselves on the wrong side of 2015 ACA requirements. The tax penalties can be significant for the tens of thousands of firms affected. Equally important, IMO, is the need to effectively communicate the required changes to employees who are…