Brett Hess | Business Management Company

When can you deduct business meals and entertainment?

December 16, 2024 / by Brett Hess / Tax

You’re not alone if you’re confused about the federal tax treatment of business-related meal and entertainment expenses. The rules have changed in recent years. Let’s take a look at what you can deduct in 2024. Current law The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated deductions for most business-related entertainment expenses. That means, for example, that […]

Get tax breaks for energy-saving purchases this year because they may disappear

December 9, 2024 / by Brett Hess / Tax

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), enacted in 2022, created several tax credits aimed at promoting clean energy. You may want to take advantage of them before it’s too late. On the campaign trail, President-Elect Donald Trump pledged to “terminate” the law and “rescind all unspent funds.” Rescinding all or part of the law would require action […]

3 types of retirement plans for growing businesses

December 2, 2024 / by Brett Hess / Small Business

When start-ups launch, their focus is often on tightly controlling expenses. Most need to establish a brand and some semblance of stability before funding anything other than essential operating activities. For companies that make it past that tenuous initial stage, there comes a time when they must loosen up the purse strings and start investing […]

Is your money-losing activity a hobby or a business?

October 28, 2024 / by Brett Hess / Tax

Let’s say you have an unincorporated sideline activity that you consider a business. Perhaps you offer photography services, create custom artwork or sell handmade items online. Will the IRS agree that your venture is a business, not a hobby? It’s an essential question for tax purposes. If the expenses from an activity exceed the revenues, […]

Make year-end tax planning moves before it’s too late!

September 24, 2024 / by Brett Hess / Tax

With the arrival of fall, it’s an ideal time to begin implementing strategies that could reduce your tax burden for both this year and next. One of the first planning steps is to ascertain whether you’ll take the standard deduction or itemize deductions for 2024. You may not itemize because of the high 2024 standard […]

Businesses must stay on guard against invoice fraud

September 19, 2024 / by Brett Hess / Small Business

Fraud is a pernicious problem for companies of all shapes and sizes. One broad type of crime that seems to be thriving as of late is invoice fraud. In the second quarter of 2024, accounts payable software provider Medius released the results of a survey of 1,533 senior finance executives in the United States and […]

Are you liable for two additional taxes on your income?

September 9, 2024 / by Brett Hess / Tax

Having a high income may mean you owe two extra taxes: the 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT) and a 0.9% additional Medicare tax on wage and self-employment income. Let’s take a look at these taxes and what they could mean for you. 1. The NIIT In addition to income tax, this tax applies on […]

Are you unfairly burdened by a spouse’s tax errors? You may qualify for “innocent spouse relief”

September 3, 2024 / by Brett Hess / Tax

Navigating the complexities of tax law can be difficult, especially when faced with an unexpected tax bill due to the errors of a spouse or ex-spouse. The reason for such a bill has to do with the concept of “joint and several” liability. When a married couple files a joint tax return, each spouse is […]

Consider borrowing from your corporation but structure the deal carefully

August 22, 2024 / by Brett Hess / Tax

If you own a closely held corporation, you can borrow funds from your business at rates that are lower than those charged by a bank. But it’s important to avoid certain risks and charge an adequate interest rate. Basics of this strategy Interest rates have increased over the last couple years. As a result, shareholders […]

How are Series EE savings bonds taxed?

August 5, 2024 / by Brett Hess / Tax

Savings bonds are purchased by many Americans, often as a way to help fund college or show their patriotism. Series EE bonds, which replaced Series E bonds, were first issued in 1980. From 2001 to 2011, they were designated as “Patriot Bonds” as a way for Americans “to express support for our nation’s anti-terrorism efforts,” […]

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