November 5, 2018 / by Brett Hess / Uncategorized
Donate appreciated stock for twice the tax benefits A tried-and-true year end tax strategy is to make charitable donations. As long as you itemize and your gift qualifies, you can claim a charitable deduction. But did you know that you can enjoy an additional tax benefit if you donate long-term appreciated stock instead of cash? […]
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Family businesses need succession plans, too
December 10, 2018 / by Brett Hess / Uncategorized
Those who run family-owned businesses often underestimate the need for a succession plan. After all, they say, we’re a family business — there will always be a family member here to keep the company going and no one will stand in the way. Not necessarily. In one all-too-common scenario, two of the owner’s children inherit […]
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Could “bunching” medical expenses into 2018 save you tax?
December 10, 2018 / by Brett Hess / Newsletter
Some of your medical expenses may be tax deductible, but only if you itemize deductions and have enough expenses to exceed the applicable floor for deductibility. With proper planning, you may be able to time controllable medical expenses to your tax advantage. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) could make bunching such expenses into […]
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Reduce insurance costs by encouraging employee wellness
December 10, 2018 / by Brett Hess / Newsletter
Protecting your company through the purchase of various forms of insurance is a risk-management necessity. But just because you must buy coverage doesn’t mean you can’t manage the cost of doing so. Obviously, the safer your workplace, the less likely you’ll incur costly claims and high workers’ compensation premiums. There are, however, bigger-picture issues […]
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Does prepaying property taxes make sense anymore?
December 10, 2018 / by Brett Hess / Newsletter, Tax
Prepaying property taxes related to the current year but due the following year has long been one of the most popular and effective year-end tax-planning strategies. But does it still make sense in 2018? The answer, for some people, is yes — accelerating this expense will increase their itemized deductions, reducing their tax bills. But […]
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Catch-up retirement plan contributions can be particularly advantageous post-TCJA
November 21, 2018 / by Brett Hess / Uncategorized
Will you be age 50 or older on December 31? Are you still working? Are you already contributing to your 401(k) plan or Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) up to the regular annual limit? Then you may want to make “catch-up” contributions by the end of the year. Increasing your retirement plan contributions […]
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Mutual funds: Handle with care at year end
November 13, 2018 / by Brett Hess / Uncategorized
As we approach the end of 2018, it’s a good idea to review the mutual fund holdings in your taxable accounts and take steps to avoid potential tax traps. Here are some tips. Avoid surprise capital gains Unlike with stocks, you can’t avoid capital gains on mutual funds simply by holding on to the shares. […]
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Tax Brief
November 5, 2018 / by Brett Hess / Uncategorized
Donate appreciated stock for twice the tax benefits A tried-and-true year end tax strategy is to make charitable donations. As long as you itemize and your gift qualifies, you can claim a charitable deduction. But did you know that you can enjoy an additional tax benefit if you donate long-term appreciated stock instead of cash? […]
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Data Security – The Risk is Real
October 31, 2018 / by Brett Hess / Newsletter, Small Business
No company is too small for a hacker. In fact, when it comes to data breaches – hackers tend to gravitate towards smaller businesses. Nearly two thirds of all data breaches occur within small firms. Hackers focus their attention on these companies because they don’t have millions of dollars to protect themselves from cyber-attacks like larger companies […]
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Tax-free fringe benefits help small businesses and their employees
October 11, 2018 / by Brett Hess / Small Business, Tax
In today’s tightening job market, to attract and retain the best employees, small businesses need to offer not only competitive pay, but also appealing fringe benefits. Benefits that are tax-free are especially attractive to employees. Let’s take a quick look at some popular options. Insurance Businesses can provide their employees with various types of insurance […]
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Be aware of the tax consequences before selling your home
May 21, 2018 / by Brett Hess / Tax
In many parts of the country, summer is peak season for selling a home. If you’re planning to put your home on the market soon, you’re probably thinking about things like how quickly it will sell and how much you’ll get for it. But don’t neglect to consider the tax consequences. Home sale gain exclusion […]
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