BHT&D Certified Public Accountants Blog

If creating a start-up business were an easy thing to do, then a lot more people would be doing it. For those who make the decision to fulfill their dreams and go for it, success relies on being fully prepared. Some of the most common stressors encountered by entrepreneurs involve tax liabilities, whether business is booming or they’re struggling to keep their head above water. The best way to avoid these pitfalls is to learn about them ahead of time. Here’s what every entrepreneur needs to know:

The State of Michigan requires annual reporting of ‘unclaimed property’. Unclaimed property is defined as any asset, tangible or intangible, belonging to a third party that remains unclaimed for a specific period of time by the rightful owner. Any holder who fails to file a report of unclaimed property may be subject to fines and penalties as provided in the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, Public Act 29 of 1995.

Companies and governmental agencies need to identify properties that may be reportable as unclaimed property as of March 31, 2018 and file an unclaimed property report by July 2, 2018.

If you are an employee (i.e., a W-2 wage earner) with substantial work-related business expenses, the Act was not kind to you. It suspended (and effectively repealed), for 2018 through 2025, all miscellaneous itemized deductions, which were previously only subject to a floor of 2% of adjusted gross income (AGI). Employee business expenses are included in that category of miscellaneous itemized deductions. 

Congress passed the Budget Bill early in the night, and the President signed it on Friday, February 9th. To the surprise of many, the bill included a number of extenders that retroactively apply to 2017 returns. Were you lucky enough to benefit?

Needless to say, these last-minute changes may create a problem for taxpayers who have already filed their returns and will need to file amended returns to take advantage of these extenders. The retroactive changes will cause the IRS some headaches as well. Since the 2017 forms do not accommodate some of the extended provisions, the IRS will have redesign and issue updated forms or provide workaround procedures.

If you are a business owner who is accustomed to treating clients to sporting events, golf getaways, concerts and the like, we have some bad news for you. The GOP’s tax-reform bill that President Trump signed on December 22nd of last year eliminated the business-related deduction for entertainment, amusement or recreation expenses, effective beginning in 2018.

One of the first trouble spots of the new tax reform is the W-2 withholding for 2018. Passage of the new law in late December hasn’t given the IRS much time to develop new withholding tables. This can be a big issue, as the recent Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) substantially altered the tax rates and standard deductions, did away with exemption deductions, and increased the child tax credits—all elements of how the withholding allowances and tables have been structured in the past. 

This is the time of year when many employers give deserving employees a reward for a job well done.  For FICA and income tax withholding purposes, wages don’t include gifts that are classified as de minimis fringe benefits.  Tax-free de minimis fringes are benefits provided by employers that are offered infrequently and have a fair market value so small that it is impractical and unreasonable to account for them.  The following are treated as de minimis fringes: 

The State of Michigan has rolled out their new Corporations Online Filing System (COFS).

Many times throughout the year I get asked the question, “How long do I need to keep my tax records?” 

Generally, you should keep your records to support income, deductions or tax credits until the statute of limitations for that item runs out. While the answer may depend on your exact circumstance, you should generally follow the guidelines below:

The geography of your community may be anything from a rural village to several city blocks, or even something more global.  The thing they all have in common is a support network for everyone calling that area home.  It is no secret that businesses are looked to as a major part of that support network, and for good reason.  We benefit financially, if we do things right, and should be in a position to give some back.