Preventing surprise billing under the new COVID-19 relief act
January 12, 2021 COVID-19
Preventing surprise billing under the new COVID-19 relief act

By now you’ve likely heard and read much about the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA). Among its primary purposes, of course, is to provide much-needed relief to individuals and businesses still struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. A couple of the law’s most talked-about features are stimulus payments to individuals and expansion of the Paycheck Protection Program […]

The COVID-19 relief law: What’s in it for you?
January 12, 2021 COVID-19
The COVID-19 relief law: What’s in it for you?

The new COVID-19 relief law that was signed on December 27, 2020, contains a multitude of provisions that may affect you. Here are some of the highlights of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which also contains two other laws: the COVID-related Tax Relief Act (COVIDTRA) and the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act (TCDTR). Direct […]

Make your legacy last by educating your children about wealth management
January 11, 2021 Knowledge Center
Make your legacy last by educating your children about wealth management

If you’ve worked to build a large estate, you undoubtedly would like to leave a lasting legacy to your children and future generations. Educating your children about saving, investing and other money management skills can help keep your legacy alive. Teaching techniques There’s no one right way to teach your children about money. The best […]

Prevent and detect insider cyberattacks
January 8, 2021 Knowledge Center
Prevent and detect insider cyberattacks

In one recent cybercrime scheme, a mortgage company employee accessed his employer’s records without authorization, then used stolen customer lists to start his own mortgage business. The perpetrator hacked the protected records by sending an email containing malware to a coworker. This particular dishonest worker was caught. But your company may not be so lucky. […]

The Complex Importance of Basis in Partnerships
January 7, 2021 Knowledge Center
The Complex Importance of Basis in Partnerships

by Nicky Lipset, CPA   You may think of basis mainly in terms of selling an interest in stock or selling a house, but there are many implications of basis in diverse transactions. Keeping track of basis, in partnerships specifically, is important as it can create tax implications based on various factors. Below are some […]

De-risking your pension plan through a lift-out
December 31, 2020 Knowledge Center
De-risking your pension plan through a lift-out

Private sector employers have been retreating from the defined benefit (DB) pension model of retirement plans for decades. This is largely motivated by a desire to “de-risk” the organization from an uncertain, long-term financial obligation. The COVID-19 pandemic has also caused many sponsors of DB plans to consider the costs involved in their pensions. One […]

Your taxpayer filing status: You may be eligible to use more than one
December 29, 2020 Knowledge Center
Your taxpayer filing status: You may be eligible to use more than one

When it comes to taxes, December 31 is more than just New Year’s Eve. That date will affect the filing status box that will be checked on your 2020 tax return. When filing a return, you do so with one of five tax filing statuses. In part, they depend on whether you’re married or unmarried […]

ICFR assessment and attestation: Are you in compliance with the rules?
December 29, 2020 Knowledge Center
ICFR assessment and attestation: Are you in compliance with the rules?

Each year, public companies must assess the effectiveness of their internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) under Section 404(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). In some cases, private companies should follow suit. In addition, a public company’s independent auditors are generally required to provide an attestation report on management’s assessment of ICFR under Sec. 404(b); however, […]

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act Heralds Many Tax Changes
December 28, 2020 COVID-19
The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act Heralds Many Tax Changes

By Nicholas Sanchez, J.D., LL.M. Taxation   Sunday night, December 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, H.R. 133, Division M of which includes the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (“CRRSAA” or “the Act”). The Act contains many tax provisions, one of the most anticipated being clarification on the […]

The next estimated tax deadline is January 15 if you have to make a payment
December 23, 2020 Knowledge Center
The next estimated tax deadline is January 15 if you have to make a payment

If you’re self-employed and don’t have withholding from paychecks, you probably have to make estimated tax payments. These payments must be sent to the IRS on a quarterly basis. The fourth 2020 estimated tax payment deadline for individuals is Friday, January 15, 2021. Even if you do have some withholding from paychecks or payments you […]

With a flick of the switch: Build an on-off mechanism into your estate plan
December 23, 2020 Knowledge Center
With a flick of the switch: Build an on-off mechanism into your estate plan

When planning your estate, it’s critical to balance estate tax planning and income tax planning. The rub is that, currently, strategies for reducing estate taxes generally focus on removing assets from your estate, while strategies for reducing income taxes generally focus on including assets in it. Even if you have an estate plan in place that’s tax-smart now, changes […]

Rightsizing your sales force
December 22, 2020 Knowledge Center
Rightsizing your sales force

With a difficult year almost over, and another one on the horizon, now may be a good time to assess the size of your sales force. Maybe the economic changes triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic led you to downsize earlier in the year. Or perhaps you’ve added to your sales team to seize opportunities. In […]