What do the 2023 cost-of-living adjustment numbers mean for you?
October 28, 2022 Knowledge Center
What do the 2023 cost-of-living adjustment numbers mean for you?

The IRS recently issued its 2023 cost-of-living adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions. With inflation up significantly this year, many amounts increased considerably over 2022 amounts. As you implement 2022 year-end tax planning strategies, be sure to take these 2023 adjustments into account. Also, keep in mind that, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act […]

Plan now to make tax-smart year-end gifts to loved ones
October 27, 2022 Knowledge Center
Plan now to make tax-smart year-end gifts to loved ones

Are you feeling generous at year end? Taxpayers can transfer substantial amounts free of gift taxes to their children or other recipients each year through the proper use of the annual exclusion. The exclusion amount is adjusted for inflation annually, and for 2022, the amount is $16,000. The exclusion covers gifts that an individual makes […]

How valuators use visual aids
October 27, 2022 Knowledge Center
How valuators use visual aids

Business valuation professionals who serve as expert witnesses in court face two daunting tasks: First, they must capture the attention of a judge or jury. Then they need to make complex financial analyses understandable. That’s easier said than done after the trier of fact already has listened to hours of testimony in commercial litigation. Impactful […]

Ratio analysis: Extracting actionable data from your financials
October 25, 2022 Knowledge Center
Ratio analysis: Extracting actionable data from your financials

What do you do with your financial statements when your auditor delivers them? Resist the temptation to just file them away — they’re more than an exercise in compliance. With a little finagling, you can calculate key financial ratios from line items in your company’s financial statements. These metrics provide insight into historical trends, potential […]

Investing in the future with a 529 education plan
October 24, 2022 Knowledge Center
Investing in the future with a 529 education plan

If you have a child or grandchild who’s going to attend college in the future, you’ve probably heard about qualified tuition programs, also known as 529 plans. These plans, named for the Internal Revenue Code section that provides for them, allow prepayment of higher education costs on a tax-favored basis. There are two types of […]

Inflation Reduction Act expands deductions for energy-efficient construction
October 21, 2022 Knowledge Center
Inflation Reduction Act expands deductions for energy-efficient construction

Mitigating the adverse effects of climate change is one of the primary targets of the recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). To that end, the legislation is packed with tax incentives, including the significant expansion and extension of two tax deductions for energy-efficient construction. The changes to the Section 179D deduction for commercial buildings and the […]

M&A on the way? Consider a QOE report
October 19, 2022 Knowledge Center
M&A on the way? Consider a QOE report

Whether you’re considering selling your business or acquiring another one, due diligence is a must. In many mergers and acquisitions (M&A), prospective buyers obtain a quality of earnings (QOE) report to evaluate the accuracy and sustainability of the seller’s reported earnings. Sometimes sellers get their own QOE reports to spot potential problems that might derail […]

Don’t forget income taxes when planning your estate
October 19, 2022 Knowledge Center
Don’t forget income taxes when planning your estate

As a result of the current estate tax exemption amount ($12.06 million in 2022), many estates no longer need to be concerned with federal estate tax. Before 2011, a much smaller amount resulted in estate plans attempting to avoid it. But now, because many estates won’t be subject to estate tax, more planning can be […]

Preventing “privileged user” fraud and abuse
October 17, 2022 Knowledge Center
Preventing “privileged user” fraud and abuse

In most companies, employees need a user identity to access work-related hardware and software. Privileges to use certain applications or open certain files usually are provided to workers based on their department, role and level of authority. Over their tenure, employees might accumulate various privileges they no longer need. For example, someone who once worked […]

What does “probate” mean?
October 17, 2022 Knowledge Center
What does “probate” mean?

The term “probate” is one you’ve probably heard and might associate with negative connotations. But you may not fully understand what it is. For some people, the term conjures images of lengthy delays waiting for wealth to be transferred as well as bitter disputes among family members. Others, because the probate process is open to […]

Year-end tax planning ideas for individuals
October 14, 2022 Knowledge Center
Year-end tax planning ideas for individuals

Now that fall is officially here, it’s a good time to start taking steps that may lower your tax bill for this year and next. One of the first planning steps is to ascertain whether you’ll take the standard deduction or itemize deductions for 2022. Many taxpayers won’t itemize because of the high 2022 standard […]

Business valuations needed for private stock donations
October 14, 2022 Knowledge Center
Business valuations needed for private stock donations

Charitable contributions can be an effective way to lower taxes for the current tax year, but they don’t necessarily have to be made with cash. Charities also welcome donations of company stock, which offer a hidden bonus to donors if the shares have appreciated in value over the years. To reap the tax benefits on […]