Be careful. There might be a “visher” on the line
September 7, 2021 Knowledge Center
Be careful. There might be a “visher” on the line

“Vishing” may sound familiar, but unless you’re a fraud investigator, you probably haven’t encountered it. Unfortunately, that could change … soon. To foil a scam that increasingly takes advantage of remote workers, learn what vishing is and how your business can prevent it from infiltrating your network. Clarifying terms Vishing isn’t the same as “phishing.” […]

Private companies: Are you on track to meet the 2022 deadline for the updated lease standard?
September 3, 2021 Knowledge Center
Private companies: Are you on track to meet the 2022 deadline for the updated lease standard?

Updated accounting rules for long-term leases took effect in 2019 for public companies. Now, after several deferrals by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), private companies and private not-for-profit entities must follow suit, starting in fiscal year 2022. The updated guidance requires these organizations to report — for the first time — the full magnitude […]

ABLE accounts may help disabled or blind family members
September 3, 2021 Knowledge Center
ABLE accounts may help disabled or blind family members

There may be a tax-advantaged way for people to save for the needs of family members with disabilities — without having them lose eligibility for government benefits to which they’re entitled. It can be done though an Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account, which is a tax-free account that can be used for disability-related […]

Leave tax credits are available for employees who help others get vaccinated
September 2, 2021 COVID-19
Leave tax credits are available for employees who help others get vaccinated

In News Release 2021-160, the IRS recently made an important announcement related to COVID-19 vaccinations. That is, wages paid for leave taken to accompany someone who’s getting vaccinated, or to care for someone recovering from a vaccination, may be considered: Qualified family leave wages for purposes of the qualified family leave wages tax credit, and Qualified […]

Gift or kickback? It’s a fine line
September 1, 2021 Knowledge Center
Gift or kickback? It’s a fine line

Your employees shouldn’t accept any gift offered with the intent to improperly influence business decisions — or even one that merely appears to compromise their ability to act in your company’s best interests. Unfortunately, kickbacks are often disguised as gifts or travel, so they can be hard to identify. Here’s how to maintain your business’s […]

Can a broken trust be fixed?
August 30, 2021 Knowledge Center
Can a broken trust be fixed?

An irrevocable trust has long been a key component of many estate plans. But what if it no longer serves your purposes? Is it too late to change it? Depending on applicable state law, you may have several options for fixing a “broken” trust. How trusts break There are several reasons a trust can break, […]

IRS additional guidance addresses COBRA assistance under ARPA
August 27, 2021 COVID-19
IRS additional guidance addresses COBRA assistance under ARPA

In Notice 2021-46, the IRS recently issued additional guidance on the COBRA premium assistance provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Under the ARPA, a 100% COBRA premium subsidy and additional COBRA enrollment rights are available to certain assistance eligible individuals (AEIs) during the period beginning on April 1, 2021, and ending on September […]

A family bank professionalizes intrafamily lending
August 26, 2021 Knowledge Center
A family bank professionalizes intrafamily lending

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic turndown in some areas, you may have family members in need of financial support. If you’re interested in lending money to loved ones in need, consider establishing a “family bank.” These entities enhance the benefits of intrafamily loans, while minimizing unintended consequences. Intrafamily loans Lending can […]

Work with your payroll provider to pay deferred taxes
August 25, 2021 COVID-19
Work with your payroll provider to pay deferred taxes

Many of the relief measures passed by the federal government during the opening chapters of the COVID-19 pandemic are still relevant to employers. For example, under the CARES Act, you could defer payment of your share of Social Security taxes from March 27, 2020, through December 31, 2020. If you opted for this relief, you must pay […]

5 possible tax aspects of a parent moving into a nursing home
August 23, 2021 Knowledge Center
5 possible tax aspects of a parent moving into a nursing home

If you have a parent entering a nursing home, you may not be thinking about taxes. But there are a number of possible tax implications. Here are five. 1. Long-term medical care The costs of qualified long-term care, including nursing home care, are deductible as medical expenses to the extent they, along with other medical […]

IRS provides guidance on ARPA changes to pensions
August 20, 2021 Knowledge Center
IRS provides guidance on ARPA changes to pensions

In Notice 2021-48, the IRS recently provided guidance on changes made under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to the funding rules for single-employer defined benefit pension plans. The guidance also addresses the funding-based limits on benefits. Here are some key details. Minimum funding standard Generally, sponsors of single-employer defined benefit plans must satisfy the minimum […]

Financial statements: Take the time to read the entire story
August 19, 2021 Knowledge Center
Financial statements: Take the time to read the entire story

A complete set of financial statements for your business contains three reports. Each serves a different purpose, but ultimately helps stakeholders — including managers, employees, investors and lenders — evaluate a company’s performance. Here’s an overview of each report and a critical question it answers. 1. Income statement: Is the company growing and profitable? The […]