Are you the founder of your company? If so, congratulations — you’ve created something truly amazing! And it’s more than understandable that you’d want to protect your legacy: the company you created. But, as time goes on, it becomes increasingly important that you give serious thought to a succession plan. When this topic comes up, […]
By Stephen Ozen If you own a restaurant in California, chances are you’ve dealt with large parties before. Due to the elevated levels of attention and service required for parties of 6 or more, there is typically gratuity added to the bill. While it may sound like it makes sense to ensure a certain amount […]
Charitable giving allows you to help an organization you care about and, in most cases, enjoy a valuable income tax deduction. If you’re considering a large gift, a non-cash donation such as appreciated real estate can provide additional benefits. For example, if you’ve held the property for more than one year, you generally will be […]
At back-to-school time, much of the focus is on the students returning to the classroom — and on their parents buying them school supplies, backpacks, clothes, etc., for the new school year. But let’s not forget about the teachers. It’s common for teachers to pay for some classroom supplies out of pocket, and the tax […]
Most of the talk about possible tax legislation this year has focused on either wide-sweeping tax reform or taxes that are part of the Affordable Care Act. But there are a few other potential tax developments for individuals to keep an eye on. Back in December of 2015, Congress passed the PATH Act, which made […]
Now that Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal and replacement efforts appear to have collapsed, at least for the time being, it’s a good time for a refresher on the tax penalty the ACA imposes on individuals who fail to have “minimum essential” health insurance coverage for any month of the year. This requirement is commonly […]
Your compensation may take several forms, including salary, fringe benefits, and bonuses. If you work for a corporation, you might also receive stock-based compensation, such as stock options. These come in two varieties: nonqualified (NQSOs) and incentive (ISOs). With both NQSOs and ISOs, if the stock appreciates beyond your exercise price, you can buy shares […]
t can be easy to forget all about taxes during summertime, when “the livin’ is easy,” as the Gershwin song goes. But if you start your tax planning now, you may avoid an unpleasant tax surprise when you file next year. Summer is also a good time to establish a storage system for your tax […]
If your estate plan includes one or more trusts, review them with consideration towards income taxes. For trusts, the income threshold is very low for triggering the: Top income tax rate of 39.6%, Top long-term capital gains rate of 20%, and Net investment income tax (NIIT) of 3.8%. The threshold is only $12,500 for 2017. […]
Summer is a popular time to move, whether it’s so the kids don’t have to change schools mid-school-year, to avoid having to move in bad weather or simply because it can be an easier time to sell a home. Unfortunately, moving can be expensive. The good news is that you might be eligible for a […]
The tax consequences of the sale of an investment, as well as your net return, can be affected by a multitude of factors. You might be focused on factors such as how much you paid for the investment vs. how much you’re selling it for, whether you held the investment long-term (more than one year), […]
When it comes to estate planning, asset protection is paramount. No matter how well your estate plan is designed, it won’t benefit anyone if you wind up with no wealth to share with your family. If you have substantial assets in employer-sponsored retirement plans or IRAs, it’s important to understand the extent to which those […]