Help from the IRS for Hurricane Irma Victims
In response to Hurricane Irma victims in parts of Florida, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other areas, the IRS is offering extra time to complete tax-related responsibilities. Affected individuals now have until January 31, 2018, to file certain individual and business tax...
IRS Guidance on Leave-Sharing Programs to Help Hurricane Victims
As we’ve been discussing, the IRS recently announced special tax relief for leave-based donation programs set up by employers to assist victims of Hurricane Harvey and Tropical Storm Harvey. Basics of Employer Programs This means an employer can allow its employees to...
Are You Ready for the New IRS Partnership Audit Rules?
For partnerships and limited liability companies (LLCs) that are treated as partnerships for tax purposes, legislation enacted in 2015 established a new IRS audit regime. To help partners prepare for the changes that are effective starting with the 2018 tax year,...
Chancery Bases Fair Value Calculation on Income-Based Model
Dunmire v. Farmers & Merchants Bancorp of W. Pa., 2016 Del. Ch. LEXIS 167 (Nov. 10, 2016) In a statutory appraisal action, the Delaware Court of Chancery rejected the deal price as evidence of fair value, citing a suboptimal sales process. Only an income-based...
How to Maximize Tax Breaks for Work-Related Education Costs
Since school is back in session, we think it’s a good time for a refresher on tax breaks for work-related education expenditures. Here's what Maine taxpayers need to know. American Opportunity Credit The American Opportunity credit equals 100% of the first $2,000 of...
Could Travel Per Diems Simplify Employee Expense Reimbursements?
If your Maine small business reimburses employees for actual travel expenses, then you know the process of submitting and approving expense reports for business travel can be an administrative hassle. Fortunately, the IRS offers simplified alternatives that can save...
Inadequate Records Lead to Unfavorable Results for Taxpayers
Although the Federal tax law allows deductions for many items, such as legitimate business expenses and charitable donations, you must maintain adequate records to support them. If your tax return is audited, missing or incomplete records could lead to additional...
Alerding Comments on Washington State Double-Dip Analysis
In re Marriage of Cheng, 2016 Wash. App LEXIS 2854 (Nov. 22, 2016) A double-dip decision out of Washington State prompted a reader’s request for comment from veteran valuator Jim Alerding (Alerding Consulting), who frequently deals with divorce-related valuation...
Give Back and Save Taxes with Charitable Contributions
You may be thinking about making some charitable donations as the year comes to an end. Here's a rundown of the potential tax breaks for your generosity. Itemized Deductions While you can claim write-offs for contributions of cash and other items donated to charitable...
Recent Incidents Fuel Concerns over Breach Response
Could your data be hacked? Unfortunately, every organization is vulnerable to cyberattacks today. There are plenty of examples. In September, Equifax reported a data breach that exposed the credit histories and other information of 145.5 million Americans. Shortly...