|
|
|
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| Deductions
and credits |
- Shaky
shelters -- The Treasury Department is going after businesses that are
abusing tax shelters. More
|
- Giving
workers a break -- The Advance Earned Income Credit can give your low-paid
workers a financial boost. More
|
- The
morning-after cleanup
-- Tax breaks
for hotels repairing spring break wreckage and other disasters. More
|
- Calculating
corporate taxes --
We'll take
you by the hand through the complex number-crunching.
More
|
- Congratulations
-- you're a loser -- If your company had a bad year, Uncle Sam may let
you deduct those losses. More
|
- IRS
extends Y2K tax breaks -- But if the millennium
bug bit, you better tell the IRS -- fast. More
|
- Deduct
your Y2K expenses -- That
money you spent getting ready for the Year 2000 rollover? Uncle Sam wants
to give it back. More
|
- Loopholes
create a two-way tax break -- Make a loan
to your business and forgive it, and you'll pick up a nice tax cut. More
|
- Charitable
deductions for corporations -- Corporations
have an advantage over sole proprietors: they can spread losses over several
years and shuffle charitable donations to cut their taxes. More
|
- IRS
plays hardball with entertainment deductions -- If you're taking clients
to see the champs play, you better read Uncle Sam's rulebook before you
try to deduct that stadium luxury skybox. More
|
- Making
some brilliant (travel) deductions -- If you're willing to keep the
records and fill out the forms, almost all that business travel you do can
be taken off your taxes. More
|
- The
general business credit -- Tax credits, which are used to encourage
businesses to do certain things, reduce taxes more than a same-sized deduction.
More
PLUS: Qualifying for the general business credit More
|
- How
to deduct business expenses -- One of the few bits of fun a business
owner can have is deducting business expenses -- but, as usual, there are
rules about how to do it. More
|
- Section
179 deductions for tangible property -- A look at the tax issues for
small businesses and the Section 179 deductions. More
|
- Losses
from a hobby aren't deductible -- Did you lose money this years on things
you enjoy, perhaps stamp collecting or horse training? The losses might
be deductible under some circumstances. More
|
- Deducting
casualty losses from disasters -- Find out how to deduct property losses
from your income. More
|
|
Top
of page
|
| Employment
issues |
- E-filing
your payroll taxes -- snap or trap?
-- The IRS
wants business to e-file, telling doubters they 'know' high-tech. Do they,
and should you? More
|
-
Electronic
filing -- IRS offers perks to businesses that choose to file payroll
tax returns electronically. More
|
- Giving
workers a break -- The Advance Earned Income Credit can give your low-paid
workers a financial boost. More
|
-
Taming
the dreaded 941 -- A line-by-line guide to the most-loathed tax form
for business owners. More
|
-
Taming
the dreaded 941 -- Part 2-- This week's tax tip attacks lines 5 through
9 of Form 941. More
|
-
Taming
the 941 -- Part 3 --
Our line-by-line guide to taming the dreaded Form 941 concludes. More
|
- Correct
deposits can keep you in business -- Follow the
rules for tax deposits, and problems with the IRS won't bring down your
company. More
|
- IRS
extends Y2K tax breaks -- But if the millennium
bug bit, you better tell the IRS -- fast. More
|
- The
worker's gone, but the paperwork should stay -- Even if a new employee
only lasted two days, it's a good idea to keep the personnel file for a
few years. More
|
- Paying
employment taxes electronically -- Uncle Sam still wants his taxes,
but you can dispense with coupons and checks, and pay those business taxes
using a telephone or computer. More
|
- Contractor
or employee? -- If you are thinking of using contractors in your business,
make sure the IRS agrees with you that they are contractors -- and not employees.
More
|
| Excise
taxes |
- Making
excise taxes less taxing -- Paying excise taxes is one of those unpleasant
duties some small businesses face, and Uncle Sam doesn't make it easy to
comply with the law. More
|
- Playing
by the excise tax rules -- and exceptions -- There
are special rules for depositing excise taxes for ozone-depleting chemicals,
fuel, communication and air travel, and figuring out when to make those
deposits is another challenge. More
|
|
Top
of page
|
| Home
offices |
- Conformity
can keep the IRS at bay: Deviate from the norm on your return and you
wave a red "audit me" flag. More
|
- Tax
records -- fill in the gaps -- When you need old tax files, here's how
to fill in the gaps in record-setting time. More
|
- Don't
get an "F" on Schedule C -- How to avoid the common mistakes. More
|
- To
C or not to C -- Whether 'tis better for your business to use a Schedule
C or a C-EZ. More
|
- Home-office
deductions just got easier -- More
taxpayers than ever can deduct the business use of their home this year,
even those who haven't qualified in the past. The deduction is available
to self-employed people as well as those who work for others. More
|
- 1999
tax strategies for home offices -- We review some specific rules for
qualifying a residential area as a home office, and introduce three tax
reduction strategies: converting commuting costs to travel expenses, hiring
independent contractors and capitalizing start-up costs. More
|
| Income
and inventory |
- Windfall
pitfalls -- The spring break spike: how to handle a sudden rash of cash.
More
|
- How
to value your inventory -- The method you use to assess the value of
merchandise you haven't sold yet can have a serious impact on your taxes.
More
|
- Casting
a wide net for income -- The IRS has a broad definition of business
income, which means more work for the business owner -- and more tax for
the IRS to collect. More
|
| Miscellaneous |
- E-filing
your payroll taxes -- snap or trap?
-- The IRS
wants business to e-file, telling doubters they 'know' high-tech. Do they,
and should you? More
|
- Conformity
can keep the IRS at bay -- Deviate from the norm on your return and
you wave a red "audit me" flag. More
|
- No
instant tax breaks -- Be
patient when dealing with most start-up costs -- they're not deductible
right away. More
|
- Businesses
hit by Floyd catch a break -- The IRS gives business owners affected
by Hurricane Floyd some tax relief and more time to file forms. More
|
- IRS
serious about business taxes -- Failing to pay business taxes can lead
to some serious consequences, including tax penalties. More
|
|
Top
of page
|
| Partnerships
and corporations |
- Shaky
shelters -- The Treasury Department is going after businesses that are
abusing tax shelters. More
|
- Tax
records -- fill in the gaps -- When you need old tax files, here's how
to fill in the gaps in record-setting time. More
|
- Don't
get an "F" on Schedule C -- How to avoid the common mistakes. More
|
- To
C or not to C -- Whether 'tis better for your business to use a Schedule
C or a C-EZ. More
|
- Hold
those profits! -- How
to thwart the IRS when it wants to shake your bottom line with the accumulated
earnings tax. More
|
- Calculating
corporate taxes --
We'll take
you by the hand through the complex number-crunching.
More
|
- Corporate
tax maneuvers -- Protect your company now from the alternative minimum
tax. More
|
- Congratulations
-- you're a loser -- If your company had a bad year, Uncle Sam may let
you deduct those losses. More
|
- Loopholes
create a two-way tax break -- Make a loan
to your business and forgive it, and you'll pick up a nice tax cut. More
|
- Charitable
deductions for corporations -- Corporations
have an advantage over sole proprietors: they can spread losses over several
years and shuffle charitable donations to cut their taxes. More
|
- Contributions
to a company may be taxable -- The IRS means business when it writes
sometimes confusing rules about giving to a corporation. More
|
- Repercussions
of trading property for stock -- If you know the rules, you can make
sure that a trade of property for stock leaves you with no tax liability.
More
|
- Breaking
up is expensive to do -- Terminating a partnership can make for some
complicated -- and costly -- tax consequences. More
|
- Picking
a tax year for partnership is tougher than it sounds -- Picking a wallpaper
pattern for the front lobby pales in comparison to choosing a tax year.
More
PLUS: Changing a partnership's tax year More
|
- The
rules on partnerships -- Two
people working together in the same company do not necessarily make a partnership,
according to the IRS, unless they follow the agency's rules. More
|
- A
structure for your business -- Once you've decided to start a business,
you need to decide how to structure it. Sole proprietorship, partnership,
corporation or S corporation? It's an important decision. More
|
|
Top
of page
|
| Preparation
and preparers |
- E-filing
your payroll taxes -- snap or trap?
-- The IRS
wants business to e-file, telling doubters they 'know' high-tech. Do they,
and should you? More
|
- Electronic
filing -- IRS offers perks to businesses that choose to file payroll
tax returns electronically. More
|
- Giving
workers a break -- The Advance Earned Income Credit can give your low-paid
workers a financial boost. More
|
- Conformity
can keep the IRS at bay -- Deviate from the norm on your return and
you wave a red "audit me" flag. More
|
- Taming
the dreaded 941 -- A line-by-line guide to the most-loathed tax form
for business owners. More
|
- Taming
the dreaded 941 -- Part 2-- This
week's tax tip attacks lines 5 through 9 of Form 941. More
|
-
Taming
the 941 -- Part 3 --
Our line-by-line guide to taming the dreaded Form 941 concludes. More
|
- Tax
records -- fill in the gaps -- When you need old tax files, here's how
to fill in the gaps in record-setting time. More
|
- Don't
get an "F" on Schedule C -- How to avoid the common mistakes. More
|
- To
C or not to C -- Whether 'tis better for your business to use a Schedule
C or a C-EZ. More
|
- IRS
extends Y2K tax breaks -- But if the millennium
bug bit, you better tell the IRS -- fast. More
|
- Multiple
deadlines loom -- Individual taxpayers have to deal with April
17. Big whoop. Business owners have a half-dozen more tax deadlines to worry
about. More
|
- Electronic
filing -- The IRS' new rules for electronic filing let some business
owners off the hook -- but others will face stricter enforcement of the
rules. More
|
- Estimating
payments to the IRS -- There are four deadlines you must meet,
regardless of the business you're in: the days quarterly estimated taxes
are due. More
|
- Testing
the bottom line for accuracy -- There are items you need to double-check
on a tax return before computing your gross profit. More
|
- Finding
the right preparer -- Sure, you'd rather concentrate on your business
than the paperwork. But be careful before you hand your tax chores over
to someone else. More
|
- What
you have to send the tax man -- If you're going into business, you'll
need to deal with a variety of taxes -- and forms. More
|
- Don't
overlook enrolled agents -- If you haven't paid income tax or filed
a return in the past few years, an enrolled agent can represent you before
the IRS. More
|
|
Top
of page
|
| Property
and capital |
- The
morning-after cleanup
-- Tax breaks
for hotels repairing spring break wreckage and other disasters. More
|
- No
instant tax breaks -- Be
patient when dealing with most start-up costs -- they're not deductible
right away. More
|
- Understanding
a property's basis -- Exchanging property for a share in a partnership
complicates your tax situation. More
|
- Avoiding
confusion with basis adjustments -- Why a property's basis increases
or decreases. More
|
- Small
businesses and Section 179 -- How to fully expense tangible property
the year you acquire it, instead of spreading the cost over several years.
More
|
- Trading
property in a "like-kind" exchange -- Small business owners
looking to legally reduce their taxes may be able to carry out a "like-kind"
exchange and, if they follow the IRS rules, save some money. More
|
|
Top
of page
|
| Records
and record-keeping |
- Giving
workers a break -- The Advance Earned Income Credit can give your low-paid
workers a financial boost. More
|
- Conformity
can keep the IRS at bay -- Deviate from the norm on your return and
you wave a red "audit me" flag. More
|
- Taming
the dreaded 941 -- A line-by-line guide to the most-loathed tax form
for business owners. More
|
- Taming
the dreaded 941 -- Part 2-- This week's tax tip attacks lines 5 through
9 of Form 941. More
|
-
Taming
the 941 -- Part 3 --
Our line-by-line guide to taming the dreaded Form 941 concludes. More
|
- Correct
deposits can keep you in business -- Follow the
rules for tax deposits, and problems with the IRS won't bring down your
company. More
|
- Windfall
pitfalls -- The spring break spike: how to handle a sudden rash of cash.
More
|
- Tax
records -- fill in the gaps -- When you need old tax files, here's how
to fill in the gaps in record-setting time. More
|
- IRS
extends Y2K tax breaks -- But if the millennium
bug bit, you better tell the IRS -- fast. More
|
- Corporate
tax maneuvers -- Protect your company now from the alternative minimum
tax. More
|
- Multiple
deadlines loom -- Individual taxpayers have to deal with April
17. Big whoop. Business owners have a half-dozen more tax deadlines to worry
about. More
|
- Estimated
payments -- There are two ways to estimate
how much you have to pay the IRS each quarter, and the agency expects you
to be almost exactly right. More
|
- Toss
no records before their time -- You don't have to keep most paperwork
forever, but throwing out important papers before Uncle Sam says it's OK
can be costly. More
|
- The
basics of keeping the books -- Few things are less appealing to a person
in business, but it's the best way to tell if your business is doing well
or not. More
|
- Good
record-keeping is good for business -- Good bookkeeping is just as important
as inventory for any business -- and it'll help in your dealings with the
IRS. More
|
- Reeling
in the years -- A business's annual accounting period, or tax year,
is another choice an entrepreneur must make. More
|
- Setting
up the books -- Business owners need to follow a consistent set of rules
when reporting income and other expenses. More
|
- The
numbers game -- People in business need to pay attention to the numbers
-- Social Security and Employer Identification numbers, that is. More
|
| Retirement |
- Setting
up a SEP-IRA -- In the beginning of your business, a retirement plan
may not have been a priority, but once you're established, you may want
to reward loyal employees -- and yourself. More
|
|
Top
of page
|
| Start-up
tax information |
- Correct
deposits can keep you in business -- Follow the
rules for tax deposits, and problems with the IRS won't bring down your
company. More
|
- Tax
records -- fill in the gaps -- When you need old tax files, here's how
to fill in the gaps in record-setting time. More
|
- Don't
get an "F" on Schedule C -- How to avoid the common mistakes. More
|
- To
C or not to C -- Whether 'tis better for your business to use a Schedule
C or a C-EZ. More
|
- No
instant tax breaks -- Be
patient when dealing with most start-up costs -- they're not deductible
right away. More
|
- The
forms you'll need to get started -- The road to business success
may seem to be paved with paper, and we have a list of tax forms you will
need to begin the journey. More
|
- When
and how to file a business return -- If you're in business but unsure
what tax forms you have to file, we let you know and tell you about electronic
filing systems. More
|
- The
basics of keeping the books -- Few things are less appealing to a person
in business, but it's the best way to tell if your business is doing well
or not. More
|
- Good
record-keeping is good for business -- Good bookkeeping is just as important
as inventory for any business -- and it'll help in your dealings with the
IRS. More
|
- How
to deduct business expenses -- One of the few bits of fun a business
owner can have is deducting business expenses -- but, as usual, there are
rules about how to do it. More
|
- IRS
serious about business taxes -- Failing to pay business taxes can lead
to some serious consequences, including tax penalties. More
|
- What
you have to send the tax man -- If you're going into business you'll
need to deal with a variety of taxes -- and forms. More
|
- A
structure for your business -- Once you've decided to start a business,
you need to decide how to structure it. Sole proprietorship, partnership,
corporation or S corporation? It's an important decision. More
|
- The
self-employed are entitled to a number of tax savings -- Workers laid
off and starting their own businesses may be unaware of the tax savings
available. More
|
| Year-end
advice |
- Congratulations
-- you're a loser -- If your company had a bad year, Uncle Sam may let
you deduct those losses. More
|
- Deduct
your Y2K expenses -- That
money you spent getting ready for the Year 2000 rollover? Uncle Sam wants
to give it back. More
|
- Multiple
deadlines loom -- Individual taxpayers have to deal with April
17. Big whoop. Business owners have a half-dozen more tax deadlines to worry
about. More
|
- Fourth-quarter
tax plays to call now -- Here's some tax tips that will run interference
against the IRS to help you avoid being sacked by Uncle Sam on April 17.
More
|
|
|
