The IRS has recently issued final regulations regarding details about investment in qualified opportunity zones (QOZ). The regulations modified and finalized proposed regulations for QOZ businesses that IRS previously issued. The final regulations provide additional guidance for taxpayers who are eligible to make an election to temporarily defer the inclusion in gross income of [...]
We have received several questions from South Carolina clients about whether they may claim a deduction for personal losses attributable to Hurricane Dorian in 2019. The short answer is no. For tax year 2019, personal casualty losses (for example: losses due to damage from a hurricane) are deductible only if attributable to a federally-declared [...]
The optional standard mileage rates for business use of a vehicle will decrease slightly in 2020, the IRS announced (Notice 2020-05). For business use of a car, van, pickup truck, or panel truck, the rate for 2020 will be 57.5 cents per mile in 2020, down from 58 cents per mile last year after [...]
December 10 Employees who work for tips - If you received $20 or more in tips during November, report them to your employer. You can use Form 4070. December 16 Corporations - Deposit the fourth installment of estimated income tax for 2019. A worksheet, Form 1120-W, is available to help you estimate your tax [...]
Cost of living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other retirement-related items for 2020 are as follows: 401(k), 403(b), 457 plans, and Thrift Savings Plan. Contribution limits for employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government's Thrift Savings Plan increase from $19,000 to $19,500. The catch-up contribution [...]
Farmers and ranchers who were forced to sell livestock due to drought may get extra time to replace the livestock and defer tax on any gains from the forced sales. Here are some facts about this to help farmers understand how the deferral works and if they are eligible. 1. The one-year extension gives [...]
Small business owners who are also employers should remember that the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) has features that make it easier to meet their tax obligations - whether they prepare and submit payroll taxes themselves or hire an outside payroll service provider to do it on their behalf. Background Many employers outsource [...]
Taxpayers born before July 1, 1949, generally must receive payments from their individual retirement arrangements (IRAs) and workplace retirement plans by December 31. Known as required minimum distributions (RMDs), typically these distributions must be made by the end of the tax year. The required distribution rules apply to owners of traditional, Simplified Employee Pension [...]
Taxpayers using optional standard mileage rates in computing the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving expense purposes should be aware of an updated set of rules. The updated rules reflect changes to certain deductible expenses resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Also updated, are tax [...]
While similar to FSAs (Flexible Savings Plans) in that both allow pretax contributions, Health Savings Accounts or HSAs offer taxpayers several additional tax benefits such as contributions that roll over from year to year (i.e., no "use it or lose it"), tax-free interest on earnings, and when used for qualified medical expenses, tax-free distributions. [...]
