Section 179 Changes Could Mean It’s Time To Buy
Section 179 deductions just got better. For tax year 2018, the Section 179 deduction limit for property has soared to $1 million and, for equipment purchases, the cap is now set at $2.5 million. It could be a big tax-saving opportunity for small businesses—one that could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Section […]
When To Turn A Hobby Into A Business
Hobbies are a great distraction from the hustle and bustle of work. Over time, some of us become so good at our hobbies that they start providing income for us. How many cupcake bakers, woodworkers, photographers, and other hobbyists do you know who have found an extra source of income doing what they love? Are […]
Clearing The Path For Business Property Tax Breaks
While President Trump’s new administration works vigorously to unravel many of the programs put in place by President Obama, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015 remains intact. In fact, the IRS only recently released guidance for those interested in taking advantage of laws like Section 179 for real estate improvements (see […]
Leasing Versus Buying Under The New Section 179
Now that the IRS Section 179 deduction permanently offers small businesses an immediate expense deduction of up to $500,000, some of the property you may have leased in the past could serve you better when purchased, at least from a tax deduction standpoint. According to the IRS, this property may include specific equipment, vehicles, computer […]
Tracing Holocaust Victims’ Assets: An Investigative Auditor’s Perspective
1996, United States Senator Alfonse M. D’Amato, Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, began an inquiry into Swiss banks’ involvement in hiding Holocaust victims’ assets. Specifically, the inquiry examined the procedures by which the Swiss banks conducted the initial search in 1995 that stated that only 893 accounts were found, holding $32 million. The committee […]
Growing Business, Mounting Employment Taxes: A Bankler Case Study
Business growth is great. It’s the American dream. But without the right team on your side, the IRS can quickly turn that dream into a nightmare. “I failed to realize that middle management was the key to making it all work,” a business owner—now a Steven Bankler, CPA, Ltd. client—confessed when explaining how his company’s […]
Divorce And The Family Business
You won’t own your business forever. Many small business owners neglect to acknowledge that simple fact. Perhaps your exit will be planned to perfection and you’ll either sell to a third-party or leave via a strategic family succession plan. Or maybe life will throw you a curveball. Divorce is certainly one of those curveballs that […]
Employee Fraud Is More Common Than You Think
Is someone at your business “cooking the books” behind your back? Don’t bet against it. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), small businesses (with fewer than 100 employees) average 28 percent more fraud losses than large businesses. On average, those businesses lost more than $150,000 each. The ACFE recently provided methods to […]
Don’t Be Fooled: How You Can Detect Business Fraud
I’ve spent decades investigating business fraud as a forensic accountant and expert witness, often at the state and federal levels. The lessons I’ve learned about human behavior and motivation during this time have benefitted my clients in surprising ways. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the typical organization loses 5 percent of revenue […]
Exit Strategies: A Lesson From The Trenches
When Randy Smith started his own business at 28 years old, he truly set out on his own: with no partners and no investors. What he envisioned with his point-of-sale technology company, he achieved. Now, at 53, Smith has sold his company and successfully retired. We asked him to share some of the smart moves […]