Is better customer service from the IRS coming? The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee has approved the fiscal 2023 Financial Services and General Government bill, including IRS funding that is $1 billion above the FY 2022 level. Subcommittee Chair Mike Quigley (D-IL) said this “continues restoring the IRS from draconian cuts this agency has … Read More
Author: Smeriglio Associates LLC
Help when needed: Apply the research credit against payroll taxes
Here’s an interesting option if your small company or start-up business is planning to claim the research tax credit. Subject to limits, you can elect to apply all or some of any research tax credits that you earn against your payroll taxes instead of your income tax. This payroll tax election may influence some businesses … Read More
GAO: Direct Stimulus Payments
A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, “Stimulus Checks: Direct Payments to Individuals During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” states that the federal government made $931 billion in stimulus payments in 2020 and 2021. However, 2% of those payments were made improperly. The GAO suggests that the IRS and Treasury Department can reduce errors while administering tax … Read More
When hiring, don’t overlook older workers
Is your business hiring? Many companies are — in fact, an employment report released by the U.S. Department of Labor earlier this month revealed that nonfarm payrolls increased by 390,000 in May, and the unemployment rate held steady at 3.6%. As the job market continues to feel the impact of “the Great Resignation,” the competition … Read More
IRS: Alimony
If you’re getting divorced, you have one more thing to think about: taxes. When you receive a final divorce decree, update your withholding by filing a new W-4 with your employer. If you receive alimony, you may need to increase withholding or make estimated payments. However, if your divorce was finalized after Dec. 31, 2018, … Read More
Checking in on your accounts payable processes
Accounts payable is a critical area of concern for every business. However, as a back-office function, it doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. Once in place, accounts payable processes tend to get taken for granted. Following are some tips and best practices for improving your company’s approach. Be strategic Too often, businesses take a … Read More
US Treasury: Pillar Two
Requiring large multinational corporations to report income everywhere they operate is essential to a global deal on minimum corporate income tax, according to Kimberly Clausing, a UCLA law professor who recently served as the U.S. Deputy Assistant Treasury Secretary for tax analysis. Clausing said the country-by-country reporting provision is a “core principle” of Pillar Two, … Read More
IRS: Record Keeping for Tax Credit Eligibility
Are you keeping detailed tax records? With 2022 half over, you should be mindful that tax planning is a year-round task. Putting off recordkeeping could result in lost tax opportunities. Eligibility for certain tax credits and deductions available to taxpayers is based on their adjusted gross income (AGI). AGI is gross income minus specific deductions … Read More
Simple ways to make strategic planning a reality
Every business wants to engage in strategic planning that will better position the company to sell more to current customers — and perhaps expand into new markets. Yet the term “strategic planning” is so broad. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the possible directions you could go in and have a hard time choosing … Read More
2022 – 06/28 – IRS: Voice Bot
The next time you contact the IRS by phone, it’s likely that you’ll end up speaking to a voice bot. The IRS launched “authenticated” voice bots this year, and they’re now operating at 100% capacity. The bots, which are powered by artificial intelligence and currently available in English and Spanish, are an advance from previous, … Read More