Category: Tax Planning

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2021 YEAR-END TAX PLANNING FOR BUSINESSES

Tax Planning

2021 YEAR-END TAX PLANNING FOR BUSINESSES

November 12, 2021

Chetan Dogra

Written by Chetan Dogra, CPA

As we start to wrap up 2021, it‘s important to check in with your tax and financial plans. This year likely brought challenges and disruptions that significantly impacted your personal and financial situation –– a continued global pandemic, several significant natural disasters, new tax laws and political shifts. Now is the time to take a closer look at your current tax strategies to make sure they are still meeting your needs and take any last-minute steps that could save you money. Here’s a look at some issues to consider as we approach year-end:

Key tax considerations from recent tax legislation

Many tax provisions were implemented under the American Rescue Plan Act that was enacted in March 2021. This act aimed to help individuals and businesses deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and its ongoing economic disruption. Also, some tax provisions were passed late in December 2020 that will impact this filing season. Below is a summary of the highlights in recent tax law changes to help you plan.

Employee retention credit (ERC)

The ERC encourages businesses to keep employees on their payroll during the pandemic. The ERC is a refundable payroll tax credit that may be claimed by eligible employers who pay qualified wages to qualifying employees. Changes were made with legislation to allow businesses to qualify for both Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and the ERC. See if these programs could benefit you.

Family and sick leave credits

The American Rescue Plan Act extended the family and sick leave credits to Sept. 30, 2021. These credits are intended to compensate employers and self-employed people for coronavirus-related paid sick and family and medical leave.

Small Business Administration (SBA) loans

Though the PPP ended on May 31, 2021, existing borrowers may be eligible for PPP loan forgiveness. Even though the PPP loan forgiveness is not taxable for federal purposes, there may be state implications. There are also other COVID-19 relief measures offered through the SBA.  

Other tax matters to note:

Business meals

There is a 100% deduction (rather than the prior 50%) for expenses paid for food or beverages provided by a restaurant. This provision is effective for expenses incurred after Dec. 31, 2020 and expires at the end of 2022.

Purchases of property and equipment

With tax-favorable options available to businesses, many purchases can be completely written off in the year they are placed in service. Plus, there are tax-favorable rules that permit qualified improvement property to qualify for 15-year depreciation and, therefore, also be eligible for 100% first-year bonus depreciation. Let us help you receive the best tax treatment.

Net operating losses

If you have significant losses from 2018 to 2020, you may be able to carry those losses back up to five years, which can significantly impact a prior year where there was a tax liability.

Methods of accounting

More businesses can use the cash method of accounting. This can be helpful for cashflow purposes and is generally easier to apply than the accrual method of accounting. There are qualifications that must be met, but we can help you
understand if your business would benefit.

Retirement plans

Have you revisited your company’s retirement plan lately? Take a look at the many retirement savings options to make sure that you are taking advantage of tax deductions as well as providing opportunities for owners and employees to save for retirement.

Looming potential legislation

With potential tax changes looming as Congress debates proposals in President Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda, there remains uncertainty in how this will impact taxpayers. As legislation continues to evolve, and if it passes, we’ll contact you to discuss how changes impact your tax and financial plan.

Year-end planning equals fewer surprises

There are many other opportunities to discuss as year-end approaches. And, many times, there may be strategies such as deferral or acceleration of income, prepayment or deferral of expenses, etc., that can help you save taxes and strengthen your financial position.

Whether it’s working toward a business succession plan or getting answers to your tax and financial planning questions, we’re here for you. Please contact our office today at 646.477.9369 to set up your year-end review. As always, planning ahead can help you minimize your tax bill and position you for greater success.

 

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2021 YEAR-END TAX PLANNING FOR INDIVIDUALS

Tax Planning

2021 YEAR-END TAX PLANNING FOR INDIVIDUALS

November 12, 2021

Chetan Dogra

Written by Chetan Dogra, CPA

As we wrap up 2021, it’s important to take a closer look at your tax and financial plans. This year likely brought challenges and disruptions that significantly impacted your personal and financial situation –– a continued global pandemic, several significant natural disasters, new tax laws and political shifts. Now is the time to take a closer look at your current tax strategies to make sure they are still meeting your needs and take any last-minute steps that could save you money. Here’s a look at some issues to consider as we approach year-end:

Key tax considerations from recent tax legislation

Many tax provisions were implemented under the American Rescue Plan Act that was enacted in March 2021. This act aimed to help individuals and businesses deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and its ongoing economic disruption. Also, some tax provisions were passed late in December 2020 that will impact this filing season. Below is a summary of the highlights in recent tax law changes to help you plan.

 

Economic impact payments (EIPs)

The American Rescue Plan Act created a new round of EIPs that were sent to qualifying individuals. As with last year’s stimulus payments, the EIPs were set up as advance payments of a recovery rebate tax credit. If you qualified for EIPs, you should have received these payments already. However, if the IRS owes you more, this additional amount will be captured and claimed on your 2021 income tax return and we can help you plan for any modification now. 

If you received an EIP as an advance payment, you should receive a letter from the IRS. Keep this for record-keeping purposes to help us determine any potential adjustment.

Child tax credit

As part of the American Rescue Plan Act, there were many important changes to the child tax credit, such as the credit:

·       Amount has increased for certain taxpayers

·       Is fully refundable (meaning taxpayers will receive a refund of the credit even if they don’t owe the IRS)

·       May be partially received in monthly payments

·       Is applicable to children age 17 and younger

 

The IRS began paying half of the credit in advance monthly payments beginning in July –– some taxpayers chose to opt out of the advance payments, and some may have complexities that require additional analysis. We’ll be here to help you navigate any questions to make sure you get the best benefit for your family.

Charitable contribution deductions

Individuals who do not itemize their deductions can take a deduction of up to $300 ($600 for joint filers). Such contributions must be made in cash and made to qualified organizations. Taxpayers who itemize can continue to deduct qualifying donations. In addition, taxpayers can claim a charitable deduction up to 100% of their adjusted gross income (AGI) in 2021 (up from 60%). There are many tax planning strategies we can discuss with you in this area.

Required minimum distributions (RMDs)

RMDs are the minimum amount you must annually withdraw from your retirement accounts (e.g., 401(k) or IRA) if you meet certain criteria. For 2021, you must take a distribution if you are age 72 by the end of the year (or age 70½ if you reach that age before Jan. 1, 2020). Planning ahead to determine the tax consequences of RMDs is important, especially for those who are in their first year of RMDs.

Unemployment compensation

Another thing to note that’s different in 2021 is the treatment of unemployment compensation. There is no exclusion from income. The $10,200 income tax exclusion that a taxpayer may have received in 2020 is no longer available in 2021. We can help you plan for any potential impacts of this change.

State tax obligations related to teleworking arrangements

The pandemic has spawned changes in how people work, and more people are permanently working from home (i.e., teleworking). Such remote working arrangements could potentially have tax implications that should be considered by you and your employer.

Virtual currency transactions are becoming more common.

There are many different types of virtual currencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The sale or exchange of virtual currencies, the use of such currencies to pay for goods or services, or holding such currencies as an investment, generally has tax impacts. We can help you understand those consequences. 

Additional tax and retirement planning considerations

We recommend you review your retirement situation at least annually. That includes making the most of tax-advantaged retirement saving options, such as traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs and company retirement plans. It’s also advisable to take advantage of health savings accounts (HSAs) that can help you reduce your taxes and save for your future. We can help you determine whether you’re on target to reach your retirement goals.

Here are a few more tax and financial planning items to discuss with us:

·        Let us know about any major changes in your life such as marriages or divorces, births or deaths in the family, job or employment changes, starting a business and significant expenditures (real estate purchases, college tuition payments, etc.).

·        Consider tax benefits related to using capital losses to offset realized gains –– and move any gains to the lowest tax brackets, if possible.

 

·        Make sure you’re appropriately planning for estate and gift tax purposes. There is an annual exclusion for gifts ($15,000 per donee, $30,000 for married couples) to help save on potential future estate taxes.

 

·         Consider Sec. 529 plans to help save for education; there can be income tax benefits to do so, and we can help you with any questions.

 

·         Consider any updates needed to insurance policies or beneficiary designations.

 

·         Discuss tax consequences of converting traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs.

 

·         Let’s review withholding and estimated tax payments and assess any liquidity needs.

Looming potential tax legislation

With potential tax changes looming as Congress debates proposals in President Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda, there remains uncertainty in how this will impact taxpayers. As legislation continues to evolve, and if it passes, we’ll contact you to discuss how changes impact your tax and financial plan.

Year-end planning equals fewer surprises

There are many other opportunities to discuss as year-end approaches. And, many times, there may be strategies such as deferral or acceleration of income, prepayment or deferral of expenses, etc., that can help you save taxes and strengthen your financial position.

Whether it’s working toward retirement or getting answers to your tax and financial planning questions, we’re here for you. As always, planning ahead can help you minimize your tax bill and position you for greater success.

Posted on

2020 Year-End Tax Planning for Businesses

Tax Planning

2020 Year-End Tax Planning for Businesses

November 27, 2020

Chetan Dogra

Written by Chetan Dogra, CPA, CVA 

We can all agree that 2020 is unlike any other year. As we consider tax-planning strategies for the year end, major uncertainty continues concerning the severity of the pandemic and length of the economic recovery. Although Congress passed two major pieces of legislation in response to the health and economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, it remains unclear if additional relief is forthcoming. 

In addition, some regularly expiring tax provisions are due to expire again at the end of 2020. In the meantime, the IRS continues to release significant guidance on provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. As such, each business should consider the unique challenges and possible opportunities that this year presents.

COVID Relief

In addition to providing resources to the health community to help contain and combat the virus, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act offered employees and self-employed individuals affected by the pandemic with guaranteed paid sick leave. Provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act also included numerous tax benefits for businesses. Here are highlights for tax planning consideration at 2020 year-end:

  • The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Under the Cares Act, a recipient of a covered loan can receive forgiveness of indebtedness on a PPP loan in an amount equal to the sum of payments made for qualified expenses. According to IRS guidance, the business expenses related to forgivable PPP loans are not deductible. However, lawmakers state that this was not their intent. Congress will need to address the deductibility of these expenses in future legislation to clearly make these expenses deductible.
  • Employee Retention Credits. The employee retention credit is designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll and is available for qualified wages paid through the end of 2020. This credit is very similar to the paid leave credits granted to employers under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act with some changes to the requirements. Most significantly, neither the employee nor the employer has to be directly impacted by the infection. Employers can reduce their required deposits of payroll taxes withheld from employees’ wages by the amount of the credit or request an advance of the employee retention credit. Eligible employers may use the employee retention credit with other relief such as payroll tax deferral which may affect deposits and advances.
  • Deferred Payroll Tax Payments. Payroll taxes due from the period beginning on March 27, 2020 and ending on December 31, 2020, can be deferred. The total payroll taxes incurred by employers, and 50 percent of payroll taxes incurred by self-employed persons qualify for the deferral. Half of the deferred payroll taxes are due on December 31, 2021, with the remainder due on December 31, 2022.
  • Executive Memorandum on Withholding. President Trump has authorized employers to defer the withholding of the employee’s share of Social Security taxes through the end of 2020. However, unless Congress forgives the repayment of these taxes, they will have to be repaid in the first quarter of 2021. It is unclear as to how the deferred tax would be collected from individuals who are no longer employed when the taxes come due. Employers that are concerned with the administration and collection of the deferred taxes continue to withhold the taxes from their employees.

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act modified under the CARES Act

Several tax provisions under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act were modified by the CARES Act for 2020 and earlier years providing opportunities to amend prior year returns. A 15-year recovery period is retroactively assigned to qualified improvement property placed in service after December 31, 2017 allowing the property to be depreciated over 15 years or, alternatively to qualify for 100 percent bonus depreciation.

Net operating losses (NOLs) arising in tax years beginning in 2018, 2019, and 2020 now have a five-year carryback period with an unlimited carryforward period and are not limited to 80 percent of taxable income.

The business interest deduction limit increased from 30 to 50 percent of the taxpayer’s adjusted taxable income for the 2019 and 2020 tax years with special rules for partners and partnerships.

The limitation on the deduction of excess business losses for noncorporate taxpayers does not apply for tax years beginning in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Corporations can accelerate the recovery of refundable AMT credits which allows corporations to claim a refund immediately and obtain additional cash flow during the COVID-19 emergency.

Expiring Provisions

Taxpayers might consider taking advantage of the following tax benefits in 2020 before they expire. In some cases, these benefits were retroactively applied. In which case, it may be useful to amend prior year’s returns if the savings are significant enough.

  • The Work Opportunity Credit terminates for wages paid to workers that begin work for an employer after December 31, 2020.
  • A deduction is allowed for all or part of the cost of energy efficient commercial building property (i.e., certain major energy-savings improvements made to domestic commercial buildings) placed in service after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2020.
  • A three-year extension of the energy-efficient homes credit is available to eligible contractors for new homes manufactured after December 31, 2017 through December 31, 2020.

Summary

There is no one size fits all for tax planning and any strategy may have unintended consequences if the taxpayer’s situation is not evaluated holistically considering changing landscape. Traditional methods for postponing income and accelerating deductions may not be the best option if tax rates rise after an election year. 

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