Here are some of the key tax-related deadlines that apply to businesses and other employers during the second quarter of 2024. Keep in mind that this list isn’t all-inclusive, so there may be additional deadlines that apply to you. Contact us to ensure you’re meeting all applicable deadlines and to learn more about the filing requirements.
If you operate a business, or you’re starting a new one, you know records of income and expenses need to be kept. Specifically, you should carefully record expenses to claim all the tax deductions to which you’re entitled. And you want to make sure you can defend the amounts reported on your tax returns in case you’re ever audited by the IRS.
It is generally a best practice for businesses to maximize current year depreciation write-offs for newly acquired assets. Two federal tax breaks can be a big help in achieving this goal—the first-year Section 179 depreciation deduction, and the first-year bonus depreciation deduction. These two deductions can potentially allow businesses to write off some or all of their qualifying asset expenses in Year 1. However, they’re moving targets due to annual inflation adjustments and tax law changes that phase out bonus depreciation. With that in mind, here’s how to coordinate these write-offs for optimal tax-saving results.
There are two accounting method options when it comes to calculating the taxable income of a business: the cash method and the accrual method. Many businesses have a choice of which method to use for tax purposes. The cash method often provides significant tax benefits for eligible businesses, though some may be better off using the accrual method. It can be beneficial for your business to re-evaluate your accounting method, to ensure that it’s the most advantageous approach for your specific situation.
As of January 1, 2024, the federal lifetime gift and estate tax exemption amount has increased to $13.61 million per person (up from $12.92 million in 2023). This means that individuals may now transfer up to $13.61 million - tax-free - during their lifetime or at death. Married couples may now transfer up to $27.22 million with proper estate planning.
The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) was introduced during the pandemic, when COVID-19 temporarily closed many businesses. The credit provided cash that helped enable struggling businesses to retain employees. Although the ERTC expired for most employers at the end of the third quarter of 2021, it could still be claimed on amended returns after that.
After a slow year, the landscape of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) appears poised for a significant surge. With global economies stabilizing post-pandemic and a renewed sense of optimism prevailing in the business world, companies are gearing up to capitalize on strategic opportunities and drive growth through acquisitions.