Key Thresholds in Federal Estate & Gift Tax and Massachusetts Estate Tax

The United States has taxed the estates of decedents since 1916, and gifts since 1924. With tax rates and exemption levels varying greatly over the last two decades, including recent changes with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), I thought it would be helpful to outline some key forms and current thresholds relating to estate & gift tax.

PPP Payment Deferral Period is Coming to an End for Early Borrowers

If you were an early Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) borrower who has not yet applied for forgiveness, your loan payments may be due soon.

The Powerful Effects of Compound Interest

Getting an early start on your retirement savings may be the best financial move you can make for yourself. Thanks to the power of compound interest, you can make your money work for you and grow exponentially on a tax-deferred basis. 

President Biden Announces Revised Build Back Better Framework

Like the rest of the country, we have been waiting to learn what President Biden’s federal tax proposal will look like, and how it will impact individuals and businesses. On October 28, 2021 Biden announced a new version of the Build Back Better (BBB) framework that outlines spending provisions of $1.75 trillion over ten years, and revenue offsets of up to $2 trillion during that time period. 

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Retroactively Terminates the ERTC

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which is currently waiting to be signed by President Biden, would retroactively end the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) as of September 30, 2021.

Saving Time on Accounts Payable

On a list of things you like to do, paying bills likely ranks somewhere near the bottom. Which is not surprising since it's time-consuming, prone to errors—especially if paper is involved—and fixing mistakes can be challenging at best. Not to mention the security and fraud concerns associated with sending checks in the mail.

How to Simplify Your Remote AP and AR Process for Greater Visibility & Control

Are you spending too much time trying to keep track of your cash flow? Many business owners are choosing to streamline their processes by working with a Client Accounting Services (CAS) team, a group of specialized accountants who provide a tailored suite of services to simplify your accounting processes.

Massachusetts Enacts Pass-Through Entity Tax Election Effective for 2021

When the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TJCA) was enacted in 2017, it limited the amount of state and local taxes (SALT) that individuals can deduct for federal income tax purposes to $10,000 (or $5,000 for a married individual filing separately). This “SALT cap” has brought on a flurry of legislative action as states enact Pass-Through Entity (PTE) tax elections that allow owners of PTEs such as S-Corporations and Partnerships to bypass the SALT cap by allowing their share of taxes to be paid by the entity at the entity level, and therefore lowering the owner’s federal income tax liability.

New Per Diem Business Travel Rates

Are employees at your business traveling again after months of virtual meetings? In Notice 2021-52, the IRS announced the fiscal 2022 “per diem” rates that became effective October 1, 2021. Taxpayers can use these rates to substantiate the amount of expenses for lodging, meals and incidental expenses when traveling away from home. (Taxpayers in the transportation industry can use a special transportation industry rate.)

Will You Be My Estate Personal Representative?

So, you were asked to be the Personal Representative (PR) of an estate. It seemed like accepting was the right thing to do at the time. How hard can dividing up your parent’s lifelong savings and assets between siblings really be? Consider the following in deciding to be a PR and navigating the estate administration process.