{ Banner Image }

Should You Convert Your Business to a C Corporation?

One of the biggest questions after the passage of tax reform is whether business owners should convert their pass-through entities to C Corporations to take advantage of the lower 21% tax rate.  The answer to this question depends on your business goals. If your goal is to pass as much profit to yourself as possible, you should generally stick with the pass-through entity. Read More ›

Categories: Did you Know?, Tax

How Long Can the IRS Audit?

The general rule is that the IRS has three years from the return's filing or due date, whichever is later, to audit a taxpayer. However, this rule is subject to several exceptions. Read More ›

Categories: Audits, Tax

Tax Reform is Coming

The Senate is anticipated to vote on its own tax reform bill in the near future.  Read More ›

Categories: Tax

Projected Increase of Annual Gift Tax Exclusion

Each year a variety of items in the Internal Revenue Code are updated based on inflation, specifically the consumer price index. Read More ›

Categories: Income Tax, Tax

IRS Announces 2018 HSA Contribution Limits, Out-of-Pocket Maximums and HDHP Minimum Deductibles

The Internal Revenue Service recently released the 2018 cost-of-living adjusted amounts related to health savings account (“HSA”) contribution limits, out-of-pocket maximums and high deductible health plan (“HDHP”) deductibles. Each of the cost-of-living adjusted amounts is set forth below. Read More ›

Categories: Employee Benefits, Tax

Federal Tax Incentive for Film Production Expires

Film ProductionYou may remember that in July 2015, Governor Snyder signed legislation bringing to an end Michigan’s controversial film incentive program. Another incentive program for film investors - this one embedded in the federal tax code - recently expired by its own terms on December 31st. Read More ›

Categories: Tax

IRS Reboots Previously Unsuccessful Private Debt Collection Efforts

This week, the IRS announced that it has selected four private debt collection contractors to begin collecting certain overdue federal tax debts, as required by Congress. The contractors include:

  • CBE Group
    1309 Technology Pkwy
    Cedar Falls, IA 50613
  • Conserve
    200 CrossKeys Office park
    Fairport, NY 14450
  • Performant
    333 N Canyons Pkwy
    Livermore, CA 94551
  • Pioneer
    325 Daniel Zenker Dr
    Horseheads, NY 14845

The contractors' efforts will begin in the spring of 2017, and will be focused only on debts that the IRS had stopped trying to collect.  We note three important takeaways in the wake of this news. Read More ›

Categories: News & Events, Tax

Michigan Department of Treasury Sheds Light on Nexus Standards Related to Michigan Business Taxes

Some businesses are (unpleasantly) surprised when they learn they are responsible for taxes -such as sales and income taxes - in states in which they have no physical presence. What gives rise to liability in these situations is “economic nexus,” which relates to a business’ activity, such as the generation of sales without a physical presence, in a state. Nexus, therefore, can be a hidden trap for businesses with multistate sales and other activities, particularly because what gives rise to nexus is often uncertain and unexplained by a state’s taxing authority.

Michigan Department of Treasury (the “Treasury”) has shed light on what constitutes nexus in Michigan through the issuance of a release that explains the nexus standards for Michigan business taxes. The release (the “Release”) addresses the sales and use tax presumption for out-of-state sellers; the nexus standards for the corporate income tax; and the nexus standards for flow-through entity withholding. Read More ›

Categories: Corporate Income Tax, News & Events, Sales Tax, Use Tax

Reevaluating Valuation: IRS and Treasury Propose Rules Restricting Valuation Discounts

On August 2, 2016, the IRS and U.S. Department of Treasury issued highly anticipated proposed regulations concerning the valuation of interests in certain family-controlled businesses for estate, gift and generation skipping transfer tax purposes. The proposed rules would curb the use of most discounts that are applied when valuing intra-family transfers.  Read More ›

Categories: Compliance, News & Events, Tax

Time to Review Your Deferred Compensation Agreements – IRS Issues Proposed Regulations on Section 409A

The IRS recently released proposed regulations regarding the application of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A to nonqualified deferred compensation plans (“NDCP”). The proposed regulations modify and clarify previous guidance. The proposed rules will not be applicable until issued as final, but the IRS explained that taxpayers may now rely on the proposed rules and the IRS will not assert positions that are contrary to the position set forth in them. This summary highlights many of the important issues raised in the proposed rules. Read More ›

Categories: Compliance, News & Events