Friday, September 30, 2011

ACCOUNTANTS IN THE MOVIES

In Hollywood, accounting can seem like a pretty glamorous profession, or not.

Rick Moranis played Sigourney Weaver's accountant neighbor and admirer Louis Tully in the 1984 comedy classic "Ghostbusters." Possessed by a demonic ghost, Louis is transformed from a mild-mannered accountant into the "Keymaster" and needs the help of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson and the rest of the ghost-busting crew (along with their Proton Packs). Moranis reprised the role in the 1989 sequel "Ghostbusters II" and hopefully will come out of retirement to appear in "Ghostbusters III," which is set to be released next year.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

$3.5 TRILLION TAX HIKE INCLUDED IN THE RECENT DEBT LEGISLATION

(Tax Foundation) -- TaxFoundation.org reports, "One of the least reported facts about the 11th hour debt limit deal between the White House and Congressional leaders is that it assumes that on January 1, 2013, virtually every working American will begin paying much higher taxes than they are today." According to the Tax Foundation, "baked into the deal is a $3.5 trillion tax increase, yet plan supporters say it does not raise taxes" since the "current law” (baseline) assumes that all of the Bush-era tax laws expire as scheduled at the stroke of midnight on December 31, 2012.

This means that all income tax rates will go up across the board, the child credit will fall from $1,000 to $500 and the marriage penalty will return. The analysis notes that meanwhile, federal spending is expected to total nearly $46 trillion over the next ten years.

If Congress should decide to not let the Bush/Obama tax laws expire, then there is an additional $3.5 trillion overdraft in the works.

This is just like if you were working on your family budget and because of past debts, you were close to bankruptcy. In order to make the budget balance, you budget that in six months you and your spouse were going to both get a second job and earn an additional $25,000. But six months later, you decide that you can’t handle working another part-time job and so, you default.

YOU MAY WANT TO UNWIND YOUR ROTH CONVERSION

Many taxpayers elected in 2010 to convert their regular IRA to a Roth and either pay the tax in 2010 or spread it out over 2011 and 2012. If you converted your Roth as long as you timely filed your income tax return or got an extension to October 15, 2011, you have until October 17th “unwind” the conversion and treat it as if it never happened.

The primary reason for considering this is the drop in stock prices from 2010 until now. By unwinding the conversion, you may be able to then redo the conversion and save substantial tax this year.

For example, let’s assume a taxpayer had $500,000 in his IRA on June 1, 2010 when he converted it into a ROTH. Now, let’s assume the value of the ROTH is only $300,000. By unwinding the ROTH conversion, the taxpayer does not pay tax on the difference between the $500,000 last June and the $300,000 value now. At the highest tax bracket including applicable state income taxes, the total tax savings could approach $100,000.

Remember, you only have until October 17, 2011 to unwind this conversion

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

LONGTIME PARTNER

I have to take a few minutes and pay tribute to Bob Sylvester CPA who died September 23, 2011.

Bob Sylvester was a former partner of mine and a close friend. Bob had been ill for some time and he was in hospice for the past few weeks. Bob and I go way back. In 1972, Bob gave me a chance and hired me as new junior accountant with the firm of Lindell, Sylvester Lindell. He was my mentor and taught me a lot about business. Eventually we became partners to form Kopsa, Swanson & Sylvester accounting firm. In 1999, Bob became sick and retired to enjoy his family. Much of the success that I have had is attributable to valuable lessons from Bob. He will be missed.

To read more about Bob's life: Robert Sylvester

Saturday, September 24, 2011

'BUREAUCRACY GONE WILD: OBAMA'S UNHELPFUL ADVICE TO A FARMER'

(Politico) -- Politico.com reports on the publication's unsuccessful attempt to get an answer to a simple question from a farmer. The story was written after an ag producer in Illinois told President Obama recently when he visited Illinois that he was concerned about, "more rules and regulations — including those concerning dust, noise and water runoff — that he heard would negatively affect his business."

According to the story, the president, on day three of his Midwest bus tour, replied: "Contact USDA. Talk to them directly....my suspicion is, a lot of times, they're going to be able to answer your questions and it will turn out that some of your fears are unfounded." MJ Lee, a Politico.com reporter, writes that when he "decided to take the president's advice and call the USDA for an answer to the Atkinson town hall attendees question," he found himself "in a bureaucratic equivalent of hot potato — getting bounced from the feds to Illinois state agriculture officials to the state farm bureau." After more than four hours of phone calls spread over two days, "still no answer to the farmer's question."

Full Story




And these types of bureaucrats will soon be running our health care.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

ACCOUNTANTS IN THE MOVIES

In Hollywood, accounting can seem like a pretty glamorous profession, or not.

Charles Grodin plays Jonathan "The Duke" Mardukas, an accountant for the Mob who gets nabbed by bounty hunter Jack Walsh, played by Robert De Niro in the 1988 comedy-action hit "Midnight Run." To collect the $100,000 bounty on the Duke's head, De Niro needs to get him from New York to LA, but the Mafia and the FBI are both on their tails. Grodin made a bit of a mini-career out of playing accountants. In the 1993 flick "Dave," he appeared as CPA Murray Blum. In one scene, Murray the accountant helped President Dave Kovic, played by Kevin Kline, find an extra $650 million in the federal budget to open homeless shelters. We could use him in Washington now.


ESTATE PLANNING IN LIMBO

Recently I posted a short answer about estate tax. I have had some follow-up questions. Here is a little more detail:

Estate planning remains stuck in limbo as a result. After 2012, the $5-million exemption for gift and estate taxes is scheduled to decrease to $1 million, while the maximum tax rate is slated to soar to 55%...the amounts in effect before 2001.

In addition, the portability of estate tax exemptions between spouses is set to expire after next year. This rule provides that after the death of one spouse, the survivor can lay claim to any unused exemption and make larger tax-free lifetime gifts or bequeath more assets free of estate tax.

Congress has done nothing to make the gift and estate tax rules permanent. So taxpayers and their advisers must plot their own course without a fixed set of rules.

Most experts expect Congress to extend the current system…the 35% flat tax rate, the $5-million estate and gift tax exemption and the portable estate tax exemption before they lapse. But the same experts claimed that there was no way that there would be no estate tax in 2010. So much for the experts!

For now, folks should weigh taking advantage of the higher gift tax exemption. Individuals can give away up to $5 million of assets free of gift tax now - $10 million for married couples. All the future income and appreciation on these gifts is removed from the donor’s estate, so you should give assets that you expect will soar in value.

Also, don’t ignore annual exclusion gifts. You and your spouse can each give $13,000 per year to any individual without eating away at your lifetime gift tax exemptions.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

MAJORITY OF ECONOMISTS SURVEYED SAY CUT FEDERAL SPENDING

From USA Today:
The majority of economists surveyed by the National Association for Business Economics believe the federal deficit should be reduced only or primarily through spending cuts.


The survey out on Monday found that 56% of NABE members feel that way, while 37% said they favor equal parts spending cuts and tax increases. The remaining 7% believe it should be done only or mostly through tax increases.

As for how to reduce the deficit, nearly 40% said the best way would be to contain Medicare and Medicaid costs.

Nearly a quarter recommended overhauling the tax system and simplifying tax rates and exemptions. About 15% said government should enact tough spending caps and cut discretionary spending.

See the full article below: USA TODAY

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

AM I A WIDOW?

Q. I had a friend of the family who does tax returns file my 2010 return. My dear husband passed away in 2009. Tony, the guy that did my return, filed me as a widow. I thought that was correct. We were married for 55 wonderful years so I thought I was a widow. I was at coffee with the girls the other day and Mable one of my friends whose husband passed away at the same time said that she was told that she was not a widow and she had to file as single. I have not been able to sleep worrying about the IRS coming to get me. Who is right.
Olive

A. First of all Olive don’t worry too much. My best guess is that you are going to owe some money to the IRS and to the state but they are not going to throw you into jail or get audited. This is a good example of why someone should use a “qualified tax professional.” The key to this is that although you are a widow the actual IRS wording is “qualified widow or widower.” In order to meet that definition you must have a child that lives with you. In addition the qualification is only for two years after the death of the spouse. For the 2010 returns this would mean that the spouse died is 2008 or 2009 and you had a child living with you during those two years.

What should you do? I would recommend that you hire a qualified professional to amend your 2010 federal and, don’t forget your state return. I would also ask them to look at your 2009 return. Even though your husband died in 2009 you can still file a joint return. Make sure that a joint return was filed.

It is a pleasure serving you.


FOLLOWUP

Thank you so much. I am now sleeping better. How much would you charge to fix my problem?
Olive

I would be happy to help. Amending your federal and state returns would cost $225. This includes looking at your 2008 and 2009 returns to see if there are any other errors.

Let me know.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

FEDERAL BUDGET VS. HOUSEHOLD BUDGET

This information has been running around the Internet. I thought it explains our predicament really well.

The Federal Budget
1) U.S. Tax revenue: $2,170,000,000,000
2) Fed budget $3,820,000,000,000
3) New Debt: $1,650,000,000,000
4) National debt: $14,271,000,000,000
5) Recent Budget cut: $38,500,000,000

Now remove 8 zeros and pretend it is a….

Household Budget:
1) Annual family income: $21,700
2) Money family spent: $38,200
3) New dept on credit card: $16,500
4) Outstanding balance on credit card: $142,710
5) Total budget cuts: $385

The family is not going to make it.


Now those are some numbers I can relate to!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

LABOR BOARD ISSUES RULE REQUIRING EMPLOYERS TO POST NOTICES ON UNION RIGHTS

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Washington, D.C., has just issued an advance copy of its final rule requiring nearly every U.S. employer to post a notice in the workplace about the right to organize a union. The rule will take effect in 75 days, or on November 14th. For a fact sheet, visit: http://www.nlrb.gov/

I am on the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce board of directors and earlier this year, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry signed onto comments regarding NLRB's proposed rule, arguing, among other things, that the notice requirement is unnecessary, biased and beyond the authority of the NLRB. It appears the NLRB did make some modest changes to its February draft. For example, it dropped the requirement that employers must "distribute the posting by e-mail, Twitter or other electronic means." NLRB member, Brian Hayes (R) voted against the final rule, while Chair Wilma Liebman (D) and members, Mark Pearce (D) and Craig Becker (D) voted to approve. With NLRB Chair Liebman's term expiring soon, some analysts believe that the NLRB may issue a flurry of decisions over the next few weeks.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

ACCOUNTANTS IN THE MOVIES

In Hollywood, accounting can seem like a pretty glamorous profession, or not.

Cher won an Academy Award playing accountant Loretta Castorini in the 1987 romantic comedy "Moonstruck." She works as an accountant for several Brooklyn businesses, including her uncle's deli, and is engaged to be married to Danny Aiello, until she falls for his younger brother, played by Nicolas Cage. When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

FEDERAL REGULATIONS MULTIPLY AT RECORD PACE

With working with small businesses, I know first-hand the impact of federal and state regulations. The regulations are there to serve a useful purpose, but sometimes enough is enough. It seems like a vicious circle. The more regulations we have, the more bureaucrats we need, and more bureaucrats sit in their office and create more regulations…which create more bureaucrats.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that the administration last week "released version 2.0 of its regulatory review, which looks back at existing regulations to determine which regulations it can streamline or eliminate." In his commentary at
http://www.chamberpost.com/, the U.S. Chamber's regulatory expert, Bill Kovacs writes that while the administration is to be commended for taking the initiative, "results of this look-back will not have a material impact on the real regulatory burdens facing businesses today." In 2007, there were around 110,000 federal regulations. Today, those rules are proliferating at a rate of about 4,000 additional regulations annually. There are currently more than 22,580 pages of federal regulations on environmental protection; 15,700 pages of tax code; 10,800 pages to regulate agriculture; 6,555 pages for the transportation sector; 5,575 pages on banking regulation; and 4,955 pages of labor law. Still, the rules keep coming. According to reports, the federal agencies added $9.5 billion in new regulatory costs in July alone by proposing 229 new rules and finalizing another 379 rule changes.

Monday, September 12, 2011

MY THOUGHTS ON THE PAYROLL TAX CUT IN OBAMAS NEW PLAN

President Obama will send his new jobs creation plan to Congress on Monday September 12th. He pitched it first in the Rose Garden surrounded by the kinds of folks that make for good press (vets and teachers, for example) and then send it to Congress for consideration.

I am not going to comment on all of the details of the plan at this time. First of all the press has given the details plenty of coverage and more importantly the specifics of the plan change and it goes through the legislative process. Outlining it early seems to confuse people when provisions that started out in the plan change. Once we see what the final bill, if any, looks like we will let you know.
I do want to give you my thoughts on the payroll break that is in the plan. Obama wants to extend the holiday and make the cut even deeper. The extension is a no-brainer.

Impact on Individuals

Making the cuts a bit larger is an interesting suggestion. Clearly, taxpayers like it when taxes get cut. But let’s keep this in perspective. It’s not a huge benefit for most taxpayers (a family making $40,000 would keep an extra $440 over the span of the year – or about $8/week). But most concerning, these are cuts to payroll taxes which are out of the Social Security fund. The Social Security fund is in enough trouble already and now they are putting less money in. That is hard for me to understand. How are we going to make that up later? Oh I know… Thanks kids and grandkids. Constantly banking on the idea that we’ll make up extra funds later is how we’ve gotten ourselves into the pickle we’re in now.

Impact on Business

Obama also wants to cut payroll taxes for businesses by 50%, to 3.1%, on the first $5 million in wages. As a business owner, I love this idea. But as a tax professional, I worry about it – for the same reasons articulated above. And I will say that while the cuts might make me happy because it’s less money out of my pocket, it wouldn’t make my business likely to hire new employees. Temporary fixes like that rarely benefit small businesses, in my opinion, because the long term consequences of a new hire are so uncertain. With the added responsibilities under the new health care law, for example, a temporary cut in payroll taxes won’t encourage small businesses to hire. I think they’re still going to be looking to cut employees – and take on cheaper, benefit-free independent contractors – rather than make new hires for employers. But maybe that’s just me.
In contrast, another business tax break in Obama’s plan that I do think has legs is the tax credit for hiring workers who have been out of a job for at least six months. The break is a $4,000 tax credit – not bad. Remember that tax credits are a dollar for dollar reduction in taxes which can be fairly significant, depending on your tax rate.

In terms of comparison of the two employer-side tax breaks, the tax credit for new hires is equal to the suggested “payroll tax cut” for employers paying nearly $130,000 in wages. In other words, you would pay $130,000 in wages as an employer under the new scheme before you would “save” as much as the amount of the credit. However, the payroll tax cut puts more in your pocket as you go while a tax credit generally gives you more of a benefit come tax time.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

“Back to School” Tax Planning Beats an Apple for the Teacher!

September is halfway over, and school is back in session. If you have kids, you’ve probably already met the teachers. You may have even watched a football game or two.

It’s probably been a long time since you’ve sat in a classroom yourself. But school is never out if you’re looking to make the most of your money in today’s challenging economy.

What classes would you take to keep more of your income in your pocket? Try these:

Math 1040: Where are tax rates headed?
History 2008: Lessons from last year’s mistakes?
Social Studies 463: Write off meals and entertainment
Chemistry 162: Is there a “secret formula” for paying less?
Anatomy 213: What’s the best strategy for healthcare benefits?


If you want to keep the most of what you make, you can’t wait ‘til finals for answers. You need to study now. Putting tax-wise ideas and strategies in place today could help avoid an ugly surprise when “Report Cards” come due April 15!

Email us today for your free tax analysis. We’ll find the mistakes and missed opportunities that may be costing you thousands today, and show you how “back to school” tax planning can save thousands more tomorrow. We guarantee you’ll leave with valuable new lessons, or we’ll donate $50 to your local school. Email now to schedule your Analysis.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

ACCOUNTANTS IN THE MOVIES

In Hollywood, accounting can seem like a pretty glamorous profession, or not.

Jack Nicholson plays a philandering CPA tax attorney coming to terms with his troubled relationships with women in "Carnal Knowledge." The 1971 movie co-stars Art Garfunkel as Nicholson's best friend in one of his few dramatic roles, along with Ann-Margret (right) and Candice Bergen as the women in their lives.

Friday, September 9, 2011

WATCH OUT FOR SCAM TAX HELP SERVICES

Tax Masters Accused of Fraud and Deception

State AG says 'Tax Lady', Roni Deutch should be jailed for contempt
per the court case. The “Tax Lady’ spent millions on advertising; hired people off the street with no training to work the telephones in a “sweat shop” type setting and had no intention on really helping the desperate taxpayers that contracted with her.


No sympathy here. It has been frustrating the past few years, seeing the growing number of scammers advertising their supposedly top secret and unique services for settling up past tax debts with IRS.

As anyone capable of using Google can easily see, these services take money from desperate people, do nothing to help them, and leave them even worse off with the tax agencies. Any competent professional tax advisor can help people work on arranging a payment plan or an Offer In Compromise with IRS for far less than the thousands these scam services charge. It's good to see these scammers being nailed by the authorities.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

WATCH OUT, THE IRS MAY WANT YOUR QUICKBOOKS FILE

Recently, the courts have given the IRS the right to demand your software files. The IRS has gotten very aggressive in demanding the actual accounting software file, especially Quickbooks and other common software accounting programs. Before the advent of these software programs, providing a print out of the actual accounting data was usually sufficient for the IRS during an exam.

Now, with most agents being able to utilize these accounting software packages on their computers, they are demanding a backup of the whole accounting software, even if there are years in the accounting software that are not under exam. Also, any comments, memo or notes section of your software would be available for review by the IRS.


Just be careful what you write in your accounting software comments section. And remember, an IRS agent may be reading it in the future.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

FOLLOW-UP ON HOBBY LOSSES

Recently I posted two hobby cases (horse breeding) with different results. I have been asked “why the difference?” For tax purposes, a hobby has some very unfavorable consequences to the taxpayer. Net income is always reported, however, a net loss is limited to zero.

Therefore, how do you make sure that your activity is a profit motive and not a hobby? Here are several items to keep in mind:

• Your intent of the operation is to make money, not create a tax loss.
• You must run the operation like a regular business. This means having a separate checking account for the business; do not commingle personal funds together; have letterhead and business cards.
• If the operation runs at a loss for several years, you must be able to document how you will finally make money. In some cases, showing how you have created extra value in the asset when it will be sold will be sufficient, but be ready for an audit if you show too many years of losses.
• A horse farm has a greater chance of being determined as a hobby farm.
• The size of the operation can affect the hobby status. For example, it is fairly hard to argue that a 2 acre garden plot is a farm (however, in some extensive forms of farming, this can be true).

Remember the key point to ask yourself, is this truly an operation being operated like a business, or is it merely intended to create a tax loss? If it is the latter, then it is more difficult to not treat it as a hobby.


Friday, September 2, 2011

ACCOUNTANTS IN THE MOVIES

In Hollywood, accounting can seem like a pretty glamorous profession, or not.

Edmund O'Brien plays accountant Frank Bigelow in the fast-paced 1950 film noir crime drama "D.O.A." The movie opens with Bigelow entering a police station to report his own homicide and then in flashback traces how he came to learn that he had been poisoned by a former client who needed him to notarize an incriminating document. The movie was later remade in 1988 with Dennis Quaid playing O'Brien's role, but in the remake Quaid is a college professor. O'Brien is shown here with Laurette Luez, who plays his client's mistress Marla Rakubian.

'U.S. FARM INCOME WILL SET A RECORD, USDA SAYS'


(Bloomberg News/JournalStar.com) -- Bloomberg reports that "U.S. farm income will jump 31% this year to a record $103.6 billion because of higher crop and livestock prices." The story noted that the United States is expected to ship a record $137 billion of farm goods overseas, while ethanol will consume a record 5.1 billion bushels, or 39%, of this year's projected corn crop.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

FARMERS FLUSH WITH CASH IMPACTS JOHN DEERE FINANCE


A recent national newspaper reported how flush in cash farmers are right now. They reported that The John Deere Finance arm is having a hard time drumming up business since more farmers than in the past can pay cash for their equipment.