Congress Puts Lid On Health Flexible Spending Arrangements
As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (new health care law), employee contributions to health flexible spending arrangements (health FSA) are now being limited to a maximum pre-tax contribution… Continue On +
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
Section 3 of the “Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)” previously defined “marriage” as a legal union between one man and one woman who are husband and wife, as well as a “spouse”… Continue On +
Fee on Insurance Policies to Support Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
The Affordable Care Act establishes a private, nonprofit Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) that is responsible for conducting comparative clinical effectiveness research and providing information to help health care providers evaluate and… Continue On +
Where’s My Refund?
There used to be a fast-food commercial where an old lady, with a crusty voice, yells “where’s the beef?!” This year I have been reminded of that commercial many times because it… Continue On +
How Worried Should You Be About Getting Audited?
At first the above seems like a fairly ill-defined question to ask. It’s a bit like asking “should I be concerned that one day a tree is going to fall on my… Continue On +
The New Form I-9
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released the Revised Employment Eligibility Verification Form (Form I-9). The new Form I-9 is available at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf and all employers should being using this… Continue On +
Charitable Contributions and Substantiation
If you donate less than $250 by cash, check or credit card no formal acknowledgment by the charity is required. You must keep record of a cancelled check, credit card receipt or… Continue On +
Employee vs. Independent Contractor
The question of whether a worker is an independent contractor or employee for federal income and employment tax purposes is a complex one. It is intensely factual, and the stakes can be… Continue On +
Preventing Identity Theft
As indicated by Mark Holzgang in an earlier blog, Identity Theft and Your Taxes, our firm uses state of the art security measures to ensure the safety of your information. In addition,… Continue On +
General Reminder of Vacation Home Tax Rules
The Internal Revenue Code is clear that if you rent a vacation home for less than 15 days, the income and expense is not reportable at all. If you rent the home… Continue On +
What To Do If You Get Audited
You’re at home going about your day when the phone rings. When you answer, an unfamiliar voice tells you they are from the IRS, and they want to “examine” (audit) your tax… Continue On +
The Truth Behind Section 179
Yes, you are about to read a blog discussing an internal revenue code section; try to contain your excitement. Chances are you have heard of code section 179 from a sales person… Continue On +