Tax tips and guidance built for small business owners and the self-employed — deductions, filings, and the stuff that actually applies to you.
March 1 came and went and the world was still standing. Sequestration made a big splash at the end of February. Taxpayers were worried… How would it affect Tax Day? Would refunds be slowed down? Would the lights stay on in Congress? But as March kicked off, tax season was (finally!) in full swing and…
Taxpayer asks: Hi, Tax Girl, With all the electronic sales these days, publishers and authors can promote their books for free for a period of time in order to gain readers and increase their rankings on sites like amazon.com. Even though there is no cost to author or publisher for the free electronic giveaways, can…
Dear corporate types, I do love the B52s but under no circumstances should “Rock Lobster” be played – and danced to – at a company party. That was my tweet on yesterday. I happened to be working at a venue not far from such a party. It was a mishmash of mostly middle-aged corporate types…
Submitted by RICHARD N. THOMPSON I am a small business owner. I am a sole practitioner. I feel I personally pay plenty in taxes. My employees don’t have benefits. They have jobs. I can’t afford to pay benefits. But I expect to pay more in employer taxes. I cannot imagine with the size of the…
It’s a pretty exciting week at the law firm: we’re moving to a new location. I’ll admit to being a little nostalgic about the big move. We’ve been in the same offices for more than eight years. I was actually hugely pregnant with my daughter when we signed the lease and had to sign a…
Earlier this month, I asked small business owners to chime in on tax and economic policy. My panel of small business owners represented different industries and varying locations. Each had employees (ranging from 3 to 100) and their companies grossed at least $250,000 last year. The feedback from the piece was generally favorable. But readers…
When I was in law school, my friend, Madeline and I would often make the long walk to the Vet to watch the Phillies play ball. Afterward, on the walk back home, we’d swing by Nifty Fifty’s, a fifties-style diner, in the heart of South Philly, for a milkshake. It was always busy and it…
When it comes to tax, everyone has an opinion about what’s best for small businesses. President Obama has told us what small businesses want. Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has told us what small businesses want. Congress has told us what small businesses want. But small businesses haven’t really told us what they want. I suspect…
I’m flying to Seattle in a few weeks to speak at a conference. I am – wait for it – flying coach. I won’t be in a private jet. I may be one of the owners of my company but I don’t command high profile perks or benefits. But CEOs of huge companies like Ford…
U is for Unreasonable Compensation. I don’t love S corporations. I know that my CPA friends love, love them but I don’t. While I agree that they have advantages in terms of flexibility, many shareholders struggle with compliance putting the S status at risk. And even more concerning? The IRS isn’t a fan. And by…