Taxes when you sell an appreciated vacation home
If you’re selling a vacation home at a profit, what will you owe in taxes? It depends on whether you’ve used the home as your principal residence for a time or whether you’ve rented it out. If you haven’t done either, the principal home sale gain exclusion tax break (up to $250,000 or $500,000 for a married couple) is unavailable. Other rules apply to a home used as a rental or principal residence. Contact the CPAS and tax advisors at SEK about your situation.
Challenges of valuing family-owned businesses
Family businesses bring valuation challenges. Although roughly 80% to 90% of all businesses in North America are family owned (according to the Family Business Alliance), most of these entities aren’t run like public companies. The differences may require adjustments. Contact the CPAs and business advisors at SEK for help determining what’s appropriate in your case.
When partners pay expenses related to the business
It’s not unusual for a partner to incur expenses related to the partnership’s business. When a partner can be reimbursed for business expenses under a partnership agreement or standard operating procedures, the partner should turn them in for reimbursement. Otherwise, the partner can’t deduct the expenses on his or her tax return. Your business should have a written firm policy that clearly states what will and won’t be reimbursed, including home office expenses. Contact the CPAs and business tax advisors at SEK for your business questions and for more tax tips.
Watch out for “income in respect of a decedent” issues when receiving an inheritance
Most people appreciate inheritances. But in some cases, they may turn out to be too good to be true. “Income in respect of a decedent” (IRD) may create a surprise tax bill for those inheriting certain types of property. Fortunately, there may be ways to minimize the IRD tax bite. Contact the CPAs and tax advisors at SEK for your tax questions.
DOL raises overtime salary threshold
On April 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule that significantly increases the minimum salary threshold to qualify for certain overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Disaster relief charities: Know the rules before providing aid
Tax-exempt disaster relief charities are allowed to provide short-term emergency assistance and long-term aid to ensure that victims have necessities. But they must observe IRS rules. For more help following guidelines, contact the CPAs and business advisors at SEK.
When businesses may want to take a contrary approach with income and deductions
In general, businesses want to delay taxable income into future years and accelerate deductions into the current year. But they sometimes want to do the opposite. There are ways to accelerate income into the current year and delay deductions to later years. Contact the CPAs and business tax advisors at SEK for help and to answer your tax questions.
Why some businesses choose to execute a pivot strategy
Under a pivot strategy, a company consciously changes its strategic focus in a series of carefully considered and executed moves. Some common situations often prompt a pivot include financial distress, weak demand, competition or change of heart. Contact the CPAs and business advisors for help with your business strategic planning.
Nonprofits don’t lose as much to fraud, but risk requires action
Nonprofits suffer a median loss of $76,000 per fraud incident, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ 2024 Report to the Nations. If your organization can’t afford to lose that much (and what nonprofit can?), make sure you have strong internal controls. This starts with training staffers, board members and some volunteers to recognize and report fraud. Contact the CPAs and business advisors at SEK for help with internal controls.