Posted in Business & Corporate Law,Tax Law & IRS Defense

Closing a business can be a difficult and challenging task. First, before you close your business, find out if tax relief, your local county, or the CARES Act legislation can help you stay open. Also, be sure to consult with your professional team such as an attorney or accountant.

There are typical actions that are taken when closing a business. This blog post focuses on tax responsibilities with the IRS and FL Department of Revenue. It does not address non-tax obligations such as those associated with the vendors, contracts, or the FL Division of Corporations.

Posted in Business & Corporate Law,Tax Law & IRS Defense

On August 8, 2020, the President issued a Memorandum entitled Deferring Payroll Tax Obligation in light of the Ongoing COVID-19 Disaster. The Memorandum authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to defer certain payroll tax obligations. The purpose of the Memorandum is to produce a targeted action that “will put money directly in the pockets of American workers and generate additional incentives for work and employment.”

Posted in Tax Law & IRS Defense

Now that this year’s Tax day has passed, you may have discovered that you owe more on your tax return then you can afford to pay. Here are some tax resolutions and tips to get your IRS debt resolved before it’s too late:   

1. Installment Agreements

Individuals who owe $50,000 or less in income tax and businesses that owe $25,000 or less in payroll tax may qualify for an Online Payment Agreement. You can set up the payment for any amount you can afford as long as the debt is paid in full within 72 months (6 years). You can also modify installment agreements through the program as well. 

Posted in Real Estate Law,Tax Law & IRS Defense

As most Florida homeowners know, the Florida Constitution provides for a valuable homestead tax exemption. In general, to qualify for this exemption under Section 196.031 of the Florida Statues, you must have legal or beneficial title to your home and in good faith make the home your “permanent residence” as of January 1^st.  Determining whether you make the home your “permanent residence” can be complicated for those who have multiple homes or sometimes rent the home on occasion.

Posted in Business & Corporate Law

The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was just passed by Congress.  The CARES Act totaling $2 trillion provides for individuals, families, governments, large corporations, and small businesses.  As to small businesses, below are some important links to Resources to help.  The first link is a guide by the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, which outlines the various aspects of the CARES Act that apply to small businesses.  The second and third links are to the Treasury Department and SBA, which provides important updates on the CARES Act.

Posted in Tax Law & IRS Defense

Calendaring important IRS and tax authority deadlines can save you a lot of headaches at tax time.  To avoid paying penalties and other tax consequences, keep a calendar and plan for tax deadlines with your accountant, attorney, and other members of your professional team.  The below items are a few examples of important tax deadlines:

Posted in Business & Corporate Law,Tax Law & IRS Defense

Last summer, Florida passed new legislation requiring all Florida corporate income tax filers to provide certain additional information online with the Florida Department of Revenue (FDOR). The new online information disclosure relates to how certain areas of the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act impact a company’s Florida income tax. Note that the state has limited this additional online reporting to only those companies required to file a Florida corporate income/franchise tax returns (Form F-1120 or F-1120-A). Other entity types such as partnerships are not affected by this legislation.

Posted in Asset Protection,Probate & Trust Administration,Tax Law & IRS Defense,Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

The SECURE Act, or the “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act”, was recently signed into law on December 20, 2019 without much notice.  It took effect on January 1, 2020 and significantly changed the landscape of retirement planning.  Here are some of the major changes created by the new law: