2015

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Keep an Eye on the ACA Rules and Potential Changes

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Are your employees enrolled in a health care plan? Here’s something to consider in your planning: Late in 2015, Congress delayed implementation of a significant tax on high-cost employer-sponsored insurance plans — called the “Cadillac tax” — from 2018 to 2020. Under this rule, when the value of a health plan is more than $10,200 for individual coverage and $27,500 for family coverage, the plans face a 40% tax on the excess amount, but businesses now won’t have to face that concern for a couple more years. Even with this delay, it’s worthwhile keeping this potential tax on your radar screen.

Also, if your company was not subject to the Affordable Care Act for 2015, be aware that the thresholds changed dramatically for 2016. An organization becomes an Applicable Large Employer (ALE) when it employs an average of 50 or more full-time and full-time-equivalent employees on business days during the calendar year. ALEs must provide certain employees with health insurance that meets specific standards, or face significant penalties.  If you have any questions, please contact your Linkenheimer CPA.

By |2020-09-03T20:05:01+00:00December 7th, 2016|affordable care act|0 Comments

Reminder IP PINs Are Required for Identity Theft Victims’ 2015 Returns

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In mid December, the IRS issued CP01A notices containing a 6-digit Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN) for taxpayers who are victims of tax-related identity theft. This notice is sent to taxpayers who: (1) reported to the IRS they are a victim of identity theft; (2) have been identified by the IRS as a victim of identity theft; (3) received an IP PIN last year, or (4) participated in the 2015 IP PIN pilot for residents of FL, GA, or DC. Beginning 1/1/16, taxpayers who are assigned an IP PIN must use it (regardless of whether the SSN is entered for a primary, spouse, or dependent/qualifying individual) on the following returns: Form 1040 series, Form 2441 (Child and Dependent Care Expenses), and Schedule EIC (Earned Income Credit). If the IP PIN is not included in any of the required fields, the return will be rejected. See www.irs.gov/Individuals/IPPIN-Rule .

By |2020-09-03T20:05:17+00:00January 7th, 2016|irs|0 Comments

2015 PATH Act Amendments Regarding Vineyards

One of the more interesting and potentially very beneficial amendments to the Internal Revenue Code as a result of the 2015 PATH Act related to vineyards are the new provisions related to bonus depreciation and the deemed time of placement-into-service to an earlier date for certain fruit bearing trees and vines.

Under the old provision (IRC §168(k)) the allowance of 50% bonus depreciation would only be available in the year the property is placed into service. In the case of fruit bearing grape vines, this would be when the vine becomes income producing (typically a few years after planting).

However, under the new amendment (IRC §168(k)(5)) the rules shifted the deemed time of placement-into-service to a much earlier date. Grape vines now become “qualified property” when planted and are eligible for the 50% bonus depreciation in their first year.

There are other caveats to the new provisions, however generally taxpayers will be allowed depreciation deductions sooner for planted vines.  If you think this may apply to you or you’re interested in hearing more, please feel free to contact us and one of our professional staff would be happy to help you.

Note: This provision only applies to vines […]

By |2020-09-03T20:05:17+00:00December 31st, 2015|depreciation|0 Comments

PATH Act Changes to the Research Credit

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The recently enacted “Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015” (i.e., the 2015 PATH Act) contains a provision making permanent the popular research credit. This credit encourages businesses to invest more in R&D by allowing a tax credit for spending on qualified research. The credit (1) is for 20% of current year qualified spending that exceeds a base amount related to gross receipts in certain earlier years and (2) can’t exceed 10% of the total spending in the current year on qualified research. Alternatively, taxpayers can irrevocably choose a simpler calculation.

The credit had lapsed for expenditures in 2015, but the legislation is also effective for those expenditures.

And importantly, the new law also makes two major changes to the credit, both favorable to small businesses. First, it provides that beginning in 2016 eligible small businesses ($50 million or less in gross receipts) may claim the credit against alternative minimum tax (AMT) liability. Also, beginning in 2016, the new law also provides that the credit can be used by certain even smaller businesses against the employer’s portion of the Social Security portion of the employer’s payroll tax (i.e., FICA) liability.

By |2020-09-03T20:05:18+00:00December 31st, 2015|research credit|0 Comments

New PATH Act Provides Major Benefits to Businesses in 2015

With only two weeks remaining until the end of the year, Congress passed the Protecting Americans from Tax Hike (PATH) Act of 2015, which reinstates a large number of tax provisions that had expired in 2014, many of which were not just renewed, but made permanent, while some of the other provisions are extended through 2016, and in some cases, 2019. This gift from Congress comes just in time for the holidays and will have a significant impact on tax payers and businesses. Below are some of the major provisions worth noting. And because California does not conform to some of these tax breaks, please contact us so we can help with your individual and year-end tax planning.

Highlights of the PATH Act:

  • $622 Billion Tax Break Package
  • Over 100 Separate Provisions
  • Permanent Research Tax Credit, Code Sec. 179 Expensing and AOTC (American Opportunity Tax Credit)
  • Five-Year Extension for Bonus Depreciation
  • Delay of Excise Tax on “Cadillac” Plans
  • Moratorium on Medical Device Excise Tax
  • Overall Major IRS Reform

Permanent Extensions for Individuals

  • Earned income tax credit
  • American Opportunity Tax Credit
  • Child tax credit
  • Option to to deduct state and local sales and use taxes instead of state and local income taxes
  • Teachers classroom expense deductions
  • Charitable distributions for IRAs
  • Qualified […]
By |2020-09-03T20:05:18+00:00December 29th, 2015|congress, extension, extensions, irs|0 Comments
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