federal - Linkenheimer LLP CPAs & Advisors

Current Pending Legislation Affecting Businesses and Individuals

Introduction

As your trusted advisors, we at Linkenheimer LLP strive to keep you informed about the latest legislative developments that could impact your business and personal financial planning. In this edition, we highlight significant pending legislation at both the state and federal levels that may affect our clients, including business owners, winery and restaurant owners, and individuals. We have not received any updates regarding potential federal adjustments for PG&E payments and Research & Development expense capitalization, and unfortunately, we remain pessimistic about any forthcoming changes. As a result, beginning July 1, 2024, we will proceed with finalizing the returns that were on hold pending this legislation.

State-Level Proposed Legislation

California AB 1181: Minimum Wage Increase

AB 1181 proposes to increase the state minimum wage to $16 per hour for all employees, regardless of the size of the business, by January 1, 2025. For small business owners, this could mean higher payroll costs and a need to revisit pricing strategies and workforce management.

California AB 543: Paid Family Leave Expansion

AB 543 seeks to extend the duration […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2024-07-09T20:43:30+00:00July 1st, 2024|ca, CA tax, california, law, New Tax Laws, propositions|0 Comments

Plug in Tax Savings for Electric Vehicles

While the number of plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) is still small compared with other cars on the road, it’s growing — especially in certain parts of the country. If you’re interested in purchasing an electric or hybrid vehicle, you may be eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500. (Depending on where you live, there may also be state tax breaks and other incentives.)

However, the federal tax credit is subject to a complex phaseout rule that may reduce or eliminate the tax break based on how many sales are made by a given manufacturer. The vehicles of two manufacturers have already begun to be phased out, which means they now qualify for only a partial tax credit.

Tax credit basics

You can claim the federal tax credit for buying a qualifying new (not used) plug-in EV. The credit can be worth up to $7,500. There are no income restrictions, so even wealthy people can qualify.

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:04:03+00:00May 2nd, 2019|credit, energy, New Tax Laws, tax credit|0 Comments

Will Leasing Equipment or Buying it be More Tax Efficient for Your Business?

Recent changes to federal tax law and accounting rules could affect whether you decide to lease or buy equipment or other fixed assets. Although there’s no universal “right” choice, many businesses that formerly leased assets are now deciding to buy them.

Pros and cons of leasing

From a cash flow perspective, leasing can be more attractive than buying. And leasing does provide some tax benefits: Lease payments generally are tax deductible as “ordinary and necessary” business expenses. (Annual deduction limits may apply.)

Leasing used to be advantageous from a financial reporting standpoint. But new accounting rules that bring leases to the lessee’s balance sheet go into effect in 2020 for calendar-year private companies. So, lease obligations will show up as liabilities, similar to purchased assets that are financed with traditional bank loans.

Leasing also has some potential drawbacks. Over the long run, leasing an asset may cost you more than buying it, and […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:04:14+00:00March 4th, 2019|business, depreciation, expensing, New Tax Laws|0 Comments

What’s New for 2018 California Tax Returns?

What’s new for 2018 California tax returns? The list of changes is long. That’s why the CA Franchise Tax Board has created a “Taxnews” page, with information about tax filing. The page includes information about credits such as the earned income credit, the new employment credit and the CA Competes credit, plus instructions for many other tax topics.

A few of the highlights include:

Federal Tax Reform

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) signed into law on December 22, 2017, made changes to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). In general, California Revenue and Taxation Code does not conform to the changes. California taxpayers continue to follow the IRC as of the specified date of January 1, 2015, with modifications. The IRS issued Notice 2019-11 to provide for a waiver of the estimated tax penalty for taxpayers whose 2018 federal income tax withholding and estimated tax payments fell short of their total tax liability for the year.

This relief is designed to help taxpayers who were unable to properly adjust their withholding and estimated tax payments to reflect an array of changes under the TCJA, the far-reaching tax reform law enacted in December 2017. For California purposes, the TJCA had no general impact to the […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:04:15+00:00March 1st, 2019|business, ca, CA tax, california, credit, file return, New Tax Laws, tax planning, tax time|0 Comments

California Tax News Related to Wildfires

Tax relief is available for California employers in counties hit by recent wildfires. The CA Employment Development Dept. (EDD) has announced that employers in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties directly affected by the Camp, Hill and Woolsey fires may request up to a 60-day extension of time from the EDD to file their state payroll reports and deposit state payroll taxes without penalty or interest. Written extension requests must be received within 60 days from the original delinquent date of the payment or return.

Due to a presidential disaster declaration, some victims of California’s recent wildfires may qualify for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). DUA provides temporary unemployment assistance to eligible individuals whose work or self-employment has been interrupted due to a major disaster and who also meet certain other conditions. This applies to losses in CA from the Camp, Hill, and Woolsey fires. Eligible persons may receive up to $450 per week for up to 27 weeks. The deadline to file is 12/14/18. If you have any questions, please contact your Linkenheimer CPA. For more info […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:04:26+00:00November 21st, 2018|CA tax, california, disaster|0 Comments