office - Linkenheimer LLP CPAs & Advisors

The Rise of IoT and Smart Workplaces: Revolutionizing the Modern Office

In the era of digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a cornerstone technology driving innovation across various sectors, notably in the creation of smart workplaces. By integrating IoT devices and systems into the fabric of the office environment, businesses are not only enhancing efficiency and productivity but also fostering a culture of innovation, sustainability, and employee well-being. This article explores the concept of IoT-driven smart workplaces, offering insights into their benefits, examples of implementation, and practical steps for businesses looking to make the transition.

Understanding Smart Workplaces

A smart workplace is an ecosystem, augmented with IoT devices, that collects, analyzes, and uses data to automate and optimize operations. It encompasses everything from energy management and security systems to communication tools and employee productivity solutions. The goal is to create an environment that not only boosts efficiency but also enhances the well-being and productivity of its occupants.

Key Benefits of Smart Workplaces

Enhanced Productivity: IoT devices automate routine tasks, freeing up employees to focus on more strategic activities.
Improved Energy Efficiency: Smart lighting, thermostats, and energy management systems adjust according to occupancy and preferences, reducing waste and costs.
Optimized Space Utilization: Sensors […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2024-03-05T15:05:18+00:00March 5th, 2024|Tech|0 Comments

Office 365 Tips and Tricks to Elevate Your Communication and Efficiency

In today’s fast-paced business environment, Office 365 stands out as a cornerstone for communication and efficiency. Beyond its well-known features, there are numerous hidden gems within Office 365 that can significantly enhance your productivity. This article explores some of these lesser-known tips and tricks.

Section 1: Mastering Efficient Email Management with Outlook

Focused Inbox: To activate Focused Inbox in Outlook, go to the ‘View’ tab, and click on ‘Show Focused Inbox’. This feature sorts your emails into two tabs, focusing on the most important ones.
Scheduling Emails: Compose your email as usual, then instead of clicking ‘Send’, select the dropdown arrow next to it and choose ‘Send later’ to specify the desired send time.
Email Templates: For creating a template, draft an email, then go to ‘File’ > ‘Save as’ > ‘Outlook Template’. To use it, go to ‘New Items’ > ‘More Items’ > ‘Choose Form’ and select ‘User Templates in File System’.

Section 2: Enhancing Team Collaboration with Microsoft Teams

Background Blur and Custom Backgrounds: During a video call, click on the ‘…’ (more options) and select ‘Show background effects’ to blur or change your background.
Using @mentions: Type ‘@’ followed by the […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2024-01-23T16:50:34+00:00January 23rd, 2024|IT, Tech, technology|0 Comments

Tech Tuesday: Microsoft Lens, A Game-Changer for Business and Accounting

In today’s digital age, the transition from physical to digital documents is inevitable. Whether we talk about business contracts, receipts, or tax documents, the ability to quickly digitize and share documents is a necessity. Enter Microsoft Lens, a mobile application designed to scan, enhance, and digitize a wide array of documents. For business environments and especially for accounting firms, Microsoft Lens has the potential to revolutionize the way documents are handled.

What is Microsoft Lens?

Originally known as Office Lens, Microsoft Lens is a mobile application developed by Microsoft. It’s essentially an intelligent camera app that allows users to capture, clean up, and convert images of whiteboards, notes, and documents into readable and editable formats, such as Word, PowerPoint, PDF, and more.

Benefits in a Business Environment:

1. Digital Transformation: Physical paperwork can be cumbersome and a potential data security liability. By using Microsoft Lens, businesses can quickly transform paper documents into digital assets, making them easy to store, share, secure and access from anywhere.

2. Collaboration: Captured documents can be easily integrated with Microsoft’s suite of products, such as OneDrive, Outlook, Teams, Word, or PowerPoint. This ensures a smooth workflow, as colleagues can instantly access and […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2023-10-31T17:38:39+00:00October 31st, 2023|business, Tech|0 Comments

Here’s What Taxpayers Need To Know About The Home Office Deduction

The home office deduction allows qualifying taxpayers to deduct certain home expenses on their tax return. With more people working from home than ever before, some taxpayers may be wondering if they can claim a home office deduction when they file their 2020 tax return next year.

Here are some things to help taxpayers understand the home office deduction and whether they can claim it:

Employees are not eligible to claim the home office deduction.
The home office deduction Form 8829 is available to both homeowners and renters.
There are certain expenses taxpayers can deduct. They include mortgage interest, insurance, utilities, repairs, maintenance, depreciation and rent.
Taxpayers must meet specific requirements to claim home expenses as a deduction. Even then, the deductible amount of these types of expenses may be limited.
The term “home” for purposes of this deduction:
- Includes a house, apartment, condominium, mobile home, boat or similar property.
- Also includes structures on the property. These are places like an unattached garage, studio, barn or greenhouse.
- Doesn’t include any part of the taxpayer’s property used exclusively […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:02:08+00:00August 6th, 2020|business, deduction, deductions, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Your Home Office Expenses May Be Tax Deductible

Technology has made it easier to work from home so lots of people now commute each morning to an office down the hall. However, just because you have a home office space doesn’t mean you can deduct expenses associated with it.

Regularly and exclusively

In order to be deductible for 2019 and 2020, you must be self-employed and the space must be used regularly (not just occasionally) and exclusively for business purposes. If, for example, your home office is also a guest bedroom or your children do their homework there, you can’t deduct the expenses associated with the space.

Two options

If you qualify, the home office deduction can be a valuable tax break. There are two options for the deduction:

Write off a portion of your mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance, utilities and certain other expenses, as well as the depreciation allocable to the office space. This requires calculating, allocating and substantiating actual expenses.
Take the “safe harbor” deduction. Only one simple calculation is necessary: $5 times the number of square feet of the office space. The safe harbor deduction is capped at $1,500 per year, based on a maximum of 300 square feet.

Changes through 2025

Under […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:03:20+00:00February 4th, 2020|business, deduction, expensing, New Tax Laws|0 Comments