tax - Linkenheimer LLP CPAs & Advisors

Employers Have Questions And Concerns About Deferring Employees’ Social Security Taxes

The IRS has provided guidance to employers regarding the recent presidential action to allow employers to defer the withholding, deposit and payment of certain payroll tax obligations.

The three-page guidance in Notice 2020-65 was issued to implement President Trump’s executive memorandum signed on August 8.

Private employers still have questions and concerns about whether, and how, to implement the optional deferral. The President’s action only defers the employee’s share of Social Security taxes; it doesn’t forgive them, meaning employees will still have to pay the taxes later unless Congress acts to eliminate the liability. (The payroll services provider for federal employers announced that federal employees will have their taxes deferred.)

Deferral basics

President Trump issued the memorandum in light of the COVID-19 crisis. He directed the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury to use his authority under the tax code to defer the withholding, deposit and payment of certain payroll tax obligations.

For purposes of the Notice, “applicable wages” means wages or compensation paid to an employee on a pay date beginning September 1, 2020, and ending December 31, 2020, but only if the amount paid for a biweekly pay period is less than $4,000, or the equivalent amount with respect […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-08T23:07:39+00:00September 8th, 2020|employer, New Tax Laws, social security, tax|0 Comments

Take Advantage Of A “Stepped-Up Basis” When You Inherit Property

If you’re planning your estate, or you’ve recently inherited assets, you may be unsure of the “cost” (or “basis”) for tax purposes.

Fair market value rules

Under the fair market value basis rules (also known as the “step-up and step-down” rules), an heir receives a basis in inherited property equal to its date-of-death value. So, for example, if your grandfather bought ABC Corp. stock in 1935 for $500 and it’s worth $5 million at his death, the basis is stepped up to $5 million in the hands of your grandfather’s heirs — and all of that gain escapes federal income tax forever.

The fair market value basis rules apply to inherited property that’s includible in the deceased’s gross estate, and those rules also apply to property inherited from foreign persons who aren’t subject to U.S. estate tax. It doesn’t matter if a federal estate tax return is filed. The rules apply to the inherited portion of property owned by the inheriting taxpayer jointly with the deceased, but not the portion of jointly held property that the inheriting taxpayer […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:02:11+00:00July 21st, 2020|estate, estate tax, tax implications, tax planning|0 Comments

California Tax Updates for June 25

Update 1:

Many California businesses are downsizing or have closed permanently due to COVID-19. The California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) has released a detailed set of steps needed to fully close a CA business entity, including links to resources from the CA Secretary of State and other state departments. The FTB highlights the need to close out tax accounts by filing delinquent returns and paying all balances due on taxes, filing a current annual or quarterly return as final, filing the appropriate closure forms with different state agencies, notifying employees and other stakeholders of the intent to close and dissolving all accounts associate with the business. For more: https://bit.ly/37e3cjI

Update 2:

Businesses that hold unclaimed property in California get extra time to file reports. Due to COVID-19, the CA State Controller (SCO) has postponed the due date for holders of such property, including unclaimed wages, to submit their Remit Reports and Remittances for properties reported […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:02:24+00:00June 25th, 2020|business, ca, CA tax, ftb, New Tax Laws|0 Comments

California Tax Updates for June 18

Post 1:

Have you wondered what the California Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate actually does? The CA Dept. of Tax and Fee Administration just released a report highlighting the accomplishments of the Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate’s Office (TRAO). The annual report for 2018 through 2019 gives examples of the services it provides, and information about the tax appeals assistance programs. Also listed are the goals of the Advocate, including a primary goal of ensuring that taxpayers contacting the office with issues that haven’t been resolved through normal channels have their concerns promptly and fairly addressed. Here’s the TRAO report: https://bit.ly/37cwSxS

Post 2:

California sales and use tax deadlines are coming up soon. The CA Dept. of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) reminds sales and use taxpayers that June 24, 2020, is the filing due date for the May 1 through June 15, 2020 prepayment; and June 30, 2020, […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:02:28+00:00June 18th, 2020|business, ca, CA tax, california, sales tax|0 Comments

The History of April 15th and Tax Day

April 15 isn’t most Americans’ favorite day, and that’s because most years, it’s the official, federal tax deadline (for the first time in 65 years, tax day now falls on a different day, July 15, 2020) . Tax Day, as it’s called, has a long and interesting history in the States that goes all the way back to Abe Lincoln’s leadership. Federal income tax was introduced with the Revenue Act of 1861 to help fund the Civil War, and subsequently repealed, re-adopted, and held unconstitutional. The early taxes were based on assessments, not voluntary tax returns. Tax payment dates varied by act.

1861: The First Federal Income Tax

Abraham Lincoln, who was an American president from 1861 to 1865, proclaimed the first federal income tax his first year in office. 1861—particularly August 5—is the historical day that marks the future-changing decision. At the time, Lincoln announced a 3% tax rate for anyone who made over $800 a year (roughly $24,000 with today’s inflation). The decision was made to help fund the Union’s efforts during the civil war. Though we are still being taxed today, Lincoln’s tax system was repealed in 1871.

1894: Tariff Act of 1894 Rules […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2020-09-03T20:03:05+00:00April 15th, 2020|irs, Linkenheimer, New Tax Laws, tax deadlines|0 Comments