Category: Income Taxes

  • Constructive Dividends – Definition, Understanding and Application

    Constructive Dividends – Definition, Understanding and Application

    When a corporation confers an economic benefit upon a shareholder, in his capacity as such, without an expectation of reimbursement, that economic benefit becomes a constructive dividend, taxable as such. See INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE NATIONAL OFFICE FIELD SERVICE ADVICE MEMORANDUM FOR DISTRICT COUNSEL, Number 200011003 dated October 27, 1999; specifically Page 4, 3rd paragraph.

  • Double Taxation – Not an Issue in Small Business

    Double Taxation – Not an Issue in Small Business

    In the world of big business corporate earnings are taxed twice under the Internal Revenue Code. The first layer of taxation occurs with the traditional corporate income tax. The second tier of taxation happens when dividends are issued to shareholders. The shareholder pays an income tax at their personal rate. 

  • Nondeductible Expenses in Small Business

    Nondeductible Expenses in Small Business

    One of the more significant expenses for the small business owners is income taxes. Since most small businesses are tax pass through entities, it is beneficial to the business to have the least amount of net income in order to reduce the tax obligations of the owner(s). This is achieved by making sure every dollar expensed…

  • Estimated Tax Payments – Why and How

    Estimated Tax Payments – Why and How

    In the normal taxpayer relationship with the Internal Revenue Service, the taxpayer is an employee and via withholding, taxes are paid the U.S. Government by the employer. Basically the employer pays the tax after each payroll run on behalf of all the employees and the corresponding mandated matching taxes (Social Security and Medicare). But in the small…

  • Mileage Deduction – Rate for 2015

    Mileage Deduction – Rate for 2015

    On December 10, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service announced the mileage rate deduction for 2015. They increased the amount allowed 1.5 cents to 57.5 cents per mile. How do you calculate and use the mileage rate formula for tax purposes?

  • Mailbox Rule in Business

    Mailbox Rule in Business

    There is one tax rule that confuses business owners and it relates to the year-end practice of paying bills and receiving compensation for receivables. This is referred to as the ‘Mailbox Rule’. This is strictly a tax issue for cash basis taxpayers. I’m here to set the record straight! 

  • At-Risk Rules – An Elementary Understanding

    At-Risk Rules – An Elementary Understanding

    Code Section 465 of the Internal Revenue Code defines ‘At-Risk’ as the financial value the taxpayer has in jeopardy related to the business activity the taxpayer is invested in as some form of an owner. Effectively, the taxpayer may only take losses on his tax return contingent on the loss being directly tied to invested dollars…

  • Phantom Income

    Phantom Income

    Those small businesses using partnership or S-Corporation formats issue Form K-1 to the respective owners. When income is assigned to the owner and there is no corresponding cash related to that income, then this income is referred to as ‘Phantom Income’. In effect, it is assigned income for tax purposes without the corresponding cash to pay…

  • Form 1099-C: Cancellation of Debt

    Form 1099-C: Cancellation of Debt

    If you received a 1099-C, the first question you ask is: ‘Do I have to include this in my taxable income?’ Well, the answer is ‘it depends’. Not what you want to hear but there are a lot of variables involved in answering this question.