Archives for Newsletter and Updates

House Tax Bill Outline Released

November 2, 2017 | by | Comments Off on House Tax Bill Outline Released

On the heels of the recently passed 2018 budget resolution that allows for tax legislation to increase the federal deficit by $1.5 trillion over 10 years the House Republican leaders released details of its tax overhaul plan. The key changes in the plan from the current law are as follows: Individuals: Current tax rates: Seven brackets from 10% to 39.6%. Proposed tax rates: Four brackets at 12%, 25%, 35% and 39.6%. Current standard deduction: $6,350 individuals and $12,700 married filing joint. Proposed standard deduction: $12,000 individuals and $24,000 married filing joint. Elimination of personal exemptions, worth $4,050 per person. Increase
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Categories: Industry News and Newsletter and Updates.
Tags: cpa, house tax bill, tax, taxation, wfy, and wright ford young.

The Pros and Cons of Becoming an ESOP

November 1, 2017 | by | Comments Off on The Pros and Cons of Becoming an ESOP

An ESOP is not the only way for employees to own a company, but it is by far the most common. Although the concept was almost unknown until 1974, by 2014, about 7,000 companies had ESOPs covering 13.5 million employees, according to the National Center for Employee Ownership, a nonprofit membership group that provides information and research on ESOPs. An ESOP can work in a variety of ways. Employees can buy stock directly, be offered it as a bonus, receive stock options or obtain stock through a profit-sharing plan. Some employees become owners through worker cooperatives in which every staffer
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Categories: Newsletter and Updates.
Tags: article, blog, cpa, esop, firm, national center for employee ownership, newsletter, plan, tax, taxation, wfy, and wright ford young.

Estate and Gift Tax 2018 Inflation Adjustments

October 26, 2017 | by | Comments Off on Estate and Gift Tax 2018 Inflation Adjustments

On October 19th, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2017-58, the annual inflation adjustments for 2018 for many tax provisions, including exemptions for estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes as well as the annual exclusion amount for gifts as follows: Estate, Gift and GST Tax Exemption Increases to $5,600,000. For estates of decedents who pass away during 2018, and for gifts made during 2018, the combined estate and gift tax exemption will increase to $5,600,000, up from a total of $5,490,000 for estates of decedents in 2017.  The generation-skipping transfer exemption increased as well to $5,600,000. In 2018 an individual can
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Categories: Industry News and Newsletter and Updates.
Tags: cpa, estate, exemptions, gifts, IRS, tax, trust, wfy, and wright ford young.

Year-End Tax Planning Strategies

October 19, 2017 | by | Comments Off on Year-End Tax Planning Strategies

As the end of the year approaches, it is a good time to think of planning moves that will help lower your tax bill for this year and possibly the next. We have compiled a checklist of actions based on current tax rules that may help you save tax dollars if you act before year-end. Not all actions will apply in your particular situation, but you will likely benefit from many of them. We can narrow down the specific actions that you can take. In the meantime, please review the following list and contact us if you would like additional
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Categories: Newsletter and Updates.
Tags: cpa, firm, planning, tax, tax planning, taxation, wfy, and wright ford young.

Trump’s Framework for Fixing Broken Estate, Gift, Trust Tax Code

October 12, 2017 | by | Comments Off on Trump’s Framework for Fixing Broken Estate, Gift, Trust Tax Code

At first glance, the Framework that President Trump has outlined for the Estate Tax is simply this: repeal of the Estate Tax and its cousin, the Generation Skipping Transfer Tax (GSTT).   The complexity lies in the rich political history behind the Estate Tax, in what little details are provided, and what the Framework does not say.   In this brief article we will alert you to the important details, point out the silent mysteries, and provide you with some direction for planning in this uncertain environment. The proposed Framework repeals the Estate and GSTT, but under the Byrd rule the Estate
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Categories: Newsletter and Updates.

What to Do After the Hurricane

October 4, 2017 | by | Comments Off on What to Do After the Hurricane

Those pictures you see from Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma – ordinary people out there in waist-high water, rescuing both their neighbors and strangers, coming from other states and other counties – demonstrate yet again not only the resilience of Americans but our decency in reaching out to others without a thought to personal safety. It also makes us all think: What would I do if such a natural disaster were to strike my home or business? What follows are the resources available, especially if you are in Texas or Florida. Even if you’re not in this area, you may have
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Categories: Industry News and Newsletter and Updates.

Unified Framework for Tax Reform

September 28, 2017 | by | Comments Off on Unified Framework for Tax Reform

Republican lawmakers released on Wednesday a “unified framework” for tax reform designed to cut tax rates, simplify the Internal Revenue Code, and provide a more competitive environment for business. The key changes are as follows: Individuals: Current tax rates: Seven brackets from 10% to 39.6%. Proposed tax rates: Three brackets at 12%, 25% and 35%. Current standard deduction: $6,350 individuals and $12,700 married filing joint. Proposed standard deduction: $12,000 individuals and $24,000 married filing joint. Elimination of personal exemptions, worth $4,050 per person. Repeal of the alternative minimum tax. Repeal of the estate and generation-skipping transfer tax. Eliminate most itemized
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Categories: Industry News and Newsletter and Updates.
Tags: business, cpa, deductions, individual, tax, tax reform, trump, unified framework, wfy, and wright ford young.

How to Protect Yourself From the Equifax Data Breach

September 21, 2017 | by | Comments Off on How to Protect Yourself From the Equifax Data Breach

If you have not already done so, you should immediately check your potential impact from the massive cyber security incident at Equifax which may have affected 143 million people. Follow the recommended steps from the Federal Trade Commission located here to see your potential impact. Your security is important to us, please email us at info@cpa-wfy.com or contact us here if you have any additional questions or concerns.  
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Categories: Industry News and Newsletter and Updates.
Tags: breach, cpa, cyber security, equifax, federal trade commission, protect, tax, wfy, and wright ford young.

What to Know About ‘Power of Attorney’

September 7, 2017 | by | Comments Off on What to Know About ‘Power of Attorney’

A general power of attorney gives broad powers to a person or organization, known as an agent or attorney in fact, to act on your behalf. What powers? Handling financial and business transactions. Buying life insurance. Settling claims. Operating business interests. Making gifts. Employing professional help. These things make a general POA an effective tool, especially if you’ll be out of the country and need someone to handle certain matters, and obviously if you’re physically or mentally incapable of managing your affairs. Powers of attorney are generally included in estate plans to make sure someone is handling financial matters. But
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Categories: Newsletter and Updates.
Tags: business, claims, cpa, firm, power of attorney, tax, wfy, and wright ford young.

Multistate Sales Tax Amnesty Program for Online Retailers

August 24, 2017 | by | Comments Off on Multistate Sales Tax Amnesty Program for Online Retailers

The Multistate Tax Commission announced that it is working with 13 states to implement a sales tax amnesty program aimed at getting online retailers to register and file sales tax returns.  The main benefit of the amnesty program is that sellers will not be required to report prior period sales, nor be required to pay penalties or interest on any back taxes owed.  As of today, participating states include: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Vermont.  Eight additional states are considering participation but have not committed, and it is not clear whether
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Categories: Newsletter and Updates.
Tags: liability, multistate tax commission, penalty, sales, tax, tax amnesty program, wfy, and wright ford young & co.