If and when Congress passes a law reforming the tax code, there is a general expectation that taxes will increase, and some commonly used estate planning strategies will be added to the endangered species list. Among the tools being targeted are irrevocable grantor trusts, which have long enabled grantors to remove appreciating assets from their […]
When individuals sign legal documents, including personal checks, contracts, tax returns, etc., they generally are not required to add any language explaining who they are. Their names alone satisfy the legal requirements for validating those documents. However, when those people are also officers of corporations or managers of partnerships or LLCs, they usually include their […]
Despite a strong economic recovery since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses of all sizes are struggling to find and hire ample staff to keep up with demand. For some, relief has come by expanding their pool of potential employees to include veterans, ex-felons and other individuals who typically face significant barriers to employment. […]
The federal research and development (R&D) tax credit is one of the most valuable tax incentives while also being one of the most misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, eligibility is not limited to businesses that employ scientists, develop cutting-edge products or make groundbreaking discoveries. Rather, it may apply to businesses, large and small, in a […]
Representations and warranties insurance (RWI) is becoming an increasingly common and required tool to expedite M&A transactions, bridge gaps in deal negotiations and reduce buyers’ and sellers’ risks of financial losses after deals close. At the most basic level, representations are the assertions sellers make about their companies, those entities’ financial positions and past and […]
It has been almost 20 years to the day that one of the country’s largest publicly traded companies filed for bankruptcy protection amid what continues to be cited as one of the largest accounting frauds in history. However, since the collapse of Enron and subsequent enactment of legislation to prevent similar scandals, corporate fraud and […]
Employer-sponsored 401(k) plans are excellent vehicles for individuals to save for retirement during their prime earning years. Annual contributions made today with pretax dollars grow tax-deferred until you reach retirement age, when the distributions you take are treated as taxable ordinary income. However, even if you are diligent and contribute the maximum allowable amount to […]
It is not uncommon to blindly toss documents received throughout the year into a drawer, never to be seen again until it comes time to file your tax returns. This process, however, is not ideal for year-round tax planning, which is critical for tax efficiency and wealth preservation. Instead, take the time now to establish […]
Commercial property owners in Florida will soon receive Truth in Millage (TRIM) notices indicating the county’s appraised market value of their real estate and the estimated property taxes they can expect to pay for the year. Although it is not uncommon for landlords and developers to ignore these estimates in anticipation of receiving a final […]
According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the total number of bankruptcy filings in 2020 decreased nearly 30 percent from the prior year, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. By contrast, the total number of Chapter 11 reorganization filings during the same period increased 18.7 percent from 2019, while the number of […]