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Are you considering joining the Great Resignation and becoming self-employed to be in charge of yourself? Yes? Okay, but before leaping, consider the tax implications. This self-employment thing may not be as rosy as it appears. Here’s the big picture. Don’t Believe the Hype Despite what some may believe,...

Here’s a question: Does a member of a limited liability company (LLC) or a partner in a partnership have to pay self-employment taxes (Social Security and Medicare tax) on the member’s or partner’s share of the entity’s income? Incredibly, the answer is not always clear. If you are a...

If you own an unincorporated business, you likely pay at least three different federal taxes. In addition to federal income taxes, you must pay Social Security and Medicare taxes, also called the self-employment tax. Self-employment taxes are not insubstantial. Indeed, many business owners pay more in self-employment taxes than...

You have read horror stories about how the IRS audits business owners and deems their 1099 independent contractors W-2 employees—and then assesses tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars in back payroll taxes, interest, and penalties. Are you one of those horror stories? Okay, let’s say you are one...

Making gifts to promote your business is complicated by time, inflation, and poor tax legislation. For example, a client recently brought this up: “To stay in touch and promote my business, I buy dozens and dozens of Starbucks $5 gift cards and send them monthly to my prospects and...

It is getting increasingly popular for individuals to use self-directed IRAs to invest in alternative investments—that is, investments in things other than stocks, bonds, CDs and the like. The single most popular alternative investment for self-directed IRAs is real estate. With real estate values continuing to climb, you may...

Do you own or advise a corporation, limited liability company (LLC), limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability limited partnership, or business trust? Or are you planning to form one of these entities? If so, be alert. There’s a new federal filing requirement coming. Back in 2021, Congress passed...

Cryptocurrency such as bitcoin is all the rage these days. Crypto is not legal money. It is property, similar to gold. Like gold, its use can result in taxable income. The IRS is concerned that you and millions of Americans are using crypto without paying tax on the earnings....

You may not have thought of this, but taking a cruise ship to Mexico for a business meeting is acceptable as a deductible form of transportation. Because Mexico is in the tax law–defined North American area, the law says that you need no stronger business reason to deduct your...

We absolutely, positively don’t like commuting mileage. You should dislike it, too. It’s personal. It’s not deductible. But with knowledge, it’s avoidable. Let’s eliminate commuting and make those trips from your home to your office deductible.
The law gives you two ways to eliminate commuting from your home to your...

The tax-code-defined vacation home rules come into play when you have both rental and personal use of a home. Thus, you can have tax-code-defined vacation homes in the city, in the suburbs, and in recreation areas. If you have no combined rental and personal use of the home, the...

With today’s home prices and the crazy real estate market, it’s likely difficult for your children to buy a home. And it’s conceivable that you are ready to move on from your existing home. If this is true, consider the three options below. Option 1: Make an Outright Gift...