May

Major Tax Deadlines for May 2013
* May 15 - Deadline for calendar-year exempt organizations to file 2012 information returns.<

Foreign asset reporting: You may need to file two forms
Do you know where your money is? If some of it is offshore, you might have tax reporting responsibilities - and those responsibilities generally go further than checking the familiar box on the Schedule B you submit with your federal income tax return.

Some tax benefits have a past and a future
Like a page from a science fiction novel, your tax return can reach into the past and future.

Accountable plans are a win-win business idea
Are you looking for a way to give your employees a tax-free benefit that is also tax-deductible for your business? Why not consider an accountable plan?

An accountable plan is an arrangement that lets you reimburse your employees for expenses incurred on behalf of your company, such as driving to the post office or supply store.

Can happy employees equal healthy profits?
It is said that living by the Golden Rule - treating others as you would like to be treated - pays dividends.

Teach your children five financial lessons
It's important to impart life's lessons to your children.

Gifting appreciated stock has varying tax consequences
Here are a few things to consider when making gifts of appreciated stock.<

April

Major Tax Deadlines for April 2013
* April 1 - Deadline for payers who file electronically to file 2012 information returns (such as 1099s) with the IRS.

Start your 2013 tax planning with an estimate of your income
A new tax rate of 39.6

IRS announces a few changes in 2013 deduction limits for business vehicles
The IRS has published depreciation limits for business vehicles first placed in service this year.

Don't let your start-up company make these hiring mistakes
Challenges that merely annoy an established firm often capsize a start-up company.

"Full House" is the new home trend
Surveys are showing that having more than one generation living under the same roof is becoming increasingly common.

Watch out for identity theft, says the IRS
The IRS is making the prevention of identity theft a top priority this year.<

March

Major Tax Deadlines for March 2013
* March 1 - Farmers and fishermen who did not make 2012 estimated tax payments would normally be required to file 2012 tax returns and pay taxes in full.

Extended tax breaks could cut your taxes in 2012 and 2013
The new tax law signed in January extended a number of tax breaks that could lower your tax bill in 2012 and 2013.

Do you owe self-employment tax?
If you earned more than $400 during 2012 from work as a sole proprietor or independent contractor, you may owe self-employment tax.

New home-office deduction option simplifies recordkeeping
The IRS is reducing the recordkeeping required for the home-office deduction, effective for 2013.

Manage your business with a few key numbers
Regardless of the type of business you're running - whether it's selling electronics, making furniture, or servicing automobiles - monitoring a few key financial indicators is often all that's needed to keep your company growing and prosperous.

Review your estate plan under the new rules
There has been a lot of uncertainty about the tax rules - what has changed for 2013 and what has remained the same.

You can't change your mind after you convert
Under the new tax law, it is now easier to convert your employer-sponsored retirement plan such as a 401(k), 403(b), or 457 into a Roth IRA account.

February

Major Tax Deadlines for February 2013
* February 15 - Deadline for brokers to provide 2012 Forms 1099-B and 1099-S to customers.

IRS delays start to the 1040 filing season
The delayed passage of the "American Taxpayers Relief Act of 2012" has put the IRS behind schedule.

Inflation changes several tax numbers for 2013
The IRS and the Social Security Administration have published some inflation-adjusted numbers for 2013.

Delayed tax filing affects farmers and fishermen
If your business is farming or fishing, you have until April 15, instead of March 1, to file your 2012 tax return and pay any tax due for 2012.<

How to improve annual performance reviews of your employees
The annual employee performance review -- usually it's dreaded by both supervisor and employee.

"Chained CPI" -- Do you know what it is?
As the politicians in Washington start once again to tackle the same old problems, you're likely to hear more about a new way of measuring inflation called the "chained CPI.&

Want to help your child buy a home?
Are you looking for a way to help your child with buying a home? Some strategies you might consider include lending your child money, gifting under the annual gift tax exclusion, pledging securities, and equity sharing.<

January

Major Tax Deadlines for January 2013
* January 15 - Final 2012 individual estimated tax payment is due, unless 2012 tax return is filed and taxes are paid in full by January 31, 2013.<

Use adjusted tax numbers in your 2013 planning
Each year the IRS adjusts certain tax numbers for inflation and tax law changes.

Congress passes fiscal cliff legislation
If you have been following all the political drama connected with the "fiscal cliff," you know that Congress finally passed legislation that dealt with the tax portion of the issue, leaving the spending half of the problem for later resolution.

Is your business ignoring the health care tax credit?
Many small businesses are still missing out on the health care tax credit.

Does your business have this vital document?
Every business should give serious consideration to how the company would deal with the death, disability, or departure of one of the owners.<

Take action now to have a scam-free 2013
Scam artists are constantly finding new ways to steal your identity and take your money.

Don't overlook tax planning in a divorce
Tax rules are daunting at the best of times - and they're more so at the worst of times, such as during a divorce, when you may feel too stressed to face decisions involving your taxes.