December

Major Tax Deadlines
* December 15 - Fourth estimated tax payment is due for calendar-year corporations.

Homebuyer's credit extended
Under prior law, an eligible first-time homebuyer could claim a maximum credit of $8,000 for a principal residence purchased before December 1, 2009.

New rules in 2010 open Roth IRA conversions to everyone
Beginning in 2010, the rules governing Roth IRA conversions will undergo a significant change.

NOL carryback extended by recent law
Normally, a business can carry back a net operating loss (NOL) for only two years before carrying it forward for up to 20 years.

Wages or dividends? An important tax question for shareholder-employees
S corporations are the most popular form of corporate business structure.

November

Major Tax Deadlines
During November: It's wise to estimate your 2009 income tax liability and review your options for minimizing your 2009 taxes.

Little change for 2010 tax numbers
There was minimal inflation in 2009; therefore, tax numbers that are annually adjusted for inflation will see little or no change for 2010.

Year-end tax reminders
The clock is ticking on tax moves you might benefit from if you act before December 31.

Time's running out for 2009 business tax planning
Although it's getting late in the year, small business owners still have time to reduce their 2009 tax bill.&

Take time to do a "banker" review
Have you taken a look at your company's banking relationship lately? Chances are you opened an account at a local branch when you started the business and haven't changed since.

October

Major Tax Deadlines
* October 1 - Generally, the deadline for self-employeds and small businesses to establish a SIMPLE retirement plan for 2009.

A new vehicle could bring tax savings
If you're thinking of buying a new car, truck, motorcycle, or motor home this year, you might benefit from a tax break included in the "Recovery Act of 2009.&

Mortgage debt relief: Answers to frequently asked questions
To compound the financial woes resulting from a foreclosure or other mortgage restructuring for your home, the IRS generally imposes tax when debt is cancelled.

Our workforce is changing
Things are changing on the job front.

Six questions to ask before starting a business
Throughout America, in rural towns and large cities, companies come and go with clockwork frequency.

September

Major Tax Deadlines
* September 15 - Due date for individuals to pay third quarter installment of 2009 estimated tax.

The IRS reminds taxpayers to use new tax breaks
The IRS has issued a news release reminding taxpayers to take advantage of the tax breaks provided in the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," the recovery law passed earlier this year.&

Do a year-end investment review to cut taxes and increase returns
This is a good time of year to review and rebalance your investment portfolio.

IRS urges small businesses to use tax breaks
The "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act," the economic stimulus law passed earlier this year, included a number of tax-saving opportunities for businesses.

Is your business prepared for flu season?
The government is encouraging businesses to look ahead to the upcoming fall and winter flu season and to make plans to minimize the flu's effects on business productivity.

August

Major Tax Deadlines
NOTE: Businesses are required to make federal tax deposits on dates determined by various factors that differ from business to business.

An update on tax collections
The economy hasn't been doing well, and when the economy slumps, so do tax collections.

Put midyear tax planning on your summer agenda
Summer's here, and probably the last thing on your mind is tax planning.

IRS defines new groups for work credit
The work opportunity tax credit is available to businesses that hire workers from certain disadvantaged target groups.

Consider incremental cost in business purchasing
If you run a business, you probably make many different kinds of purchasing decisions.

July

Major Tax Deadlines
* July 31 - Due date for filing retirement or employee benefit plan returns (5500 series) for plans on a calendar year.<

What's New in Taxes
Changes affect 529 plans

Two changes could affect your 529 college plan.

Follow the road to savings with tax credits
A tax deduction should never be overlooked, but it's a tax credit that can make a big difference in your tax bill.

Final increase in federal minimum wage this month
July 24, 2009, brings the third and final increase in the federal minimum wage mandated by the "Small Business and Work Opportunity Act of 2007.&

New COBRA health subsidy: What employers and employees need to know
Job loss brings many challenges to families, and that often includes obtaining affordable health insurance coverage.

June

Major Tax Deadlines
* June 15 - Second quarter 2009 individual estimated tax is due.<

School's out! That means moving time for millions
Millions of people move each year, often during the summer months when children are out of school.

Energy-saving home improvements could cut your 2009 taxes
President Obama signed the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" into law on February 17, 2009.

2009 vehicle deductions
Each year the IRS publishes depreciation limits for business vehicles first placed in service that year.

New rules for NOLs
Essentially, a net operating loss or NOL is generated when a business has more deductions than income.<

May

Major Tax Deadlines
* May 15 - Deadline for calendar-year exempt organizations to file 2008 information returns.

IRS gives up on private debt collection
The use of private debt collection agencies to collect overdue taxes was started in 2006.&

How long should you keep tax records?
After filing your 2008 tax return, you may be wondering how long to keep your tax records.

Government jobs pay more than private sector jobs
Even as the economy struggles, workers in government jobs are enjoying an increase in pay and benefits.&

How does your company measure up?
No matter how successful your business has been in the past, you can probably do better.

April

Major Tax Deadlines
* April 1 - Deadline for taking your first required IRA distribution if you turned 70-1/2 in 2008.

IRS expands 2009 homebuyer credit
The IRS announced recently that taxpayers who qualify for the first-time homebuyer tax credit on a home purchased from January 1, 2009, through November 30, 2009, may claim the credit on either their 2008 income tax return due April 15, 2009, or on their 2009 tax returns due April 15, 2010.&

Use the "saver's credit" to cut your tax bill
Would you like to shave $1,000 off your income tax bill? Would your spouse like to join in the tax savings of up to $2,000 on a joint return? This potential savings comes in the form of a tax credit called the "retirement savings contributions credit" or "saver's credit.&

Big business expresses views on health care reform
According to a recent survey of 489 U.S

Are you a fireman or a business manager?
In your business are you constantly putting out fires caused by cash shortages? How well you manage your cash flow affects your business's profitability and longevity.

March

Major Tax Deadlines
* March 2 - Farmers and fishermen who did not make 2008 estimated tax payments must file 2008 tax returns and pay taxes in full.<

Tax breaks are included in the new Recovery Act
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes a bevy of new tax breaks.

Itemizing deductions: Three facts you should know
You know the general rule about itemized deductions: Compare your total allowable expenses against your standard deduction, and use the amount that provides the greatest tax benefit.<

New law has tax breaks for businesses
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 contains a number of provisions that will affect businesses.

Has your business considered the benefits of going green?
We see, hear, and read every day that the world is becoming more environmentally conscious and taking steps to "go green.&

February

Major Tax Deadlines
* February 2 - Employers must provide 2008 W-2 statements to employees.&

2008 tax rebates still available for some
The Stimulus Act of 2008 provided qualifying taxpayers with rebate checks last year.&

Basis reporting will be required soon
In just a few short years, brokers will be required to report basis information to the IRS for stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments.<

Health care to cost more in 2009
Both employers and employees can expect higher health care costs in 2009.<

How to compete against a larger rival
When Starbucks or Walmart or Home Depot comes to town, how can a small business successfully compete? That's a tough question, one that's been the subject of numerous magazine articles, Internet blogs, and doctoral theses.

January

Major Tax Deadlines
* January 15 - Final 2008 individual estimated tax payment is due, unless 2008 tax return is filed and taxes are paid in full by February 2, 2009.<

IRS releases inflation-adjusted tax numbers for 2009
The IRS adjusts many tax numbers for inflation each year.

Control health costs and taxes with a Health Savings Account
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) have been slow to catch on with the public, but Congress is doing its part to champion their cause.

Some businesses cut matching program
As businesses look for ways to cut costs in the current economic slump, some are conserving cash by eliminating the company's matching contributions to workers' 401(k) accounts.

Think through the succession puzzle for business survival
Succession planning is very important for a family owned business.