Business

  • Supreme Court: Overtime rules still apply to highly compensated employees

    If you were told someone earns more than $200,000 annually, you might assume the person is a salaried employee who’s ineligible for overtime pay. However, as demonstrated in the recent U.S. Supreme Court case of Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. v. Hewitt, this isn’t always a safe assumption.

  • Surprise IT failures pose a major financial risk to companies

    It’s every business owner’s nightmare. You wake up in the morning, or perhaps in the middle of the night, and see that dreaded message: “We’re down.” It could be your website, e-commerce platform or some other mission-critical information technology (IT) system. All you know is it’s down and your company is losing money by the hour.

  • Taking your spouse on a business trip? Can you write off the costs?

    A recent report shows that post-pandemic global business travel is going strong. The market reached $665.3 billion in 2022 and is estimated to hit $928.4 billion by 2030, according to a report from Research and Markets. If you own your own company and travel for business, you may wonder whether you can deduct the costs of having your spouse accompany you on trips.

  • The tax advantages of hiring your child this summer

    Summer is around the corner so you may be thinking about hiring young people at your small business. At the same time, you may have children looking to earn extra spending money. You can save family income and payroll taxes by putting your child on the payroll. It’s a win-win!

  • Timing is everything when it comes to accounting software upgrades

    “Well, it still works, and everyone knows how to use it, but….”

    Do these words sound familiar? Many businesses stick with their accounting software far too long for these very reasons. What’s important to find out and consider is everything that comes after the word “but.”

  • Turnaround acquisitions are risky growth opportunities for today’s companies

    When it comes to growth, businesses have two broad options. First, there’s organic growth — that is, progress made through internal efforts such as boosting sales, expanding into other markets, innovating new products or services, and improving operational efficiency. Second, there’s inorganic growth, which is achieved through externally focused activities such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and strategic partnerships.

  • Understanding your obligations: Does your business need to report employee health coverage?

    Employee health coverage is a significant part of many companies’ benefits packages. However, the administrative responsibilities that accompany offering health insurance can be complex. One crucial aspect is understanding the reporting requirements of federal agencies such as the IRS. Does your business have to comply, and if so, what must you do? Here are some answers to questions you may have.

  • Valuations can help business owners plan for the future

    If someone was to suggest that you should have your business appraised, you might wonder whether the person was subtly suggesting that you retire and sell the company.

  • Why you might want to file early and answers to other tax season questions

    The IRS announced it opened the 2023 individual income tax return filing season on January 23. That’s when the agency began accepting and processing 2022 tax year returns. Even if you typically don’t file until much closer to the mid-April deadline (or you file for an extension), consider filing earlier this year. The reason is you can potentially protect yourself from tax identity theft.

    Here are some answers to questions taxpayers may have about filing.

  • Would an adoption assistance program suit your company?

    There’s no one-size-fits-all benefits package for today’s businesses. The optimal combination of tax-friendly fringe benefits depends on various factors, including the size and demographics of your workforce. One option to consider, if you haven’t already, is an adoption assistance program.

    Purpose and covered expenses

    The purpose of adoption assistance programs is to provide participants with payments or reimbursements for qualified adoption expenses. Under the Internal Revenue Code, such programs must adhere to formal, written plan documents that specify the terms under which payments or reimbursements will be provided.

    Adoption assistance programs are generally funded by employers. Because of the relatively limited number of potential participants, they’re often offered as a menu item in cafeteria plans.