Expenses Archives

Dec
11
2019

AZ Tax Credits 2019

There are various tax credits offered through the State of Arizona that support local nonprofits and (summarily) redirect what would be your Arizona tax dollars to these nonprofits. This article addresses the tax credits available to individual tax return filers, with dollar limits that vary based on your filing status. The first four (4) credits are non-refundable and provide a dollar-for-dollar credit towards your Arizona income tax liability. If your total tax credit contributions exceed your tax liability,

Aug
24
2018

Time-Sensitive Changes to Arizona Tax Credits

EDIT: Correction made to the effective date.

In the past you may have given to various Arizona charitable organizations that allowed for a $1-for-$1 state tax credit on your tax return. These included donations to Qualifying Charitable Organizations, Qualifying Foster Care Charitable Organizations, Public Schools, the Arizona Military Family Relief Fund, and Private School Tuition Organizations (STOs). Changes are coming related to the rules of how this works, and there is a very narrow window (8/24/18-8/27/18) if you wanted to take advantage of making the 2018 tax credit donations before the new rules are made effective.

Jan
25
2018

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017: Summary and Analysis

To download a PDF version of the below post, please click here:
2017 TCJA Summary and Analysis

**With the recent changes in tax law, we are posting the below as a summary and analysis that we hope will aid in understanding some of the changes in the new tax law that was passed on December 22, 2017. Please note that while efforts were made to assure the accuracy of the below article,

Sep
06
2017

Watch out for potential tax pitfalls of donating real estate to charity

Charitable giving allows you to help an organization you care about and, in most cases, enjoy a valuable income tax deduction. If you’re considering a large gift, a noncash donation such as appreciated real estate can provide additional benefits. For example, if you’ve held the property for more than one year, you generally will be able to deduct its full fair market value and avoid any capital gains tax you’d owe if you sold the property.

Aug
09
2017

6 ways to control your unemployment tax costs

Unemployment tax rates for employers vary from state to state. Your unemployment tax bill may be influenced by the number of former employees who’ve filed unemployment claims with the state, your current number of employees and your business’s age. Typically, the more claims made against a business, the higher the unemployment tax bill.

Here are six ways to control your unemployment tax costs:

1. Buy down your unemployment tax rate if your state permits it.

Jul
26
2017

3 midyear tax planning strategies for business

Tax reform has been a major topic of discussion in Washington, but it’s still unclear exactly what such legislation will include and whether it will be signed into law this year. However, the last major tax legislation that was signed into law — back in December of 2015 — still has a significant impact on tax planning for businesses. Let’s look at three midyear tax strategies inspired by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act:

Jul
19
2017

All fringe benefits aren’t created equal for tax purposes

According to IRS Publication 5137, Fringe Benefit Guide, a fringe benefit is “a form of pay (including property, services, cash or cash equivalent), in addition to stated pay, for the performance of services.” But the tax treatment of a fringe benefit can vary dramatically based on the type of benefit.

Generally, the IRS takes one of four tax approaches to fringe benefits:

1. Taxable/includable.

Jul
17
2017

When does your nonprofit owe UBIT on investment income?

In recent years, the IRS has increased its scrutiny of not-for-profits’ unrelated business income (UBI). Dividends, interest, rents, annuities and other investment income generally are excluded when calculating unrelated business income tax (UBIT). However, there are two exceptions where such income is taxable.

1. Debt-financed property

When your nonprofit incurs debt to acquire an income-producing asset, the portion of the income or gain that’s debt-financed is generally taxable UBI.

Jul
12
2017

3 breaks for business charitable donations you may not know about

Donating to charity is more than good business citizenship; it can also save tax. Here are three lesser-known federal income tax breaks for charitable donations by businesses.

1. Food donations

Charitable write-offs for donated food (such as by restaurants and grocery stores) are normally limited to the lower of the taxpayer’s basis in the food (generally cost) or fair market value (FMV), but an enhanced deduction equals the lesser of:

The food’s basis plus one-half the FMV in excess of basis,

Jul
10
2017

Why your nonprofit must avoid excess benefit transactions

Not-for-profits that ignore the IRS’s private benefit and private inurement provisions do so at their own peril. These rules prohibit an individual inside or outside a nonprofit from reaping an excess benefit from the organization’s transactions. Violation of such rules can have devastating consequences.

Defining terms

A private benefit is any payment or transfer of assets made (directly or indirectly) by your nonprofit that’s beyond reasonable compensation for the services provided or the goods sold to your organization,