result

 

WHY ARE YOU USING AN LLC?

PunchBowl

Beware of this delicious and highly intoxicating punch: it packs quite a punch! After just one glass you will begin to think that using an LLC for your business is just fine. After two glasses you will recommend LLC’s to all your friends and neighbors. And after three glasses the whole thing will become a police matter and you will be out of luck.

OK. You insist on the recipe so here it is (remember I warned you!):

PUNCH


 

 

UPDATE: JANUARY, 2014

When this article was initially written the social security tax rate was 13.3%. Starting in 2013 this rate increased to 15.3%. The effect of this significant increase in social security taxes makes the arguments and conclusions of this article even more compelling. It has become even more important to ask this question: Why are you over-paying social security taxes?

The center of attention remains the same: Look at Line 56, Page Two of your Form 1040 and ask your accountant to explain this number to you.

 

 

WHAT IS AN LLC? 

LLC stands for Limited Liability Company and is a form of business organization that came into existence in the 1990’s. For tax purposes most LLC’s are treated like a partnership, which means LLC net income is taxed to its owners proportionately. (In rare cases LLC’s elect to be taxed as C or S corporations.) So if an LLC has a profit of $100 and you own 10% then $10 of the profit will be taxed to you on your individual tax return, unless you specify a different way of allocating profit or loss.


Unlike S corporations, LLC’s offer flexibility in determining how profits and losses are allocated among owners. But this flexibility comes at a steep price: most types of profit earned by an LLC are hit with the 13.3% social security tax in addition to income taxes. This social security tax is the primary reason why LLC’s are a very poor choice for most types of businesses. Under current law the social security tax rate is scheduled to rise to 15.3% on January 1, 2013.


Because the net income or loss of an LLC flows through to the owners, LLC’s don’t pay taxes themselves and for this reason they are classified as ‘pass-through’ entities.

 

WHY IS IT A MISTAKE TO USE AN LLC? 

Pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 1402 and IRS Regulation Section 1.1402(a)(2) and 1.1402(b) most types of profit earned by an LLC are exposed to the 13.3% social security tax. This tax is IN ADDITION TO federal and state income taxes. Under current law, social security taxes are scheduled to return to the previous rate of 15.3% on the first $110,100 (yet to be indexed for inflation) of income starting on January 1, 2013. And income above this limit is still hit with an unlimited 2.9% Medicare tax. The misery never ends with an LLC.


Pursuant to IRS Regulation Section 1.1402(a)-1(b) guaranteed payments paid to an owner by the LLC for BOTH services and use of capital are fully subject to the social security tax.


Thus, if your federal income tax rate is 20%, and your Maine income tax rate is 5%, as an LLC owner you will also be hit with an additional 13.3% social security tax. In this case your total (nominal) tax burden would be 38.3%! This is unnecessary.


If a business is operated as an S corporation instead of as an LLC then social security taxes can be controlled and limited. Owners of S corporations must still pay some social security taxes on “reasonable compensation” (defined in IRS Revenue Ruling 74-44 and related court cases). But the difference between income before paying compensation and owner’s salary escapes the social security taxes with an S corporation, but not with an LLC.


For more details on S corporation reasonable compensation see Note B(7) in the Appendix.

 

 

A SIMPLIFIED EXAMPLE: LLC VERSUS S CORPORATION

Consider this simplified illustrative example using 2011 tax rates. Assume business income before paying salary to the owner is $120,000. (LLC’s don’t pay salary to owners, only S corps do. See Note D in the Appendix.) Further assume that “reasonable compensation” for the owner of this business is $45,000. Here are the results:

 

LLC

S Corporation

Savings From S Corporation

Total Taxes    $ 45,916 39,083 6,833


The S corporation produces $6,833 of tax savings in a single year. See the Appendix, Note E for a comprehensive analysis of this example where all relevant facts are considered systematically.

 

 

REALITY CHECK: LOOK AT LINE 57 (Line 56 for Years Prior to 2014)

If you think you’re doing great with tax planning and how your business is organized do a quick reality check. Look at the second page of your Form 1040, Line 57 (Line 56 for years before 2014). This line reports the self-employment taxes you were charged on LLC (or Schedule C or partnership) net income. If you see a four or (wow!) five digit number there then the fire alarm has just gone off for you. Call your accountant immediately and ask why this is happening. Make the call now and insist on an answer you understand.


Don’t fly the flag of folly. Do a quick reality check on your taxes. Face the truth, don’t fear it.

Unfortunately many accountants are just not knowledgeable of this issue. One of the funniest things I see from time to time is some version of the following business name:

Joe Don’t-Know CPA LLC

Poor Joe. But I pity his clients even more.

 

To liberate yourself from unnecessary taxes you must achieve better thinking. See here:

 

TAX SAVINGS FROM S CORPORATIONS

 

 

WHY WOULD ANYONE USE AN LLC?

There are four special cases where it is not only acceptable to use an LLC, but actually preferred because of the greater flexibility of the LLC entity. LLC’s can allocate gains and losses with far greater flexibility than an S corporation. But this flexibility may be meaningless for most small family businesses. LLC’s also have more favorable rules on deducting business losses because owners may receive basis credit for personally guaranteeing the loans of the business, unlike S corporations. But these rules are complex.

 

Congress has enacted these four exceptions to the rule that LLC (partnership) income is subject to the 13.3% social security tax. Here are the exceptions:

 

(1)    Rental (landlord) income for non-dealers (See Appendix Note C about who is a “dealer”) per IRC Section 1402(a)(1);

(2)    Dividend and interest income of investors (again, not dealers) per IRC Section 1402(a)(2);

 

(3)    Capital gain income per IRC Section 1402(a)(3);

 

(4)    Passive limited partners of the LLC may qualify for exemption from the social security tax pursuant to IRC Section 1402(a)(13) and IRS proposed Regulation 1.1402(a)-2.

 

If you answered “no” to each of these then you should say “no” to being an LLC.


If you are not a “dealer” and are a landlord or investor, an LLC may be the best entity to use for your business. If you are a passive investor an LLC may be OK for you, but your fellow (active) owners won’t be happy at all with the additional social security taxes they will pay on their share of business income. At least one person must always be an “active” manager or member of the LLC and this person gets burned with the social security tax on their share of LLC income.

 

 

WHAT'S SO BAD ABOUT PAYING EXTRA 


SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES?

If you pay less social security taxes then, yes, your future benefits will theoretically be less. Are you a big believer in social security? Do you trust the government with your money? If you have an extra dollar to invest where should you invest it: in the social security system or in a retirement plan you own and control such as a Roth IRA?


As of today social security is expected to run out of money in 2035:

https://www.adr.com/Markets/GlobalNewsStory?docID=1-ON20120423000425-5LRFFCPGMQRBF0ESCQUA4UJDGC

 

Maybe a future wise and effective government will rescue social security and keep it going. Maybe not.

 

You have one and only one opportunity to prepare for your retirement. Choose wisely. Think twice before ordering another glass of LLC punch. If you’re in your 40’s or older you can be sure it’s the last call for drinks: Bar Closing Down.

 

 

There is One Group of People Who SHOULD Pay Extra Social Security Taxes

The blunt truth is that there is one group of people who should pay extra social security taxes: People Who Don’t Trust Themselves. This group includes compulsive gamblers, spendthrifts, shopaholics, and those who simply don’t want the headaches and responsibility of handling their own retirement and who prefer, instead, to trust the government with their money. When it comes to tax planning there is no such thing as one size fits all.

If these people save money on their taxes they will simply spend the savings recklessly and end up with nothing in the long-run. These individuals know this. The logic which applies to these people is that something, anything, is better than nothing. They are indeed better off giving extra money to the government because there is, at least, a snowball’s chance in hell they might get something for their money. But you can be sure that whatever you do get from the government will be LESS than what you might have gotten if you had invested your money wisely.

If you belong to this group of individuals be honest with yourself and your accountant so the best possible decisions can be made. One of the most important qualities about managing your money and taxes is having a comfort level and believing in what you are doing based on your own facts and circumstances. Abstract, theoretical solutions devised by mathematicians may look good on paper, but may turn out to be lousy in the day-to-day practical life of real people.

Managing money and taxes correctly requires that ALL facts be carefully considered, including you, your preferences, your lifestyle and your habits. It is folly to offer ideal solutions to managing taxes and money that makes sense only if a person is perfect. The truth is that few if anyone in this world is perfect and we must all accept and live with this reality.

In my experience a small minority of people belong in the group who should pay extra social security taxes. The vast majority of people will be far better off saving on this tax and investing their savings wisely. But if you don’t trust yourself to do this then accept this fact honestly and resign yourself to trusting the government with your money. You should completely ignore this article about LLC’s.

Accountants are specifically trained to help people save money on taxes. Their entire orientation, education, and attitude lead them to find ways to reduce taxes. Thus, it is extremely difficult and challenging for accountants to deal with the small minority of people who cannot benefit from advice which helps them save on taxes. This is unfortunate but true and is simply a fact of life.

I have heard many of my fellow accountants describe individuals who cannot benefit from their advice as foolish. When I was a young, junior accountant I would actually get angry with this type of client. But this is wrong. Individuals who cannot benefit from advice which helps them save on taxes mostly know this. They are simply making the best economic decisions they can given this fact. It is wrong and disrespectful for accountants to criticize such individuals. The old saying about horses is true as ever in this context:

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.

Horses have a mind of their own and make their own decisions which should be respected and understood.

There is another ancient saying which is highly relevant for my fellow accountants. It comes from the founder of the medical profession:

Above all, do no harm.

True intelligence consists of systematically and comprehensively understanding everything which is relevant, including human psychology and real-world behavior. Mathematics, and good judgment, must be applied not merely to dollars but also to people.

 

 

THE BOTTOM LINE

It’s really, really clear that in most cases an S corporation produces dramatic and recurring tax savings compared to LLC’s.  See the graph in Note B of the Appendix. However, the only way to definitively prove that a given business entity is best for you is to mathematically evaluate your own unique situation. I’ve performed these analyses for many clients and provided certainty and confidence that a given choice is the best solution. I’ve done this work for twenty years.


The bottom line is that there is no substitute for good thinking and never will be.

 ProofOfSCorp-980x737

 

 WHAT WAS JOE DRINKING?

 

 


APPENDIX:


Notes and Comments to Specialists


(And Those Who Really Want to Know)

 

 

 

 

Note A: Detailed Comparison of S Corporations Versus LLC’s

 

  LLC
S Corporation
Formation (1) File Articles of Organization
(2) Get Tax ID # From IRS
(3) Elect Worker's Comp if Desired
(1) File Articles of Incorporation
(2) Get Tax ID # From IRS
(3) File IRS Form 2553
(4) Waive Worker's Comp if Desired
Costs To Form(Maine):
State Fee
My Fee

$175
$400

$145
$400
Who Can Own Virtually anyone or another entity such as a trust, corporation, LLC, etc. (1) U.S. Citizens Only
(2) Maximum of 100 shareholders
(3) Individuals, estates, some trusts
Allocation of Profits & Losses Significant Flexibility (1) Per share per day
(2) No second class of stock but non-voting stock is allowed
Allocation of Draws / Distributions Significant Flexibility (1) Per share per day
(2) Must pay "reasonable salary" to owners to balance tax-free distributions.
Pass-Through of Profits & Losses To Owners Yes Yes
(But some Corporate level tax in rare cases.)
Deduction of Losses Member's generally receive credit for the loans of the business which facilitates easier deduction of business losses.
Shareholders do NOT receive credit for personally guaranteeing company loans. More difficult to deduct business losses.
Social Security Tax on Profits Yes, except for non-dealer income from rent, interest & dividends, capital gains, and income taxed to passive members.
No. However, the company must pay reasonable salary to owner-officers, and this salary is subject to social security taxes.
Maine Worker's Compensation for Owners Owners are automatically exempt from coverage, but may elect to be covered. Owners are automatically required to have coverage but may waive it if they own 20% or more of the company.
Maine Worker's Comp. Minimum Annual Payroll Base for Owner's Coverage
(2012 NCCI Basic Manual Rule 2-E-3)
 $36,700  $36,400
Basis Credit for Profits Retained by Company
Yes Yes
Owner Pay Subject to Maine Unemployment Taxes  No  Yes


 

 

 

 

Note B: Graph of Total Taxes by Entity

graph

 

 

Key Assumptions and Comments To the Graph

 

(1) This graph of total taxes by entity was generated using the Excel model shown in Note E of the Appendix. Income before salary reflects all business income and expense except salary paid to the owner. For LLC's this amount is zero because LLC's don't pay salary to the owner.

(2) Assumes marginal federal and Maine tax rates of 20% and 8% respectively.

(3) Uses 2011 social security tax rate on first $106,800 of income of 13.3%; above this threshold the 2.9% Medicare tax continues without limitation. For 2012 the social security threshold is $110,100.

(4) Reasonable compensation salary for the sole owner-operator of the business is estimated to be 37.5% of income before deducting salary.

(5) The effect of the alternative minimum tax was disregarded for simplicity.

(6) The LLC pays more taxes than an S corporation over the entire income range. At higher income ranges a lower reasonable salary for the owner-operator may be justified if profits are generated by goodwill or capital instead of the services of the owner-operator. Thus, the graph conservatively UNDERSTATES the tax savings achievable with an S corporation.

(7) S corporation reasonable compensation is a subject worthy of its own article. Here is a summary of the key principles including IRS Revenue Ruling 74-44:

 

Emergence of the Multi-Factor Model for Assessing Reasonable Compensation

 The net effect of court cases and rulings has been the de facto emergence of a multi-factor model to determine if S corporation compensation is reasonable or not. The failure of Congress and the IRS to remove ambiguities inherent in assessing reasonable compensation has resulted in the following 12 factor analytical model used by the Tax Courts:

 

(1) Qualifications of employee

(2) Nature and scope of work

(3) Size and complexity of business

(4) Ratios of salary to net income, sales, capital

(5) Economic Conditions

(6) Ratio of salary to distributions

(7) Salary policy

(8) Financial condition (company’s ability to pay)

(9) Comparable pay

(10) Prior year pay

(11) Arm's length negotiation of pay

(12) Employee guarantees of company debt

 

Taken from Economic Research Institute CPE course for CPA's: "IRS Reasonable Compensation." The course may be accessed online for free at:


Reasonable Compensation for S Corp. Owner/Officers

 

The IRS's own guidance on this issue adopts many of these factors while clearly acknowledging that a fair return for capital and equipment (via distributions) is not compensation for services. This means the IRS position is in substantial agreement with the Exacto Spring Corp. case.

 

 

Comparable Pay

IRS Regulation Section 1.162-7(b)(3) and most courts have placed the greatest emphasis of all on comparable pay as the most important factor in determining the reasonableness of salary.

 

In late 2003 the IRS approached the Economic Research Institute (ERI), a pre-eminent, trusted, and credible source of national economic information with access to thousands of compensation databases, for the purpose of determining the reasonableness of owner/manager compensation.
    
The IRS established a 2.00 standard error criterion for the purpose of determining reasonableness. This means that about 95% of compensation would, statistically speaking, be considered reasonable. In other words, compensation at or below the 2.5th percentile and at or above the 97.5th percentile would be deemed unreasonable. This thinking reflects sound statistical principles regarding 'outliers' or very rare instances. Further, accepting as reasonable all compensation that is within 2.00 standard errors above and below the mean acknowledges the significant subjectivity, ambiguities and inconsistencies inherent in the 12 factor analytical model used by the courts. Of course taxpayers could rebut a finding of unreasonableness by substantiating extraordinary circumstances.

IRS-Model


A demo version of ERI’s evaluation software is available at:
 
http://www.erieri.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=ERISA.Main#professional

 

Note that ERI’s comparable salary amounts tend to be extremely conservative for reasons disclosed in their introductory disclaimer:

Since ERI observations are restricted to only the publicly disclosed executive salaries rather than the sum total of all observations from all survey sources whose updated competitive figures are reflected in the database, ERI's reliability statistics are considered to be extremely conservative. [Emphasis added.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note C: Who Is a “Dealer”?    

 

Welcome to one of the most heavily litigated areas of the tax law. This is the subject where tax lawyers make big bucks. The IRS and taxpayers routinely disagree over who is a dealer. Here are the relevant rules:


Dealer status under the Internal Revenue Code is determined primarily by the intent of the taxpayer. What were you thinking, when, and why? The IRS evaluates intent by looking at the facts and circumstances of your case, including the number, frequency and continuity of sales.


If you sell stocks or real estate all the time, continuously, regularly, you are a dealer. What you sell is treated as inventory. Gains from sales will be taxed as ordinary income, not capital gains. Further, you may be subject to social security taxes. Dealers should use S corporations to minimize their tax burden.


If you sell stocks or real estate infrequently, discontinuously, and irregularly, then you are an investor, not a dealer. You buy, hold and seek long term capital appreciation. What you sell is NOT treated as inventory. Gains from sales will be taxed as capital gains and you will never be subject to social security taxes on these gains. An LLC may be the ideal entity for you.


In between these two extremes of dealer and investor is a vast gray area, a combat zone where the IRS and taxpayers battle it out. No definitive test provides clarity or guidance as to whether or not you are a dealer. Why not? This is a very good question.


The tax law allows you to be schizophrenic on this issue. See the recent (2011) Tax Court case of Gardner v. Commissioner of the IRS, which presents a good summary of this area of tax law:

http://double-taxation.com/2011/06/21/taxpayer-prevails-over-irs-held-to-be-dealer-in-certain-rentals-but-investor-in-others/

 

See IRS Publication 544 and IRC Section 1221 for additional information.

 

 

 

 

Note D: Why Is It That LLC’s Don’t Pay Salary to Their Owners?

 

It has long been clear that partners of partnerships and, therefore, members of LLC’s are not employees. This lack of employee status applies to employment tax law, retirement rules, and fringe benefits. See IRS Revenue Ruling 91-26. And see this informative article for further information:

 

http://www.taxresourcegroup.com/library/memo/1373.html


 

 

 

Note E: Comprehensive Comparative Analysis of LLC versus

S Corporation – An Illustrative Case Study

 

S CORP VERSUS LLC: COMPREHENSIVE ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE

A Battle to the Death

COMPANY LEVEL S-Corp LLC Difference
Business Income Before Owner Salary and Related Payroll Taxes $120,000 $120,000 $0
Reasonable Compensation Deduction for Salary Paid to Owner ($45,000) N/A ($45,000)
Employer Social Security Tax Deduction @ 7.65% on Owner's Pay ($3,443) N/A ($3,443)
Employer Federal Unemployment Tax (Maximum) on Owner's Pay ($42) N/A ($42)
Employer Maine Unemployment Tax (Maximum) on Owner's Pay ($600) N/A ($600)
 


Net Business Income Taxed to Owner $70,916 $120,000 ($49,085)
       
OWNER'S PERSONAL TAX RETURN (Assume 1 owner) S-Corp LLC Difference
Owner Salary (Form W-2) Paid By S corporation $45,000 N/A $45,000
Business Net Income Taxed to Owner (From Above) $70,916 $120,000 ($49,085)
Total Income Taxed on Owner's Personal Tax Return $115,916 $120,000 ($4,085)
       
THE BOTTOM LINE: TOTAL TAXES (2011 RATES) S-Corp LLC Difference
Federal Income Tax at 20% $23,183 $24,000 ($817)
Maine Income Tax at 8% $9,273 $9,600 ($327)
Income Tax Benefit of Deduction for 1/2 of Social Security Taxes on LLC Net Income N/A ($2,005) $2,005
Social Security Taxes $5,985 $14,321 ($8,336)
Unemployment Taxes on Owner Salary $642 N/A $642
 


 TOTAL TAXES $39,083  $45,916  $6,833

GodzillavsMothra980x600

 

GODZILLA WINS!

 

CONCLUSIONS AND COMMENTS:

 

It costs $6,833 more to operate this business as an LLC compared to using an S corporation.

 

LLC income up to $106,800 is hit with the full social security tax rate of 13.3%. Income above this threshold is hit with the unlimited 2.9% Medicare tax. S corps are not subject to this tax exposure.

 

The owner salary paid by the S corporation is subject to federal and Maine unemployment taxes. LLC profits are not subject to unemployment taxes. LLC's do not pay salaries to owners; instead LLC's may pay "guaranteed payments" to owners for services or capital. In both cases guaranteed payments are fully subject to social security taxes.

 

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

George Adams
Certified Public Accountant Master of Business Administration
Tel: (207) 989-2700 E-Mail: GeorgeAdams@IntelligenceForRent.com
450 South Main Street: The HQ of IQ
Brewer, Maine 04412-2339

©2015 Copyright George Adams CPA MBA. All Rights Reserved.

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Don’t let the title fool you. Here is a very non-mathematical and easy- to-read article which has five key insights on how to make your business win in the real world.

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CAN YOU DEDUCT YOUR DOG

12-06-2021 Hits:3536 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

CAN YOU DEDUCT YOUR DOG

This is a question I am asked over and over again by many clients. So here in this article I'm finally going to provide a comprehensive answer that addresses various circumstances. Federal income tax law is ridiculously complex and the...

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CHAOS IN D.C.

04-19-2021 Hits:4569 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

CHAOS IN D.C.

Tax Season 2021 is the worst in decades because of the many, many retroactive tax law changes spewing from D.C. This article will summarize key changes, which may force many taxpayers who already filed their taxes in February or early...

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THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDLY NUMBERS

04-06-2021 Hits:3990 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDLY NUMBERS

Once upon a time there was a Society of Friendly Numbers, a Maine non-profit organization that truly believed that unfriendly numbers were the primary source of human misery and grief. Members of the Society were certain that language creates...

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PANDEMIC PANDEMONIUM

05-21-2020 Hits:5544 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

PANDEMIC PANDEMONIUM

During the current Coronavirus global pandemic societies everywhere are confronting a stark choice between minimizing the harm caused by the virus and minimizing the harm caused by lockdowns and stay-at-home orders.

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KEY INSIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS

11-25-2019 Hits:6185 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

KEY INSIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS

Most homeowner associations hold their annual meetings in December. This article is intended to offer constructive suggestions and general advice.

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IF YOU CAN'T TRUST A PROFESSIONAL YOU CAN'T BE A CLIENT

01-13-2020 Hits:5557 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

IF YOU CAN'T TRUST A PROFESSIONAL YOU CAN'T BE A CLIENT

Trust is the universal foundation of all enduring relationships, including the business relationships clients have with professionals in all industries.

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WHEN SHOULD YOU CLAIM SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS?

01-13-2020 Hits:5191 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

WHEN SHOULD YOU CLAIM SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS?

One of the most important considerations for maximizing social security benefits is to make a wise choice on when to start claiming.

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FAILURE TO FILE TAX RETURNS

01-13-2020 Hits:5374 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

FAILURE TO FILE TAX RETURNS

In my career I've helped many people who have fallen behind in filing tax returns. Failure to file can occur for many reasons, including personal tragedies, divorce, medical issues, etc.

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LIKE KIND EXCHANGES

01-13-2020 Hits:5392 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

LIKE KIND EXCHANGES

IRC Section 1031 allows taxpayers to exchange like-kind business and investment real estate tax free. Under the new tax law that took effect on January 1, 2018 personal property and intangible assets no longer qualify for a tax free like...

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WHAT RECORDS SHOULD YOU GIVE YOUR ACCOUNTANT?

01-12-2017 Hits:8843 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

WHAT RECORDS SHOULD YOU GIVE YOUR ACCOUNTANT?

For many people it's not obvious what records and information their accountant needs. This article will discuss the most important information your accountant must know when it's time to do your taxes.

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A MASSIVE TIDAL WAVE OF HIGHER LABOR COSTS IS COMING TO MAINE

02-21-2019 Hits:6503 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

A MASSIVE TIDAL WAVE OF HIGHER LABOR COSTS IS COMING TO MAINE

One of my duties as an accountant is to warn people and small business owners of major economic changes. In 2016 a public referendum to increase Maine's minimum wage passed by a slim majority.

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THE NEW QUALIFIED BUSINESS INCOME DEDUCTION FOR LANDLORDS

02-27-2019 Hits:6590 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

THE NEW QUALIFIED BUSINESS INCOME DEDUCTION FOR LANDLORDS

The Kings of Keys have a new tax deduction starting in 2018

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SELLER FINANCING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

08-09-2018 Hits:6726 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

SELLER FINANCING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Trying to sell or buy a business or commercial real estate? If you are the biggest obstacle you will encounter is financing.

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WHY THINGS GO WRONG

06-23-2018 Hits:6980 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

WHY THINGS GO WRONG

 The supreme Enemy of Mankind is an equation.

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WATCH YOUR MAIL

06-15-2018 Hits:6458 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

WATCH YOUR MAIL

It is an unfortunate fact that many people and businesses treat administrative tasks like opening up mail as a nuisance. When people get busy with substantive work and the distracting events of life these seeming nuisance tasks get neglected, leading...

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MEASURING EMPLOYEE WORTH

05-30-2018 Hits:8252 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

MEASURING EMPLOYEE WORTH

The job market today is tough and highly competitive. The first concern of many employees is to just hold onto their job. Labor force mobility (workers quitting one job to begin another) is at an all-time low. But all workers...

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SMART MID-YEAR TAX MOVES

05-30-2018 Hits:6906 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

SMART MID-YEAR TAX MOVES

Mid-year and mid-summer arrive on schedule every June 30th or so. Here are some smart tax moves you should consider in order to avoid a nasty 'April surprise' next year:

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PLANNING FOR THE UNEXPECTED

05-30-2018 Hits:6592 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

PLANNING FOR THE UNEXPECTED

Anyone who owns anything of value needs three things to document their intentions and protect their interests. These three critical documents are a will, a durable power of attorney and a living trust.

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MAINE OPPORTUNITY CREDIT

05-30-2018 Hits:7844 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

MAINE OPPORTUNITY CREDIT

One of the most generous and most overlooked Maine income tax credits is the so-called Credit for Educational Opportunity. In my experience few accountants and even fewer clients are aware of its existence. The credit is intended to reward college-educated...

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UNUSUAL TAX RULES

05-30-2018 Hits:6667 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

UNUSUAL TAX RULES

The tax law is a strange hybrid containing many obscure rules, exceptions to the exceptions, and deeply counter-intuitive definitions. Buried in the clutter of what Congress created is opportunity. Finding useful opportunities in the tax law is like digging through...

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THE NEW TAX LAW

12-31-2017 Hits:13094 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law on December 22, 2017 and represents the most significant change in tax law since 1987.

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HOW TRUMP DID IT

11-09-2016 Hits:8577 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

HOW TRUMP DID IT

This article is strictly non-political and explains how the billionaire Donald Trump legally avoided income taxes for many years.

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BEWARE OF DARK CARS

01-12-2017 Hits:8175 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

BEWARE OF DARK CARS

One phenomenon that began in the last few years in Central Maine is dark cars

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YEAR END TAX PLANNING

11-29-2015 Hits:9228 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

YEAR END TAX PLANNING

Once more it’s time to play another deep game of chess with the IRS. Are you ready? The clock is ticking....

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Why Are You Using An LLC?

05-20-2012 Hits:16896 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

Why Are You Using An LLC?

It can cost you a fortune if you choose the wrong entity for your business.

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Secret Unions: Employee Collusion and Conspiracy

10-25-2011 Hits:15324 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

Secret Unions: Employee Collusion and Conspiracy

Anyone can use Game Theory to try to get ahead. But sometimes there is a better, simpler strategy.

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Jump! Employee Performance On Trial

10-31-2011 Hits:14703 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

Jump! Employee Performance On Trial

The true and the obvious frequently differ, especially when it comes to assessing employee performance.

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You Have to Break Eggs to Make an Omelet

11-30-2011 Hits:13627 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

You Have to Break Eggs to Make an Omelet

Some employees take their work seriously while others don’t.

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The Fallacy of Teamwork Part I: Train of Thought

11-30-2011 Hits:16298 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

The Fallacy of Teamwork Part I: Train of Thought

Is teamwork the answer to every business problem?

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The Fallacy of Teamwork Part II: Michael Jordan Doesn’t Need a Memo

11-30-2011 Hits:16898 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

The Fallacy of Teamwork Part II: Michael Jordan Doesn’t Need a Memo

What does neuroscience have to say about the applicability of the team sports model to business collaboration?

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On the Relative Importance of Sales People and Technical People to Business

11-30-2011 Hits:14471 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

On the Relative Importance of Sales People and Technical People to Business

Is it really true that technical employees are just a bunch of nerds a company puts up with so its star sales people can make big profits?

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Business Cannot Ignore Its Environment

11-30-2011 Hits:15574 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

Business Cannot Ignore Its Environment

The power of goodwill to destroy the most successful companies.

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Artificial Intelligence

11-30-2011 Hits:18227 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

Artificial Intelligence

There is nothing new under the sun, until computers become smarter than the smartest person.

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The Growing Spectacle of Job Lotteries

11-30-2011 Hits:14631 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

The Growing Spectacle of Job Lotteries

A new take on the growing commodification of labor.

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Understanding Tax Clients

06-05-2012 Hits:10579 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

Understanding Tax Clients

The primary cliché of our profession of taxes and accounting is that every client is different.

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Making Business Succeed, Part One: Winning at Retail

06-26-2013 Hits:11031 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

Making Business Succeed, Part One: Winning at Retail

What you don't know may put you out of business.

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Making Business Succeed, Part Two: Fresh Thinking For Farmers

07-23-2013 Hits:10248 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

Making Business Succeed, Part Two: Fresh Thinking For Farmers

There are many reasons for having faith in a seed.

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Making Business Succeed, Part Three: Succeeding with Services

09-05-2013 Hits:17155 Business Issue Analysis George Adams

Making Business Succeed, Part Three: Succeeding with Services

Your journey to success will have many twists and turns. Here are important insights to guide you to success with your service business.

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