News – Page 4 – Swartz Business Services

August 22, 2011June 19, 2019

New 1099 Requirements Repealed

We previously reported that new and very onerous requirements would be added beginning in 2012 for business 1099 reporting. We thought at the time that the law looked likely to be repealed and indeed it has been repealed.

According to the IRS website: The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011 eliminated new information reporting requirements that were created by previous legislation. You can read it at the IRS website.

The relevant part is that only existing information reporting requirements remain in effect ie: Payments of $600 or more for nonemployee compensation made in the course of a trade or business are generally required to be reported on Form 1099-MISC. Certain payments to corporations are required to be reported. See the Instructions for Form 1099-MISC for more information.

Good news for small business owners!

August 22, 2011June 19, 2019

States are continuing to increase their efforts to collect Use Tax

States are continuing to increase their efforts to collect Use Tax on items that individuals buy from out of state sellers. When an individual buys stuff on the internet or mail order and the seller is from another state Sales Taxes are often not paid by the buyer or collected by the Seller. For many years, despite the law in many states, people have considered it to be a discount. Enforcement still seems to be a problem for the states but they are getting more and more active because of the increase in on line purchasing. You might have noticed that for the last few years I and other Tax Preparers have been routinely asking abut out of state purchases. This is just something to keep in mind. Any perceived discount for out of state buying is really a bit of a risk. Here is what California Hs to say About it.

February 14, 2011June 19, 2019

You may be eligible to receive Free Tax Help

The IRS has two programs that provide tax preparation assistance for free.

One of them is for people who have income below $49,000.00 and the other is for people over 60. It is a shame that the tax laws are so complex that people need help at all, but they are.

We just want people to know that they do not necessarily have to pay a professional for help.

January 12, 2011June 19, 2019

Legislation removes cell phone record keeping requirements

Another provision of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 removes cell phones from listed property so their cost can be deducted or depreciated like other business property, without onerous record-keeping requirements.

This is good new for small business owners who probably were not meeting the requirements of the law anyway and even better news for those that were doing the paperwork. It is nice to see any small steps toward making it easier to have a small business in America.

January 9, 2011December 20, 2018

You can still get IRS tax Forms by mail

You can still get IRS tax Forms by mail.

Here’s how:

Call 1-800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676)

You can order current year forms, instructions and publications as well as prior year forms and instructions.

The IRS says that you will receive your order by mail, usually within 10 days.

January 7, 2011June 13, 2019

Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

Another New Tax law change that benefits small business is the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit which takes effect now.

In simple terms this will allow some small businesses who pay for health insurance for their employees to save on taxes. While not a benefit to all small businesses it will help some and you should know about it.

January 6, 2011June 19, 2019

Have you been using Tax Deposit Coupons – Form 8109?

The Bad News is that the IRS is requiring businesses that could previously make Federal Tax Deposits by coupon to now use other methods.

The Good News – for those that find the web based and other systems too complicated and time consuming – is that you can make your deposits by telephone.

January 3, 2011June 19, 2019

1099′s – New Law changes requirements beginning in 2012

The burden placed on small businesses and start-ups just keeps getting higher and higher.

Beginning in 2012 businesses will have to issue 1099 tax forms not just to contract workers but to any individual or corporation from which they buy more than $600 in goods or services in a tax year. These changes will cause businesses to have to track many more of their transactions and issue many more forms – if they stand.

This will hugely increase the number of 1099s issued each year and massively increase the paperwork required to track these transactions because it adds both corporations and goods.

Under this new law you will be required to issue a 1099 to companies such as Costco and Smart & Final, and all other vendors for items purchased for resale.

This provision is beginning to be noticed by more and more people in the small business community and will hopefully be reconsidered.

January 3, 2011June 2, 2020

First year depreciation dedution increased to 500K

Good news for business owners who bought equipment in 2010 or want to buy new equipment in 2011 and want to expense it fast. The Sec 179 limit was increased to 500K for 2010 and 2011 by the The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. This can really help defer taxes for businesses that are otherwise profitable even though they spent on depreciable equipment.

Here is what the IRS said about the new law:

January 3, 2011June 19, 2019

Taxpayers affected by late tax breaks should wait to file

Some people who are affected by the last minute tax law changes or who itemize deductions will have to wait until mid to late February to file to give the IRS time to adjust.

Here is the list of areas with changes that will require waiting: