How Do I File My Taxes with a Short Sale or Foreclosure

Many people have asked me recently: How do I report my property when I’ve had a short sale or foreclosure? There’s no easy answer, even though there’s a lot of information out there, for sure. But even true professionals don’t know how to handle foreclosures in a tax-return situation correctly. For example: I told a […]

Independent Contractor or Employee: How Do You Know?

Last week we discussed how important it is for a business owner to be classifying their workers appropriately or risk increased penalties from the IRS. But how do you know how the IRS classifies an individual working for you? How can a business owner determine the business relationship between themselves and an individual, and how […]

How To Classify Your Employees and Why: SB 459

Many business owners have a lot to deal with on a day-to-day basis, whether it is managing staff, dealing with clients, working through administrative paperwork—there are few California business owners who have the time to look at every Senate Bill that gets passed. Here’s one that we think you should all know about: California Senate […]

Should I Incorporate My Orange County Small Business or Not?

Incorporation doesn’t sound like something a small-business owner needs to worry about—corporations are those big, faceless companies in big shiny skyscrapers, right? Not necessarily! You only have to be making $50,000 a year to make it worth it from a tax perspective—for the most part.

It’s Time to Prep for Tax Returns!

At the moment, you’re probably waiting for your 1098, 1099 and W-2 forms to come in the mail before you can start your tax preparations. But now’s the time to get ready for your 2011 tax return! The first place to look to get your info ready to take to your tax preparer or accountant […]

What IS Use Tax, and Why Do I Have to Pay It?

Amazon has been in the news a lot lately because of their affiliate programs and not charging their California customers state sales tax on their purchases. The definition of use tax from the Franchise Tax Board website is as follows: Use tax is a separate tax that is generally due on the purchase of tangible […]

December Tips for Savings Accounts and Estate Planning

Are you looking to take advantage of any tax breaks available by the end of the year? It’s a good idea if you are positioned correctly. If you are a W2 employee, there is not much time left for you to augment your 401(k) savings. IRAs allow you to contribute until April 15, but 401(k)s […]

Anaheim Hills Accountant Answers: What IS a Business Expense?

Here’s another one of those questions I get asked a lot: Why isn’t that a business expense? Primarily because there’s a difference between what the IRS defines as a business expense and what we’d like to write off as a business expense. Let’s start with an example. Say you’re working late on a project, and […]