Masters & Jorgensen, Inc.

Small business owners still have time to set up a SEP plan for last year

April 14, 2020

Do you own a business but haven’t gotten around to setting up a tax-advantaged retirement plan? Fortunately, it’s not too late to establish one and reduce your 2019 tax bill. A Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) can still be set up for 2019, and you can make contributions to it that you can deduct on your […]

Determine a reasonable salary for a corporate business owner

April 9, 2020

If you’re the owner of an incorporated business, you probably know that there’s a tax advantage to taking money out of a C corporation as compensation rather than as dividends. The reason is simple. A corporation can deduct the salaries and bonuses that it pays executives, but not its dividend payments. Therefore, if funds are […]

Work Opportunity Tax Credit extended through 2020

April 7, 2020

If you’re a business owner, be aware that a recent tax law extended a credit for hiring individuals from one or more targeted groups. Employers can qualify for a valuable tax credit known as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). The WOTC was set to expire on December 31, 2019. But a new law passed […]

Do you run your business from home? You might be eligible for home office deductions

April 2, 2020

If you’re self-employed and work out of an office in your home, you may be entitled to home office deductions. However, you must satisfy strict rules. If you qualify, you can deduct the “direct expenses” of the home office. This includes the costs of painting or repairing the home office and depreciation deductions for furniture […]

How business owners may be able to reduce tax by using an S corporation

March 31, 2020

Do you conduct your business as a sole proprietorship or as a wholly owned limited liability company (LLC)? If so, you’re subject to both income tax and self-employment tax. There may be a way to cut your tax bill by using an S corporation. Self-employment tax basics The self-employment tax is imposed on 92.35% of […]

Do you want to go into business for yourself?

March 27, 2020

Many people who launch small businesses start out as sole proprietors. Here are nine tax rules and considerations involved in operating as that entity. 1. You may qualify for the pass-through deduction. To the extent your business generates qualified business income, you are eligible to claim the 20% pass-through deduction, subject to limitations. The deduction […]

Coronavirus Office Protocols

March 24, 2020

As we are navigating our way through the upcoming days and weeks of Coronavirus, we are making strides at Berkman, Jorgensen, Masters & Stafman to keep our facility safe for our clients and staff; therefore, we have implemented the following procedures: Our office is open, but entrance doors are locked. Appointments will be by phone […]

The IRS provides guidance on meal and entertainment deductions

March 23, 2020

The IRS has released proposed regulations addressing the deductibility of meal and entertainment expenses in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. Among other things, the proposed regs clear up lingering confusion regarding whether meals are considered entertainment and, therefore, generally nondeductible. TCJA rule changes Prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), Section […]

House passes bill to provide coronavirus relief; Senate expected to act this week

March 19, 2020

Several arms of the federal government have taken, or are weighing, significant steps to help the country deal with the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the implications for individuals and businesses. On March 14, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan 110-page bill that has received support from President Trump and, as […]