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  • 2020 Tax Brackets, Deductions, Plus More

    Posted Date January 1, 2020 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readBeginning on Jan. 1, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has new annual inflation adjustments for tax rates, brackets, deductions, and retirement contribution limits. Note, the amounts below do not impact the tax filing you make in 2020 for the tax year 2019. These amounts apply to your 2020 taxes that you will file in 2021. 2020 Tax Rates and 2020 Tax Brackets Below are the new 2020 tables for personal income tax rates. There are separate tables each for individuals, married filing jointly couples and surviving spouses, heads of household and married filing separate; all with... View Article

  • Protecting TV Viewers, Whistleblowers and Supreme Court Justices; New Status Provisions for Immigrant Workers; and OTC Drugs

    Posted Date January 1, 2020 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readReauthorizing Security for Supreme Court Justices Act of 2019 (HR 4258) – This bill reauthorizes the Marshal of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court Police to protect the Justices of the Supreme Court, their employees and official guests outside of the Supreme Court grounds. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ). It was introduced on Sept. 9, 2019, and signed into law by the president on Nov. 27, 2019. Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 (HR 5038) – This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for terms and conditions for... View Article

  • The SECURE Act of 2019

    Posted Date January 1, 2020 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 2 min readThe SECURE Act of 2019 is a broad bill with the purpose of increasing access to tax-advantaged retirement accounts in order to prevent retirees from outliving their assets. It mostly impacts those already in retirement or close to it. 1. RMD Relief: Previously, IRA and employer-sponsored retirement plan holders were required to start taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from age 70½ to age 72. This will give retirees more time to let their savings grow tax-free. 2. More Planning Opportunities for Roth IRAs: The change in the RMD age described above means account holders will have an extra... View Article

  • How to Defer, Avoid Paying Capital Gains Tax on Stock Sales

    Posted Date December 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 5 min readThe markets are hitting all-time highs, so if you are thinking of selling stocks now or in the near future, there is a good chance that you will have capital gains on the sale. If you’ve held the stocks for more than a year, then they will qualify for the more favorable long-term capital gains tax (instead of being taxed at ordinary income rates for short-term sales). But the total tax due can still be enough to warrant some tax planning. Luckily, the tax laws provide for several ways to defer or even completely avoid paying... View Article

  • Gross Domestic Product: A Primer

    Posted Date December 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min read The economic indicator known as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) represents the dollar value of all purchased goods and services over the course of one year. It is comprised of purchases from all private and public consumption, including for profit, nonprofit and government sectors. There are four components that are added to calculate the GDP: Consumer spending Government spending Investment spending (this includes business, inventory, residential construction and public investment),   Net exports, meaning the value of goods exported minus the value of goods imported The government calculates and publishes the GDP rate on a quarterly basis... View Article

  • What is Splinternet and Why You Should Care

    Posted Date December 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readEric Schmidt, former Google CEO, made a prediction in September 2018 that the internet will split in two – one part being led by China and the other by the United States. The reasoning behind this involves China’s active monitoring of all internet activities, as well as technological products and services from the country. Other reasons include a different leadership regime, controls and censorship. Although it’s just speculation, the splinternet phenomenon has been around since the 1990s. Also known as cyber-balkanization, the concept is slowly taking root as governments seek to fence off their internet to... View Article

  • Hanging Flags, Awarding Geniuses, Supporting Hong Kong Protestors and Criminalizing Animal Cruelty

    Posted Date December 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readNational POW/MIA Flag Act (S 693) – This bill amended title 36 of the United States Code to require that the POW/MIA flag be displayed on all days that the flag of the United States is displayed on certain federal properties. Previously, the POW/MIA flag was displayed only on Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day and Veterans Day. The legislation was introduced by Sen. Elizbeth Warren (D-MA) on March 7. It was passed in the Senate on May 2, passed in the House on Oct. 22 and signed into... View Article

  • Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment – and Depreciation

    Posted Date December 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readWhen it comes to determining depreciation for Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment (FF&E), there are many considerations that exist for accountants and business owners. Defining Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment FF&E refers to expenses for business items that are not affixed to the building where that business operates. Real-world examples of depreciable assets include chairs, desks, phones, tables, cabinets, etc., which are used to perform business-related tasks, directly or indirectly. These types of items are associated with long-term use, generally more than 12 months, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Understanding How It Works When it comes to... View Article

  • Practicing Gratitude: A Look Back at 2019

    Posted Date December 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readIt may be hard to believe, but the end of the year is upon us. During this time, many of us might reflect on the year and tally up the good and the bad, the pros and the cons of the past 12 months. In a society that focuses on success and getting ahead, probably the most common thing to do is zero in on what you didn’t accomplish, or what went wrong. But science tells us that if you’re smart, you’ll look back with gratitude. And the best news is: it’s good for our health.... View Article

  • What to Expect and How to Prepare for a Recession

    Posted Date November 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 5 min readEconomists generally determine that the country has fallen into a recession after two consecutive quarters of negative gross domestic product (GDP) growth. Since 1967, the United States has experienced seven recessions. The thing is, predicting a recession is a little like predicting a tornado. Experts are never exactly sure if or when one will occur, but they can cite when conditions a ripe for one based past experience. The good news for predictors is that the economy follows a similar pattern of indicators in the months leading up to a recession. The bad news is that... View Article

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