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  • Blocking Robocalls, Stepping Up Suicide Prevention for Vets, and Appropriating Funds for a New Space Force

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

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readPallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (S 151) – Approximately 58.5 billion robocalls were made in the United States last year, a 22 percent increase over 2018. That works out to an average of 178.3 robocalls per person, per year. Perhaps it’s no wonder then that this law was passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress. The legislation requires that phone companies ensure all calls come from real numbers, do not charge extra to block robocalls, and authorize government regulators to punish scammers with fines of up to $10,000 per call. This... View Article

  • Key Technology Trends in Accounting to Watch Out For in 2020

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

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readTechnology advances continue to reshape industries and businesses – and the accounting industry is no exception. So far, a lot of repetitive tasks are performed with the help of advanced hardware and software. Even for businesses that do not like change, many find themselves making adjustments due to a generation change in the workforce, marketing demands, regulations and client demand. In any case, technology offers strengths once a business adopts new solutions to the accounting processes. The accounting industry has evolved so much that bookkeeping is no longer just about balancing books; professionals in this field... View Article

  • How to Calculate and Analyze Return on Equity

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

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readWhen it comes to evaluating a business, especially one that is publicly traded, determining its return on equity (ROE) is one way to see how it’s performing. What is Return on Equity? Return on equity is a ratio that gives investors insight into how effectively the company’s management team is taking care of the shareholders’ financial investments in the company. The greater the ROE percentage, the better the business’ management staff is at making income and creating growth from shareholders’ investments.   How ROE is Determined In order to calculate ROE, a company’s net income is divided... View Article

  • 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

  • 4 Financial New Years Resolutions You Can Actually Keep

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

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readBelieve it or not, it’s 2020. You’re not just starting a new year, you’re entering a new decade. With this in mind, you might want to make some resolutions that focus on your finances. According to  Psychology Today, 80 percent of resolutions fail by February. If you’re thinking about dieting or eating better, this isn’t very encouraging. However, when it comes to your money, there are some changes you can implement now that will have staying power and won’t be forgotten by spring. Review Your Credit Report This is important for your financial future in many... View Article

  • Economic Correlation: Cyclical and Non-Cyclical Stocks

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

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readA rising tide might lift all boats, but the same cannot be said for the economy. When the U.S. experiences robust economic growth, certain sectors of the stock market tend to rise while others hold steady or even decline by comparison. The stocks of companies that experience higher revenues are typically categorized as cyclical. In other words, their good fortune rests mainly on consumers being gainfully employed and having ample discretionary income with which to buy more goods and services. Take, for example, auto manufacturers. Sales typically increase when more people can afford to buy a... 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

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