As of April 1, 2009, the new sales tax rates are effective. Please be sure that you have updated your proceedures to collect the appropropriate amounts. As the retailer, you are responsible for the collection of the proper tax.
Click here to open a PDF of the New Rates!Click here to jump to the CA State Board of Equalization for more information.
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Federal law requires us to obtain your consent before we use or disclose your tax return information for purposes other than preparing your return. We are well aware of the rules and restrictions involving the use and/or disclosure of your return information, and we take our obligations extremely seriously. I trust that this will bring you up to date on the rules that we must follow when handling your tax return information.
Tax planning for year-end 2008 presents unique opportunities and challenges for small business taxpayers to reduce or defer federal income tax liability. While traditional planning techniques remain fundamentally important considerations this year, new opportunities and pitfalls born from recent legislation and changes in the tax laws in response to our current financial crisis provide planning variables unique to this year end. This letter discusses important year-end tax planning strategies -- from the tried and true techniques to new considerations for our economic situation -- that can operate to reduce the tax burden for your small business.
The end of 2008 is happening upon us faster than we think. With the year drawing to a close, now is an ideal time to review your tax situation and evaluate strategies that may help minimize your tax bill. Once December 31 passes, your 2008 tax bill is essentially set. Taking certain steps before then, however, can make a difference.
As is the case year after year, favorable changes to the tax laws made in 2008 are also accompanied by unfavorable modifications. This year end, of course, our unprecedented financial crisis looms large. This crisis generates tax loss situations that we may not have faced in recent years, as well as a more urgent need to maximize current income that involves taking steps to minimize tax payments whenever possible.
IRS released a fact sheet regarding the hot topic of S Corporations - Distributions v. Payroll -
The following excepts the IRS information
Reasons to Buy or Lease an Automobile
• Taxpayers who own autos can choose the standard mileage rate in the first year an auto is placed in service and switch to the actual expense method in a later year if it becomes more favorable. Taxpayers who lease may also choose the standard mileage rate in the first year, but must use it for the life of the lease.
• A taxpayer intends to keep the vehicle more than four years, or until it is ready for the junkyard.
• The vehicle will be driven more than 10,000 – 12,000 miles per year. Many lease contracts have a mileage limit with an additional charge for every excess mile.
• The taxpayer has cash for the purchase or down payment.
When a shareholder takes a distribution from the S corporation, no taxes are payable since income is already taxed to the shareholders as a pass-through. If the shareholder takes a salary, income tax consequences are essentially the same. The salary is taxable to the shareholder, but it reduces the income of the S corporation, so the net result is a wash.
If not for FICA (Federal Insurance Compensation Act), either of these scenarios would be essentially identical. This is an especially important consideration because the FICA hit increases every year. In 2008, the shareholder/employee pays 7.65% (employee’s share; the employer pays a like amount) on up to $102,000 of earnings (in 2007, FICA applied to $97,500 of earnings). Between the employee’s and employer’s share, the total is $15,606. The employer’s share is, of course, deductible, but even so, the net outlay may still be over $11,000.[1]
Standard Mileage Rates
Beginning Jan. 1, 2009, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups, or panel trucks) will be 55 cents per mile for business miles driven; 24 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes; and 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations.
IRS said the new rates for business, medical, and moving purposes are slightly lower than rates for the second half of 2008 that were raised by a special adjustment mid-year in response to a spike in gasoline prices. The rate for charitable purposes is set by law and is unchanged from 2008, IRS said.
For vehicles not used for hire; for taxpayers that do not operate a fleet of vehicles using five or more vehicles at the same time (two or more prior to 2004); must be elected the first year the vehicle is placed in service; for leased as well as owned vehicles after 12/31/97...
Why It Matters
With more clients havig the need to hire in-home help to assist with children and parents, I thought I would outline some of the rules on Household Employees — Nanny Tax - from the IRS's view. As always, after reading this article, do not hesitate to call and disucss your particular situation.
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Vehicles - Methods of Business Treatment
There are several acceptable methods for the deduction of vehicles. Here is a quick look at a the most acceptable methods.
| Tax Rates for a Child's Investment Income |
Part or all of a child's investment income may be taxed at the parent's rate rather than the child's rate. Because a parent's taxable income is usually higher than a child's income, the parent's top tax rate will often be higher as well. This special method of figuring the federal income tax, “kiddie tax” only applies to children who are under the age of 18. For 2007, it applies if the child's total investment income for the year was more than $1,700. Investment income includes interest, dividends, capital gains, and other unearned income. |