As a means to stimulate charitable contributions during the COVID crisis, Congress made two notable changes for 2020—one allowing taxpayers that don’t itemize their deductions an above-the-line deduction for cash contributions of up to $300 and another for those itemizing their deductions to increase the maximum deduction for cash contributions to 100% of their adjusted […]
Deductions
Employee Holiday Gifts May Be Taxable
It is common practice this time of year for employers to give their employees gifts. Where a gift is infrequently offered and has a fair market value so low that it is impractical and unreasonable to account for it, the gift’s value would be treated as a de minimis fringe benefit. As such, it would […]
There is More to Deducting Health Insurance than Meets the Eye
Health insurance premiums, especially in the wake of the Affordable Care Act, have risen dramatically and are one of the greatest expenses that most individuals pay. Although the cost of health insurance is allowed as part of an individual’s medical deductions when itemizing deductions, only the amount of total medical expenses that exceeds 7.5% of […]
IRS Guidance: PPP Loan Expenses Not Tax-Deductible
Are PPP Loan Expenses Tax-Deductable? The IRS is giving guidance on the Payroll Protection Program loan expenses and the deduction treatment in question. On April 30th, the IRS released guidance announcing that expenses relating to Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loans will not be tax-deductible. Cares Act and Payroll Protection Program Loan Expenses The Paycheck Protection […]
Business and Personal Travel Rules, What Qualifies According to the IRS
When a self-employed individual makes a company trip outside of the United States and the trip is 100% for the purpose of your profession, all of the ordinary and necessary company travel expenses are deductible. However, there are rules the IRS has as to what qualifies as ordinary or necessary travel expenses for company and personal travel.
Important Tax Deduction Changes Under Tax Reform
Tax deduction changes in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act affect almost every person who files itemized deductions on tax returns with the IRS in prior years. One favorable change is that tax reform is nearly twice the standard deduction for most taxpayers. This means that many individuals may prefer to take the standard deduction. This standard deduction makes tax filing more simple. However, some taxpayers will still itemize their total deductions when these deductions exceed the standard deduction amount for the taxpayers filing status.