June 2020 – DougFreemanCPA.com

Some people are required to return Economic Impact Payments that were sent erroneously

(GAO) The U.S. Government Accountability Office, AGI (Adjustable Gross Income), COVID-19, Economic Impact Payment (EIP), Internal Revenue Service / Douglas Freeman

The IRS and the U.S. Treasury had disbursed 160.4 million Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) as of May 31, 2020, according to a new report. These are the payments being sent to eligible individuals in response to the economic threats caused by COVID-19. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that $269.3 billion of EIPs have […]

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SBA reopens EIDL program to small businesses and nonprofits

COVID-19, Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), Independent Contractors, Nonprofit, Paycheck Protection Program, Small Business, Small Businesses Administration, Sole Proprietors / Douglas Freeman

Just last week, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it has reopened the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance program to eligible applicants still struggling with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The EIDL program offers long-term, low-interest loans to small businesses and nonprofits. If your company hasn’t been able to

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What qualifies as a “coronavirus-related distribution” from a retirement plan?

(CARES ACT), Coronavirus Aid (CARES Act), COVID-19, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), IRA, Retirement / Douglas Freeman

As you may have heard, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act allows “qualified” people to take certain “coronavirus-related distributions” from their retirement plans without paying tax. So how do you qualify? In other words, what’s a coronavirus-related distribution? Early distribution basics. In general, if you withdraw money from an IRA or eligible

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Launching a business? How to treat start-up expenses on your tax return

COVID-19, Deductions, Entrepreneurs, Small Business, Tax Deduction, Tax Planning / Douglas Freeman

While the COVID-19 crisis has devastated many existing businesses, the pandemic has also created opportunities for entrepreneurs to launch new businesses. For example, some businesses are being launched online to provide products and services to people staying at home. Entrepreneurs often don’t know that many expenses incurred by start-ups can’t be currently deducted. You should

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Re-evaluate your company’s competitiveness in a changed economy

COVID-19, Small Business, Strategic Business Planning / Douglas Freeman

Just about every business owner’s strategic plans for 2020 look far different now than they did heading into the year. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the economy in profound ways, forcing many companies to recalibrate suddenly and severely. As your business moves forward in this uncertain environment, it’s important to re-evaluate competitiveness. You may have

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If you’re selling your home, don’t forget about taxes

Deductions, Documentation, Home Mortgage, Income Tax, Individual Income Tax, Personal Residence, Tax, Tax Deduction, Tax Planning, Tax Savings / Douglas Freeman

Traditionally, spring and summer are popular times for selling a home. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 crisis has resulted in a slowdown in sales. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that existing home sales in April decreased year-over-year, 17.2% from a year ago. One bit of good news is that home prices are up. The median

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Good records are the key to tax deductions and trouble-free IRS audits

Business Audit, Business Deductions, Business Expenses, Business Income Tax, Business Meals and Entertainment, Business Travel Deductions, Deductions, Documentation, Gifts, Income Tax, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Small Business, Tax Deduction, Tax Record Retention / Douglas Freeman

If you operate a small business, or you’re starting a new one, you probably know you need to keep records of your income and expenses. In particular, you should carefully record your expenses in order to claim the full amount of the tax deductions to which you’re entitled. And you want to make sure you

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PPP Flexibility Act eases rules for borrowers coping with COVID-19

(CARES ACT), Business Expenses, Coronavirus Aid (CARES Act), COVID-19, Employees, Paycheck Protection Program, Payroll & HR Functions, Small Business, Small Businesses Administration / Douglas Freeman

As you may recall, the Small Business Administration (SBA) launched the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) back in April to help companies reeling from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Created under a provision of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the PPP is available to U.S. businesses with fewer than 500

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Seniors: Can you deduct Medicare premiums?

AGI (Adjustable Gross Income), Deductable Expenses, Deductions, Health Care, Health Care Insurance, Income Tax, Insurance, Medical Deductions, Medicare Premium Tax Deduction, Medicare Taxes, S Corporation, Self Employed / Douglas Freeman

If you’re age 65 and older, and you have basic Medicare insurance, you may need to pay additional premiums to get the level of coverage you want. The premiums can be costly, especially if you’re married and both you and your spouse are paying them. But there may be a silver lining: You may qualify

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Rioting damage at your business? You may be able to claim casualty loss deductions

Income Tax, Insurance, Small Business / Douglas Freeman

The recent riots around the country have resulted in many storefronts, office buildings and business properties being destroyed. In the case of stores or other businesses with inventory, some of these businesses lost products after looters ransacked their property. Windows were smashed, property was vandalized, and some buildings were burned to the ground. This damage

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