If you were told someone earns more than $200,000 annually, you might assume the person is a salaried employee who’s ineligible for overtime pay. However, as demonstrated in the recent U.S. Supreme Court case of Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. v. Hewitt, this isn’t always a safe assumption. The FLSA rules. Under the Fair Labor […]
Supreme Court: Overtime rules still apply to highly compensated employees Read More »
Many businesses in certain industries employ individuals who receive tips as part of their compensation. These businesses include restaurants, hotels and salons. Tip definition. Tips are optional payments that customers make to employees who perform services. They can be cash or noncash. Cash tips include those received directly from customers, electronically paid tips distributed to
Have employees who receive tips? Here are the tax implications Read More »
Many business owners spend most of their time developing strategic plans, overseeing day-to-day operations and, of course, putting out fires. Yet an underlying source of both opportunity and trouble can be human resources (HR). Think about it: The performance of your HR department determines who works for you, how well employees are supported, and to
Look to a SWOT analysis to make better HR decisions Read More »
With the 2023 filing season deadline drawing near, be aware that the deadline for businesses to file information returns for hired workers is even closer. By January 31, 2023, employers must file these forms: Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. W-2 forms show the wages paid and taxes withheld for the year for each employee.
Forms W-2 and 1099-NEC are due to be filed soon Read More »
Many small businesses start out as “lean enterprises,” with costs kept to a minimum to lower risks and maximize cash flow. But there comes a point in the evolution of many companies — particularly in a tight job market — when investing money in employee benefits becomes advisable, if not downright mandatory. Is now the
Is now the time for your small business to launch a retirement plan? Read More »
A new year has arrived. For many businesses, this means employees’ paid time off (PTO) arrangements have reset. And at companies with “use it or lose it” policies, workers have likely left a few or perhaps many unused hours on the table. It’s a growing problem. A July 2022 survey conducted by Sorbet, a provider
Unused PTO a problem? Consider a contribution arrangement Read More »
Most growing small businesses reach a point where the owner looks around at the leadership team and says, “It’s time. We need to offer employees a retirement plan.” Often, this happens when the company is financially stable enough to administer a retirement plan and make substantive contributions. Other times it occurs when the business grows
Choosing a retirement plan for your small business Read More »
The Social Security Administration recently announced that the wage base for computing Social Security tax will increase to $160,200 for 2023 (up from $147,000 for 2022). Wages and self-employment income above this threshold aren’t subject to Social Security tax. Basics about Social Security The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) imposes two taxes on employers, employees
Employers: In 2023, the Social Security wage base is going up Read More »
Businesses can provide benefits to employees that don’t cost them much or anything at all. However, in some cases, employees may have to pay tax on the value of these benefits. Here are examples of two types of benefits that employees generally can exclude from income: A no-additional-cost benefit. This involves a service provided to
Providing fringe benefits to employees with no tax strings attached Read More »
You and your small business are likely to incur a variety of local transportation costs each year. There are various tax implications for these expenses. First, what is “local transportation?” It refers to travel in which you aren’t away from your tax home (the city or general area in which your main place of business
What local transportation costs can your business deduct? Read More »