Investing in employee education and training is crucial to the long-term success of most companies. In order to remain competitive, many employers offer tuition reimbursement programs to attract and retain talented employees. The programs also provide tax benefits. The vast majority of employees that participate in tuition reimbursement programs do so in compliance with their companies’ […]
The stock market has experienced plenty of ups and downs this year. So some investors are poised to take big gains for 2019, while others are currently showing losses and many have both. What are the tax consequences if you sell securities? There’s no fast answer. But it helps if investors understand the basic rules and […]
As a partner at Kellogg Hansen, Mr. Benz has prosecuted leading edge cases involving in part the intersection of competition law and intellectual property rights, including monopolization, price fixing, and class actions under federal and state law; direct and indirect purchaser claims under state antitrust and unfair competition laws; breach of contract, fraudulent transfer and […]
Decades ago, many businesses engaged in transactions with other entities in the same geographic area. Then came the Internet and other electronic devices that allow a business to be easily conducted with just a few clicks. Today’s companies are likely engaged in transactions with entities in other states. If you are involved in one of these […]
Oswald Jansen of Resolución B.V. (exclusive Administrative Law Member in the Netherlands) was recently in Washington, DC. On his travels, he was able to go out for lunch with William H. Shawn of ShawnCoulsen (exclusive Foreign Direct Investment Member in US – Washington, DC) Oswald had the following comments: “I had a nice lunch meeting with […]
Oswald Jansen of Resolución B.V. (exclusive Administrative Law Member in the Netherlands) was recently in Washington, DC. On his travels, he was able to go out for lunch with William H. Shawn of ShawnCoulsen (exclusive Foreign Direct Investment Member in US – Washington, DC) Oswald had the following comments: “I had a nice lunch meeting with William Shawn earlier today. […]
Recordkeeping for reimbursing business travel expenses can be cumbersome. Instead of reimbursing employees for the actual costs they incur for out-of-town lodging, meals and incidentals, some employers opt to pay fixed travel per diems. These amounts are based on IRS-approved rates that vary from locality to locality. Here’s what you’ll need to know to determine if this simplified […]
As part of your estate planning, it’s a good idea to have a non-binding letter to your spouse, children and other heirs outlining where the important documents are kept and who to contact for help in administering your estate. The following example is meant to be given to your spouse. Edit it to suit your needs. […]
One of the most costly — yet easily prevented — disasters for any business is the failure to secure ownership of intellectual property (IP). Here are the details you should know: Under the law, the ownership of copyrights and inventions may actually belong to your independent contractors and employees unless there is a prior written agreement […]
Reducing your current-year adjusted gross income (AGI) is usually a tax-smart idea. Here are ten ways to reduce your AGI (and modified AGI) over the short and long run. Closeup on AGI AGI equals all taxable income items minus selected deductions for such items as deductible IRA and retirement plan contributions and alimony payments required by […]
Job applicants look at more than just wages when evaluating potential employers. They consider the whole compensation package, including fringe benefits and perks. These add-ons enable employers to cast a wider nett in the job market, helping them attract and retain top-quality workers. Unfortunately, tax breaks for some fringe benefits were eliminated or suspended by the Tax Cuts […]
First-year bonus depreciation has been around for a while now. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) set forth more-generous, but temporary, rules for 2018 through 2026. Recent IRS guidance gives you additional flexibility to fine-tune the bonus depreciation break to suit your specific business and personal tax circumstances. Here’s what you need to know. […]