Weather emergencies take many forms, and depending on your location, you’re likely more vulnerable to some forms than others. But the following data about the business impact of natural disasters from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a wake-up call: 40% of small businesses won’t reopen in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster One […]
Virtual currencies,also known as cryptocurrencies, have gone mainstream. For example, you can use Bitcoin to buy a Tesla, or you can use a Bitcoin wallet on your smartphone to make everyday purchases. But beware: Using virtual currency has federal income tax implications that may surprise you. With increasing market acceptance and the skyrocketing price of […]
Credit reports can help your company make a wide range of decisions, from extending credit to offering employment. And regardless of how you use the reports, the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires you to tell applicants the reason if the data results in an application being denied. A case before the Federal Trade Commission illustrated the point and […]
Many incidents of fraud are discovered inadvertently. For example, a staff member may notice something that doesn’t seem right and mentions it to a manager. Upon investigation, internal theft is found. But considering the potential damage that fraud can inflict on a company, it is obviously better to do more than depend on mere chance. Keep […]
You may have heard people say that it’s wise to avoid probate. But is it true? And do you understand why? Probate is the court-supervised process for distributing the assets in your estate. It involves the proposed executor in the will petitioning the court to accept the will as a valid testamentary instrument. The goal is […]
Transfer pricing continues to be one of the most important matters facing multinational companies. The tax situation in any given country can affect whether or not your business sets up facilities or holds intellectual property ownership there. The IRS and numerous tax authorities worldwide are intensifying their focus on how corporations allocate income and expenses among […]
Every year, roughly 66,000 non-U.S. citizens are granted special visas to perform non-agricultural and non-highly skilled jobs in the United States under the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s H-2B program. The underlying program (which formerly included agricultural workers) started in 1952. While some employers that seek workers under this program fail to hire any, it can […]
If you’ve had to lay off employees as far back as Nov. 1, 2019, a tiny portion of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) might go to them. That’s the good news for eligible former employees. The bad news for employers is that your company will have some administrative responsibilities to see that the […]
In January 2021, online day traders trapped institutional short sellers in a short squeeze by buying up shares of the video and computer game retailer GameStop. This episode brought attention to a number of issues including the distinction between securities traders vs. investors for federal income tax purposes. Traders are eligible for favorable federal income tax treatment for […]
Not all employers are bound by the recordkeeping and reporting requirements established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Generally, an employer must have more than 10 employees to be subject to those legal obligations, unless OSHA specifically instructs you otherwise. Your company also must be in an industry that’s considered hazardous, such as manufacturing, […]
When a supervisor with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway stumbled upon a way to submit fraudulent invoices to his employer, he enlisted several others in the scheme. In the end, more than $2 million in bogus or inflated invoices (details of the case are in the right-hand box) were submitted. To prevent a similar scam from […]
In these economic times, many businesses have seen the benefits of allowing customers to make instalment payments. With low interest rates, instalment sales contracts have become an important tool for companies looking for ways to boost sluggish sales. Before rushing in and offering consumers the ability to buy products or services “on time,” companies should […]