Lou Haskel, CPA

Tax deductions and tax credits may be the best part of preparing your tax return. Both reduce your tax bill, but in very different ways. Knowing the difference can create some very effective tax strategies that reduce your tax bill.

Fast Fact: Equity denotes the value left over after liabilities have been removed. Recall the equation Assets = Liabilities + Equity. If you take your Assets and subtract your Liabilities, you are left with Equity, which is the portion of the company that is owned by the investors and owners.

Looking to buy a business? Most buyers don't ask enough questions or require enough financial history to make an informed decision. Any business worth buying should have kept adequate records. The inability or the unwillingness to provide the proper financial information is an indication that the business may be overpriced.

Many tax credits are “refundable credits.” This means you can receive a refund even if you owe no income tax. Common examples available to students and parents are the earned income tax credit and the premium tax credit.

An operating agreement is an agreement, usually a written document, that sets out the rules by which a LLC is to be operated. It is the LLC equivalent of corporate bylaws or a partnership agreement.

Enjoy Memorial Day Weekend!
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”

One of the main benefits of turning your hobby into a business is deducting all your qualified business expenses, even if it results in a loss.

The Alternative Minimum Tax is a tax imposed to back up the regular income tax imposed on corporation and individuals to assure that taxpayers with economically measured income exceeding certain thresholds pay at least some income tax.

Purposive tax planning involves strategically structuring your financial affairs in ways that lower your tax burden. An example is placing your assets in a trust to minimize estate taxes for your beneficiaries.