IRS examiners typically prepare for business audits by researching the specific industries and issues that relate to the taxpayer’s return. In carrying out this research, many auditors use “Audit Techniques Guides,” or ATGs. Some ATGs are concerned with issues that are frequently encountered during audits, including executive compensation, capitalization of tangible property, and passive activity…

Public stock prices are likely to fluctuate in the near future as continuing COVID-19 concerns, mounting inflation, supply shortages, threats of cyberattacks, and geopolitical turmoil continue to unsettle shareholders and disrupt long-term planning. In light of all this, it might not be a bad time to consider escaping the ups and downs by taking your…

It’s not uncommon for people to record their will signings on video in order to provide evidence that their wills possess the requisite testamentary capacity. However, while this strategy may be helpful in preventing a will contest in some cases, there’s also a risk that the recording may be used by those who wish to…

In 2019, new accounting rules for long-term leases took effect for public companies. These changes were deferred for private companies several times by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), but starting in fiscal year 2022, private companies and private not-for-profit entities will be required to follow suit.  Under this updated guidance, private organizations will be…

A “self-directed” IRA may allow you to increase the benefits of a traditional IRA or Roth IRA—self-directed IRAs can hold nontraditional investments of your choosing and may offer greater returns. However, you should be aware of certain pitfalls that can sometimes result in unfavorable tax consequences. Using IRAs for estate planning Although IRAs were primarily…

We’re thrilled to have some recent promotions here at Smolin Lupin! Every individual listed below has shown major growth within the firm from the first day they started working at Smolin. We couldn’t be happier with their performance and we’re so excited to watch them continue to grow here as part of our team.  Director…

If you’re considering guaranteeing a loan to your corporation, you should be aware that acting as a guarantor, endorser, or indemnitor of one of your closely held corporation’s debt obligations may come with possible tax consequences. You’ll need to be prepared if your corporation defaults on the loan, as you may be required under the…

Pass-fail auditors’ reports have been in place for decades, but in 2019, a major change was made, as auditors of public companies began to report critical audit matters (CAMs) in audit opinions.  Accounting rule makers are now making an assessment of how well this project has performed its function over the last two years, in…

The complete set of your business’s financial statements includes three reports. Each of these reports serves a different purpose, but they each assist stakeholders, including managers, investors, lenders, and employees, in evaluating a company’s performance. The following overview explains each report and the important questions they answer. The income (or profit and loss) statement The…

If you operate a small business as a sole proprietorship or are preparing to launch a new business, you may consider protecting your assets by forming a limited liability company, or LLC. Here’s a quick guide to what operating as an LLC entails—and how you can decide if it’s right for your business. LLCs are…

Probate can be expensive and time consuming, but one of the biggest issues with probate is that it’s public. During probate, the assets you owned and the way they’re being distributed after your death become publicly available knowledge for anyone who’s interested. Probate’s public nature may also draw undesired attention from disgruntled family members or…

According to the EducationData.org research group, there are more than 43 million student borrowers in debt, with an average debt of $39,351 each. If you’re one of these borrowers, you may want to know if the interest you pay can be deducted.  Generally speaking, the answer is yes (although subject to certain limits)—but if your…