When disaster strikes, will your business be prepared?

When disaster strikes, will your business be prepared?

Disaster preparedness involves answering the question: How would a disaster affect your business? If you're not sure, it's time to start planning. Here's a quick look at how you can prepare beforehand, and what relief might be available afterward.

●        BEFORE DISASTER STRIKES

Identify key issues. Bring together managers of key areas and brainstorm on the critical steps needed to recover from a disaster. Consider at least two scenarios: a company-specific event such as a fire that affects only your business, and a regional disaster that affects the whole area. Since you can't anticipate every need, your goal is to identify key issues and make basic preparations.

Establish a communications protocol. Think about how you'll communicate with employees, vendors, and customers. At a minimum, each manager should have a contact list for key employees. Include phone numbers and personal email addresses.

Backup company records. Identify essential company records and know how you'll access them. Make sure backups of your electronic information are stored in a safe location off-site. You may also need paper backups of certain key information in case of a power blackout. Create a master list of federal, state, and city tax information, bank account passwords, account number and login information, and insurance policy numbers.

Review your insurance. Meet with your agent and review the scope and dollar limits of your coverage. Discuss business interruption insurance. Make sure you understand your coverage.

●        AFTER DISASTER STRIKES

Apply for relief assistance. Know the steps required to apply for insurance reimbursements and federal disaster loans or grants.

Take advantage of tax breaks. Your business may qualify for a casualty loss deduction. If you're in a Presidentially declared disaster area, you have the option of claiming the deduction against your prior year's taxes for a faster refund.

Other tax benefits include extended due dates and penalty relief. Contact us for tax advice on your specific situation.

Make time for midyear tax planning

Make time for midyear tax planning

One benefit of midyear tax planning is that you have a solid foundation for making decisions and enough time to implement them. In addition, because the rules haven't changed much this year, you can use last year's tax return as a starting point for 2016 planning ideas. We encourage you to review your current tax situation. Contact us for effective tax-saving strategies you can put in place during the remainder of this year

HSA contribution limits barely budge for 2017

HSA contribution limits barely budge for 2017

The IRS recently announced the inflation-adjusted contribution limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) for 2017. HSAs combine high-deductible health insurance plans with a medical savings account. You make tax-deductible deposits into the savings account, and later withdraw the funds to pay unreimbursed medical expenses. The 2017 contribution limit for individuals is $3,400, up $50 from 2016. The limit for family coverage is $6,750, unchanged from 2016. If you're age 55 or older, you can also make a catch-up contribution of an additional $1,000.

Will hiring seasonal workers make you subject to Affordable Care Act penalties?

Will hiring seasonal workers make you subject to Affordable Care Act penalties?

Generally, having 50 or more employees means you need to provide health insurance or pay a penalty. But what happens when you hire workers who perform labor or services on a seasonal basis – for instance, just for the summer? In this case, the law provides an exception, based on the number of employees yo

u have, and how many are seasonal workers. Contact us for more information.

Income changes? Check your advance payments of the premium tax credit

Income changes? Check your advance payments of the premium tax credit

Did you choose to reduce your monthly health insurance premium by having advance payments of your federal income tax credit sent to your insurance company? If you're getting married this summer, having a baby, or changing jobs, you need to estimate the impact of those events on the advance payments. Otherwise you may end up with a surprise in the form of a smaller refund or a req
uired repayment next year when you file your federal income tax return. Contact us for details.

Report your foreign accounts by June 30

Report your foreign accounts by June 30  

If you hold foreign bank or financial accounts, or have signature authority over such accounts, and the total value of all your accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year, you may be required to file a Treasury Department report known as the FBAR. It's easy to overlook this requirement because it's separate from your federal income tax filing, with a different deadline and strict rules.

"FBAR" refers to Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. Your 2015 Form 114 must be filed electronically with the Treasury Department no later than June 30, 2016. No filing extension is available. Contact us if you need details or assistance.

            

         

Student debt: It pays to consider the alternatives first

Student debt: It pays to consider the alternatives first

Will someone in your family be heading off to college soon? Before you take out student loans to pay tuition and other expenses, consider the results of a recent survey conducted for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The survey found that more than 80% of those surveyed said they made financial or personal sacrifices to pay back student loans. If you need suggestions for alternative ways to finance a college education, give us a call.