Blogging

Clearly anyone who reads my blog realizes I, who have so much to say, put very little of it in my blog.  I am sorry that I don't keep up with this better.  I will try harder in the next few months....

Compliance Services or Similar company

I am writing about this company again because apparently they are back at it sending out notices to people telling them they are required to pay "them" money to prepare minutes for their corporations.  IF you get anything that is suspicious, it probably is.  This is a scam.  Throw it away!!  Do not send companies you have never heard of money...it's really that simple (unless you want to send money to me....now that is okay)!!!

Later Filing of Tax Returns Due to Law Changes

Congress passed new laws regarding taxes (actually renewed some laws that were going to expire) on December 17, 2010 so the IRS is saying that returns that itemize deductions claiming sales taxes, or returns getting the educator's deduction (basically school teachers) or anyone claiming education credits may not be able to file their returns until Mid to Late February because the forms won't be ready before that date.  There are options.  I am telling my clients to get me their taxes timely like they always do so we can be ready when we can file the returns....and we can possibly file returns without the above deductions then amend the return when the forms are ready.

Pay On Death Accounts

Here is something even I have not yet done but hopefully will take care of this coming week.  If you should die, to make transferring your bank accounts easy, you should consider having a pay-on-death account (POD) which basically means that when you die, the balance in the account passes directly to the named beneficiary and bypasses probate.  Using a POD or transfer-on-death (TOD) account is the simplest way to keep assets held in bank and brokerage accounts from becoming part of an individual's probate estate.  And an individual's will does not control who inherits a POD or TOD account.  With a POD/TOD account, you can name a new beneficiary at any time.  Not all states have a POD/TOD law.  Even without a law, individuals can make use of the accounts by doing business with a broker or a bank based in a state that has one on the books.

Estate Tax Law Changes

Most people will not be affected by the current estate taxes because their estates don't fall into the range where their estate will be taxed.  The Middle Class Tax Relief Act that went into law on 12/17/10 is as follows:

2010 - Exemption $5,000,000 or $0 -- Tax Rate 35% or 0%
2011 - Exemption $5,000,000  -- Tax Rate 35%
2012 - Exemption $5,000,000 -- Tax Rate 35%
2013 - Exemption $1,000,000 -- Tax Rate 55%

Of course, all of this is subject to law changes but basically what it means it, you pay -0- estate taxes if your estate is below $5,000,000 which quite frankly is the vast majority of taxpayers.  The laws are quite complicated and I will be glad to discuss your specific situation with you.

Change in Withholding effective 1/1/11

Effective 1/1/11 the withholding rates for social security (FICA) is decreasing from 6.2% to 4.2% on the first $100,000 of wages ...  Please contact me if you have any questions on this.  You can get the actual tables from Notice 1036 on the IRS's website which is www.irs.gov.

IMPORTANT! Another Scam out There on Annual Corporate Reports

I pulled this right off of Sunbiz.org so you know it is a scam.  I knew it was the moment I saw it...and hopefully the Attorney General will stop this one before it does too much damage.....NEVER fall for an email asking you for personal information.  I am trying to figure out how they got the email addresses....

CONSUMER ALERT!   Arvitas, LLC is a private company sending e-mails to businesses in Florida offering to file annual reports.   ARVITAS IS NOT AN AGENT OR REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE FLORIDA DEPT. OF STATE, DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS.   Arvitas is acting on its own to solicit business for its own company.   It is offering to file annual reports for business entities in Florida at an inflated fee.   They do not offer any additional service than what is available to the public on sunbiz.org.   The Attorney General´s Office, on behalf of the Dept. of State, is currently legally pursuing Arvitas´ activities.