Author Archives:
Alexis Nash

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency has impacted both individuals and businesses. The stay at home and forced business closures have sharply reduced demand for several products and services leaving businesses with no means to generate revenue

To help Congress initiated the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) a forgivable loan available to businesses to support employee compensation and payroll expenses. The quick rollout of the program has created some issues and confusion leaving many Atlanta business owners with important questions. Although Treasury has issued interim final guidance, there are still questions about loan and employee calculations and the need for application resubmission.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act,(the Act) offers comprehensive relief to Atlanta businesses and individuals during this unprecedented emergency. It comes on the heels of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which solidified new and existing paid sick leave policies and created tax credits for impacted companies.

The federal government’s comprehensive response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic addresses not only efforts to contain the virus, but several business changes designed to protect employees and help companies impacted by this traumatic economic event.

The speed at which the federal government is making changes to how businesses are permitted to operate in light of the Coronavirus pandemic has been lightning fast. These changes touch virtually every aspect of business from offering special disaster loans, unemployment benefits, sick leave policies to tax payment deadline extensions

Many Atlanta businesses pay close attention to tax planning at year-end. There are often easy steps that can be taken to immediately reduce federal and state income taxes. While effective, it’s important to review opportunities throughout the year to identify tax deduction and incentives which can be leveraged based on current or future plans. Atlanta businesses may be surprised to learn there are a number of tax incentives available from the state of Georgia for certain business activities.

In January 2018, the U.S. and China became embroiled in a trade war that altered our nation’s economy and upset growth in many industries. President Trump first imposed import taxes on solar panels and washing machines but soon expanded his tariffs to steel and aluminum, including their derivatives.

Virtual currency, cryptocurrency, digital currency – whatever you call it, the government wants to tax it. On October 9, 2019, the IRS released a Revenue Ruling and an FAQ document that provides clarity on how cryptocurrencies should be taxed. The virtual currency landscape has transformed in recent years, and because the most recent guidance was released back in 2014, taxpayers were stuck not knowing what to report. Identifying how to treat these transactions will help taxpayers better understand their filing responsibilities and can help them incorporate cryptocurrencies into their year-end tax plans.

One area that many don’t pay much attention to until the end of the year is tax planning. It’s common to think about what steps can be taken to help reduce the company’s overall taxes before year-end. The good news is since the 4th quarter just started, there are many steps companies can now take to ensure they pay the least amount possible. There are some new opportunities courtesy of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (tax reform) and a bevy of other strategies as well.

On January 1, 2020, an estimated 1.3 million more U.S. workers will become eligible for overtime pay. Just last month, the Department of Labor (DOL) ruled to raise the minimum salary threshold for determining an employee’s overtime status by a whopping 50%. Currently, employees earning less than $23,660 annually are eligible for overtime pay, but beginning in the new year, this threshold will jump to $35,568. This shift will compel employers to review their pay scales and reevaluate their existing employee makeup, and more importantly, they must learn to juggle the new costs associated with this new rule.