Auto Dealers

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.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (tax reform) challenged some long-held assumptions many businesses have about how and when to use bonus depreciation. The changes ushered in through tax reform have transformed how to use bonus depreciation allowing for an expansion of benefits in some respects and a contraction in others. Atlanta business owners that rely on bonus depreciation as part of their tax savings strategy need to be aware of the changes and how it will impact their approach. To help clients, prospects, and others, Wilson Lewis has provided a comprehensive summary of the changes and key considerations

Retirement planning is an essential financial discipline that Atlanta area individuals need to focus on throughout their career. While there is no shortage of retirement saving approaches, very few are as effective and utilized as employer-based retirement plans. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) found that ERISA covered plans offer higher contribution limits, lower investment management costs, enhanced regulations such as financial reporting and disclosure requirements and automatic enrollment features. Unfortunately, many small businesses struggle to offer employees a plan because of the associated costs. Unfortunately, this leaves employees without a vital retirement savings tool. To address the situation, the DOL recently issued a new final rule which makes it easier for small businesses to participate in multiple employer plans (MEPs).

Many Atlanta business owners and individuals may have heard the alarming news that Capital One’s systems were compromised leaving sensitive data exposed. It was reported that information on 100 million US customers was compromised from credit card applications (both small businesses and individuals) submitted between 2005 and early 2019. Information such as names, address, social security numbers, income information, phone numbers, and emails was exposed. It also appears that information on credit scores, limits and balances were also taken. The FBI has formally pressed charges against the suspected perpetrator who is believed to have acted alone. This situation has left many wondering what steps they can take to determine if they were impacted and how to protect themselves.

Atlanta area companies working through the challenges of implementing lease account changes may soon breathe a sigh of relief. Given the challenges many are facing, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) lobbied to get the effective date for the new lease accounting standard changed. The standard, which is already effective for publicly held companies, requires private companies to comply by 2020. On July 17th, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) voted to officially consider the delay. While the delay is not official it is expected that it will be approved shortly.

Atlanta business owners have several responsibilities to focus on, from directing the management team to supporting employees and maintaining focus on the strategic objectives and growth goals of the organization. It’s clear to see time is precious, and when not used properly, it can be a precious resource that is wasted. That’s why a difficult relationship with the company’s financial statement auditor can be so challenging. A relationship that is characterized by poor communication, missed deadlines and an inflexible approach may be signs that a change is needed. While there are certainly challenges in every relationship, business owners need to candidly evaluate their relationship to determine if a change is needed.

Atlanta auto dealerships are required to manage multiple variables on the path to growing and sustaining profitability and success. Attention needs to be focused not only on new and used car sales, but also on financing, sale of insurance products such as extended warranties and service department opportunities. Beyond this, intangible factors such as economic strength, interest rates and borrowing standards can have an impact on dealership performance. The convergence of these variables and how they are managed are a strong indicator of how well a dealership will perform. As the first quarter of 2019 draws to a close, there are important trends that auto dealers need to consider and accommodate to maximize growth potential.

The outlook for the automobile dealership industry appears to be growing dimmer as 2019 approaches. This downturn comes on the heels of a relatively positive outlook during Q3. According to the Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index (CADSI), there are rising concerns about the level of used car inventory, the impact of rising interest rates and overall weakening market conditions.

There has been a lot of discussion in the press recently about the various tariffs the President has imposed on China. They have extended across a range of products to balance the trade deficit and act as a catalyst to create a long-term trade agreement. While many of these tariffs are aimed at intellectual property related products, the 25% tariff on steel and 10% tariff on aluminum, are of greatest concern to the automotive industry. The flood of news stories has left many dealerships wondering if these changes will adversely impact their business in new car, used car, part sales, and maintenance services.