By Michael D. Koppel, CPA, PFS, CITP, MBARetired Partner at Gray, Gray & Gray, LLP Millions of companies across the U.S. that lease equipment or vehicles in the course of doing business will soon need to adjust how they report lease activity on their financial statements. The Financial Standards Accounting Board (FASB) has updated its […]
Changes Coming in Accounting for Equipment Leases Read More »
Before starting M&A negotiations, both buyers and sellers can benefit from setting a “walk-away price.” Consider it a safeguard measure. An amount below (for sellers) or above (for buyers) the walk-away price signals the end of merger negotiations. For sellers, anything below the walk-away price grossly undervalues the company’s assets and earnings, and suggests that
What’s the "Walk-Away" Price and How Do I Determine It? Read More »
The recently enacted Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH) included a provision that extended the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) through 2019, and makes the credit retroactive for new hires made on or after January 1, 2015. In addition, the list of “targeted groups” of individuals who may qualify an employer for
Work Opportunity Tax Credit Extended, Expanded Read More »
By Michael D. Koppel, CPA, PFS, CITP, MBARetired Partner at Gray, Gray & Gray, LLP Recently there have been significant changes in the tax treatment of capitalization and expensing of real estate. While the new rules are complex, it is important for all businesses owning real estate to understand the tax options now available. The
Real Estate Tax Accounting May Never Be the Same Read More »
That email from the boss asking for personal data on employees could be a fraudulent attempt to steal their identities. That’s the warning from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on the latest online “spoofing” scam to rear its ugly head. The IRS issued an alert to human resources and payroll professionals to warn them about
The Latest “Spoofing” Scam Appears to Come from the Corner Office Read More »
Employee benefits can be critical to the success of an M&A deal’s integration phase. If handled poorly, the process of transferring and restructuring benefits might alienate key employees — and even expose buyers to legal claims. To avoid such consequences, review your target company’s current benefits package before the deal closes. In particular, keep an
Why Buyers Need to Pay Attention to Employee Benefits Read More »
The ongoing battle over the collection of sales tax by online retailers has taken a new turn following a ruling by a federal appeals court that could pave the way for states to collect tax on online sales. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver this week reversed a lower court ruling that
Attention Online Shoppers: Your State Wants Their Sales Tax Read More »
If you owe back taxes to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you may be able to avoid paying penalties by participating in the state’s 2016 Tax Amnesty. From April 1 through May 31, 2016, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) will allow individuals and businesses to “catch up” on back taxes (with certain exceptions). If you
Massachusetts Announces 2016 Tax Amnesty Program Read More »
How quickly can you sell or acquire a business? As with most major transactions, it depends. Once parties agree to merge, deals typically take six to 18 months to conclude. The selling company’s size and industry, the complexity of the transaction, and the buyer’s ability to get financing, among other factors, can all affect timing.
It’s About Time: Keep Your Deal Moving — But Not Too Quickly Read More »
By Michael D. Koppel, CPA, PFS, CITP, MSA, MBARetired Partner at Gray, Gray & GrayDecember 1, 2015 In July, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Wage and Hour Division issued Administrator’s Interpretation No. 2015-1, which addresses issues arising from the misclassification of employees as independent contractors. The interpretation addresses the application of the Fair Labor