Author: Lisa Beamer

Did you receive Form 1099-G from the State of Ohio even though you didn't apply for unemployment benefits? You could be a victim of identity theft. Read on to learn more.

Tax and identity theft scams never take a break. Don't fall victim to these schemes. Read on to find out how the fraudsters are currently trying to get to your personal and financial information.

Forget what you thought you knew about self-insurance.

The game may be "fantasy" but the money is real.

Ohio's tax-free holiday is a good way to save on back-to-school items. Read on to learn about more school-related tax savings.

The IRS has lowered the penalty relief threshold to 80 percent. Keep reading to learn what this change means to you.

When tax season arrives once more, taxpayers will be greeted by a new Form 1040. Read on to learn more about this shorter, simplified form.

For the last 17 years, the maximum yearly deduction for those who invest in a CollegeAdvantage 529 plan was set at $2,000 per account, but with the New Year comes a new maximum deduction. Keep reading to learn more.

Did you receive a ‘Failure to File’ notice from the Ohio Department of Taxation? Don’t sweat it; you’re not the only person dealing with it. Read on to learn more about your options.

Trying to determine which meal and entertainment expenses are nondeductible, 50 percent deductible and 100 percent deductible? This article should help.

Once again, scammers are targeting payroll and human resource officials with an email phishing scam designed to collect sensitive employee information.

As your health or the health of someone you care about begins to “slip” you may consider bringing in some additional assistance to help improve functionality and overall well being. Fortunately, you may be able to catch a bit of a break on your tax bill thanks to the personal medical expense deduction. Read on to learn more.

Do you know your credit score? This year, more people than ever before will have access to this valuable piece of information, which is significant if you are considering borrowing money. A few days ago Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase and Ally Financial announced that it will begin offering FICO credit scores to consumers … Continued

Have you ever found yourself on the lucky side of a casino, a lottery ticket or a riverboat? If so, listen up! You may feel lucky, but don’t forget about the IRS. Every year when we prepare tax returns for clients, we come across the lucky individual who receives a W-2G from their favorite casino, … Continued

A slew of tax provision changes hit taxpayers in 2013. Many of these changes were the result of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA), which either introduced certain tax provisions, or caused them to expire. One particular provision that was delayed by the ATRA was the Pease limitation. But guess what? It’s back … Continued

This time of year, we are meeting with the majority of our clients. As we meet to discuss taxes, it seems that everyone has a story to tell.  Unfortunately, identity theft is a common theme in these stories. It’s happened to our clients and their acquaintances more regularly than we’d like to admit. Identify theft … Continued

With spring starting and the housing market improving, many individuals are starting the process of building a new house or purchasing an existing house with plans to remodel. If you’re thinking of making home improvements, here are some tax credits to keep in mind. Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit The Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit … Continued

In the ever-changing world of technology, scam artists are using new “phishing” techniques to get confidential information from consumers and businesses alike. Phishing (as in “fishing for information” and “hooking” victims) is a scam where Internet fraudsters send email messages to trick unsuspecting victims into revealing personal and financial information that they then use to … Continued

So many self-employed individuals have asked me, “Why are my taxes so high? Individuals with their own business, including single member LLC’s, not only pay federal income taxes at their appropriate tax bracket, but they will also be liable for the Social Security and Medicare tax on the earnings of the business. As an employee … Continued

If you own your own business or are an employee who uses your personal vehicle for business, you are allowed a tax deduction for this use. There are two methods which may be used to calculate the amount of the deduction: Standard Mileage Rate Method The deduction is calculated by multiplying the number of business … Continued

Decisions, decisions. When it comes to Social Security benefits, deciding when to begin your benefits is a very big decision. It’s a choice you’ll want to make based on a number of points, including when you quit working, how much you have saved, how healthy you are, your marital status, the amount your spouse is … Continued

Are you concerned about how you will afford your child’s college education with shrinking balances in your savings accounts? Do you need direction on how to assist your aging parents with their financial needs? Do you want to find ways to spend less each month? Helpful and understandable information on these and so many other … Continued

Now that it’s autumn, many business owners are thinking ahead to year-end issues. Besides the numbers and year-end planning, one of the many things that might be on your mind is the holidays. Being the generous business owner that you are, you might be thinking about how you are going to reward your employees for … Continued

Because pension regulations can be ever-changing, plan sponsors can quickly find it difficult to keep current with the laws and regulations. Here is a quick and free way to become better informed. All plan sponsors should consider enrolling through the online registration at www.plansponsor.com. By signing up online, you will receive a monthly magazine that discusses … Continued

Ok, here’s the bad news – many of us either already have had or will have the experience of getting something stolen from us personally or from our business. But, here is the good news – the IRS realizes this and allows for a deduction when this happens to you. According to the IRS guidelines … Continued

If you don’t currently offer your employees a Section 125 Plan, have you considered the benefits of starting one? Generally speaking, a Section 125 Plan allows your employees to withhold an amount from their paycheck that is not subject to the federal income tax, Social Security tax or Medicare tax. Most often, Section 125 Plans … Continued

Hiring a junior family member can result in significant tax savings for your business. Putting your children on the payroll will allow you to shift potentially highly taxed income to a lower tax rate. It can even be tax-free in some situations. This tax strategy works because dependent children are entitled to a deduction against … Continued