Mark Feinsot
Credit Monitoring – Worth It??
You may have heard about credit monitoring, but may not be exactly sure what it entails or if it can protect you in there is a data breach or hack that allows your information to fall into the wrong hands.
How Can Credit Monitoring Help You?
Identity theft is one of the great big fears to come out of a data breach or hacking situation. This is where someone else halfway across the country, outside the country, or even in your same state assumes your credit persona and takes out credit in your name.
Unfortunately, these people rarely have the intention of paying for the things they purchase with the good credit you’ve worked so hard to build. This means you’re left holding the bag (or in this case, interest bearing bill) for their high dollar purchases.
Credit monitoring is a valuable tool that can help you become aware of fraudulent accounts that have been opened in your name, as well as loans that may have been taken out using your Social Security number.
Credit monitoring looks for these suspicious activities as they are happening. It notifies you immediately so that you can take action at the first sign of trouble, rather than only finding out after serious damage has been done to your reputation, credit rating, and, possibly, to your financial security.
What Does Credit Monitoring Involve?
Depending on the service you subscribe to, credit monitoring can include a wide range of features. These are some you might want to make sure are included in the credit monitoring services you choose to protect your identity from harm.
- Daily monitoring of credit reports.
- Daily scanning for unauthorized use of your Social Security Number.
- Protection for lost or stolen wallets.
- Nationwide alerts for change of address notifications in the event that someone changes your address.
Credit monitoring is a proactive step you can take to protect your financial interests from identity thieves. You should review your credit reports often in order to look for suspicious activities that might indicate identity theft. Report anything suspicious right away in order to reduce your risks and, in a worst case scenario, limit the scale of the damage.
Cost Segregation to Lower Your Taxes
Cost segregation is the process of identifying your assets and classifying those assets correctly for the purpose of paying federal taxes. In this process, personal assets that are mixed with real property assets are separated out, so all assets can be depreciated properly and potentially increase your bottom line.
Cost Segregation Studies
A cost segregation study is performed to determine which assets can be claimed as personal property instead of real property. These items usually include indirect construction costs, non-structural elements of buildings, and exterior land improvements.
By separating these assets, they can be depreciated over a shorter term which will reduce your current income tax liabilities and increase cash flow. This decreased depreciation period is typically between five and fifteen years instead of the twenty-seven and a half to thirty-nine years for non-residential real property.
For example, items such as carpeting, wall paper, parts of the electrical system, and even sidewalks and landscaping all qualify for the shorter depreciation periods.
Eligibility and Advantages of Cost Segregation
To be eligible for cost segregation, a building must have been purchased, remodeled, or constructed since 1987. This method of tax reduction is best used on new construction, but it can be used retroactively on older buildings as well.
Beyond the benefits of reduced tax liability and increased cash flow, a cost segregation study will provide your business with an audit trail of all costs and asset classifications. This will help put to rest any unwanted inquiry from the IRS in its early stages. Finally, during this process, you may identify possible ways to reduce your real estate tax liabilities as well.
While there are some costs associated with performing a cost segregation study, as long as the assets in question are valued over $200K, it’s worth the time and expense to complete the study and categorize these assets correctly.
Mark Feinsot CPA seeks to minimize your tax liability legally and cost segregation is just one tool to accomplish this task. If you are tired of overpaying taxes, call 212-631-0320 and ask for Mark.
Feinsot CPA services all types of businesses and high net worth individuals. For additional expertise, we have concentrations in high net worth accounting and tax, aviation, law firms and dental practices.
Online Payment Processing
Businesses today, including accounting firms, benefit greatly from both wire transfers and ACH payment processing. Each offers unique benefits for specific situations worth considering. In order to decide which electronic payment method to choose and when, it’s necessary to look at the definitions and distinctions of each.
ACH Payment Processing
Processing payments through an automated clearing house (ACH) means that you’re using an electronic network that works with several financial institutions in order to process transactions in groups or batches. The result is similar to a wire-transfer in that the money is shifted from one financial institution to another.
However, it’s not a real-time transaction the way a wire transfer is. The good news is that batch transactions usually show up within three of four business days. In some cases, they show up the next day.
This is far better than the traditional method of invoicing and waiting 30 to 60 days for the money to arrive (and then waiting the additional time required for the check to clear after depositing it into your bank account). In this way, the ACH payment processing provides accounting firms with a secure way to capture payments faster than the old fashioned way.
There’s also the versatility factor with ACH payments. ACH payments work well for online bill payments, payroll direct deposits, person to person (P2P) payments, and more. Some individuals even receive social security benefits and federal income tax refunds through ACH.
While some banks or financial institutions may charge a small fee for ACH payment processing, most banks offer this service free of charge. There’s a tradeoff though: While ACH payment processing may be inexpensive, it is not immediate.
Wire Transfers
Wire transfers still play an important role in today’s electronic banking world. Wire transfers are instantaneous transfers — within seconds in some cases — of money from one bank account to the next.
Accounting firms, in particular, benefit greatly from wire transfers on occasion as they are ideally suited to facilitate the instant transfer of funds from the business bank account, for instance, to a payroll processing center, if needed.
Further, wire transfers that occur between bank accounts are authenticated. This means the identity of the person on the receiving end is verified so that you’re certain the money is going to the person you intend to receive it. This reduces the chance of fraud in the transfer process and makes the transfer more secure.
On the downside, there is typically a fee involved in wire transfers. In some cases, the fees are substantial. This is often the deal breaker for those sitting on the fence in the debate between wire transfers and ACH payment processing.
That said, keep this in mind as you make your payment processing decisions. Sometimes, it’s worth paying the fee for the convenience and speed of the transfer.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to transferring money from one account to another, there is no clear winner. Different accounting business needs at different points in the business cycle make one or the other more appealing. The key is to make sure you’re matching the right needs at the right time to maximize ACH payment processing and wire transfers to their fullest benefit.
Why Your Business Needs an Exit Strategy
If you are like most entrepreneurs, the last thing you are thinking about is how to exit your business. You are more concerned about growth, expansion and sometimes just making ends meet. Well, the truth is, all successful business people have a clear exit strategy as part of their overall business plan. Just what is an exit strategy? An exit strategy is a plan on how you and your partners will leave the business. This leaving can be the sale of the business, an IPO, or transferring ownership to your heirs. Whatever your exit plan, building the business with this final goal in mind, will make things much easier when the time finally comes. If you are still not convinced of the necessity of an exit strategy, here are 7 reasons your business needs one.
1. Allows for retirement
An exit strategy allows for the business owner to retire comfortably. If you’re like most owners, most of your net worth is tied up in your business. Having a clear cut exit strategy will enable you to turn this net worth into cash permitting a comfortable and worry free retirement.
2. Provides for the future
If you are operating a successful business, its important that the business can carry on without you. Your employees and family depend on the business thus having an exit strategy planned can allow your business to continue to provide for your family and loyal employees.
3. Cashing out to invest
Even if you are not ready to retire, many entrepreneurs have the goal of starting other businesses or becoming a venture capitalist to help other business people with good ideas but limited funds. An exit strategy can provide the liquidity you need to obtain these goals.
4. Be appealing to investors
If you are seeking outside investment for your business, having a clear exit strategy is a must. Investors want to know how they are going to make money. An exit strategy will put this in black and white so that potential investors can see how you plan to earn them a return.
5. When to quit
Finally, an exit strategy creates a time frame for when to throw in the towel. It’s important not to keep throwing good money after bad in business ventures that simply are not working. Going into the business with an exit strategy will provide guidelines on how to end the business, regardless of its success.
If you are searching for outside guidance on your business, call 212-631-0320 and ask for Mark. Our initial consultation is free for business owners seeking to hire an accountant.
Mark Feinsot CPA is a New York City accounting firm with offices on West 57th Street (Garment District) and West 32nd Street (Broadway area).
United States Expatriates – Worry About FATCA Penalties
For one reason or another, thousands of American citizens are living outside the United States at any given time. Many retirees are taking advantage of the lower cost of living and temperate climate offered south of the border while younger individuals and families are abroad for school, business, or simply for the adventure. While living abroad certainly has its advantages, there are also disadvantages. Living abroad has always come with challenges. Learning a new language, adapting to a new culture, and adjusting to a different pace of life have always been among those challenges. Recently, Americans living abroad have faced a new challenge. This one, however, does not come from their adopted country but from their homeland. With the passage of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, many expatriates are worried about the penalties they face from the Internal Revenue Service for failing to comply with complex provisions of FATCA.
Wealthy Americans have historically taken advantage of foreign tax havens. Everyone knows what a “Swiss bank account” means. Several countries in Central America as well as the Caribbean have also been popular options for off-shore accounts. Because these countries have traditionally maintained a policy of confidentiality with regard to the identity of account holders, wealthy Americans have been able to hide large sums of money in these offshore accounts and allow the funds to earn interest tax-free. As a result, experts estimate that the U.S. government loses as much as $100 billion dollars each year in revenue. FATCA was passed in 2010 in an attempt to tighten up the reporting requirements for foreign financial accounts which will, in turn, result in a dramatic increase in tax revenue for the U.S. government each year. Unfortunately, FATCA applies to everyone living outside the United States and/or everyone who has a financial account located outside the U.S., and the potential penalties for non-compliance are steep.
FACTA has two main provisions. The first requires foreign financial institutions to enter into an agreement with the IRS. The agreement obligates the financial institution to provide names, TINs, addresses, and transactional information regarding accounts held by U.S persons. The second provision requires most U.S. persons who have foreign accounts or certain types of assets to complete and file IRS Form 8938 “Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets” with their tax return each year. As a general rule, Form 8938 is only required if the value of the assets exceeds $50,000; however, there are exceptions to that general rule. In addition to Form 8938, financial accounts that total more than $10,000 must be disclosed using a “Foreign Bank Account Report”, or FBAR. To complicate matters, not only to account holders need to file a FBAR, but so do beneficiaries, signatories, and anyone with a power of attorney over the account.
Making a mistake on Form 8938 or failing to comply with the FATCA requirements for any other reason can incur a hefty penalty. The civil penalty for failing to disclose assets or accounts on Form 8938 can be as high as $10,000 plus an additional $10,000 for every 30 days of non-disclosure after the IRS officially provides notice of a failure to disclose. The maximum civil fine is $60,000 for a FATCA violation. The penalty for failing to file a FBAR is also up to $10,000 for a non-willful violation. For a willful violation, however, the penalty is the greater of $100,000 or 50 percent of account balances.
If you are an American living abroad and/or you own assets or financial accounts outside the United States you are likely subject to the provisions of FATCA. To ensure that you comply with all the FATCA requirements be sure to retain the assistance of an experienced accounting professional when you prepare your tax return this year and in subsequent years.
What Does the Executor of a Will Do?
A number of decisions have to be made when a Last Will and Testament is created. The majority of those decisions relate to the disposition of estate assets; however, there are other decisions that must be made as well, including the appointment of an Executor. All too often, the appointment of an Executor is more of an afterthought and is done without giving the choice much thought. A better understanding of the numerous and varied duties and responsibilities of an Executor, however, should point out the importance of taking the time to choose the right person for the job. Among those duties and responsibilities are the following:
•Securing estate assets – immediately following the death of the decedent, the Executor must locate, secure, inventory, and value all assets in which the decedent had an ownership interest.
•Opening probate – documents must be prepared and filed, along with the original Will, with the appropriate probate court to open the probate of the decedent’s estate.
•Notifying creditors – creditors of the estate must be notified that probate has been started. Notice must also be published in a local newspaper for unknown creditors.
•Reviewing claims – creditors have a specific amount of time within which to file a claim against the estate. The Executor must review all claims and approve or deny the claim. Approved claims must then be paid out of estate assets.
•Defending the estate – if the Will is challenged, or a creditor whose claim was denied chooses to litigate the claim, the Executor must defend the estate throughout the subsequent litigation.
•Managing property –the Executor is responsible for managing estate property throughout the probate process. For real property, this may include everything from ensuring that taxes are paid to overseeing necessary repairs or maintenance.
•Selling property – sometimes, estate assets must be sold to pay creditor claims or to create the required division of assets as called for in the decedent’s Will. When assets must be sold, the Executor is responsible for overseeing the sale.
•Paying taxes – before probate can be concluded, all personal and estate taxes must be calculated and paid by the Executor out of estate assets.
•Transferring assets – finally, the Executor is responsible for ensuring that all documents necessary for the legal transfer of estate assets to the intended beneficiaries are prepared and filed, after which the assets are actually transferred to the new owners.
It should be clear at this point that the choice of Executor can ensure that the probate process moves along smoothly and efficiently or can cause probate to turn into a lengthy and costly affair which is why the choice should only be made after careful consideration and contemplation.
Mark Feinsot CPA services high net worth individuals throughout Midtown Manhattan. If you are searching for a CPA tax accountant who helps families identify the right relationships to retain what you’ve saved, simply call us at 212-631-7578 and ask for Mark.
Tax Rules – Profits from Sale of Residential Home
If there is one sure thing about life in the U.S from a financial standpoint, it is this: taxes and profits go hand-in-hand. This includes the sale of a home. However, if you meet certain criteria, there are enough credits, exceptions, and exclusions to make the entire process surprisingly light on taxes. In fact, many homeowners are able to escape tax-free as long as certain conditions are met.
Profit Exclusions
Any single person selling his or her primary residence can treat as much as $250,000 profit from the sale as tax free. That amount doubles for married couples who file jointly. You can use this exclusion every time you sell your primary residence provided that you lived in the property for at least two years and have not received the exclusion for the sale of another home within the two years prior to this sale.
Exceptions to the Rules
There are some instances where you can receive a partial exclusion on the profits from your home sale even if you haven’t lived in the home for the full two-year period.
If you have a change of employment that forces you to sell your home for financial reasons or the purpose of relocation, for instance, you may claim a portion of the funds. This is also true in the event of divorce, multiple births from a single pregnancy, and other factors.
If you have questions about maximizing your tax exclusions from the sale of a home, now, before the sale takes place, is the perfect time to consult us to get the answers you need.
With the growth in real estate values in New York City, the tax exclusion rules are restrictive. Proper planning can often help you avoid (or lighten) the tax implications.
Feinsot CPA is a New York City CPA Firm with two convenient office locations in Midtown. Call us at 212-631-0320 and ask for Mark if you are searching for a CPA Firm focused on minimizing your tax obligations legally.
Online Gaming – Tax Rules If I Leave Winnings in Account
Computer games are not just for kids anymore. With the advent of online gambling, some adults are now spending as much time “playing” on the computer as their children do. While some of these virtual casinos allow players to play with “pretend” money, there are a growing number of websites devoted to real world gambling. Unfortunately, there are also a number of myths and misconceptions about how a taxpayer should treat winnings from an online casino. For example, people often believe that as long as winnings are kept in a virtual account with the casino there is no need to report the winnings as income to the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS. Gambling winnings, however, are considered income and must be reported as such regardless of whether you elect to “cash out” or not.
Online casinos operate much like brick and mortar casinos in that a player begins by purchasing chips that are then used to bet at the various games. The goal, of course, is to accumulate chips by winning at the various games. In a real life casino a player will typically “cash out”, or convert chips back to cash, before leaving the casino. Players at an online casino usually have the option to cash out or leave the chips in their online account for the next time the player wishes to play. Either way, winnings are considered income and must be reported to the IRS.
The Internal Revenue Code Section 61(a) of the Internal Revenue Code defines gross income as “all income from whatever source derived,” a definition that clearly includes gambling winnings. If a player chooses to leave his or her winnings in an online account at a casino though, must those winnings be reported as income to the IRS? To determine when that income must be reported we have to dig a little deeper in to the Internal Revenue Code and review the concept of “constructive receipt of income.”
Sometimes, income is earned but the recipient has chosen not to access the funds yet, as is the case with gambling winnings left in an online account. When this is the case, the recipient is said to have “constructive receipt” of the income. This is different from a situation where income is earned but has not yet been paid. IRS Publication 334 provides a definition for the concept of constructive receipt of income that states as follows: “You have constructive receipt of income when an amount is credited to your account or made available to you without restriction. You do not need to have possession of it.”
Using that definition it becomes clear that gambling winnings that remain in an account must still be reported as income on Line 21 of IRS Form 1040.
Estate Mistakes to Avoid
Once you have finally made the important decision to create an estate plan you certainly don’t want to make costly mistakes during the creation of the plan. Before you get started on your plan, consider the following five biggest estate mistakes to avoid:
1. Failing to plan for incapacity. Estate planning should not only contemplate your death but should also contemplate the very real possibility of your incapacity. In the absence of an incapacity plan your loved ones could waste a significant amount of time and money in a protracted legal battle over who will control your estate assets and who will make personal decisions concerning you and your medical treatment.
2. Not avoiding probate. Probate can take months, even years, to complete. Meanwhile, much needed assets are unavailable to the intended beneficiary. Converting assets to non-probate assets will save your loved ones both time and money and provide estate liquidity.
3. Failing to understand the tax implications of your plan. The transfer of wealth has tax implications, including federal gift and estate taxes. Failing to understand and plan for the tax implications of your death could end up significantly diminishing the value of the estate you leave behind for your loved ones.
4. Not leaving behind a funeral plan. Planning your own funeral and burial may not sound like fun but doing so will save your loved ones from making costly mistakes as well as ensure that your final wishes are honored. Ensuring that funds are available, or even pre-paying, for your funeral will also benefit your loved ones during their time of grief.
5. Failing to consult with an attorney. Estate planning is not the place to try and save money. The money you save now by going the “do-it-yourself” route will likely cost your loved ones considerably more after your death both in terms of dollars and cents and in terms of time spent litigating your estate.
Mark Feinsot, CPA has been providing estate planning services to high net worth families in New York City for years. If you’d like to discuss your situation, call 212-631-7578 and ask to speak with Mark. Our initial consultation is free.
SBA Halts Loan Guarantees for Small Businesses
The U.S. Small Business Administration said it reached the $18.75 billion cap for its main loan guarantee program on Thursday, forcing it to halt the funding of new loans with more than two months left in the fiscal year.
SBA spokesman Miguel Ayala said the capacity for fiscal 2015 was exceeded by stronger-than-anticipated demand for the government-guaranteed 7(a) program loans made by banks to small businesses.
As the agency neared the cap, lenders submitted a crush of $3 billion in loan applications already in July, including $1.7 billion this week alone. The July figure is more than five times the agency’s recent monthly volume, Ayala said.
The strong demand, which has been building all year, is a sign of an improved economy in which small firms want to expand and need capital, particularly in poorer communities, Ayala said.
The agency’s loan guarantee capacity would normally be reset under a new cap at the Oct. 1 start to the next fiscal year but a two-month halt in lending could slow job growth in the sector of the economy that creates the most net new jobs.
