Appointing a trustee who is, well, trustworthy is crucial to ensuring a trust operates as intended. As such, you may invest a large amount of time and mental energy in selecting the right person for the job.  But what happens if your carefully chosen trustee fails to carry out your wishes?  Your beneficiaries may want […]

Year-end is approaching quickly. If your business operates according to the calendar year, it’s time for a physical inventory account. While this task can feel tedious and time-consuming, it’s also a key chance to further develop your business’s operational efficiency. As you prepare to undertake the count, let’s review some best practices that will help […]

Equity-oriented executive compensation can take many forms, but restricted stock awards are a popular option. In fact, many businesses offer them as an alternative to stock option awards in light of the fact that options can lose most or all of their value if the price of the underlying stock decreases. This is less of […]

Do traveling employees at your business find documenting expenses tedious? Are you equally frustrated at the energy and time needed to review business travel expenses? If so, relief is on its way. In Notice 2023-68, the IRS set forth special “per diem” rates, which became effective on October 1st. These rates may be used to […]

FAIRFIELD, NJ – November 9, 2023 – Smolin, Lupin & Co., LLC, an Independent Member of the BDO Alliance USA and one of Inside Public Accounting’s Top 200 Firms, is pleased to announce the merger of Brian Lynn, CPA, PA, a CPA firm headquartered in Plantation, FL. The professional team from Brian Lynn, CPA, PA services […]

Are you planning to start a business? Perhaps you have already and are now thinking about changing your business entity. In either circumstance, careful evaluation is needed to determine which business structure works best for you. From C-corporations to sole proprietorships, there are many issues to consider. At present, individual federal income tax rates begin […]

Are you considering sharing ownership of an asset jointly with your child (or another heir) in an effort to save time on estate planning? Though appealing, this approach should be executed with caution. This is because it can open the door to unwelcome consequences that might ultimately undermine your efforts. There are some advantages to […]

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions significantly impact financial reporting, especially the balance sheet, which will look markedly different after the business combination. Keep reading for basic guidance on reporting business combinations under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Understanding the purchase price allocation process Under GAAP, the buyer must allocate the purchase price to all […]

In 2024, the Social Security wage base for employees and self-employed people will increase. Employees and employers can expect the wage base for computing Social Security tax to rise to $168,600 next year—a significant jump from the wage base of $160,200 in 2023.  Self-employment income and wages above this amount won’t be subject to Social […]