Sunday, December 31, 2006

Jumpstarting Your New Year

As the year 2006 comes to an end let’s take this time to review the year in regards to small businesses. In an earlier post, we looked at the outlook for small businesses and for the most part the outlook looks rather promising. In the recent weeks, I have reviewed a few “offerings” for small businesses that can save you money, and increase your reach and profits for 2007.

New Phone Tax Formula

The IRS has finally announced the formula allowing businesses to estimate their federal excise tax refund. To request a refund, businesses must fill out Form 8913. The actual amount of the refund is determined either by the actual amount (from March 2003 thru July 2006) of excise taxes paid or by the formula the IRS provided. For more information regarding the tax formula, check the IRS website and or speak to your tax advisor.

Increase Your Profits

Here is a FREE 18 page report for those interested in generating more leads, maximizing your marketing opportunities and build on last year’s profits. Simply go to the following link to get the report.

http://www.acorncreative.com/gonutsin2007/

Wish everyone a Happy New Year keeping your Business N Synergy

Brian N. Stovall
http://www.thebricogroup.com/

Sunday, December 24, 2006

QuickBooks and Windows Vista

The new Microsoft Windows Vista software is available for small businesses to use, but before you do, you may want to know that QuickBooks 2006 and earlier versions will not be supported by the new Vista operating system. Due to the Windows Vista compatibility “shims”, QB 2006 versions will however run many functions normally but the users will be alerted that they are running an unsupported configuration with the following wording:

“When running QuickBooks 2006 or earlier versions on Windows Vista, you will likely experience instability and unreliable behavior, even though these problems may not appear right away.”

Other softwares that are used in conjunction with your QB 2006 software may also experience problems. If your small business falls within this category, be sure that you upgrade your QuickBooks software to version 2007 if you plan to use Windows Vista. Another “thought” is to switch to Microsoft Office Accounting Express or Professional. Office Accounting Express is FREE so there is no expense incurred to switch. I can’t help but wonder if these incompatibility issues are simply part of Microsoft’s strategy to bring their small business accounting package to the forefront of the small business industry. Can’t wait to see what happens in 2007 and beyond.

Keeping your Business N Synergy

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

Brian N. Stovall
www.thebricogroup.com

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Tax and Technology Updates

Now that Congress has closed out the year and gone home for the holidays, it is good that they were able to pass and extend many of the much needed tax breaks for taxpayers. Just to recap, check out my previous blog post “Tax Breaks Still Looming” for details of the bills that were on the table. Now that these measures have been passed, this is still a good time to add the tax breaks into your tax planning for this year. Be sure to speak with your tax advisor regarding these changes and how they may affect your tax return.

In technology news, I have been able to take a look at the new Microsoft Office Accounting Express and must say that it is quite impressive. Files from “other” small business accounting software import seamlessly into the software and the ability to merge with other Microsoft products makes it all the more easier to run your business. I can’t wait to get the Professional version of the product. To top it off, the Express version is available FREE right now. Check out my previous blog “Microsoft Office Accounting 2007 is Here” for details on how to download the Express version for free.

Those are the updates this week people. Just some ideas to get you on the right track for tax season and keep your business N synergy.

Brian N. Stovall
http://www.thebricogroup.com/

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Tax Breaks Still Looming?!?!

Well Congress is suppose to wrap up business for the 2006 year next week and there still are some tax measures that expire at year end. There are a few bills in the session that would benefit the small business owner and individuals, but this is only if they are extended. The major bills for “the little guy” are:

Research and Development Credit
reward for employers who hire former welfare recipients,
a personal deduction for state and local sales taxes paid by people who live in states without income taxes,
and a personal deduction for elementary and high school teachers who spend at least $250 of their own money on classroom supplies

Look out for the results for these changes may have an effect on your tax liability in April. Keeping you and your Business N Synergy.

Brian N. Stovall
http://www.thebricogroup.com/

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Health Reimbursement Agreements (HRA) Revisited

The other week I posted some information on how S-Corp owners could provide health insurance for their owner/employees (see S-Corp Owners and Health Insurance post). Well here is more detail on how this can be done.

If you are looking for a way to reduce your employee benefit costs, you may wish to consider using a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). An HRA is an employer-funded health benefit account for individual employees, which may be used to pay their medical expenses and health insurance premiums. This type of plan is generally more economical, more flexible, and has additional features that a traditional health benefit plan does not have and at the same time provides favorable treatment for federal income tax purposes.

Under an HRA, the contributions you make and the amounts received by your employees are generally excluded from the employee's income. In addition, any excess amounts to the end of the year can be carried over to future years without being lost.

In order to receive favorable tax treatment, an HRA must meet the following requirements:
1. The plan is paid for only by you and is not provided by an employee salary reduction election or under an employee benefit cafeteria plan;
2. The plan reimburses the covered person for medical care expenses of the person, the person's spouse and the person's dependents; and
The plan reimburses a covered person up to a maximum dollar amount for any period of coverage and any unused portion of the maximum dollar amount at the end of that period is carried forward to increase the maximum reimbursement amount in subsequent coverage periods.

Ask your financial advisor if an HRA will work for your small business.

As always…tips to keep your Business N Synergy.

Brian N. Stovall
www.thebricogroup.com