2015
Showing 625–640 of 732 results
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Contractor’s Toolbox – Use JPM to track productivity during jobs
Winter 2015
Newsletter: Construction Industry Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 443
Abstract: Traditional measures of productivity are applied after the fact, so they do little to help contractors spot issues during a job — while there’s still time to do something about it. This article looks at one remedy: ASTM International’s Job Productivity Measurement (JPM) standard. Adopted in 2010, the standard enables contractors to measure productivity throughout a job and serves as an “early warning system” for potential productivity problems down the road.
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Impressing your surety in an iffy economy
Winter 2015
Newsletter: Construction Industry Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 600
Abstract: With the ups and downs in today’s economy, it can be difficult for a construction business to demonstrate that it deserves a solid “thumbs up” from its surety that its bonding capacity is all that it should be. This article describes the financial indicators that particularly interest sureties and what a contractor needs to do to improve them.
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Succession planning – Will your buy-sell agreement work when you need it?
Winter 2015
Newsletter: Construction Industry Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 580
Abstract: To ensure a smooth ownership and management transition from one generation to the next, all closely held construction companies should have a succession plan. And a key component of that plan is a buy-sell agreement, which provides for the orderly transfer of ownership and control and creates a market for otherwise unmarketable ownership interests. However, as this article explains, a buy-sell agreement should have a carefully designed — and current — valuation provision, which sets the purchase price for a departing owner’s shares.
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Simpler accounting option now available for leasing entities
Winter 2015
Newsletter: Construction Industry Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 908
Abstract: FASB’s Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-07, Applying Variable Interest Entities Guidance to Common Control Leasing Arrangements, offers private companies a simpler way to account for certain related leasing entities. Construction businesses that adopt the alternative can avoid the potentially costly variable interest entity (VIE) analysis associated with these entities and need not consolidate these entities on their financial statements. This article explains why this can be advantageous for contractors. A private company may opt out of the VIE rules with respect to a leasing entity, but, as a sidebar explains, this isn’t right for every contractor.
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COMPLIANCE ALERT – Upcoming compliance deadlines
February / March 2015
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 125
Abstract: This feature lists a few key tax reporting deadlines for March and April.
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2014 vs. 2015 retirement plan limits
February / March 2015
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 98
Abstract: This brief chart highlights numerous retirement plan limits.
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Who are functional fiduciaries? Appeals court holds service provider not a plan fiduciary
February / March 2015
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 551
Abstract: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit recently provided a blueprint for when a retirement plan service provider is deemed a fiduciary and when it isn’t. The conclusion? There’s no substitute for fulfilling the full burden of fiduciary responsibility when managing a retirement plan. This article summarizes the case and its impact. Santomenno v. John Hancock (No. 13-3467)
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IRS checklist offers a convenient compliance self-checkup
February / March 2015
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 957
Abstract: Plan sponsors have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that their qualified plan complies with all current employee benefits laws and regulations and operates within the plan’s current provisions. It’s time for an annual self-checkup with help from the IRS. The article highlights some questions to ask to determine whether a plan complies with laws and operates properly.
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Navigating ERISA’s comprehensive plan document disclosure rules
February / March 2015
Newsletter: Employee Benefits Update
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 791
Abstract: ERISA requires detailed disclosure about most facets of a retirement plan. Understanding the rules may help guide plan sponsors and administrators when determining whether to provide a requested document. This article reviews the guidelines for document disclosure.
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Tax Tips – Take advantage of the 0% capital gains tax rate
January / February 2015
Newsletter: Tax Impact
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 418
Abstract: In this issue, “Tax Tips” looks at how high-income earners can take advantage of a 0% capital gains tax rate; how an interest-charge domestic international sales corporation (IC-DISC) can help some businesses slash their tax bill; and how retailers might be able to take advantage of the manufacturers’ deduction.
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Capital gains may be trapped inside your trusts
January / February 2015
Newsletter: Tax Impact
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 583
Abstract: Many families today are attempting to reduce their tax bills by distributing trust income to beneficiaries in lower tax brackets. But it’s not always possible to distribute capital gains. If long-term gains remain “trapped” inside a trust, they’ll be taxed at rates as high as 23.8%. But this article discusses steps that might be taken to liberate capital gains from a trust and shift the income to beneficiaries.
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Loans between businesses and their owners – Why you need to dot the “i’s” and cross all the “t’s”
January / February 2015
Newsletter: Tax Impact
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 583
Abstract: It’s quite normal for closely held businesses to transfer money into and out of the company. But it’s critical that they make those transfers correctly. If not, they might run up against the IRS — the service looks closely at how such transactions are characterized: Are they truly loans or an advance? This article explains the tax advantages of loans and what’s necessary for them to pass muster with the IRS.
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Multistate taxation: How the laws may trip you up
January / February 2015
Newsletter: Tax Impact
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 869
Abstract: People splitting their time between two or more states need to watch out for double taxation. The laws regarding multistate taxation are complex and they vary from state to state. And, while many states offer credits for taxes paid to other states, these credits aren’t always available. This article provides an overview of some of the concepts related to multistate taxation, such as domicile, residence and income source. A sidebar lists a variety of factors that courts and taxing authorities consider when determining domicile.
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Looks count – IRS wants “image money” included in a dealership’s gross income
Winter 2015
Newsletter: Auto Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 374
Abstract: One way that some automobile manufacturers motivate dealerships to renovate, modernize and upgrade their facilities is by encouraging them to participate in “facility image upgrade programs.” These programs often provide payments to dealerships to help defray costs. Some dealerships wonder how these payments — referred to by the IRS as “upgrade image support” payments and commonly called “image money” by dealers — should be treated from a tax perspective. This article discusses a recent IRS General Legal Advice memorandum clarifying its position on this issue.
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The earnout provision – If negotiations stall, consider this …
Winter 2015
Newsletter: Auto Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 603
Abstract: The recent upsurge in dealership merger and acquisition activity in many parts of the country is expected to continue in 2015. For those dealers thinking about being a seller (or buyer) this year, it’s a good time to think about alternative deal structures that might ease the negotiation process. One strategy to consider when sales negotiations falter is adding an earnout provision to the purchase agreement. This article explains how an earnout works and how, properly executed, it can provide protection for the seller.
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Weighing the benefits of LIFO
Winter 2015
Newsletter: Auto Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 676
Abstract: Many dealerships use an inventory accounting method known as “last in, first out” (LIFO) to defer their income tax liabilities. But LIFO requires some additional recordkeeping and may make a dealership appear less profitable to outsiders. This article compares the tax benefits of LIFO with the downsides, including its effect on financial statement reporting.