Here Come the Child Tax Credit Payments: What You Need to Know

The first advance payments under the temporarily expanded child tax credit (CTC) will begin to arrive for nearly 39 million households in mid-July 2021 — unless, that is, they opt out. Most eligible families won’t need to do anything to receive the payments, but you need to understand the implications and why advance payments might not make sense for your household even if you qualify for them.

Understanding the CTC, then and now

The CTC was established in 1997. Unlike a deduction, which reduces taxable income, a credit reduces the amount of taxes you owe on a dollar-for-dollar basis. While some credits are limited by the amount of your tax liability, others, like the CTC, are refundable, which means that even taxpayers with no federal tax liability can benefit. Historically, the CTC has been only partially refundable in that the refundable amount was limited to $1,400.

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) significantly expands the credit, albeit only for 2021. Specifically, the ARPA boosts the CTC from $2,000 to $3,000 per child ages six through 17, with credits of $3,600 for each child under age six. Plus, the CTC is now fully refundable. It also affords taxpayers the opportunity to take advantage of half of the benefit in 2021, rather than waiting until tax time in 2022.

Note, however, that there are limits to eligibility. The $2,000 credit is subject to a phaseout when income exceeds $400,000 for joint filers and $200,000 for other filers, and this continues under the ARPA — for the first $2,000. A separate phaseout applies for the increased amount: $75,000 for single filers, $112,500 for heads of household and $150,000 for joint filers.

Receiving advance payments

The ARPA directed the U.S. Treasury Department to begin making monthly payments of half of the credit in July 2021, with the remaining half to be claimed in 2022 on 2021 tax returns. For example, a household that’s eligible for a $3,600 CTC will receive $1,800 ($300 in six monthly payments) in 2021 and would claim the balance of $1,800 on the 2021 return. The payments will be made on the 15th of each month through December 2021, except for August, when they’ll be paid on August 13.

To qualify for advance payments, you (and your spouse, if filing jointly) must have:

Filed a 2019 or 2020 tax return that claims the CTC or provided the IRS with information in 2020 to claim a stimulus payment,
A main home in the United States for more than half of the year or file a joint return with a spouse who has a U.S. home for more than half of the year,
A qualifying child who’s under age 18 at the end of 2021 and who has a valid Social Security number, and
Earned less than the applicable income limit.

If the IRS has your bank information, you’ll receive the payments as direct deposits.

Because the IRS will base the payments on your 2020 tax return (or, if not yet available, your 2019 return), it’s possible that you could receive excess payments over the amount you actually qualify for in 2021. In that case — unlike excess stimulus payments — you’ll be required to repay the excess. The IRS will either deduct the amount from your 2021 refund or add it to the amount you owe.

Opting out

The IRS will automatically enroll taxpayers for advance payments, but it’s also providing an online portal at irs.gov where taxpayers can opt out. You might consider opting out if, for example, you were near the income limits in 2019 or 2020, expect to earn more in 2021, and want to avoid excess payments. Be aware that couples filing jointly must both opt out, otherwise the spouse who doesn’t will receive half of the joint payment.

It’s not only a change in expected income that could lead to excess payments; it’s also a change in the number of dependents. For example, divorced couples who share joint custody may alternate the years in which they claim their children as dependents for CTC purposes. If 2021 is your former spouse’s year, consider opting out (your former spouse won’t receive the advance payments based on his or her 2020 tax return but, if eligible, can claim the credit on the 2021 return). Parents of children who will turn age 18 in 2021 also should consider opting out.

The deadline to opt out of the first payment was June 28, 2021, but you can still opt out for future payments.

Estimating — and reducing — 2021 income

When deciding whether to opt out, you can estimate your 2021 income using multiple methods. You could simply look at your modified adjusted gross income on your most recent tax return. You also could project your income for the year and reduce it by the standard deduction (for 2021, it’s $12,550 for individual taxpayers and $25,100 for married couples filing jointly).

If you estimate that your income will be near the eligibility threshold but want to receive the advance payments, you can take measures to reduce your income before year end. You might, for example, increase your 401(k) plan contributions (the contribution limit for 2021 is $19,500). Taxpayers with high deductible health plans and health savings accounts (HSAs) can similarly reduce their income with contributions. The HSA contribution limits for 2021 are $3,600 for individual health plans and $7,200 for family health plans.

Beyond 2021

The expanded CTC is available only for 2021 as of now. President Biden has indicated that he’d like to extend it through at least 2025, and some Democratic lawmakers hope to make it permanent. But it’ll be challenging to pass a bill to make either of these proposals happen. We’ll keep you informed about any developments that could affect your tax planning.

Read our additional CTC resources:

The IRS just released its audit statistics for the 2020 fiscal year and fewer taxpayers had their returns examined as compared with prior years. But even though a small percentage of returns are being chosen for audit these days, that will be little consolation if yours is one of them.

Latest statistics

Overall, just 0.5% of individual tax returns were audited in 2020. However, as in the past, those with higher incomes were audited at higher rates. For example, in 2020, 2.2% of taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes (AGIs) of between $1 million and $5 million were audited. Among the richest taxpayers, those with AGIs of $10 million and more, 7% of returns were audited in 2020.

These are among the lowest percentages of audits conducted in recent years. However, the Biden administration has announced it would like to raise revenue by increasing tax compliance and enforcement. In other words, audits may be on the rise in the coming years.

Prepare in advance

Even though fewer audits were performed in 2020, the IRS will still examine thousands of returns this year. With proper planning, you may fare well even if you’re one of the unlucky ones.

The easiest way to survive an IRS examination is to prepare in advance. On a regular basis, you should systematically maintain documentation — invoices, bills, canceled checks, receipts, or other proof — for all items reported on your tax returns.

It’s possible you didn’t do anything wrong. Just because a return is selected for an audit doesn’t mean that an error was made. Some returns are randomly selected based on statistical formulas. For example, IRS computers compare income and deductions on returns with what other taxpayers report. If an individual deducts a charitable contribution that’s significantly higher than what others with similar incomes report, the IRS may want to know why.

Returns can also be selected if they involve issues or transactions with other taxpayers who were previously selected for audit, such as business partners or investors.

The government generally has three years within which to conduct an audit, and often the exam won’t begin until a year or more after you file your return.

Complex vs. simple returns

The scope of an audit depends on the tax return’s complexity. A return reflecting business or real estate income and expenses will obviously take longer to examine than a return with only salary income.

An audit may be conducted by mail or through an in-person interview and review of records. The interview may be conducted at an IRS office or may be a “field audit” at the taxpayer’s home, business, or accountant’s office.

Important: Even if you’re chosen for an audit, an IRS examination may be nothing to lose sleep over. In many cases, the IRS asks for proof of certain items and routinely “closes” the audit after the documentation is presented.

Don’t go it alone

It’s advisable to have a tax professional represent you at an audit. A tax pro knows the issues that the IRS is likely to scrutinize and can prepare accordingly. In addition, a professional knows that in many instances IRS auditors will take a position (for example, to disallow certain deductions) even though courts and other guidance have expressed contrary opinions on the issues. Because pros can point to the proper authority, the IRS may be forced to concede on certain issues.

If you receive an IRS audit letter or simply want to improve your record-keeping, we’re here to help. Contact us to discuss this or any other aspect of your taxes.

Are you eligible to take the deduction for qualified business income (QBI)? Here are 10 facts about this valuable tax break, referred to as the pass-through deduction, QBI deduction or Section 199A deduction.

It’s available to owners of sole proprietorships, single-member limited liability companies (LLCs), partnerships and S corporations. It may also be claimed by trusts and estates.
The deduction is intended to reduce the tax rate on QBI to a rate that’s closer to the corporate tax rate.
It’s taken “below the line.” That means it reduces your taxable income but not your adjusted gross income. But it’s available regardless of whether you itemize deductions or take the standard deduction.
The deduction has two components: 20% of QBI from a domestic business operated as a sole proprietorship or through a partnership, S corporation, trust or estate; and 20% of the taxpayer’s combined qualified real estate investment trust (REIT) dividends and qualified publicly traded partnership income.
QBI is the net amount of a taxpayer’s qualified items of income, gain, deduction and loss relating to any qualified trade or business. Items of income, gain, deduction and loss are qualified to the extent they’re effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the U.S. and included in computing taxable income.
QBI doesn’t necessarily equal the net profit or loss from a business, even if it’s a qualified trade or business. In addition to the profit or loss from Schedule C, QBI must be adjusted by certain other gain or deduction items related to the business.
A qualified trade or business is any trade or business other than a specified service trade or business (SSTB). But an SSTB is treated as a qualified trade or business for taxpayers whose taxable income is under a threshold amount.
SSTBs include health, law, accounting, actuarial science, certain performing arts, consulting, athletics, financial services, brokerage services, investment, trading, dealing securities and any trade or business where the principal asset is the reputation or skill of its employees or owners.
There are limits based on W-2 wages. Inflation-adjusted threshold amounts also apply for purposes of applying the SSTB rules. For tax years beginning in 2021, the threshold amounts are $164,900 for singles and heads of household; $164,925 for married filing separately; and $329,800 for married filing jointly. The limits phase in over a $50,000 range ($100,000 for a joint return). This means that the deduction reduces ratably, so that by the time you reach the top of the range ($214,900 for singles and heads of household; $214,925 for married filing separately; and $429,800 for married filing jointly) the deduction is zero for income from an SSTB.
For businesses conducted as a partnership or S corporation, the pass-through deduction is calculated at the partner or shareholder level.

As you can see, this substantial deduction is complex, especially if your taxable income exceeds the thresholds discussed above. Other rules apply. Contact us if you have questions about your situation.

Public Act 3 of 2021 (HB 4048), signed by the Governor on March 9, 2021, released 43.6% of ESSER II Formula funds, approved a portion of ESSER II and GEER II Discretionary funds, and appropriated State Aid funds for other programs.

Districts have had questions regarding the timing of the grant approval (award notification) of the 43.6% of ESSER II Formula funds; however, these funds have been approved in the last two weeks, and your district should have received its Grant Award Notification (GAN).

A couple of items to watch:

The award date: If you received your GAN, you can record this revenue in fiscal year 2021. (The GAN must be dated June 30 or before to be recorded in FY 2021).
The award amount: Some districts applied for more than 43.6% of funds. Before approval, the Department of Education corrected the amount to be at or below 43.6%.
New allowable costs opened up: The 43.6% of ESSER II Formula funds [Section 11r (2)] has increased from 12 to 15 allowable areas. Among the expanded allowable uses are, “purchases of educational technology (including hardware, software, connectivity, assistive technology, and adaptive equipment) for students that aids in regular and substantive educational interaction between students and their classroom instructors, including students from low-income families and children with disabilities.”

The most recent accounting guidance from the Michigan Department of Education can be found on MDE’s website.

Contact your Yeo & Yeo professional if you need assistance.

Many types of businesses — such as homebuilders and manufacturers — turn raw materials into finished products for customers. Production is a continuous process. So, any work that’s been started but isn’t yet completed before the end of the accounting period is reported as work in progress (WIP) under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

The value of WIP relies on management’s estimates. Auditors often give special attention to these estimates during fieldwork. Here’s what to expect during a financial statement audit.

Inventory 101

Inventory is classified as a current asset on the balance sheet under GAAP. There are three types of inventory:

1. Raw materials. These are tangible inputs that have been received from suppliers but haven’t yet been worked with. For example, a construction firm may have a supply of lumber and drywall in a warehouse that counts as raw materials.

2. Work in progress. This term refers to partially finished products at various stages of completion. Items classified as WIP still require further work, processing, assembly and/or inspection. It includes raw materials, labor and overhead allocations.

3. Finished goods. These items are fully complete. They may be ready for customers to purchase or, in the case of custom products, available for delivery or title transfer to customers.

Standard vs. job costing

When a company produces large volumes of the same product, management allocates costs as each phase of the production process is completed. This is known as standard costing. For example, if a production process involves eight steps, the company might allocate 50% of its costs to the product once the fourth stage is completed.

On the other hand, when a company produces unique products — such as the construction of a factory or made-to-order parts — a job costing system is typically used to allocate materials, labor and overhead costs as incurred.

Most experienced managers use realistic estimates, but inexperienced or dishonest managers may inflate WIP values. This can make a company appear healthier than it really is by overstating the value of inventory at the end of the period and understating cost of goods sold during the current accounting period.

Eye on WIP

Auditors focus significant effort on analyzing how companies quantify and allocate their costs. Under standard costing, companies typically record inventory (including WIP) at cost, and then recognize revenue once they sell finished goods. The WIP balance grows based on the number of steps completed in the production process. Auditors analyze the methods used to quantify a product’s standard costs, as well as how the company allocates the costs corresponding to each phase of production.

Conversely, with job costing, revenue recognition happens based on the percentage-of-completion or completed-contract method. Auditors analyze the process to allocate materials, labor and overhead to each job. In particular, they test to ensure that costs assigned to a particular product or project correspond to that job.

Get it right

Under both methods, accounting for WIP affects the balance sheet and the income statement. We can help determine whether your company’s WIP estimates are reasonable and whether your accounting practices comply with the recent changes to the revenue recognition rules for long-term contracts, if applicable. Contact us for more information.

The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) is a valuable tax break that was extended and modified by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), enacted in March of 2021. Here’s a rundown of the rules.

Background

Back in March of 2020, Congress originally enacted the ERTC in the CARES Act to encourage employers to hire and retain employees during the pandemic. At that time, the ERTC applied to wages paid after March 12, 2020, and before January 1, 2021. However, Congress later modified and extended the ERTC to apply to wages paid before July 1, 2021.

The ARPA again extended and modified the ERTC to apply to wages paid after June 30, 2021, and before January 1, 2022. Thus, an eligible employer can claim the refundable ERTC against “applicable employment taxes” equal to 70% of the qualified wages it pays to employees in the third and fourth quarters of 2021. Except as discussed below, qualified wages are generally limited to $10,000 per employee per 2021 calendar quarter. Thus, the maximum ERTC amount available is generally $7,000 per employee per calendar quarter or $28,000 per employee in 2021.

For purposes of the ERTC, a qualified employer is eligible if it experiences a significant decline in gross receipts or a full or partial suspension of business due to a government order. Employers with up to 500 full-time employees can claim the credit without regard to whether the employees for whom the credit is claimed actually perform services. But, except as explained below, employers with more than 500 full-time employees can only claim the ERTC with respect to employees that don’t perform services.

Employers who got a Payroll Protection Program loan in 2020 can still claim the ERTC. But the same wages can’t be used both for seeking loan forgiveness or satisfying conditions of other COVID relief programs (such as the Restaurant Revitalization Fund program) in calculating the ERTC.

Modifications

Beginning in the third quarter of 2021, the following modifications apply to the ERTC:

Applicable employment taxes are the Medicare hospital taxes (1.45% of the wages) and the Railroad Retirement payroll tax that’s attributable to the Medicare hospital tax rate. For the first and second quarters of 2021, “applicable employment taxes” were defined as the employer’s share of Social Security or FICA tax (6.2% of the wages) and the Railroad Retirement Tax Act payroll tax that was attributable to the Social Security tax rate.
Recovery startup businesses are qualified employers. These are generally defined as businesses that began operating after February 15, 2020, and that meet certain gross receipts requirements. These recovery startup businesses will be eligible for an increased maximum credit of $50,000 per quarter, even if they haven’t experienced a significant decline in gross receipts or been subject to a full or partial suspension under a government order.
A “severely financially distressed” employer that has suffered a decline in quarterly gross receipts of 90% or more compared to the same quarter in 2019 can treat wages (up to $10,000) paid during those quarters as qualified wages. This allows an employer with over 500 employees under severe financial distress to treat those wages as qualified wages whether or not employees actually provide services.
The statute of limitations for assessments relating to the ERTC won’t expire until five years after the date the original return claiming the credit is filed (or treated as filed).

Among the only certainties of business technology is that it will continue changing. One consequence of this is a regular need for companies to undertake IT projects such as developing custom software or upgrading network infrastructure.

Much like a physical construction job, IT projects often look eminently feasible on “paper” but may get bogged down in a gradual expansion of parameters (“scope creep”), missed deadlines and disagreements. As a result, more and more resources are consumed, and the budget is eventually blown.

One potential solution to keeping IT projects on schedule and within budget is to follow an approach called the critical path method (CPM).

The basic concept

CPM is a scheduling technique used to calculate a project’s duration and illustrate how schedules are affected when certain variables change. It identifies the “critical path,” which is the most efficient sequence of scheduled activities that determines when a project can be completed. Any delay in the critical path slows down the job.

In many cases, some tasks won’t affect other activities and can be pushed back without pushing out the planned completion date. Other tasks can be performed in parallel with the primary steps. However, each task that lies on the critical path must be completed before any later tasks can begin.

Visualizing success

CPM breaks an IT project into several manageable activities and displays them in a flow or Gantt chart showing the “activity sequence” (the order in which tasks must be performed). It then calculates the project timeline based on the estimated duration of each task.

For smaller projects, this can be done on a virtual or physical whiteboard. The project manager draws a diagram with circles that represent activities/time durations and — where one activity cannot begin until another is completed — connecting those circles with arrows to show the necessary order of primary job tasks. The completed diagram will reveal arrow paths indicating activity sequences and how long it will take to complete them.

Helpful software

For larger, more complex IT projects that may have multiple critical paths and overlapping, interconnected activities, creating charts by hand can be time consuming and difficult. CPM software makes the process faster, easier and less prone to human error. When things are constantly changing — particularly at the beginning or end of a project — these applications allow far easier updating of the analysis and production of new charts.

Plan and execute

CPM isn’t a silver bullet for every slow-moving, budget-busting IT project. But it’s helped many companies plan and execute technology initiatives. We can help you identify the costs of — and establish reasonable budgets for — any IT projects you’re considering.

Married couples may not be able to save as much as they need for retirement when one spouse doesn’t work outside the home — perhaps so that spouse can take care of children or elderly parents. In general, an IRA contribution is allowed only if a taxpayer earns compensation. However, there’s an exception involving a “spousal” IRA. It allows contributions to be made for nonworking spouses.

For 2021, the amount that an eligible married couple can contribute to an IRA for a nonworking spouse is $6,000, which is the same limit that applies for the working spouse.

IRA advantages

As you may know, IRAs offer two types of advantages for taxpayers who make contributions to them.

Contributions of up to $6,000 a year to an IRA may be tax deductible.
The earnings on funds within the IRA are not taxed until withdrawn. (Alternatively, you may make contributions to a Roth IRA. There’s no deduction for Roth IRA contributions, but, if certain requirements are met, distributions are tax-free.)

As long as the couple together has at least $12,000 of earned income, $6,000 can be contributed to an IRA for each, for a total of $12,000. (The contributions for both spouses can be made to either a regular IRA or a Roth IRA, or split between them, as long as the combined contributions don’t exceed the $12,000 limit.)

Boost contributions if 50 or older

In addition, individuals who are age 50 or older can make “catch-up” contributions to an IRA or Roth IRA in the amount of $1,000. Therefore, for 2021, for a taxpayer and his or her spouse, both of whom will have reached age 50 by the end of the year, the combined limit of the deductible contributions to an IRA for each spouse is $7,000, for a combined deductible limit of $14,000.

There’s one catch, however. If, in 2021, the working spouse is an active participant in either of several types of retirement plans, a deductible contribution of up to $6,000 (or $7,000 for a spouse who will be 50 by the end of the year) can be made to the IRA of the nonparticipant spouse only if the couple’s AGI doesn’t exceed $125,000. This limit is phased out for AGI between $198,000 and $208,000.

Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Business Consultants is pleased to announce that Ali Barnes, CPA, has achieved the Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) credential, awarded by the Association of Government Accountants (AGA).

“The CGFM credential is considered the mark of excellence in financial management for federal, state and local government,” said Jamie Rivette, CPA, CGFM, Principal and Government Services Group leader. “Ali’s achievement demonstrates our professionals’ commitment to expanding our level of expertise and providing audit, accounting and consulting services for Michigan governmental entities.”

The CGFM credential exemplifies competency in governmental accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal controls and budgeting. It recognizes the specialized knowledge and experience required to be an effective government financial manager.

Barnes is the managing principal of Yeo & Yeo’s Alma office and provides audit services, with an emphasis on government entities, schools, nonprofit organizations and employee retirement benefit plans. She joined Yeo & Yeo in 2007 and is a member of the firm’s Audit Services Group, Pension Services Group and Government Services Group.

In the community, Barnes serves on the board of directors and finance committee for the Gratiot County Community Foundation. She is also board treasurer for the Alma Police Athletic League and serves on the finance committee for Girls on the Run.

Internal controls are a system of policies and procedures organizations put in place to protect assets and improve operating efficiency. Effective internal controls are critical to accurate financial reporting. A solid system of controls can help prevent, detect and correct financial misstatements due to errors and fraud.

Internal and external risk factors evolve over time. So, upon completion of the year-end financial statements, managers and internal auditors should reassess whether internal controls are up to snuff and brainstorm ways to solidify controls. Start your annual assessment with the following three basic controls:

1. Physical restrictions

Employees only should have access to those assets necessary to perform their jobs. Locks and alarms are examples of ways to protect valuable tangible assets, including petty cash, inventory and equipment. But intangible assets — such as customer lists, lease agreements, patents and financial data — also require protection with controls including passwords, access logs and appropriate legal paperwork.

2. Account reconciliation

Management should confirm and analyze account balances on a regular basis. To illustrate, strong organizations reconcile bank statements and count inventory on a regular basis. Waiting until year-end to complete these basic procedures is a potential red flag of weak oversight.

Interim financial reports, such as weekly operating scorecards and quarterly financial statements, also keep management informed. But reports are only useful if management finds time to analyze them and investigate anomalies. Supervisory review takes on many forms, including observation, test counts, inquiry and task replication.

3. Job descriptions

Another basic control is maintaining detailed, up-to-date job descriptions. This exercise can help you better understand how financial job duties interact with one another. It can also highlight possible conflicts of interest that could lead to improper recordkeeping.

Your policies should call for job segregation, job duplication and mandatory vacations. For example, the person who receives customer payments should not also approve write-offs (job segregation). And two signatures should be required for checks above a prescribed dollar amount (job duplication).

It’s important to confirm during the annual review whether employees are aware of internal control policies and procedures — and whether they’re being strictly followed. At some organizations, certain internal controls procedures have been suspended while employees are working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

No time like the present

For many businesses and not-for-profits, the pandemic has slowed operations. Unfortunately, times of financial distress may also entice some employees to exaggerate financial results or even commit fraud. Our auditors have seen the best (or worst) in internal control practices. We can help you identify potential weaknesses and — regardless of whether your organization is large or small — find cost-effective ways to reinforce your controls.

Why Choose YeoConsults for Internal Control Studies?

Internal Controls Study eBook

Yeo & Yeo’s credentialed CPAs and auditors deliver expert-level internal control studies for businesses and organizations of varying size and industry. Our forensic accountants holding the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) and Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE) credentials also have extensive experience in modern fraud prevention, detection and investigation techniques as well as litigation and recovery. Consider us an extended part of your team helping to ensure your assets are protected, and giving you peace of mind.

Welcome to Everyday Business, Yeo & Yeo’s podcast. We’ve had the privilege of advising Michigan businesses for more than 95 years, and we want to share our knowledge with you.

Covering tax, accounting, technology, financial and advisory topics relevant to you and your business, Yeo & Yeo’s podcast is hosted by industry and subject matter professionals, where we go beyond the beans.

On episode 14 of Everyday Business, host David Jewell, tax partner in Kalamazoo, is joined by Kelly Brown, a tax manager in our Saginaw office. Listen in as David and Kelly discuss everything sales tax, the rules and regulations, and how it has changed since the Wayfair ruling.

How has Wayfair changed sales tax over the last three years? (1:20)
What are marketplace laws (2:45)
How do transaction counts affect small sellers and the sales tax collected? (3:25)
What is the current outlook of sales tax for multi-state sellers? (4:50)
What is the outlook of Michigan’s sales/use tax? Specifically for construction and contractors (6:02)
Review any issues for exempt projects for not-for-profit entities and governments (7:59)
Why is it important for contractors and nonprofit entities to understand their responsibilities and obligations? (9:19)
Knowing that contractors aren’t allowed to use the governmental agency’s exemption certificate can the agency buy materials with the contractor or for the contractor and not pay sales tax? (10:17)
How do the contractors pay the use tax and is this an honor system? (11:27)
Why are vendor contracts a big point of contention in an audit and why do they provide contractors with a false sense of security? (14:00)
How does a contractor show that they have paid use tax? (15:10)
How does use tax work for smaller jobs or contractors who also sell materials? (15:50)
What resources are available to wade through all of the sales tax rules? (17:40)

Thank you for tuning in to Yeo & Yeo’s Everyday Business Podcast. Yeo & Yeo’s podcast can be heard on Apple Podcasts, PodBean and, of course, our website. Please subscribe, rate and review.

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DISCLAIMER
The information provided in this podcast is believed to be valid and accurate on the date it was first published. The views, information, or opinions expressed during the podcast reflect the views of the speakers. This podcast does not constitute tax, accounting, legal or other business advice, or an advisor-client relationship. Before making any decision or taking action, consult with a professional regarding your specific circumstances.

Timing counts in financial reporting. Under the accrual method of accounting, the end of the accounting period serves as a strict “cutoff” for recognizing revenue and expenses.

However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, managers may be tempted to show earnings or reduce losses. As a result, they may extend revenue cutoffs beyond the end of the period or delay reporting expenses until the next period. Here’s an overview of the rules that apply to revenue and expense recognition under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

General principle

Companies that follow GAAP recognize revenue when the earnings process is complete, and the rights of ownership have passed from seller to buyer. Rights of ownership include possession of an unrestricted right to use the property, title, assumption of liabilities, transferability of ownership, insurance coverage and risk of loss.

In addition, under accrual-based accounting methods, revenue and expenses are matched in the reporting periods that they’re earned and incurred. The exchange of cash doesn’t necessarily drive the recognition of revenue and expenses under GAAP. The rules may be less clear for certain services and contract sales, tempting some companies to play timing games to artificially boost financial results.

Rules for long-term contracts

The rules regarding cutoffs recently changed for companies that enter into long-term contracts. Under Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, revenue should be recognized “to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for the goods or services.”

The guidance requires management to make judgment calls about identifying performance obligations (promises) in contracts, allocating transaction prices to these promises and estimating variable consideration. These judgments could be susceptible to management bias or manipulation.

In turn, the risk of misstatement and the need for expanded disclosures will bring increased attention to revenue recognition practices. So, if your business is affected by the updated guidance, expect your auditors to ask more questions about cutoff policies and to perform additional audit procedures to test compliance with GAAP. For instance, they’ll likely review a larger sample of customer contracts and invoices than in previous periods to ensure you’re accurately applying the cutoff rules.

For more information

Contact us if you need help understanding the rules on when to record revenue and expenses. We can help you comply with the current guidance and minimize audit adjustments.

Opt-out requests for first payment due Monday, June 28

The 2021 advance child tax credit (CTC) payments established under a recent law will begin being made on July 15, 2021, the IRS announced. The tax agency also stated that “roughly 39 million households — covering 88% of children in the United States — are slated to begin receiving monthly payments without any further action required.”

More Facts About Advance CTC Payments

Eligible families will receive up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child age 6 and older.

Households with modified adjusted gross income below the following thresholds will receive advance payments based on the 2019 or 2020 tax information available to the IRS, with no further action required.

$150,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly and qualifying widows/widowers;
$112,500 for heads of household; and
$75,000 for other taxpayers.

Background

Taxpayers are allowed a CTC for each qualifying child. The credit was temporarily expanded and made refundable for 2021 by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). It phases out for taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes (AGIs) over certain thresholds.

For 2021, a qualifying child with respect to a taxpayer is defined as one who is under age18 and whom the taxpayer may claim as a dependent (in other words, a child related to the taxpayer who generally lived with the taxpayer for at least six months during the year). The child must also be a U.S. citizen or national, or a U.S. resident, and have a Social Security number.

The ARPA increased the maximum CTC — for 2021 only — to $3,600 for children under age 6 and $3,000 per child for children ages 6 to 17, provided their parents’ income is below a certain threshold.

The maximum amount of qualifying expenses considered for a family with one qualifying child has increased from $3,000 to $8,000. The top credit percentage has risen from 35% to 50%. Thus, a family with two qualifying children with childcare expenses could receive as much as $8,000 as a refundable credit in 2021.

The credit will phase out based on the following:

For AGI of more than $125,000, regardless of filing status, the credit rate is reduced by 1% for every $2,000 over $125,000, but not below 20%. Thus, the credit is reduced to 20% at AGI of $185,000.
For AGI between $185,000 and $400,000, the credit remains at 20%.
For AGI over $400,000, the credit phases out at the same 1% per $2,000. Thus, the credit is fully phased out at $440,000.

Advance Payments

Under the ARPA, the IRS is required to establish a program to make periodic advance payments that in total equal 50% of the IRS’s estimate of an eligible taxpayer’s 2021 CTC. These payments are to be made during the period July 2021 through December 2021.

Payments will begin on July 15, 2021, and after that they’ll be made on the 15th of each month unless the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday.

Recipients will receive the monthly payments through direct deposit, paper check or debit cards. The IRS says that it is committed to maximizing the use of direct deposit.

Consider Opting Out by Monday, June 28

Credit eligibility will be based on the actual 2021 filing. The credit must be repaid if the advance was more than the taxpayer qualifies for, so some taxpayers may want to opt out. Parents who are near the income eligibility limits may choose to opt out so they can avoid repaying the sum at tax time next year. Parents need to think especially hard if they are getting raises this year and better-paying jobs that may knock them out of income eligibility, and in turn would have to repay the advance payments on their 2021 taxes.

New IRS Tools

The IRS launched two new online tools related to the advance child tax credit payments.

A non-filer tool. If taxpayers have not already used one of the stimulus check non-filer tools, they can use this to provide the necessary information to receive the advance payments.
An opt out tool. If taxpayers do not want to receive advance payments, use this tool to unenroll from the program. To avoid receiving the first advance payment, you must unenroll from the program by June 28, 2021.

Note: During the opt-out process, you must be able to scan in your driver’s license and be on a device with a camera. We recommend using a phone rather than a laptop. Also, if you are married filing jointly, both taxpayers must opt out, or you will receive half of the advance payment.

June 28 is the deadline to skip the July 15 payment, the IRS says. August 2 is the deadline to skip the August 13 payment, and August 30 is the last day to skip the September 15 payment. For now, someone cannot opt back into receiving the money after they have opted out. The ability to re-enroll will start in late September, according to the IRS.

For more information, refer to the IRS’s website pages:

Additional CTC Resources

Eligible Businesses: Claim the Employee Retention Tax Credit

At many businesses, job descriptions have it easy. They were “hired” (that is, written) many years ago. They haven’t had to change or do anything, really, besides get copied and pasted into a want ad occasionally. They’re not really good at what they do, but they’re used again and again because everyone assumes they’re just fine.

The problem is, they’re not. Outdated, vague or inaccurate job descriptions can lead to longer hiring times, bad hires, workplace conflicts and even legal exposure in employment law actions. So, now the million-dollar question: Are your company’s job descriptions pulling their weight?

Review and revise

There’s only one way to find out: Conduct a thorough review of your job descriptions to determine whether they’re current and comprehensive.

Check to see whether they list outdated procedures or other outmoded elements, such as software you’ve long since phased out. As necessary, carefully revise the wording to describe the duties and responsibilities for a particular position as it exists today.

If you don’t already have formal, written job descriptions for every position, don’t panic. Ask employees in those positions to document their everyday duties and responsibilities. Each worker’s supervisor should then verify and, if necessary, help refine the description.

Put them to work

After you’ve updated or created your job descriptions, you can use them to increase organizational efficiency. Weed out the marginal duties from essential ones. Eliminate superfluous and redundant tasks, focusing each position on activities that generate revenue or eliminate expenses. You may be able to make improvements in other areas, too, such as:

Recruiting. Are you hiring people with the right skills? Up-to-date job descriptions provide a better road map for finding ideal candidates to fill your open positions.

Compensation. A complete and accurate description of the hiring requirements, job duties and responsibilities of a position provide context and rationalization for how that person is compensated.

Workload distribution. Are workloads efficiently distributed among employees? If not, rearrange them. You may find this necessary and beneficial when duties change because of revisions to job descriptions.

Cross-training. Can your employees handle their coworkers’ duties and responsibilities? In both emergencies and non-emergencies (vacations, for instance) — and as a fraud-prevention measure — having workers who are able to cover for each other temporarily is critical.

Performance management. Are employees doing their best? Detailed job descriptions allow supervisors to better determine whether workers are completing their assigned duties, meeting or exceeding expectations and growing with the company.

Stop the slackers

No business should put up with slacker job descriptions that do nothing but hang around the break room exchanging gossip and eating all the donuts. Ensure yours are actively contributing to your company’s success by managing their performance just as you do for real-live humans.

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With the entirely new circumstances caused by the pandemic, your business may be facing a long stage of recovery in an uncertain economy. With the added difficulties, it is easy to get tied up in the day-to-day challenges of running a business; yet, business owners who are successful embrace big-picture thinking as the driver of their business’s growth and success. It is more important than ever to reflect on your past, present and future.

Ask yourself…

Is my business growing, or are revenues just making ends meet?
Do I measure the right things that affect my business – and future dreams?
Do I have a plan to pivot operations or preserve cash flow?
Do I work endless hours with nothing left for personal time?
Do I have a succession plan for myself and my business?
Is my business going to provide enough cash flow to provide the retirement I desire?

Join Yeo & Yeo Principals Peter Bender and Michael Oliphant to learn the five critical steps to drive business growth and recovery and, ultimately, help you live the life you desire. Combined, Pete and Mike have more than 60 years of accounting and financial planning experience. Pete leads Yeo & Yeo Wealth Management and specializes in asset management, insurance planning, estate and retirement planning, and business transition strategies. Mike specializes in business valuation, business consulting, succession planning, strategic planning, and mergers and acquisitions.

This webinar has concluded.

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Are you age 65 and older and have basic Medicare insurance? You may need to pay additional premiums to get the level of coverage you want. The premiums can be expensive, especially if you’re married and both you and your spouse are paying them. But there may be a bright side: You may qualify for a tax break for paying the premiums.

Medicare premiums are medical expenses

You can combine premiums for Medicare health insurance with other qualifying medical expenses for purposes of claiming an itemized deduction for medical expenses on your tax return. This includes amounts for “Medigap” insurance and Medicare Advantage plans. Some people buy Medigap policies because Medicare Parts A and B don’t cover all their health care expenses. Coverage gaps include co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles and other costs. Medigap is private supplemental insurance that’s intended to cover some or all gaps.

Itemizing versus the standard deduction

Qualifying for a medical expense deduction is hard for many people for a couple of reasons. For 2021, you can deduct medical expenses only if you itemize deductions and only to the extent that total qualifying expenses exceeded 7.5% of AGI.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act nearly doubled the standard deduction amounts for 2018 through 2025. As a result, fewer individuals are claiming itemized deductions. For 2021, the standard deduction amounts are $12,550 for single filers, $25,100 for married couples filing jointly and $18,800 for heads of household. (For 2020, these amounts were $12,400, $24,800 and $18,650, respectively.)

However, if you have significant medical expenses, including Medicare health insurance premiums, you may itemize and collect some tax savings.

Note: Self-employed people and shareholder-employees of S corporations can generally claim an above-the-line deduction for their health insurance premiums, including Medicare premiums. So, they don’t need to itemize to get the tax savings from their premiums.

Medical expense deduction basics

In addition to Medicare premiums, you can deduct various medical expenses, including those for dental treatment, ambulance services, dentures, eyeglasses and contacts, hospital services, lab tests, qualified long-term care services, prescription medicines and others.

There are also many items that Medicare doesn’t cover that can be deducted for tax purposes, if you qualify. In addition, you can deduct transportation expenses to get to medical appointments. If you go by car, you can deduct a flat 16-cents-per-mile rate for 2021 (down from 17 cents for 2020), or you can keep track of your actual out-of-pocket expenses for gas, oil and repairs.

Claim all eligible deductions

Welcome to Everyday Business, Yeo & Yeo’s podcast. We’ve had the privilege of advising Michigan businesses for more than 95 years, and we want to share our knowledge with you.

On episode 13 of Everyday Business, host Ali Barnes, principal and member of Yeo & Yeo’s Government Services Group, is joined by Alan Panter, also a principal and member of the Government Services Group.

Listen in as Ali and Alan discuss the Michigan Uniform Chart of Accounts for local government in the second of our two-part podcast series focusing on auditing and accounting for government entities.

Overview of the Michigan Uniform Chart of Accounts (1:13)
Governmental accounting components that make up an account number (3:36)
Why is the Michigan Chart of Accounts coming up now? (6:15)
- Excerpt of key implementation dates to remember from this episode:
  - Compliance with the uniform chart of accounts is required, as a minimum, as of any fiscal year-end of October 31, 2022, or later. So, for a government with a December 31 year-end, the final implementation would not be required until December 31, 2022. September 30 fiscal year-ends are the last to go and would not be required to implement until September 30, 2023. Depending on what software you are using, and whether your vendor supports an in-year conversion, and how that process works, you may be able to wait until year-end to implement the uniform chart of accounts. This would be an acceptable method from a compliance standpoint but would not be the recommended method. We recommend implementing the chart of accounts as of the beginning of the fiscal year, whenever that falls. We recommend, however, that you implement the changes as of the beginning of the fiscal year, which would be January 1, 2022.
What changes are in the updated chart of accounts to align general ledger accounting with some of the new standards? (8:35)
Other fundamental changes to note (10:50)
Recommendations for successful implementation (13:25)
Can software such as QuickBooks help governments stay in compliance? (16:57)
Suggested resources (18:36)

Thank you for tuning in to Yeo & Yeo’s Everyday Business Podcast. Yeo & Yeo’s podcast can be heard on Apple Podcasts, PodBean and, of course, our website. Please subscribe, rate and review.

For more business insights, visit our Resource Center and subscribe to our eNewsletters.

Listen to our first episode in this two-part series: Episode 12: Single Audits for Government Entities

DISCLAIMER
The information provided in this podcast is believed to be valid and accurate on the date it was first published. The views, information, or opinions expressed during the podcast reflect the views of the speakers. This podcast does not constitute tax, accounting, legal, or other business advice or an advisor-client relationship. Before making any decision or taking action, consult with a professional regarding your specific circumstances.

As we continue to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be traveling again for business. Under tax law, there are a number of rules for deducting the cost of your out-of-town business travel within the United States. These rules apply if the business conducted out of town reasonably requires an overnight stay.

Note that under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, employees can’t deduct their unreimbursed travel expenses through 2025 on their own tax returns. That’s because unreimbursed employee business expenses are “miscellaneous itemized deductions” that aren’t deductible through 2025.

However, self-employed individuals can continue to deduct business expenses, including away-from-home travel expenses.

Here are some of the rules that come into play.

Transportation and meals

The actual costs of travel (for example, plane fare and cabs to the airport) are deductible for out-of-town business trips. You’re also allowed to deduct the cost of meals and lodging. Your meals are deductible even if they’re not connected to a business conversation or other business function. The Consolidated Appropriations Act includes a provision that removes the 50% limit on deducting eligible business meals for 2021 and 2022. The law allows a 100% deduction for food and beverages provided by a restaurant. Takeout and delivery meals provided by a restaurant are also fully deductible.

Keep in mind that no deduction is allowed for meal or lodging expenses that are “lavish or extravagant,” a term that’s been interpreted to mean “unreasonable.”

Personal entertainment costs on the trip aren’t deductible, but business-related costs such as those for dry cleaning, phone calls and computer rentals can be written off.

Combining business and pleasure

Some allocations may be required if the trip is a combined business/pleasure trip, for example, if you fly to a location for five days of business meetings and stay on for an additional period of vacation. Only the cost of meals, lodging, etc., incurred for the business days are deductible — not those incurred for the personal vacation days.

On the other hand, with respect to the cost of the travel itself (plane fare, etc.), if the trip is “primarily” business, the travel cost can be deducted in its entirety and no allocation is required. Conversely, if the trip is primarily personal, none of the travel costs are deductible. An important factor in determining if the trip is primarily business or personal is the amount of time spent on each (although this isn’t the sole factor).

If the trip doesn’t involve the actual conduct of business but is for the purpose of attending a convention, seminar, etc., the IRS may check the nature of the meetings carefully to make sure they aren’t vacations in disguise. Retain all material helpful in establishing the business or professional nature of this travel.

Other expenses

The rules for deducting the costs of a spouse who accompanies you on a business trip are very restrictive. No deduction is allowed unless the spouse is an employee of you or your company, and the spouse’s travel is also for a business purpose.

Finally, note that personal expenses you incur at home as a result of taking the trip aren’t deductible. For example, the cost of boarding a pet while you’re away isn’t deductible. Contact us if you have questions about your small business deductions.

Businesses need financial information that’s accurate, relevant and timely. The Securities and Exchange Commission requires publicly traded companies to follow U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), often considered the “gold standard” in financial reporting in the United States. But privately held companies can use simplified alternative accounting methods. What’s right for your business depends on its size, regulatory and contractual requirements, management’s future plans and the needs of its stakeholders.

Menu of accounting methods

Here’s an overview of the accounting methods available for small and medium-sized entities (SMEs):

GAAP. This framework follows rules set forth by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). It’s based on the accrual method of accounting, where revenues and expenses are matched to the reporting period in which they’re earned and incurred, respectively. Under this method, companies report receivables for revenue that’s earned but not yet collected and payables for expenses that are incurred but not yet paid. Prepaid (and accrued) expenses are also reported on an accrual-basis balance sheet.

Financial Reporting Framework for SMEs. This framework is rooted in GAAP, but it’s adjusted to accommodate the needs of private businesses. Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), this simplified framework blends traditional accounting principles with accrual-basis income tax accounting methods.

This non-GAAP framework is based on historic cost, steering away from complex, fair-value-based standards that have been implemented in recent years. For example, it retains the familiar accounting for revenue recognition and leases. It also includes targeted disclosure requirements and provides a degree of optionality, enabling SMEs to customize their financial statements to meet the needs of stakeholders.

Tax-basis method. Under this method, companies use the same accounting principles for book and federal income tax purposes. The U.S. tax code provides the rules that apply under this method.

Cash-basis method. This is the simplest reporting method. Revenues are recognized when received from customers and expenses when the company pays them. But there’s a potential downside: Revenues for the period aren’t necessarily matched to the related expenses for the period. This can lead to fluctuations in profits and financial ratios when comparing performance over time.

Questionnaire

Discuss the following questions with your accounting professional to help select the right method for your business:

How big is your business?
How quickly is it growing?
Who will use its financial statements and for what purpose?
Do you plan to raise capital?
Do you plan to apply for debt financing?
Do you anticipate changes in the revenue your business generates, the products and services it offers, or the area it serves?
Are you planning to sell the business or merge with another business?

For example, the cash- or tax-basis method may be appropriate for a single-owner business without any debt that uses its financial statements for internal purposes only. But larger private firms may decide it’s advantageous to comply with GAAP to attract outside investors, obtain loans, satisfy bonding and regulatory requirements, and evaluate strategic business decisions.

What’s right for you?

As your business grows in size, sophistication and complexity, it may be time to upgrade to a more complicated and consistent method of accounting. Contact us to help select a reporting framework that suits your current needs.

Most of us are taught from a young age never to assume anything. Why? Well, because when you assume, you make an … you probably know how the rest of the expression goes.

A dangerous assumption that many business owners make is that, if their companies are profitable, their cash flow must also be strong. But this isn’t always the case. Taking a closer look at the accounting involved can provide an explanation.

Investing in the business

What are profits, really? In accounting terms, they’re closely related to taxable income. Reported at the bottom of your company’s income statement, profits are essentially the result of revenue less the cost of goods sold and other operating expenses incurred in the accounting period.

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) require companies to “match” costs and expenses to the period in which revenue is recognized. Under accrual-basis accounting, it doesn’t necessarily matter when you receive payments from customers or when you pay expenses.

For example, inventory sitting in a warehouse or retail store can’t be deducted — even though it may have been long paid for (or financed). The expense hits your income statement only when an item is sold or used. Your inventory account contains many cash outflows that are waiting to be expensed.

Other working capital accounts — such as accounts receivable, accrued expenses and trade payables — also represent a difference between the timing of cash flows. As your business grows and strives to increase future sales, you invest more in working capital, which temporarily depletes cash.

However, the reverse also may be true. That is, a mature business may be a “cash cow” that generates ample dollars, despite reporting lackluster profits.

Accounting for expenses

The difference between profits and cash flow doesn’t begin and end with working capital. Your income statement also includes depreciation and amortization, which are noncash expenses. And it excludes changes in fixed assets, bank financing and owners’ capital accounts, which affect cash on hand.

Suppose your company uses tax depreciation schedules for book purposes. Let say, in 2020, you bought new equipment to take advantage of the expanded Section 179 and bonus depreciation allowances. Then you deducted the purchase price of these items from profits in 2020. However, because these purchases were financed with debt, the actual cash outflows from the investments in 2020 were minimal.

In 2021, your business will make loan payments that will reduce the amount of cash in your checking account. But your profits will be hit with only the interest expense (not the amount of principal that’s being repaid). Plus, there will be no “basis” left in the 2020 purchases to depreciate in 2021. These circumstances will artificially boost profits in 2021, without a proportionate increase in cash.

Keeping your eye on the ball

It’s dangerous to assume that, just because you’re turning a profit, your cash position is strong. Cash flow warrants careful monitoring. Our firm can help you generate accurate financial statements and glean the most important insights from them.