Construction

Manage people carefully during rough times
Times are tough. The media is constantly blasting bad news, recession is the word of the day, your company is trying to do more with less, and that increases the stress level for all concerned – including you. You didn’t cause the problem, yet the problem is yours to manage, and the problem affects your people. How do you manage people in these tough economic times? (3/1/2010)

Bigger tax breaks for energy efficiency
Homeowners who make energy-efficient improvements to their home in 2010 can take a 30 percent credit as a result of tax changes made in the economic stimulus package. The law increased the credit from 10 percent to 30 percent and extended it to include 2010 improvements. The maximum cap was also extended to $1,500 from $500 for all property placed in service in 2009 and 2010. (2/15/2010)

Look for warning signs in buyer's market
There are three often overlooked areas for real estate bargains: short sales, foreclosures and REOs (real estate owned by lenders). But -- as always -- let the buyer beware. (2/2/2010)

   

Federal Tax Watch Special Issue - February 2008

Congress passes economic stimulus package

Industrial Manufacturing

Many CFOs skip vacations
Nearly one in three chief financial officers are forgoing vacations in these tough financial times to stay at work and tend to business, according to a new survey by Robert Half International. (3/1/2010)

Change is inevitable: How to handle it
It is not always as simple as it may seem to evaluate whether a change had the expected results or if it needs modification. Here are some questions to consider to help you review a change made by your company. (2/15/2010)

Preventing employee injuries pays off
Back injuries account for nearly 20 percent of all injuries and illnesses in the workplace. They cost the nation an estimated $20 billion to $50 billion per year, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The average cost of a low-back-associated workers’ compensation claim is nearly $8,500. Clearly, anything you can do as an employer to reduce these risks among your employees is well worth the effort. (2/2/2010)


Monthly Tax Tips

March 2010
Claiming dependents can be complicated business
Most people understand that they can claim their dependent children as a tax deductions, but there are complicated rules for claiming those who may not be your dependent minor child. Qualifying relatives who do not meet the criteria of dependent child may also be claimed in certain circumstances.

Federal Tax Watch

Employer-owned life insurance policies: Policy proceeds are now taxable
Have you reviewed your employer-owned life insurance policies to make sure the death benefit will be received tax free? Normally, life insurance proceeds received by the beneficiary are not subject to income tax. However, as part of the Pension Act of 2006, proceeds from employer-owned life insurance (EOLI) contracts issued after Aug. 17, 2006, are taxable to the beneficiary as ordinary income, to the extent that such proceeds exceed the sum of the premiums and other amounts paid by the policyholder (cost basis).

Important information for those with tax liens from the IRS
Do you have outstanding tax liens? If so, you can still salvage your credit standing, but you need to know how. In today's economy, keeping a good credit score is more important than ever. A bad credit score can mean no car loan or mortgage or higher interest rates. Tax liens can ruin your score. Even if you eventually pay the tax, the lien filing remains as a black mark on your credit score. There is another way, however.

2010 Roth IRA option may be worth a serious look
This year provides an unprecedented opportunity for higher-income individuals to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA because this conversion is now available to everyone regardless of income level.

New act spans worker, home buyer and business issues
The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, signed into law by President Obama on Nov. 6, 2009, was primarily designed to extend unemployment benefits. But it includes additional provisions that affect both businesses and individuals.

Tax relief in troubled times
The year 2009 has been an anomaly when compared with recent history. Taxpayers have been relieved of debt, become insolvent, declared bankruptcy, had their homes foreclosed and had their vehicles repossessed. They have been defrauded by investment institutions and have abandoned any prospect of recovery. Recent stimulus provisions of subsidies and incentives were meant to ease the burden. However, debt restructuring may come with a price, as does the discharge of debt.

Mid-Year Tax Planning for 2006

Now is an excellent time to consider steps you might take to reduce your taxes for the current year. Click here to begin your tax planning today.

Tax Rate Card

Download our new Tax Rate Card now.

    

General Business/Management Strategies

How minimum wage laws work
The Fair Labor Standards Act outlines federal rules for minimum wage and other labor issues. State laws may supercede the act, but the information in the act is something every employer should know. (3/1/2010)

Relaxing the dress code? Try Fridays first
If you’re considering changing your workplace from a traditional business dress code to business casual, it might be wise to try “casual Fridays” first. Whether you call it a pilot program, a gradual transition, or getting your feet wet before you decide whether to take the plunge, a trial run might save you some big headaches. (2/15/2010)

Sense of humor can be an asset ... or not
Leaders in the spotlight have often found a positive, well-developed sense of humor can help further their careers and enable them to be more effective in business situations. But business people should exercise caution by evaluating whether humorous comments are perceived positively or negatively. (2/2/2010)

Physician Services

Valuations

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