Disaster preparedness involves answering the question: How would a disaster affect your business? If you’re not sure, it’s time to start planning. Here’s a quick look at how you can prepare beforehand, and what relief might be available afterward. BEFORE DISASTER STRIKES Identify key issues. Bring together managers of key areas and brainstorm on the […]
The death of a spouse is emotionally and financially devastating. Making decisions of any kind is difficult when you’re vulnerable and grieving, but having a plan to follow may help. Here are suggestions for dealing with financial tasks. Wait to make major decisions. Put off selling your house, moving in with your grown children, giving […]
Prepaid debit cards, also known as stored-value cards, can be useful when you lack a traditional checking account. In an increasingly plastic-dependent world, these cards can be substituted for cash, and you can use them to pay for airline tickets, hotel stays, electronics, and groceries. Money is transferred, or “loaded,” to the card and is […]
Did you know that you can claim a federal income tax credit when you pay someone to care for your kids while you’re at work or school? The Child and Dependent Care Credit is valuable because it reduces the amount of tax you owe dollar-for-dollar. Here’s an overview of the rules. Child care expenses must […]
If your child is planning to work this summer, make sure you know the tax basics. Tax returns. Assuming no other sources of income, your child will be able to earn up to $6,300 in 2016 before a federal income tax return has to be filed. However, if income tax is withheld from paychecks, your […]
If summertime is a busy time for your business, you may be ready to hire seasonal workers. Here are tax rules to keep in mind. Affordable Care Act exception. When you employ 50 or more full-time employees, you’re considered a “large employer” and are generally required to provide health insurance coverage or pay a penalty. […]
If you hold foreign bank or financial accounts, or have signature authority over such accounts, and the total value of all your accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year, you may be required to file a Treasury Department report known as the FBAR. It’s easy to overlook this requirement because it’s separate […]
Are you thinking of signing up with one of those websites that link travelers to property owners with space to spare? If you plan to offer for rent all or part of your main home, establishing sound recordkeeping procedures from day one is a good idea. In addition to a bookkeeping system to track the […]
What springs to mind when you hear “insurance?” Most likely, you think about auto, health, home, and life. But what if an illness or accident were to deprive you of your income? Even a temporary setback could create havoc with your finances. And statistics show that your chances of being disabled for three months or […]
Is your business adequately diversified? Relying on too few customers, vendors, or key employees can leave you open to risks that can be catastrophic. Here’s what to consider. Customers. Do you depend on just a few customers for the majority of your sales? What will happen to your business if your largest customer requests a […]