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Families First Coronavirus Response Act Provides Benefits and Tax Relief for Many

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), passed by Congress and signed by President Trump on March 18, 2020, will become law 15 days after the signing. FFCRA provides benefits such as paid sick leave, free coronavirus testing, expanded food assistance and unemployment benefits, and requires that employers provide additional safeguards for health care workers. For many, it provides welcome support as employers and employees deal with the extraordinary effects of COVID-19 on the workforce and economy.

Answers to your questions about 2020 individual tax limits

Right now, you may be more concerned about your 2019 tax bill than you are about your 2020 tax situation. That’s understandable because your 2019 individual tax return is due to be filed in less than three months.

Can you deduct charitable gifts on your tax return?

Many taxpayers make charitable gifts — because they’re generous and they want to save money on their federal tax bills. But with the tax law changes that went into effect a couple years ago and the many rules that apply to charitable deductions, you may no longer get a tax break for your generosity.

There still might be time to cut your tax bill with IRAs

If you’re getting ready to file your 2019 tax return, and your tax bill is higher than you’d like, there may still be an opportunity to lower it. If you qualify, you can make a deductible contribution to a traditional IRA right up until the Wednesday, April 15, 2020, filing date and benefit from the resulting tax savings on your 2019 return.

Look closely at your company’s concentration risks

The word “concentration” is usually associated with a strong ability to pay attention. Business owners are urged to concentrate when attempting to resolve the many challenges facing them. But the word has an alternate meaning in a business context as well — and a distinctly negative one at that.

5 ways to strengthen your business for the new year

The end of one year and the beginning of the next is a great opportunity for reflection and planning. You have 12 months to look back on and another 12 ahead to look forward to. Here are five ways to strengthen your business for the new year by doing a little of both:

4 new law changes that may affect your retirement plan

If you save for retirement with an IRA or other plan, you’ll be interested to know that Congress recently passed a law that makes significant modifications to these accounts. The SECURE Act, which was signed into law on December 20, 2019, made these four changes.

Do you have a side gig? Make sure you understand your tax obligations

The number of people engaged in the “gig” or sharing economy has grown in recent years. And there are tax consequences for the people who perform these jobs, such as providing car rides, renting spare rooms, delivering food and walking dogs. Generally, if you receive income from these gigs, it’s taxable. That’s true even if the income comes from a side job and if you don’t receive a 1099-MISC or 1099-K form reporting the money you made. You may need to make quarterly estimated tax payments because your income isn’t subject to withholding. Some or all of your business expenses may be deductible on your tax return, subject to the normal tax limitations and rules. Contact us to learn more.

What’s the right device policy for your company?

Device policies pertaining to smartphones and other technology tools are evolving. Loose “bring your own device” (BYOD) policies are giving way to stricter “choose your own device” (CYOD) or “corporate-owned, personally enabled” (COPE) policies. A CYOD policy lets employees buy a device for combined personal/work use from a company-approved list. Generally, the employee owns the device while the business owns the SIM card and any proprietary data. Under a COPE policy, the employer buys and owns the device, which is intended for business use. The cost is higher, but it comes with greater control. We can help you analyze the potential costs of a device policy and make the right choice.

3 key traits of every successful salesperson

The best salespeople are closers, who seal the deals and pull in the revenue that drives a company’s bottom line. And they all have these three things in common.

LB Carlson to Sponsor the 2019 Minnesota Manufacturing Conference

The 2019 Minnesota MANUFACTURING CONFERENCE Strengthen. Unify. Educate. Wednesday & Thursday, October 16 & 17, 2019 Minneapolis Marriott Northwest 7025 Northland Drive, N., Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 The Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association (MPMA) and the Manufacturers Alliance are co-hosting The…