Michael Gray, CPA's Tax and Business Insight

December 5, 2014

© 2014 by Michael C. Gray

ISSN 1539-395X

A monthly report to help you prepare for your financial future, keep more of what you earn by minimizing your taxes, and build an extraordinary business!

Route to _______   _______   _______   _______   _______

(If you find this information valuable, please pass it on to a friend!)

Table of Contents

Minerva Claus>
Minerva Claus Siemer celebrates the season!

Happy Holidays!

We wish you a joyous and safe holiday season!

We will be closed on December 24 and 25 and on New Year's Day.

Michael Gray also be out of the office on December 8, 15, 18, 19 and 30.

Return to Table of Contents

Make your year-end planning appointment now.

Michael Gray will have very limited availability for the rest of 2014, so make your year-end planning appointment now. Call Dawn Siemer Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday at 408-918-3162.

Return to Table of Contents

Special offer for Real Estate Tax Handbook, 2014 Edition.

The Real Estate Tax Handbook, 2014 Edition is being printed right now. Some updates that are included are the new rules on repairs and capitalization, new rules for materials and supplies, federal estate planning changes, and the 3.8% net investment income tax. As a holiday and introductory offer, you can order a copy for $29.99, which is half price, plus $3.50 shipping and handling and, for California residents only, $2.93 sales tax. This offer expires December 31, 2014.

Your can use the form at the end of this newsletter to mail or fax your order or call Dawn Siemer at 408-918-3162 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays to order by telephone.

Return to Table of Contents

Live presentation by Michael Gray, CPA for tax professionals.

Michael Gray will give a lunchtime presentation for the Silicon Valley San Jose chapter of CalCPA on January 15, 2015. The subject is "Survey of Lifetime Gift Planning and Form 709 - Part 1. (Part 2 will be presented on June 18.) The investment is $20 for members and $30 for nonmembers. Here is a link with the details. https://www2.calcpa.org. Call Dawn Siemer at 408-918-3162 for a paper flyer. You can also register by calling Stephanie Stewart at 408-983-1122.

Return to Table of Contents

New Dan Kennedy book released.

Business and marketing consultant Dan Kennedy has released the second edition of his book, No B.S. Ruthless Management of People and Profits. Although the management function of a business isn't as fun as marketing, it's essential. In this book, Dan discusses essential control numbers for a business that aren't included in financial statements. I highly recommend all of Dan Kennedy's books for small business owners.

Return to Table of Contents

Congress tries to extend tax breaks as the clock runs out.

A number of tax benefits, including the $500,000 limit for expensing business equipment and bonus depreciation for new equipment, expired December 31, 2013. Congress is currently trying to pass a one-year extension for 2014 for many of these provisions. They have less than two weeks before Congress adjourns. Time will tell. Meanwhile, we can't count on the breaks when doing tax planning.

Return to Table of Contents

Non-group medical insurance benefits may not qualify for exclusion for employees.

The IRS says that, effective January 1, 2014 under Health Care Reform, the only way employees can exclude employer-provided medical insurance from their wages is when the insurance is provided through a group policy. Many small employers may have thought that if they have no more than 50 employees, they aren't subject to the health care reform changes, but that is an error. For employers with more than 50 employees, a $100 per day ($36,500 per year) per employee penalty can apply, which the IRS can waive for reasonable cause. Since W-2s will soon be prepared for 2014, discuss this matter with your tax advisor and medical insurance provider now if your business provides non-group (individual policy) medical insurance for employees.

(Notice 2013-54.)

Return to Table of Contents

Possible deduction for partial asset disposition for 2012 or 2013.

When a portion of an asset was replaced in the past, such as replacing a roof of a building, you weren't able to deduct the undepreciated cost of that portion of the building. Under final regulations adopted by the IRS during 2014, a new election is now available to get that write off in the year of replacement. Although the regulations generally are effective for 2014, taxpayers may elect to retroactively apply them for 2012 or 2013. If you had an event like a roof replacement for a building during 2012 or 2013, see your tax advisor about filing an amended income tax return.

(T.D. 9689.)

Return to Table of Contents

Non-resident corporation that was a minority investor in a California LLC wasn't subject to California tax.

A California Superior Court ruled that an out-of-state corporation that owned a 0.2% interest as an investor in a California limited liability company (LLC) wasn't "doing business" in California, and therefore not subject to the $800 minimum franchise tax.

The court said that since the interest was solely held as an investor and the corporation wasn't involved in managing or operating the LLC and was an Iowa corporation with no business activities or physical presence in California, it didn't have sufficient connection to California to be subject to tax.

The Franchise Tax Board will probably appeal this decision. Meanwhile, out of state corporations that have paid California taxes when their only connection to California is as a minority passive investor in a California LLC should file protective refund claims.

(Swart Enterprises, Inc. v. California Franchise Tax Board, November 20, 2014, Fresno Superior Court, No. 13CBCG02171.)

Return to Table of Contents

Fourth quarter calendar year corporate estimated tax payment is due December 15.

The final 2014 estimated tax payment for calendar-year corporations is due December 15, 2014. Not all corporations can base their federal estimated tax payments on the previous year's income tax return. For example, new corporations and corporations that had no tax liability for the previous year must compute their estimated tax using the current year's facts. See your tax advisor for assistance.

Return to Table of Contents

Fourth quarter estimated tax payment for non-corporate taxpayers is due January 15.

The final estimated tax payment for individuals and calendar-year estates and trusts is due January 15, 2015. Remember California taxpayers with taxable income of $1 million or more must pay their estimated taxes using the current year's facts. Watch the alternative minimum tax. See your tax advisor.

Return to Table of Contents

First property tax payment is due.

The first property tax payment for the 2014-2015 fiscal year in Santa Clara County is due December 10. Avoid a late payment penalty - mail your payment now!

Return to Table of Contents

Watch FUTA adjustment on year end report.

California, among other states, has a cutback in its state credit for federal unemployment taxes. That means additional payments of up to $84 per employee will be due with Form 940. Be sure this adjustment is done with your year-end report for 2014.

Return to Table of Contents

Calendar year accrual basis corporations should pay related parties by December 31.

In order to currently deduct expenses due to certain related persons, accrual-basis corporations must pay them by the year-end. These include wages, bonuses, interest expense, rent, etc. Be sure to review the status of these items with your tax advisor by December 31.

Return to Table of Contents

Do you have unrealized capital losses?

Since the stock market has done so well, fewer individuals are holding stock that has declined in value. If you do, consider selling it before the end of the year. The capital losses can offset any capital gains that you have plus an additional $3,000 can be used to offset other taxable income. Remember the wash sale rule. The loss is disallowed if you buy the same security during the period from 30 days before to 30 days after a sale at a loss.

This strategy is especially important for high income individuals who are subject to the 3.8% net investment income tax.

Return to Table of Contents

Estates and trusts should plan distributions.

The increase in the maximum federal income tax rate to 39.6% and the 3.8% tax on net investment income hit estates and trusts especially hard. They apply when the undistributed trust income exceeds $12,150. If possible, the income of the estate or trust should be distributed to beneficiaries before the year-end, since the threshold for these taxes is much higher for individuals. (The income of some trusts is automatically considered distributed. See your tax advisor.) An election is also available to treat distributions made during the first 65 days of the following year (for example, January 31, 2015) as distributed for a taxable year (for example 2014).

In most cases, capital gains don't qualify for the distribution deduction. See you tax advisor.

The beneficiaries should be involved in this decision and be informed about the additional income to be reported on their income tax returns (in writing) and to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Return to Table of Contents

Business retirement plans for calendar-year businesses should be in place by December 31.

In order to make contributions for 2014, business retirement plans such as 401(k) plans and profit sharing plans for calendar-year businesses must be in place by December 31. Employee contributions to a 401(k) plan must also be paid by December 31. If yours isn't in place yet, contact your retirement plan advisor immediately.

Return to Table of Contents

Should you buy business equipment before December 31?

The expense election for business equipment purchases is now $25,000. Congress might enact a retroactive increase. Consider making your business equipment purchases before the end of the year. See your tax advisor for details.

Return to Table of Contents

Seniors, remember to take your required minimum distributions.

Generally when a participant in a retirement plan or an IRA reaches age 70 ½, minimum distributions are required to be made by December 31 each year. The distributions are also required to be made for inherited accounts. Roth accounts are excluded from this rule during the original owner's lifetime. See your tax advisor for details.

Return to Table of Contents

Remember to take a physical inventory on January 1.

Calendar year businesses with inventories should take a physical count as of January 1. This creates a "clean" record for the income tax return.

Return to Table of Contents

Remember to "reset" payroll on January 1.

Software providers will issue updates including the new payroll tax tables as of January 1, 2015. Be sure you have installed those updates before processing your first payroll for 2015.

Return to Table of Contents

Should you make additional tax payments before December 31?

State estimated tax payments and early property tax payments made by December 31 are generally tax deductible for the regular tax. However, many people are finding they are subject to the alternative minimum tax. Deductions for taxes (and miscellaneous itemized deductions) aren't allowed for the alternative minimum tax, so there could be no benefit for a tax prepayment. A tax advisor can project your tax picture to determine if the AMT will apply. Turbo Tax and other tax preparation software can also be used to make the computations.

This situation has changed somewhat because of the 3.8% net investment income (NII) tax. Part of the state tax payment may be a "good" deduction for the NII tax even though there is no AMT benefit. See your tax advisor.

Return to Table of Contents

Should you donate appreciated publicly traded stock?

It's the season for giving. Many of us make extra donations during December to share our bounty with others. Appreciated publicly-traded stock that has been held for more than a year is an ideal asset for a donation. Under the Internal Revenue Code, the long-term capital gain is excluded from taxable income and the charitable contribution deduction is the fair market value of the stock, so there is a double tax benefit. Also, publicly traded stock isn't subject to the appraisal requirements that apply for other property. It's a win-win-win! Remember to get a good acknowledgement letter to document the donation, including a statement that "no goods or services were received in exchange for the donation."

Return to Table of Contents

Donating a car to charity?

Remember that an appraisal is required for noncash contributions with a value exceeding $5,000. See Form 8283 and instructions as the IRS web site, www.irs.gov. (There is a Declaration of Appraiser on the form.) There is an exception to the rule for vehicles donated to a charity. If the charity sells the car, the taxpayer may rely on the sales price disclosed on Form 1098-C. The original Form 1098-C is submitted to the IRS with your income tax return (or otherwise sent to the IRS with Form 8453 if you efile).

Return to Table of Contents

Should you adopt an accounting policy for small equipment purchases by December 31, 2014?

An election is available to currently deduct small expenditures when the taxpayer doesn't have an applicable (audited) financial statement. Items up to $500 may be currently deducted, effective for amounts paid or incurred for tangible property after January 1, 2014, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2014. The election doesn't apply for inventoriable costs.

Among other requirements, in order to qualify for the current deduction: at the beginning of the taxable year, the taxpayer must have accounting procedures treating as an expense for non-tax purposes - (1) amounts paid for property costing less than a specified dollar amount; or (2) amounts paid for property with an economic useful life of 12 months or less. The taxpayer must also treat the amount paid for the property as an expense on its books and records in accordance with the accounting procedures. The amount paid for the property may not exceed $500 per invoice or per item, as substantiated by the invoice.

Note the de minimus election will be made each year on the income tax return for the business.

In order to be in position to make the election for 2015, you must have the accounting policy in place by December 31, 2014 and implement that policy in your accounting throughout 2015. If you didn't have the policy for 2014, consider getting it in place by December 31, 2014. We recommend that the policy should be written.

Return to Table of Contents

Do you need help with amended income tax returns?

We have already been meeting with folks who want a second look at their 2013 income tax returns for possible corrections. Call Dawn Siemer at 408-918-3162 on Mondays anytime, or Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays before 2pm to make an appointment.

Return to Table of Contents

Does your group need a speaker?

We are seeking opportunities to speak before groups. Topics include recent tax developments, tax issues relating to real estate, how estate planning has changed recently, tax issues relating to alternative investments using retirement accounts, and marketing topics such as "How I created a public access television show broadcast on eleven Bay Area stations." To make arrangements, call Michael Gray at 408-918-3161.

Return to Table of Contents

Please share your good experiences with Michael Gray, CPA.

As you know, more and more people are going to the internet to find information about service providers. We hope you will share some good words about experiences that you have had with our firm. Some of the sites where you can share your experiences include yelp.com, siliconvalley.citysearch.com, and Google+.

Return to Table of Contents

Financial Insider Weekly broadcast schedule for December and January.

Financial Insider Weekly is broadcast in San Jose and Campbell on Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Pacific Time. You can watch it on Comcast channel 15 for San Jose and Campbell. The show is broadcast as streaming video at the same time at www.creatvsj.org.

Here are the scheduled interviews for December and January:

December 5 and 12, 2014, Deborah Price, Money Coach, The Money Coaching Institute, "The heart of money - a couples' guide to financial harmony"
December 19, 2014, Don Pollard, CLU, ChFC, Advanced Professionals, "Update on individual health insurance under Health Care Reform
December 26, 2014, Don Pollard, CLU, ChFC, Advanced Professionals, "Group medical insurance for small businesses"
January 2, 2015, Bettie Baker Marshall, attorney at law, "Legal considerations of caring for incapacitated relatives and friends"
January 9 and 16, 2015, Kate Levinson, "Emotional currency"
January 23, 2015, Peggy Martin, CLU, The Family Wealth Consulting Group, "Life insurance basics"
January 30, 2015, David Beck, CFP®, Bay Area Planners, "Financial aid for a college education"

Financial Insider Weekly is also broadcast as follows:

Past episodes are available at https://www.youtube.com/user/financialinsiderweek.

Let me know any ideas that you have for topics or guests. Guests will usually have to be located in or near the Silicon Valley in California.

Hope you can watch or record the show. Please tell your friends about it!

Return to Table of Contents


Michael Gray regrets he can no longer personally answer email questions. He will answer selected questions in this newsletter.

For your questions about dependent exemptions, see IRS Publication 501 at www.irs.gov.

Return to Table of Contents


Visit our new article!

Return to Table of Contents

Follow me on Social Media!

Want to see new episodes of Financial Insider Weekly as soon as they're posted on Youtube? Want to see Michael Gray's blog posts as soon as they're live? We post them (and more) on social media!

If you enjoy Twitter, please follow me at www.twitter.com/michaelgraycpa. I would especially appreciate retweets of our messages announcing episodes of Financial Insider Weekly.

I'm also on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+.

you can also follow me on other social media sites, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Return to Table of Contents

If you have employee stock options, have you subscribed to Michael Gray, CPA's Option Alert at no charge or obligation?

To learn more, visit stockoptionadvisors.com/subscribe.shtml

Return to Table of Contents

Real estate investors, have you subscribed to Michael Gray, CPA’s Real Estate Tax Letter at no charge or obligation?

For details, visit www.realestatetaxletter.com

Return to Table of Contents

Check out my blog.

I have also started a blog at www.michaelgraycpa.com. Check it out!

Return to Table of Contents

P.S.

My daughter and her husband, Holly and Dan Baker, have a Southern French Restaurant at 23 Ross Common, Ross, California, about 15 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The name of the restaurant is Marché Aux Fleurs and their website address is marcheauxfleursrestaurant.com. For the best meal of your life, call 415-925-9200 for a reservation and give them a try! For directions, visit our website at www.taxtrimmers.com/directions.shtml.

Return to Table of Contents

Introductory Offer Action Form

YES! I want to learn how to take advantage of tax breaks and avoid tax traps for my home and real estate investments.

Send me ____ copies of Real Estate Tax Handbook, 20014 Edition. (Real Estate Agents, Brokers and Coaches! Call 408-918-3162 for special pricing of bulk orders of 10 or more copies!)

My investment per copy is only $29.99 (50% off the regular price of $59.97) plus $ 2.93 sales tax for California residents and $3.50 shipping and handling, when I order by December 31, 2014.

MY SATISFACTION IS GUARANTEED. If I don't find this a valuable reference for Real Estate Tax Issues, I may simply return the book for a no-hassle immediate refund of my investment. I am the sole judge.

Name ___________________________________________________

Company Name ___________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________

City ________________________ State ______ Zip ______________

Home Phone _________________ Business Phone _______________

FAX ___________________ Email ___________________________

Charge my Mastercard ____ Visa ___ American Express ___Discover _____

Credit card number ________________________________________

Expiration __________ Security Code _________

Card billing address, if different ______________________________

________________________________________________________

Name on card ________________________________

Signature __________________________________ Date ____________

Amount ________________

FAX to 408-998-2766

or mail to Silicon Valley Publishing Company
2190 Stokes St., Ste. 102, Dept. RO
San Jose, CA 95128-4512

Copyright 2014 Michael C. Gray

Return to Table of Contents


Home    Newsletter Archive    Introducing Michael Gray, CPA    Articles    Tax FAQ   Need Help?    Other Links


Michael Gray, CPA
2482 Wooding Ct.
San Jose, CA 95128
(408) 918-3162
FAX: (408) 938-0610
Hours: 8am - 5pm PDT Monday - Friday

Find us on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Connect on LinkedIn
Our Blog

Subscribe to Michael Gray, CPA's
Tax & Business Insight


We respect your email privacy