Not-for-profits that rely on a single income source, or only a few, are vulnerable to economic shocks. The COVID-19 pandemic has made this particularly clear. Most organizations have had to scramble to make up for lost revenue when at least some of their usual support dried up in 2020 — and has been slow to return. If you’ve had a hard time staying afloat over the past couple of years, you may need to diversify your nonprofit’s income stream.
These days, most businesses have websites. But surprisingly, the IRS hasn’t issued formal guidance on when website costs can be deducted.
Fortunately, established rules that generally apply to the deductibility of business costs provide business taxpayers launching a website with some guidance as to the proper treatment of the costs. Plus, businesses can turn to IRS guidance that applies to software costs.
If you don’t have enough federal tax withheld from your paychecks and other payments, you may have to make estimated tax payments. This is the case if you receive interest, dividends, self-employment income, capital gains or other income. Here are the applicable rules for paying estimated tax without triggering the penalty for underpayment.
Despite widespread fears of recession in recent months, hiring remains strong in the United States. Employers added 528,000 jobs in July 2022 and many organizations seeking new workers are having trouble filling positions. If your not-for-profit has open slots, you might want to look to military veterans. This demographic can have a harder time finding civilian jobs, and tax breaks may be available for employers who hire them.
Sometimes, bigger isn’t better: Your small- or medium-sized business may be eligible for some tax breaks that aren’t available to larger businesses. Here are some examples.
When you filed your federal tax return this year, were you surprised to find you owed money? You might want to change your withholding so that this doesn’t happen again next year. You might even want to adjust your withholding if you got a big refund. Receiving a tax refund essentially means you’re giving the government an interest-free loan.
Do you think about your not-for-profit’s annual report as a yearly obligation or even an unpleasant chore? If so, your annual report likely isn’t much fun to read — and you’re missing a chance to attract and engage critical audiences. Instead, embrace this opportunity to communicate the good your organization does and promote your mission and programs. Here’s how to write an annual report that will keep readers’ attention.
A business or individual might be able to dispose of appreciated real property without being taxed on the gain by exchanging it rather than selling it. You can defer tax on your gain through a “like-kind” or Section 1031 exchange.
Sales and registrations of electric vehicles (EVs) have increased dramatically in the U.S. in 2022, according to several sources. However, while they’re still a small percentage of the cars on the road today, they’re increasing in popularity all the time.
No not-for-profit wants to turn down donations — particularly if they’re large. Nevertheless, you need to consider the source of gifts and potentially refuse those attached to controversial donors. Bad publicity, particularly if it hits social media and goes viral, can be far more expensive for your organization in the long run.