News and Announcements

When completing your will and doing your estate planning, many people worry about just how much their estate will be taxed. This is a valid concern, but the good news is that very few estates are subject to a federal estate tax, as the exemption amount is very high. However, your estate could be subject to an estate tax or inheritance tax by your state. Here’s what you need to know about estate and inheritance taxes, and what you can do to minimize how much of your wealth is lost to taxes.

The alternative minimum tax (or AMT) is a mandatory alternative to standard income tax for higher income earners who use many common itemized deductions. This secondary tax system is confusing for many, and often requires taxpayers to calculate their income twice to determine exactly what they need to pay. However, it also produces about $60 billion in federal taxes each year from the top 1% of taxpayers, so despite its inconvenience to many, a great deal of individuals support it. What exactly is the AMT, and should it be eliminated in favor of something simpler? Keep reading to learn more.

When most people think of retirement planning, they think of setting a wealth goal and saving up until they reach it. Perhaps thoughts about supplementing that saved money with other income will come to mind as well. But far too few people realize how professional tax planning now can benefit them in their retirement, and therefore don’t make it a part of their retirement planning. Keep reading to learn why you should seek professional tax planning as part of your retirement planning efforts.

By now you’ve probably heard that the federal government will be sending out monthly checks to most parents in the country. But contrary to what many people might believe, these checks are not another round of COVID relief—at least, not exactly. These payments are an advance on an expanded child tax credit. While the credit was expanded as part of the American Rescue Plan Act to help with financial recovery from the pandemic, the child tax credit itself has been around a long time. Here’s what you need to know.

Advocates for student loan forgiveness have been pushing for widespread debt erasure for a long time, and since President Biden took office, it’s beginning to look like some level of forgiveness may be on the horizon. But there's one big issue with student loan forgiveness that many people might not be aware of—taxes. Here’s what you need to know about how having a student loan forgiven can impact your tax bill.

In case you weren’t aware, the tax deadline actually hasn’t passed yet. The IRS moved the 2021 tax deadline to May 15th to allow taxpayers more time to file, and to give themselves a bit more time to handle another round of COVID-19 relief checks. So, if you haven’t filed your 2020 tax return yet, it’s not too late to avoid late filing penalties! Here are your options.

If you’re looking for bookkeeping services in East Brunswick, NJ, it’s important to find someone that can do more than just input numbers into a spreadsheet. Your business needs more comprehensive accounting services—services that can offer ongoing support to help your company grow and thrive. That’s why Demian & Company, CPAs, provides many different types of accounting services to businesses in the East Brunswick area and beyond. Here are 6 of the key services we can provide.

Precision in your business’s bookkeeping is essential. Accurate numbers ensure proper cash flow, make filing taxes easier, and can be a lifesaver if your business is audited. At Demian & Company, CPAs, we offer reliable and accurate bookkeeping services in East Brunswick, NJ, to help keep your business on track. Keep reading to learn how our professional business accountants can help.

The tax deadline is just a little over a month away, and many people are still feeling unprepared. Whether you’re not sure how to handle your stimulus checks on your return, want to make some last-minute tax moves to reduce your tax liability, or just lost track of time and need to file right away, our tax pros in Cranford, NJ, are here to help. Here’s how our services can help you prepare for the impending deadline.

It’s now been over a year since businesses began to lock down and individuals began to isolate in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. And though things are slowly inching back towards normal, the effects of 2020 will likely be felt for a long time. Right now, as the tax deadline approaches, many people are uncertain about many aspects of handling their 2020 returns. Demian & Company, CPAs, is here to help our clients in East Brunswick, NJ, and surrounding areas to find reassurance and certainty in their taxes and accounting.

Have you already filed your tax returns? If so, you may see a larger tax refund than expected arriving in the mail as early as next month. Starting in May, the IRS plans to issue tax refunds to many of those who reported unemployment compensation on their tax filings prior to March 11th as part of the Amerian Rescue Plan.

Many homeowners have made the effort to “go green” in recent years, with residential solar power quickly growing in popularity and more energy-efficient home systems becoming available. While the upfront cost of these upgrades can be quite steep, most find that the energy cost savings and the tax deductions for them help to balance out the investment. Recent changes to tax law have decreased the amount that you can deduct for these upgrades, however, and the deduction will continue to decrease until it’s no longer available. But how much can you deduct right now, and what kinds of upgrades qualify? Keep reading to find out.

When you’re in the middle of negotiations for a legal settlement, you’re probably focused on consulting with your attorney. But have you taken the time to consult with a CPA about it yet? Many people are unaware that they should speak with an accountant before reaching a final agreement on their legal case, but doing so can drastically change your perception of what a fair settlement amount would be. At the very least, it will help you to get a better picture of how much you’ll actually receive in your account when all is said and done. Keep reading to learn why you need to speak to your CPA regarding your legal settlement.

The long-awaited second round of COVID relief was rolled out with the New Year, including an expansion and extension of the Paycheck Protection Program. Many businesses can be eligible for additional funding from the government, which may help your company make it through what are hopefully the final months of the COVID-19 crisis. According to a survey of business owners conducted by Alignable, 85% of businesses feel they need this additional financial relief to keep their companies running. If you’re one of them, here’s what you need to know about this second round of PPP loans.

When you move, it seems there are countless entities that need your new address—credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, fitness memberships, etc.—and odds are high that you’re going to forget to change your address with a couple of them. But what about updating your address with the IRS? Most people don’t have this at the forefront of their mind when making a list of entities to which they must submit a change of address. In some cases, however, failing to update your address with the IRS can have major consequences. Keep reading to learn more.

Tax scams strike every tax season, and they are constantly evolving and changing. While most people intuitively recognize most forms of tax scams, it’s still important to be aware of how these thieves are changing their tactics so that you can avoid becoming a victim. Here are some of the newest tax scams that we’re seeing for the 2021 tax season. Make sure you know how to recognize them if they come your way.

The COVID stimulus payment provided earlier this year brought financial relief to many who were struggling near the beginning of the pandemic. But it also brought some confusion to taxpayers about how this stimulus check would be handled when it was time to file taxes.

For business owners, contractors, and self-employed individuals, the possibility of a home office deduction can be quite appealing. However, taking that deduction can be quite a bit more complicated than you might imagine. This deduction is one of the most commonly abused deductions on tax returns, and therefore, is one of the most commonly audited.

When COVID-19 began to spread across the United States, many businesses were forced to close down or to greatly limit the way they provide goods and services. For business owners, the government’s Paycheck Protection Program may have been the only thing that stood between them and losing their business for good.

With 2020 nearing its end, now is the time to begin planning for the 2021 tax season. Everyone can benefit from proper tax planning, which enables you to look ahead and make last-minute financial decisions that can minimize your taxes. For those with stock portfolios, this tax planning is especially important. Here are some important things to consider in regards to your stocks and how they’ll impact your tax planning.

Your state of residence is quite easy to determine, isn’t it? It’s the state you live in, the state where your house is located. But what if you have more than one property, and they’re located in different states? In these cases, determining your legal state of residence (or legal domicile) is more complicated than you might think, and it’s not solely based on the amount of time you spend in each location. Keep reading to learn how you can determine your legal state of residence, and how that determination will impact your income taxes.