When a business is sold, it may sell for more (or less) than the appraised value. Sometimes this doesn’t make sense to laypeople, but valuators understand that there are many valid reasons why price and value could be different. Small business owners that understand this subtlety are better positioned to make informed decisions. Price vs. Value Price  Continue Reading »

Last year, there were several significant tax developments that may affect federal income tax returns that individual and business taxpayers file in 2017. Here’s a quick look at 10 key changes that you should be aware of during this tax season. 1. Stand-Alone HRAs Just over a month before leaving office, President Obama signed the 21st  Continue Reading »

Pattridge v. Starks, 2016 La. App. LEXIS 315 (Feb. 24, 2016) An economic damages case stemming from the breach of a non-compete agreement features a noteworthy discussion on the difficulty of quantifying losses where the injured company is of a “volatile nature.” The plaintiff’s’ expert used commonly accepted valuation methods for his calculation, but the  Continue Reading »

Did you know that when your Maine business entertains clients or customers that you can have a good time and still deduct part of the cost when you entertain business clients or customers? Generally, the tax law permits you to deduct 50 percent of the cost of entertainment and meals that are either “directly related to”  Continue Reading »

The selection of a business valuation expert is critical when you or your clients have a need to know the value of their Maine-based business. Before selecting an expert, there are several considerations that must be made. The primary consideration is the purpose of the valuation. Filler & Associates has come up with some qualifications  Continue Reading »

In today’s environment, it’s important for Maine-based small business owners to concentrate on the value of their company and what drives it, especially when considering putting it up for sale. This article is focusing on value drivers for operating businesses, and not businesses that are asset-based, like real estate or securities holding companies. Most commonly,  Continue Reading »

Grant v. Grant, 2016 Tenn. App. LEXIS 327 (May 12, 2016) Appraisers rely on clear directives from the courts to produce sound valuations, but they may not always get them. A recent Tennessee appellate ruling in a divorce dispute is a case in point. The issue was whether it was appropriate to use a marketability  Continue Reading »

Under the use-it-or-lose-it rule, unused flexible spending account (FSA) balances can be forfeited back to employers. They then have several options for handling the money. Here is what small business owners, as employers, need to know after first covering some necessary background information. Flexible Spending Account Basics Under an employer-sponsored FSA plan, employees can contribute  Continue Reading »

When federal income tax and/or federal employment taxes are withheld from employee paychecks but aren’t handed over to the government, a “100% penalty” can be assessed against a responsible person. The purpose of this Trust Fund Recovery Penalty is to collect withheld but unpaid federal taxes from individuals who had control over an employer’s finances. It got  Continue Reading »

It is a good idea to know the reasons for a valuation to be able to take advantage of situations when it may be beneficial. Some reasons for obtaining a valuation are a necessity, such as for determining the value of the business interest in an estate. Other reasons are more elective, but nevertheless helpful  Continue Reading »