Starting with the 2018 tax year, most businesses in Maine and the U.S. will receive a big tax cut, thanks to the new law that was enacted on December 22. However, some industries (such as banking, hospitality and retail) generally expect to reap more benefits than others (such as certain professional practices). The provisions in  Continue Reading »

For individual taxpayers, the new tax law — commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) — includes many expected changes, some unexpected ones and some that didn’t make the final cut. Here are the most important things that individual taxpayers need to know about the TCJA, which was signed into law on December 22,  Continue Reading »

The most significant tax legislation in decades has passed. The new tax reform law is commonly referred to as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (TCJA). Now Maine businesses and individuals are trying to digest the details and evaluate how the changes will impact their tax situation. Fortunately, your tax advisors can help you figure things out.  Continue Reading »

In order to deduct an expense as a business expense, it must be both ordinary and necessary. An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your field of business, and a necessary expense is one that’s helpful and appropriate for your business. There are times when the IRS will challenge deductions claimed for  Continue Reading »

You may be considered part of the “sharing economy” (also known as the Gig or on-demand economy) in Maine if you provide car rides through a mobile app, rent out your spare room using an online platform or repair computers for local businesses on demand. Participation in this emerging method of distributing services can be a  Continue Reading »

As a Maine-based small business owner, you may be wondering how much can be deducted on your tax return for vehicle expenses. There are two basic ways to figure this out: The first is the standard mileage method. This provides a basic deduction for mileage and provides built-in depreciation. For 2017, the mileage rate is  Continue Reading »

In many parts of the country it’s already starting to feel like summer, and we hope Maine will get there shortly. But the forecast for Washington remains unclear as officials continue to discuss various tax-related issues. Regardless of what happens in Washington, don’t get stuck in a holding pattern yourself. Give some attention to business  Continue Reading »

Your personal losses resulting from casualties and thefts are allowed to be deducted by the tax law, within certain limits. And a “theft” for tax purposes isn’t strictly limited to house burglaries or stolen cars. However, as you will see from several U.S. Tax Court cases, the deduction can hinge on the application of state  Continue Reading »

The Basics of Section 179 Deductions Under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015, the Section 179 deduction for qualified real property expenses was made permanent. However, claiming this deduction isn’t a no-brainer. This article will explain some of the pros and cons. The Sec. 179 deduction allows you to write off qualified  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 »