DO YOU NEED A BUSINESS PARTNER?

It is interesting to note how many partnerships were formed over a weekend. You meet someone at a party on Friday and by Monday you are in business together. No courtship, no honeymoon, just off you go into business. Well, let me suggest that such partners secure a good set of boxing gloves, because they are going to need them.

STARTING A BUSINESS? HERE'S YOUR TO-DO LIST

There is an almost endless list of things to do when you start a new business. Here is a brief list of some of the most important ones:

EVEN SMALL COMPANIES CAN BE HIT WITH PAYROLL FRAUD

Unless the owner handles all aspects of computing and paying payroll, there is room for fraud in every small business. The fact that your company has only a few employees does not guarantee that you will be safe.

DON’T MISS OUT ON THE "SAVER'S CREDIT"

If you're not sure what the "saver's credit" is, you're not alone. Members of the Senate Finance Committee believe many people who are eligible to claim the credit are unaware of its existence.

WHEN CAN YOU DEDUCT A BUSINESS BAD DEBT?

It happens to butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers. It probably happens in your business, too: A customer doesn’t pay what they owe and you end up with a bad debt. Can you take a tax deduction?

The answer depends on how you account for income on your tax return. If you included the amount due from the customer in income this year or in previous years, it’s likely you have a bad debt deduction. You can claim all or part of the worthless receivable.

What if you record income as you collect the cash? In this case, since you don't receive the amount your customer owes you, and since you never reported it as income, there’s no deduction.

Suppose you lend money to a customer for a business reason and the loan becomes uncollectible. Is the loan considered a deductible bad debt?

As a general rule, yes, as long as your intention was to make a loan, not a gift, and you attempted to collect the debt but could not. Money you lend to employees or suppliers may also be deductible.

Though you don’t have to go to court to prove a debt is uncollectible, the deduction can only be taken in the taxable year it becomes worthless. If you overlook the deduction on that year’s return, don’t despair. For a fully worthless bad debt you have up to seven years from the due date of your original return to file an amended one.

Additional rules apply to specific situations, and certain businesses can use a special method for claiming bad debt deductions. Give us a call at (518) 798-3330 to discuss your options.

SAVE MORE FOR YOUR RETIREMENT

The amount you can contribute to your retirement plan increases in 2013. The 401(k) maximum salary deferral increases from the 2012 limit of $17,000 to $17,500. The catch-up limit for those 50 and older remains unchanged at $5,500. The maximum deferral for a SIMPLE increases from the 2012 limit of $11,500 to $12,000. The catch-up limit for 50 and older remains at $2,500. The 2013 maximum IRA contribution increases from the 2012 limit of $5,000 to $5,500. If you're 50 or older, your IRA contribution limit is $6,500.

CONGRESS AVERTS TAX PORTION OF FISCAL CLIFF

The "American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012" approved by Congress just after we plunged over the "fiscal cliff" restores and modifies several expired tax breaks, but doesn't address other issues. Here are the highlights of the new law's provisions for individual taxpayers.

SPEED UP YOUR IRA DEDUCTION

If you did not contribute the 2012 maximum to your IRA by December 31, 2012, and you make any IRA contributions before April 15, 2013, tell your bank or other trustee that these 2013 contributions are for 2012 until you reach the $5,000 limit ($6,000 if you're 50 or older). You can then deduct these 2013 amounts on your 2012 tax return for a quicker tax benefit. For details, contact us at (518) 798-3330.