Taxes

NJ Tax Amnesty: Cool Savings Despite Sizzling Summer Heat

July 18, 2018 by Admin

Businesses and individuals facing unpaid NJ tax liabilities may be able to get a break on penalties according to the tax amnesty measure signed into law on July 1, 2018. The amnesty period will not begin before November 1, 2018 and will end by January 15, 2019. The program will apply to state tax liabilities for tax returns due on and after February 1, 2009 and prior to September 1, 2017. The measure will apply to all state taxes including gross income, corporate business tax and sales and use tax. However, it does not apply to unemployment type taxes administered by the Department of Labor.

Why should I do this now? Because under this limited-time offer (remember, the clock runs out by January 15, 2019) the Division of Taxation will forgive all penalties, and one-half of the accrued interest due at Nov. 1, 2018.

Here are some more details

- The program will also apply to amounts currently under audit or being contested with the NJ Div. of Taxation.
- A start date for the program has not yet been announced.
- NJ Amnesty will provide relief for 2009 – 2016 delinquent individual or business tax return filers.
- The program also forgives all penalties and 50% of interest for delinquent sales and use tax filings for quarters ending Dec. 31, 2009 – June 30, 2017.

Is there a hitch? Sort of. The bad news is that if a taxpayer is eligible for amnesty and does not take advantage of it, an additional 5% penalty will be added to the already imposed penalties and interest on the original tax liability.

To see if this program is right for you, please contact our Tax Manager, Steven Citron

Executor of Estate? Use our Executor Checklist

December 21, 2016 by Admin

In Charge of Dad’s or Mom’s Estate?

When a loved one passes away and you’re named as executor of his or her estate, you’re likely to feel a mix of emotions. Sadness over the individual’s demise, of course but mixed with that, will be feelings of apprehension: “How can I be sure I’m honoring the decedent’s last wishes and fulfilling all my responsibilities?”

What Do I Need to Know?
The responsibilities aren’t limited to deciding who gets which assets – it also means identifying all the decedent’s assets, and ensuring that the proper paperwork is filed with the IRS, the State and other agencies. To help you through this overwhelming time, Urbach & Avraham, CPAs has prepared an Executor Checklist that outlines the issues that an executor needs to consider.

Click here for the link to our Executor Checklist

Difficult Beneficiaries?….Family Owned Business?….IRA Nightmares?
The checklist is a roadmap of tasks, from probating the will, to filing a final Income Tax return and other required estate filings, to dealing with beneficiaries and distributing the assets. It’s loaded with tips on how to locate all assets, save various taxes and efficiently manage the estate administration.

This handy guide is packed with reminders about technical questions for your CPA, legal or other financial advisor. We work with many qualified estate attorneys to seamlessly coordinate your situation.

Finally, the Urbach & Avraham Executor Checklist highlights the complexities presented when a family owned business is involved. Was there a buy sell agreement? Who is paying the estate tax on the business, and are funds available to pay the tax?

As an executor, you’re already coping with a lot of emotional and other issues. We’re available to help lift the financial burden by assisting you with accounting and tax matters during this difficult time.

Foreign Bank Accounts? Don’t Miss the June 30, 2016 Deadline

June 6, 2016 by Admin

The FBAR: Who Should File? Do you have income overseas you forgot to report? Did Grandpa leave you his foreign bank account when he passed away? If you have foreign bank accounts holding more than $10,000 in the aggregate anytime during the year, you are required to file an FBAR (Report of Foreign Bank Accounts) by June 30^th of the following year (the 2015 FBAR must be received by the IRS by June 30, 2016). It doesn’t matter whether the foreign accounts generate income or not; just owning them, or having signature authority, requires you to file.

What’s the Big Deal? Failure to file can result in serious consequences. The sanctions for not completing the FBAR include numerous severe civil penalties and potential prosecution followed by a term in federal prison.

What Can I Do? , do not need to enter the OVDP, but can participate in the )penalty are due.

Time is Running Out Under the new rules, any taxpayer seeking to participate in the OVDP, who at any point in the 8 year look back period had an account at a bank which has been publically identified as a target of an IRS criminal tax investigation or as having reached a non- prosecution agreement with the IRS, will be subject to a FBAR penalty of 50% (not 27.5%) on all foreign accounts and assets. Close to 100 Swiss banks are currently negotiating to enter into Non-Prosecution Agreements with the IRS, so the risk of facing a 50% penalty is growing.

Better Safe than Sorry While the current voluntary disclosure program is currently running indefinitely, the rules can change at any time. In addition, disclosing now allows you to transfer the money to your American accounts as well as to implement gifting and other estate planning strategies. Finally, for a “Get Out of Jail Free Card” it’s a pretty good deal. Now you will be able to sleep at night!

Take Advantage of our Updated Executor Checklist

June 7, 2013 by Admin

Urbach & Avraham, CPAs, is proud to offer an executor checklist to help alleviate the nightmare of financial affairs of a deceased relative. This comprehensive list, which is regularly updated to reflect the latest changes in estate tax regulation, will help you:

Ensure compliance with tax requirements
Take advantage of tax saving opportunities
Preserve the assets of the estate
Clarify the tax ramifications of distributions
To view the checklist, click here: Executor To-Do List

Reporting Foreign Assets: It Pays to do the Right Thing

April 29, 2013 by Admin

Two recent verdicts involving unreported foreign asset reporting highlight the same moral: do the right thing (or go to jail).

In one case, Michael Canale, a physician, pleaded guilty in New York federal court last December to willful failure to notify the IRS about Swiss bank accounts that in 2010 held nearly $1.5 million. While acknowledging that Canale “made a serious mistake,” attorney Robert Fink wrote that his client inherited the account from his father, who gave orders to keep it a secret. The defense lawyer characterized Canale as “a genuine American hero, who served his country selflessly as a combat military doctor”. The Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office argued, however, that he evaded at least $216,000 in federal taxes on income form the Swiss accounts and “he could have, at any time, ceased his criminal conduct by disclosing the account or even simply closing the account.” Canale was sentenced to six months in federal prison, fined $100,000, ordered to pay more than $216,000 in restitution and perform 400 hours of community service. [Read more…] about Reporting Foreign Assets: It Pays to do the Right Thing

NJ Issues Technical Bulletin on Sales and Use Tax for Attorneys

January 22, 2013 by Admin

On January 15, 2013, the NJ Division of Taxation issued a technical bulletin on the taxability of purchases made by lawyers and law firms. Lawyers who practice in New Jersey are not liable for collecting sales tax on charges for professional services performed by their practice. They are, however, required to pay sales or use tax on all purchases of taxable tangible property, specified digital products, and certain services used by their firm, unless otherwise exempted by law. Purchases subject to sales and use tax that are common to law firms include: [Read more…] about NJ Issues Technical Bulletin on Sales and Use Tax for Attorneys