Archive for April, 2009

29
Apr
09

Tax solutions for business owners

If you are running a small business, you are required to pay business tax. The size of your business and the form of business determines what kind of taxes should be paid and how. There are different kinds of business tax like: corporate tax, self-employment tax, employment tax, excise tax, environmental tax and fuel tax. So many people who own small business are not aware of tax breaks. Proper planning and filing of income tax returns will ensure tax breaks every year.  If you are a business owner and looking for assistance in financing and tax filing solutions, Cirimelli Pyle and Associates LLP will help you find answers to all your questions. This CPA in Sunnyvale provides a wide variety of accounting, tax and financial management services tailored to meet the needs of all their business clients.

CPA in Sunnyvale keeps track of all the tax changes that occur throughout the year to ensure that you are taking advantage of all tax incentives. For tax help in Sunnyvale, contact these business accountants who provide tax services for corporate, partnerships, multi-state, individual, etc. To better meet the needs of their accounting and tax clients throughout the San Jose area, these business accountants have customized services for small businesses in various industries. If you are have or are just starting a small business you need to use all the appropriate tax strategies and tax filing solutions so as to avoid payment of unnecessary taxes.


For tax help in Sunnyvale or a free consultation for business owners, call (408) 879-9990 and ask for Steve Pyle regarding their accounting, tax, and planning services. You can also email him at steve@sanjose-cpa.com.

27
Apr
09

Best accounting and financial strategies

Why is it a good move to employ the services of a professional Certified Public Accountant? Certified Public Accountants in general, are better qualified than accountants who are not certified. They are better qualified because of the requirements for the CPA examination, experience, and continuing education. They can provide professional services like auditing and reporting and certain other special services. If you need an accountant, why not employ the best – a certified one. Cirimelli Pyle and Associates LLP in Campbell provide the best accounting and financial strategies to help you get through your payment of all your income taxes.

 

These business accountants from Campbell provide services in various areas like construction accounting, real estate accounting, healthcare accounting, technology accounting, and other service businesses. To simplify the business formation and incorporation process for new and developing businesses throughout the San Jose area, this CPA firm provides the following services like Incorporation and Business formation, Business plan management, loan assistance, new business consultation and cash flow projections. These business accountants treat all their client’s queries with a professional attitude and provide in depth services and consultation for individuals and families alike.

 

To get started on filing your income taxes, contact Cirimelli Pyle and Associates for a hassle free payment of all your taxes. They can be reached at 408-879-9990. If you need more information visit their website at www.incometaxbayarea.com . The office is situated at 901, Campisi way, Suite 380, Campbell, CA 95008.

 

22
Apr
09

Get a head start on your tax payments

We pay taxes in many forms be it property taxes, sales taxes, income taxes, employment taxes, you name it, there is a tax for it somewhere. For most people the name taxes, dealing with them and keeping up on the latest tax laws and tax forms is simply too much. Over 50% of Americans now use experienced tax consultants to handle their annual returns as the complexity of the tax system is too much for the average person. To put your worries at ease, Cirimelli Pyle and Associates LLP will help you in filing your tax returns without any hassles.

 

Tax filing in California has become much easier with this company as it provides clients with the right dosage of advice and assurance to make important business decisions. This CPA in San Jose specializes in providing traditional services like tax planning, financial statement preparation, budgeting, forecasting and data processing apart from preparing payrolls, W-2 forms, business property statements and accounting services. Tax filing in California will not be a major issue from now on. This CPA in San Jose also helps small growing businesses treat all their client’s queries with a professional attitude and provide in depth services in the market by providing the same amount of quality service as offered to larger enterprises.

 

Don’t hesitate to contact Cirimelli Pyle and Associates today for a tension free payment of all your taxes. Contact Steven Pyle of CPA who is Certified Public Accountant and Managing Partner of this company. He can be reached at 408-879-9990 or by email: steve@cpasllp.com.

 

20
Apr
09

Additional tax incentives

When the time has come to file your income tax returns, it means shuffling your schedule to fit in a tax appointment, plus the number of hours needed to complete it comfortably. This whole process will consume a great amount of your time. So why not make things easier on yourself and let a tax professional handle it to make the job easier for you? If you want some serious help in filing your income tax returns without any difficulty, Cirimelli Pyle and Associates LLP will help you do the job effectively. This CPA in Sunnyvale is a professional organization dedicated in providing you the highest quality of service possible, in a timely manner.

Being an enrolled agent in the field of taxation, the tax professional is empowered by the US Department of Treasury to represent taxpayers before all administrative levels of the IRS for audits, collections, and appeals. This CPA in Sunnyvale keeps track of tax changes throughout the year so that you can take advantage of all tax incentives. Apart from providing tax ideas for individuals and business owners, they give several interesting ideas and suggestions on Capital gains and losses, Business Assets, Charitable donations, Medical expenses, Tax penalties, Business Travel, Splitting of Family Income and Kiddies tax.

For tax help in Sunnyvale, contact Cirimelli Pyle and Associates to file your tax returns and educate you on additional tax benefits throughout the year. They can be reached at: 408-879-9990. If you would like a free consultation or any other tax help, visit their website at: www.incometaxbayarea.com and register with them.

16
Apr
09

Taking advantage of tax breaks

How do you benefit from tax breaks? What is a tax break? A Tax Break is nothing but a tax exemption from certain taxes of a state or nation in which part of the taxes that would normally be collected from an individual or an organization are instead foregone. A tax break is like a tax saving which includes tax deductions and tax credits. A tax credit is more valuable than a tax deduction because a tax credit reduces tax dollar for dollar, while a deduction only removes a percentage of the tax that is owed. So if you would like to benefit from tax breaks, Cirimelli Pyle and Associates is the place for you.

 

This CPA in San Jose aims at helping families and businesses with inadequate funds, pay their taxes on time with an affordable payment schedule without burdening them with unnecessary remunerations. So you can get tax breaks and save your hard earned money for other financial commitments. These San Jose business accountants treat all their client’s queries with a professional attitude and provide advice and consultation in areas like mergers and acquisitions, tax shelters and financial management. CPA in San Jose prepares monthly, quarterly and periodic income tax statements, thus enabling the staff gain a comprehensive understanding of their entire client’s data. These San Jose business accountants work with different kinds of clients like small contractors to home builders, electricians, painters, doctors and lawyers giving equal importance to all.

 

 

To get started on filing your tax returns, contact Cirimelli Pyle and Associates in San Jose today. They can be reached at 408-879-9990. If you need more information visit their website at www.incometaxbayarea.com . The office is situated at 901, Campisi way, Suite 380, Campbell, CA 95008.

14
Apr
09

Negotiate with the IRS

If you have past due taxes and you are unable to make the required payment, you may want to consider engaging the services of a professional tax company, business accountant or tax consultant. Depending on your particular tax situation and your financial condition, these tax consultants may be able to negotiate with the IRS for a settlement agreeable to both you and the IRS. In order to do that, you need to employ the services of a Certified Public Accounting Company to help you with your tax filings.

 

Cirimelli Pyle and Associates LLP provide the best accounting and financial strategies to help you get through your payment of all your income taxes. Taxes may be a burden to some, for its complicated filing procedures. With the help of this Certified Public Accounting Company, there is no major cause for worry as their individualized services have helped them to address industry specific challenges, compliance needs and industry standard tax practices. To simplify the business formation and incorporation process for new and developing businesses throughout the San Jose area, Cirimelli Pyle and Associates will provide the following services like Incorporation and Business formation, Business plan management, loan assistance, new business consultation and cash flow projections.

 

To get started on your tax filings, contact Cirimelli Pyle and Associates for a hassle free payment of all your taxes. They can be reached at 408-879-9990. If you need more information visit their website at www.incometaxbayarea.com .

 

09
Apr
09

What’s New in Finances: Home foreclosures may be slowing

We see, hear, and read every day that the world is becoming more environmentally conscious and taking steps to “go green.” While many of these may be out of reach for smaller businesses, there are several things that even small businesses can do to head toward going green.

 

Recycling. Most communities these days provide recycling centers. Therefore, businesses should find it fairly easy to provide internal receptacles and to transport or purchase recycling pick-up services for such recyclables as paper (including shredded), newspapers and magazines, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles. Installing energy-efficient light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs, offering a greener alternative. Also, watch for the next generation of commercial-use energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs. While LED pricing currently is rather high, LED bulbs typically use one-tenth the power of traditional light bulbs and last up to 20 times longer. Also, as volumes increase, prices should fall.

 

Going smoke-free (or tobacco-free). One way for businesses to create a cleaner, healthier environment is to go smoke-free. This might involve eliminating smoking indoors, while providing limited smoking areas outside; or a business might go totally smoke-free, prohibiting smoking anywhere on the premises – indoors or outdoors. Further, a business might offer its employees complimentary or discounted programs to assist them in their efforts to quit smoking. Providing favored parking spaces. Businesses might consider offering special parking spaces for hybrid vehicles and transportation forms that use lesser amounts of fuel (e.g., motorcycles, scooters). The provision of easily accessible bicycle racks also is important. Going “paperless.” While most would agree that going totally paperless probably is unachievable, many companies already have begun to make progress in decreasing the amount of paper they use. To reduce paper, consider offering electronic portals to clients or utilizing other electronic means of sharing and working with data. Offering “green” shopping bags. As you shop these days, you will see that many stores are selling reusable shopping bags. Consider distributing to your customers, clients, and prospects a green shopping bag with your business logo. You take a step toward environmental consciousness, while garnering some publicity at the same time. These are just a few of the steps a small business can take toward “going green.” The benefit to your business includes energy cost savings and maybe a bit of positive publicity, plus making a contribution to a healthier environment. Call Cirimelli Pyle and Associates today at (408) 879-9990 or email them at: cpa@cpasllp.com.

 

What’s New in Finances: Home foreclosures may be slowing

 

Statistics on home foreclosures for January 2009 showed a 10% decrease from December 2008 foreclosures.  Though the January rate is still up 18% from a year ago, the decline from December may be an indication that moratoriums and mortgage modifications may be having an effect. According to a RealtyTrac report, one in every 466 homes had a foreclosure filing in January.  The states with the highest home foreclosure rates were Nevada, California, Arizona, Florida, and Oregon.  President Obama recently announced a foreclosure prevention plan designed to help struggling homeowners with refinancing or modifying their mortgages. RealtyTrac estimates that another three million foreclosures will occur in 2009.

 

Put your financial house in order

 

With another new year underway, now is a great time to assess your household finances, make any needed changes, and prepare for new opportunities. To help you get started, here are a few suggestions. Take control of your credit cards. Over-reliance on credit cards hurts you in several ways. With interest rates typically in double digits, it’s the most expensive way to borrow money. Think of those monthly interest payments as draining off dollars that you could be investing in a home or saving for your later years. And too much debt can hurt your credit score and make other borrowing more difficult. It takes time and discipline to reduce credit card debt, but it’s well worth the effort. Build a cash reserve for emergencies. Your financial situation can quickly spin out of control if you can’t come up with cash when you need it. If you lose your job, you might have to live on reduced income for several months. Or there could be unplanned medical bills, car repairs, or home repair costs. Even if you have insurance, reimbursements can take time, and there are deductibles to meet. Work hard to put aside at least three months’ living expenses. Invest it in a safe, liquid account, and resist the temptation to raid it for non-emergencies. Review your credit report. The law requires each of the three major credit bureaus to give you a free copy of your credit report every twelve months. The reports shouldn’t contain significant errors; if they do, make sure the discrepancies get resolved.

 

Make or update a home inventory. Go through your house with a video camera and describe what you see, along with pertinent information about your most valuable assets (purchase dates, prices, estimated values). Make an extra copy or two of the tape. Keep one for yourself, put one in a safety deposit box, or send one to a friend or relative (preferably in another town) for safe keeping. Should you experience a fire or other disaster, your home inventory can be vital for getting insurance claims approved. Increase your savings. The start of a new year is often a time when companies provide cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to their employees. If your employer provides such a benefit, consider contributing a portion of the increase to your 401(k) plan or other savings account. It’s a relatively painless way to save more. Calculate your net worth. This is a great yardstick for measuring your household’s financial growth (or shrinkage) from year to year. Simply put, your net worth is the value of your assets (house, personal property, bank accounts, car, investments) minus your liabilities (mortgage, credit card balances, loans). Widely available financial software can help you automate this task. Set financial goals. Financially speaking, where do you want to be a year from now? What steps do you have to take now to make that happen? Take time to dream; then put your goals in writing. Thoughtful planning is a first step toward prioritizing both spending and saving. Purge old financial records. If you’re a financial packrat who keeps old cancelled checks and bank statements long past when they may be needed for an IRS audit or your own use, consider shredding them. If you’d like additional suggestions for setting your financial house in order this coming year, give us a call.

For free initial consultation for professionals and families or general tax help in Saratoga, call Cirimelli Pyle and Associates today at (408) 879-9990 or email them at: cpa@cpasllp.com.

07
Apr
09

Major Tax Deadlines

March 2 – Farmers and fishermen who did not make 2008 estimated tax payments must file 2008 tax returns and pay taxes in full.

March 2 – Payors must file information returns (such as 1099s) with the IRS. (Electronic filers have until March 31 to file.)

March 2 – Employers must send W-2 copies to the Social Security Administration. (Electronic filers have until March 31 to file.)

March 8 – Daylight Saving Time begins.

March 16 – 2008 calendar-year corporation income tax returns are due.

March 16 – Deadline for calendar-year corporations to elect S corporation status for 2009.

March 31 – Deadline for payors who file electronically to file 2008 information returns (such as 1099s) with the IRS.

March 31 – Deadline for employers who file electronically to send copies of 2008 W-2s to the Social Security Administration.

NOTE: Businesses are required to make federal tax deposits on dates determined by various factors that differ from business to business.

 

Payroll tax deposits: Employers generally must deposit Form 941 payroll taxes (income tax withheld from employees’ pay and both the employer’s and employees’ share of social security taxes) on either a monthly or semiweekly deposit schedule. There are exceptions if you owe $100,000 or more on any day during a deposit period, if you owe $2,500 or less for the calendar quarter, or if your estimated annual liability is $1,000 or less.

 

Monthly depositors are required to deposit payroll taxes accumulated within a calendar month by the fifteenth of the following month. Semiweekly depositors generally must deposit payroll taxes on Wednesdays or Fridays, depending on when wages are paid. For more information on tax deadlines that apply to you or your business, contact our office. Call Cirimelli Pyle and Associates today at (408) 879-9990 or email them at: cpa@cpasllp.com.

 

What’s New in Taxes:

Tax breaks are included in the new Recovery Act. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes a bevy of new tax breaks. The key provisions summarized below are generally retroactive to January 1, 2009.

 

Making work pay credit. Employees and self-employeds can claim a credit for 2009 and 2010 equal to the lesser of 6.2% of earned income or $400 ($800 for joint filers). The credit phases out once adjusted gross income (AGI) reaches $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for couples.

Alternative minimum tax (AMT). The new law creates another “patch” for 2009 through higher exemption amounts: $46,700 for singles and $70,950 for couples. This change will prevent an estimated 26 million middle-income taxpayers from being hit by the AMT.

First-time homebuyer’s credit. This credit is enhanced for 2009. The maximum credit increases from $7,500 to $8,000 for homes purchased from January 1, 2009, through November 30, 2009. Repayment isn’t required if you live in the home at least three years. Phase-out of the credit remains for an AGI above $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for joint filers.

New vehicle deductions. A buyer can claim a new above-the-line deduction for sales and excise taxes on the first $49,500 of a vehicle’s price. The deduction phases out for an AGI above $125,000 ($250,000 for joint filers). It applies to 2009 purchases after February 16.

Education credits. For 2009 and 2010, the maximum Hope credit – renamed the “American Opportunity Tax Credit” – increases from $1,800 to $2,500 and may be claimed for all four years of college (instead of the first two). Phase-out begins at $80,000 of AGI for singles and $160,000 for joint filers.

Child tax credit. The refundable portion of the child tax credit is increased for 2009 and 2010 by lowering the income threshold for refundability from $8,500 to $3,000.

Energy incentives. Among numerous energy provisions, the new law increases the residential energy credit from 10% to 30% and raises the maximum cap to $1,500 for installations in 2009 and 2010.

There’s much more in the new law, ranging from a tax exclusion for $2,400 of unemployment benefits in 2009 to a one-time $250 payment to certain retirees and veterans. For guidance in tax planning under these latest changes, contact us. Call Cirimelli Pyle and Associates today at (408) 879-9990 or email them at: cpa@cpasllp.com.

 

Itemizing deductions: Three facts you should know

 

You know the general rule about itemized deductions: Compare your total allowable expenses against your standard deduction, and use the amount that provides the greatest tax benefit.

Illustration. If you’re under age 65, married filing jointly, itemizing may reduce your 2008 tax bill if your qualifying deductions are greater than the basic 2008 standard deduction of $10,900 ($5,450 for single filers under age 65).

 

Here are three other facts about itemizing you may be less familiar with.There’s a special rule when you’re married and file separate returns. If either of you itemizes, the other’s standard deduction amount is usually considered to be zero. When this situation applies, you’ll generally be better off itemizing no matter the amount of your allowable expenses. Your itemized deductions may be limited. For instance, unreimbursed medical expenses are deductible only if the amount you spent exceeds 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). Miscellaneous deductions such as certain legal fees must equal more than 2% of AGI to be deductible. In addition, if your AGI for 2008 reached $159,950, the total amount of your itemized deductions is reduced. You can itemize even though your standard deduction is higher. Why would you want to? One reason: The standard deduction isn’t considered in the computation of the alternative minimum tax (AMT), but some itemized deductions are. If you’re subject to the AMT, in certain cases your overall tax liability may be less if you choose to itemize. Other rules may apply to your situation. For help with the calculations or with any of your tax filing concerns, give us a call. Call Cirimelli Pyle and Associates today at (408) 879-9990 or email them at: cpa@cpasllp.com.

 

New Business: New law has tax breaks for businesses. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 contains a number of provisions that will affect businesses. Here’s a brief overview. Bonus depreciation. First-year 50% bonus depreciation for new business equipment purchases is extended through 2009 (through 2010 for certain property). Increased expensing. Code Section 179 first-year expensing of new and used business equipment purchases is extended through 2009 at the higher limit of $250,000. The deduction is reduced once purchases for the year exceed $800,000. Loss carryback period. The new law allows businesses with average gross receipts of $15 million or less to carry back net operating losses for up to five years, rather than the normal two years. The longer carryback period applies only to losses incurred in a tax year beginning or ending in 2008. Work opportunity tax credit. Two new categories of targeted groups are eligible for the work opportunity tax credit: unemployed veterans and disconnected youth. The credit applies to workers in these groups hired in 2009 and 2010. COBRA benefits. Employees who lose their jobs between September 1, 2008, and January 1, 2010, may elect to pay 35% of their COBRA coverage and have that treated as paying the full amount. The former employer is required to pay the remaining 65% and will be credited for this amount against income tax withholding and payroll taxes otherwise payable to the federal government. Income and other limitations on COBRA coverage apply. The new law is a massive 1,000 page document, so this quick review by no means covers all the provisions that may affect your business. For guidance in your business tax planning under this latest law, contact our office.

 

For free initial consultation for professionals and families or general tax help in Saratoga, call Cirimelli Pyle and Associates today at (408) 879-9990 or email them at: cpa@cpasllp.com.