Articles & Videos
Automatic Penalties for Late Form 5471s and Related Forms
Automatic Penalties for Late Form 5471s and Related Forms On January 1, 2009, the IRS will begin to automatically assess section 6038 penalties for each late-filed Form 5471, Information Return of U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Corporations, and late filing penalties under section 6651 for related forms. IRS is now sending out letters…
Selecting a Good Trustee – Factors to Consider When Choosing a Trustee
Selecting a Good Trustee – Factors to Consider When Choosing a Trustee By Rocco Beatrice WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A TRUSTEE When selecting a Trustee the most important qualities of a trustee are honesty, stability, dependability, organization, financial experience, and ability to devote time and energy on an impartial basis for the benefit of…
Gift Tax: Tips from the IRS
Gift Tax: Tips from the IRS Taxpayers who have given gifts exceeding $11,000 in value to a single individual must report the total gift amount to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The giver may owe taxes on the gifts. The recipient, however, does not have to report or pay taxes on the value of the…
Secondary Market May Impact 409A Valuations
Secondary Market May Impact 409A Valuations An issue gaining attention with respect to 409A valuations is the fact that many private company shares are increasingly being traded in the secondary market. There is a debate among valuation specialists over how transactions in private company stock impact the value of the company securities for 409A purposes.…
Five Tips for Recently Married or Divorced Taxpayers with a Name Change
Here are five tips for recently married or divorced taxpayers with a name change. If you changed your name after a recent marriage or divorce, the IRS reminds you to take the necessary steps to ensure the name on your tax return matches the name registered with the Social Security Administration. A mismatch between the…
You Thought FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Report – Form TD F 90-22.1) Was Bad?
You Thought FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Report – Form TD F 90-22.1) Was Bad? By Ron Cohen, CPA, MST Partner Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & Co., LLP PLEASE See: http://www.calcpa.org/Content/26096.aspx We are happy to help you meet these old & new disclosure requirements. Non-reporting subjects a taxpayer to horrendous penalties, even if no tax is due.…
What the IRS Has On File About You and How to Obtain Your Tax Files
What the IRS Has On File About You and How to Obtain Your Tax Files IRS liens and levies can wreak havoc on a person’s life, making it difficult to obtain financing on a home or a car and wiping out savings. Maybe you want access to your tax files to see where the problem…
How to Respond to That FATCA Letter You Just Received in the Mail
How to Respond to That FATCA Letter You Just Received in the Mail Are you among the many Americans who have a bank account(s) in another country? If you are, then you have probably received a letter in the mail recently from the IRS. If you haven’t, then it’s almost assuredly on its way. So…
Job Search Expenses Can be Tax Deductible
Can job search expenses be tax deductible? Summertime is the season that often leads to major life decisions, such as buying a home, moving or a job change. If you are looking for a new job that is in the same line of work, you may be able to deduct some of your job hunting…
GROCO Receives Recognition From Fremont Education Foundation
GROCO Receives Recognition From Fremont Education Foundation Fremont, CA – February 23, 2006 – Greenstein Rogoff Olsen & Co. (GROCO), Top Bay Area CPA Firm, is pleased to announce they were recognized by the Fremont Education Foundation as a Foundation Sponsor for 2006. At the Fremont Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 Fremont…
A Thorny Dilemma: The Ethics of Mortgage Walkaways
A Thorny Dilemma: The Ethics of Mortgage Walkaways By Steve Merrel, Partner Willow Ridge Capital Advisors In the aftermath of the housing bubble and the lending frenzy that fueled it, more and more families find themselves stuck owing a lot more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. Pressed with rising mortgage rates and…
Qualities of Effective Team Leaders
Qualities of Effective Team Leaders What does it take to develop effective team leadership skills? It can be a difficult task to accomplish, but as you strive to take the following steps, you can be a more effective team leader. Your Perception Empowering others begins with the way you see them. You can either assume…
30 Year Fixed Rate Cash Flow Option Refinance
30 Year Fixed Rate Cash Flow Option Refinance The Pay Option ARM mortgage has become one of the most popular home loans in the USA, and is definitely the fastest growing option in high cost states like California, Florida, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. While many people love the start rates which can be…
Profit From Foreclosures by Preventing Them
Profit From Foreclosures by Preventing Them What makes foreclosures so appealing to many real estate investors is that it’s not one-size-fits-all strategy. You have three basic choices when it comes to c investing: pre-foreclosure, at the auction, and after the auction. Let’s take a look at what’s involved in preforeclosure investing. Preforeclosure refers to the period…
Seven Tax Facts About Selling Your Home
Seven Tax Facts About Selling Your Home During summer months, some people sell their home. Many of those individuals will make a profit on the sale and still will not have to pay a single dime of additional income tax to the IRS. Here are seven tax facts about selling your home. Ownership and Use…
When Not to Name Your Spouse the Beneficiary of Your IRA
When Not to Name Your Spouse the Beneficiary of Your IRA By Robert Cavanaugh In most cases, naming your spouse as the beneficiary of your IRA makes the most sense. However, depending on your wishes, other beneficiary arrangements may do a better job of accomplishing your goals. First, let’s take a quick look at the…
IRS Guidance for SEC Disclosure of Listed Transaction Penalties
IRS Guidance for SEC Disclosure of Listed Transaction Penalties On August 15, 2005, the IRS issued guidance to taxpayers who are required to disclose listed transaction penalties to the SEC. Rev. Proc. 2005-51 sets forth the form, content, and timing of SEC disclosures for certain reportable transaction penalties that taxpayers are required to make pursuant…
President Going After the Wealthy Again With Proposed Tax Hikes
President Going After the Wealthy Again With Proposed Tax Hikes By Alan Olsen, CPA, MBA (tax) Managing Partner Greenstein Rogoff Olsen & Co. LLP The divide between Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill appears to be spreading even wider after President Obama used his State of the Union Address to take dead aim at high…
Top 10 Critical Mistakes Homebuyers Make and How to Avoid Them
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]1. Using an out-of-town lender. Getting a mortgage in a timely and hassle-free manner is the “key that opens the door” to your new home. Lenders who don’t live in the area you are buying in will not have the contacts needed to process your loan in an efficient and timely manner. Are you aware that…
Depreciation and Section 179 Expense Updates
Depreciation and Section 179 Expense Updates 2007 Changes Increased section 179 limits. The maximum section 179 deduction you can elect for qualified section 179 property placed in service in 2007 has increased to $125,000 ($160,000 for qualified enterprise zone and qualified renewal community property). This limit is reduced by the amount by which the cost of…